Hendrik Groen's long-awaited new novel!
A new, standalone novel filled to the brim with Hendrik Groen's trademark wit and sharp powers of observation.
What if you could disappear from your current life and start over somewhere else?
A faced-paced story that is both thought-provoking and hilariously funny.
Fans of the diaries will most definitely recognize Hendrik's fresh, down-to earth style and mild sense of self-mockery.
Under option with the publishers who bought rights in Hendrik Groen's previous titles.
About the book:
Arthur Ophof had imagined his life differently. Instead of making spectacular trips to far off places, he spends hours stuck in traffic. His jaded, childless marriage and car-free, family-friendly neighbourhood aren't particularly exciting or impressive. Friday afternoons with his three best friends are the highlight of his week. And he's approaching 50, so time is running out. When his employer 'regrets to have to let him go' and Arthur manages to get a good severance pay out of it, he discovers an unexpected chance at an entirely new life…
Reviews
'Once again, [Hendrik's] observations of human behavior are as sharp as they are witty.' - Algemeen Dagblad
'Sounds like a light version of Herman Koch.' - Trouw
'How brilliant [Hendrik] is, again! Of course the story is very different, but you immediately recognize his trademark, villainous humor and enjoyable style.' - Amber Martensen, bookstore Thomas, Bergen
'Good news for Hendrik Groen lovers: they will immediately recognize the tone of voice of the diaries.' De Telegraaf
'Ironic, full of inside jokes and recognizable small sufferings. Well written.' De Limburger
'This book is like the last sentence of the story: larger than life! Warmly recommended for everyone.' Booksicareabout.wordpress.com
'I find the new Hendrik Groen more vivacious than the diaries. It is wonderfully sarcastic.' Anne Jager, bookshop De Vries, Zierikzee
International Publishers and Authors about Hendrik Groen:
'The summary and translated partial were enough to incite a true Hendrik Groen mania. We all know stories about grandparents or elderly friends that we loved, that refused to sit back and silently accept the last fase of their lives. When I acquired the rights to this book for Random House, I thought of my 96-year-old grandmother who lives in a retirement home. She too has plenty of funny stories about her 'fellow prisoners' and I can't wait to share this story with her.' - Jessica Leek, Michael Joseph - Penguin Random House, UK & Commonwealth
'What drew us in was Hendrik's fantastic style, his view on other elderly people and his outlook on life. Fully, sweet, melancholic but always endearing and brilliant. Life must end, but what the end looks like is up to us. And Hendrik is the right person to remind us of this valuable and essential truth. What a man!' - Giuseppe Strazzeri, Gruppo Editorale MauriSpagnol, Italy
'We are incredibly excited to be Hendrik Groen's German publisher! He is one of the most lovable and hilarious characters I've ever encountered and I am sure he will find a place in many German readers' hearts in no time.' - Elisabeth Witt, Piper Verlag, Germany
'Jonas Jonasson enchanted us with his novel and Fredrik Backmans work is both serious and funny at the same time, but Hendrik Groen's sense of humour is teeth- grinding and cynical. The book is filled with funny situations, but also depicts a brutally honest image of elderly people's lives. This topic is incredibly universal and should interest French readers of all generations.' - Frédérique Polet, Presses de la Cité, France
'A story with a great deal of heart, it pulled me in with its self-deprecating humour, finely drawn characters and important themes. Anyone who hopes to grow
old with dignity will have much to reflect on.' -
Graeme Simsion
'A joy to read, as much concerned with friendship and dignity as it is with the debilitating effects of aging … An entertaining and uplifting story of a man in the winter of his days, stoic in the face of bureaucratic nonsense and an unabashed need to wear a nappy. Imagined or not, this is the diary of someone who wants nothing more than to be allowed see out his days with dignity and respect. It's not too much to ask, really, is it?' - John Boyne