Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

That’s what The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 Years Old, was for me–an utter delight.  You know the movies that have entertaining groups of old people–“Return to Me” and “IQ” come to mind, not to mention “Space Cowboys”–that crack you up and steal the show from the romantic leads?  Picture a book about those old people (narrated by one of them) that takes place in a nursing home in Holland.  Add to that a bit of corporate culture vs. the little guy and the formation of an Old-But-Not-Dead club and you get a novel full of humor and yet sharply poignant, one I won’t soon forget.  (And I don’t have to, because I’ve recently discovered that a sequel’s due out this spring!)  I could say more, but it would either be summarizing or gushing, so I’ll leave you with the plain truth–anyone and everyone ought to read and enjoy this one.