Dutch senior’s ‘diary’ delights

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/03/2019 (2377 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On the Bright Side is the fictional diary of the 85-year-old, kind-hearted and witty Hendrik Groen, who lives in a retirement home in the Netherlands. It is both darkly funny and sad; it is also extremely relevant.

The “secret diary” is the newest followup to 2014’s bestselling The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, which was translated into more than 35 languages.

Considering the huge population of aging baby boomers, both in Canada and elsewhere, exploring this aging demographic is of major importance, and is likely to become increasingly significant as the years go by.

With fiction in recent years such as Jonas Jonasson’s The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg’s The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules and Deborah Moggach’s These Foolish Things, it seems humorous stories about older folks who are brave and rebellious are becoming more popular.

This newest diary is considerably more realistic than the aforementioned novels; it is so true to life, in fact, that it comes across as an actual diary, and is just as funny and melancholy as Groen’s previous book.

Of his first diary, Groen mysteriously writes, “There’s not one sentence that’s a lie, but not every word is true.” The Dutch 85-year-old, purported to be the author of both diaries (the first written when he was “83¼ years old”), is thought by some news sources to actually be Dutch author Peter de Smet, said to be in his early 60s.

No matter, the novel is the thing.

Just as he does in his first diary, the fictional Hendrik journals daily about his life in a care home in Amsterdam. Not impressed by the care home’s annual trip for the residents or their limited activities, Hendrik and some of his fellow residents form a delightfully rebellious “Old But Not Dead Club.”

Mostly, the group is determined to enjoy life to the fullest, so they plan outings to different ethnic restaurants every few weeks. They also plan trips to museums, art galleries and many other places — trips always accompanied by wine, delicious appetizers or gourmet meals (things not offered by the care home).

Friendships are paramount, and the group’s joie de vivre is contagious. But there is sadness also, as in life. The gentle and often kind Hendrik has close attachments to several residents: Eefje, a lady friend who he becomes fond of; Evert, his wicked, funny, ailing friend; and Grietje, another friend with Alzheimer’s. Their friendships are likely to make you chuckle as well as move you to tears.

The group also tries to deal with the cool and distant care-home director, Stelwagen, whose rules they find restrictive and ridiculously unnecessary. When it is rumoured their home is about to be closed, the club puts up a fight.

Hendrik comments on the daily goings-on within the home and also often on world events. His witty commentary covers politicians, the refugee crisis, increasing automation, euthanasia and trends in the care of the increasing populations of seniors.

At times, the novel can drag; while some of the diary entries seem a bit too mundane, overall it is a worthy read, recommended for anyone concerned with the care of seniors. In fact, everyone, young or old, would benefit, as this latest “diary” is thought-provoking, moving and so pertinent to our times.

Cheryl Girard put herself through university by working with seniors in a nursing home.