These books are billed as novels. Yet the main character shares the same name as the author. Are these really works of fiction, or are they memoirs disguised as such? The readers can decide for themselves.

The category into which we put The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/4 Years Old and its sequel, On the Bright Side: The New Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 85 Years Old, doesn't matter at all, though. These "diaries" make for interesting reading. Sometimes the entries are somber. More often than not, though, they are all-too truthful and can be downright amusing.

Hendrik lives in a senior care home in North Amsterdam. His first diary covers the year 2013, and his second diary covers 2015. What could possibly be fascinating about documenting daily life among the elderly? Well, remember, this is a closed community we're talking about. It's like a small town, where everybody knows everybody else's business. Opinions are strong. Gossip reigns. So do complaints. Hendrik does his best to remain positive. And being positive sometimes means "pushing the envelope." Testing the rules, if not breaking them.

Some hijinks are involved. Inertia is also an enemy. "Experience has taught us that sad lesson: once old people stop doing something, they are unlikely ever to do it again," Hendrik muses (on page 165 in the second book). He vows to keep moving, even though his pace is slowing down, and he needs some help on occasion.

In the first book, Hendrik, his best friend Evert, and six other good people create an Old But Not Dead Club. The members take turns in setting up outside field trips for the group. They hire drivers and helpers. They explore sites in the city, they eat well, they enjoy each other's company, and they get back to their apartments just as everybody else is finishing up in the home's dining room. They get used to the jealous looks and to the unkind comments that some others aim at them. So what?

In the second book, they reinvigorate the dormant Residents' Committee. NOW maybe they will have a say in what goes on in this place. The facility director, Mrs. Stelwagen, is known for either creating rules seemingly without reason, or for saying that she'll have to take an issue to the board for approval. Stuff and nonsense. Hendrik and his colleagues hope to make new and valuable changes for the betterment of the entire community.

Throughout his entries, Hendrik introduces us to a number of interesting individuals and personalities. His best friend, Evert, is a hoot. Period. In the first book, Eefje becomes a close lady friend who enjoys books and music. Another friend, Grietje, is dealing somewhat well with the onslaught of Alzheimer's disease. In the second book, Leonie is a refreshing and quirky new addition to the group, and Eugenie is a talented multimedia artist who has just moved in. Naturally, mobility is an issue for a number of folks, including Hendrik. That's why he invests in a motor scooter. He and his friend Geert sometimes wheel around the city and the countryside together on their scooters.

Of course, health concerns are real concerns here. Everyone has to learn and to adjust to their own new limitations. Rolling walkers and wheelchairs abound. And everyone has to deal with residents' deaths on a regular basis, too. Going to every funeral can be tedious work. Hendrik holds off on them, after a while. Instead, his reports also include news of what's going on in The Netherlands, around Scandinavia, and in the world. He lives in a closed community, but everyone here keeps abreast of current events. Especially when they involve national politics or entertainment.

If you've taken care of someone elderly, or if you are reaching the age of finding your own limitations yourself, then you may enjoy reading these books. Hendrik, the real one or the fictitious one, is an enlightening, funny and yet realistic writer. Just because someone has moved into a nursing home doesn't mean that they've checked out of the mainstream entirely. A lot can be happening in there. This is the lesson he gives us. It's an important one.

I just learned that a prequel to this series came out in 2021: Two Old Men & a Baby: Or How Hendrik & Evert Get Themselves into a Jam. It's next on my reading list.