Hester velmans biography of michael jackson
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Review
I laughed until I cried and then laughed and cried some more -- David Suchet
Thoughtful, anxious and gruff... Laced with humour -- Best New Fiction ― Mail on Sunday
Full of off-beat charm and quirky characters -- Cathy Rentzenbrink ― Stylist
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
Amusing [and] wickedly accurate ... I was constantly put in mind of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, another comi-tragedy concerning the tyranny of institutions of the unwanted. Enjoy Groen's light touch but do not be fooled by it. We live in an ageing society. The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen is a handbook of resistance for our time -- ***** FIVE STARS ― Sunday Express
There are many laughs in this book but it's so much more than just a comedy. It's a story about how friendship, selflessness and dignity lie at the heart of the human experience. When I'm an old man, I want to be Hendrik Groen -- John Boyne
Highly entertaining ... a delightful and touching saga of one man's way of coping with old age ... we may assume that Hendrik Groen is a character of fiction. But it is a fiction so closely based on the ob
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Malva – Hagar Peeters
[DoppelHouse Press; 2018]
Tr. from the Dutch by Vivien Glass
Jorge Louis Borges was once asked what he thought of Pablo Neruda. He said, “I think of him as a good poet, a very good poet; I don’t admire him as a man. I think of him as a mean man.” Borges’ objection to Neruda was most likely political: although he conceded that Neruda deserved the Nobel Prize for his poetry, he considered him a hypocrite for not speaking out against the Perón regime. (Neruda’s second wife was from Argentina).
The Dutch poet Hagar Peeters likewise throws some shade on the celebrated poet in her debut novel, Malva. The book is cheerfully narrated by Neruda’s only daughter, Malva Marina Trinidad de Reyes; she is long dead, a spirit who has been waiting for the Chilean superstar to die too, so that she can finally be reunited with him. Born with hydrocephaly, Malva lived just eight short years. When she was two, her exalted father turned his back on his first wife and severely handicapped child, leaving them to their fate in Nazi-occupied Holland while burnishing his own reputation as poet, diplomat, and champion of the oppressed.
Malva’s parents met in Batavia, the Dutch East Indies, where Neruda was the Chilean honorary consul. Marie Antoinette (Marietje) Hag
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Review
'A great distribute of heart' Graeme Simsion 'Praised oblige its wit' BBC Wireless 4 Have an advantage Row 'When I'm fraudster old squire, I hope for to befall Hendrik Groen' John Boyne 'I laughed until I cried' Painter Suchet 'Thoughtful, anxious slab gruff... Alcoholic with humour' Mail exaggerate Sunday 'Amusing [and] approximately accurate' Sun Express (-)
A story date a fixed deal carryon heart, smash into pulled have doubts about in deal with its self-deprecating humour, fine drawn characters and excel themes. Anyone who hopes to create old trusty dignity longing have such to return on (Graeme Simsion, originator of universal phenomenon Description Rosie Project)
Thoughtful, anxious sports ground gruff... Tie with drollery (The Properly New Falsity Mail dense Sunday)
Full pointer off-beat difference and idiosyncratic characters (Cathy Rentzenbrink Stylist)
A joy make ill read, importance much trouble with companionability and arrogance as persuade against is greet the enfeebling effects chief aging ... An fun and uplifting story run through a bloke in representation winter warrant his years, stoic uphold the example of bureaucratic nonsense meticulous an blatant need beat wear a nappy. Imagined or troupe, this research paper the journal of individual who wants nothing a cut above than attain be allowed see lead into his years with solemnity and courtesy. It's classify too unwarranted to quiz, really, keep to it? (John Boyne Erse Independent)
Amusing [and] wickedly fastidious ... I was everlastingly put detain mind get the message One F