The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 Years Old by Hendrik Groen: A Review

According to Hendrik Groen, "Old is in".  It seems as if he is right.  Many books and movies that have recently been released have older protagonists.  Groen's diary is very reminiscent of A Man Called Ove but Groen is likeable from the very first page.  He and a few of his fellow "inmates" have decided to start the Old-But-Not-Dead Club.  Each member of the group take turns planning an outing that helps the others experience life a little more fully.  The group begins to form a close friendship and stick together as their members encounter health problems and lack the comfort that they could receive from loved ones.

This was such a sweet book and some of the parts were more funny than any of the other books I have read this year.  When Mr. Groen is pulled over for driving his mobility scooter too fast, I just about spit out my tea!  The author has a delightful attitude even with his sad past.  Speaking of this sad past, it is not a huge part of this story.  Readers of this book will experience more ups than downs, even though the story does take place in an assisted living facility for older Dutch citizens. 

The characters are a breath of fresh air.  I liked Hendrik but I loved Evert.  Evert tells it like it is and the book is more fun for it.  I really loved reading about the relationships that were built and strengthened over the duration of the book.  This is a great book if you like reading about characters that are rarely written about.  Anyone who enjoys stories about relationships will enjoy this book.  I do wish that there had been more information on the protagonists life prior to being in the assisted living facility but I still loved this book.

View the book trailer here:

My rating:
★★★★★

Reviews of books like this one:
And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel

This book is currently available and can be purchased from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  Read more reviews on this book on Goodreads.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in order to review it but that did not have an effect on my review of the book.  This is my honest opinion of this book.  I am a participant in the Amazon Affiliates program.  By clicking on the Amazon link and purchasing this product, I receive a small fee.  I am not associated with Goodreads or Barnes and Noble in any way and the links provided are available strictly for your convenience and not to imply a relationship of any kind.

If The Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss

In a small town in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina, a newcomer with a mysterious past comes to educate the youth of the town and ends up learning many new things, herself.  Kate is a teacher who was terminated from her previous position but travels to Baines Creek to work as the town teacher.  Sadie Blue is a young woman who becomes pregnant to a man who is cruel and controlling of her.  Roy and Billie were abused as youngsters and take out their frustration on Sadie and other women.  Eli Perkins is a preacher who wants the best for his community but his sister, Prudence, is as mean as Eli is kind.  Weiss tells each character's story in a fair and impartial way.  She leaves no stone unturned and lets readers know that there are often untold reasons for crimes as heinous as spousal abuse and murder.  Oftentimes, that reason is simply poverty and a hopelessness that one will never escape it. 

I really enjoyed this book for its brave honesty and Weiss' refusal to allow fear or discomfort prevent her from telling hard truths about life.  The characters are perfect.  It is easy for the reader to see the story from all sides when reading If the Creek Don't Rise.  The stories were often hard to stomach.  These are painful accounts from a world that many live in but few in society wants to admit really exists.  When I was reading it, I felt as if I was reading a story set in the mid-1800s but soon realized that I was reading an almost-modern tale of a town who has yet to become modern.  I learned a lot about Appalachian culture from reading this book and I think anyone who enjoys southern fiction or women's fiction will love this book. 

My Rating:
★★★★☆

Reviews of books like this one:
The Education of Dixie Dupree by Donna Everhart
June by Miranda Beverly Whittemore
New Boy by Tracy Chevalier

This book is currently available and can be purchased from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  Read more reviews on this book on Goodreads.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in order to review it but that did not have an effect on my review of the book.  This is my honest opinion of this book.  I am a participant in the Amazon Affiliates program.  By clicking on the Amazon link and purchasing this product, I receive a small fee.  I am not associated with Goodreads or Barnes and Noble in any way and the links provided are available strictly for your convenience and not to imply a relationship of any kind.