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The HundredYearOld Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared [Paperback] Jonasson Jonas Jonas Jonasson 8601423309545 Books

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The HundredYearOld Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared [Paperback] Jonasson Jonas Jonas Jonasson 8601423309545 Books

Allan Karlsson firmly believes that "When life has gone into overtime it's easy to take liberties." So when he crawls out the window of his nursing home, just minutes before his 100th birthday party, sparking a manhunt and a cascading chain of events, he takes it all in stride. Allan first makes his way to the bus station, where he buys a ticket to as far away as he can get for a 50 crown note. A young man asks Allan to watch his suitcase while he takes a dump, and Allan impulsively decides to board his bus with the young man's suitcase, leaving the angry young man behind.

It turns out the young man is part of a criminal gang (albeit a small, bumbling one) and the suitcase is full of cash. As Allan traverses the Swedish countryside, with law enforcement and a criminal gang on his tail, he proceeds more or less obliviously, in search of a good meal and a drink of vodka. As the story unfolds, Jonasson takes us on a series of flashbacks, telling Allan's life story. In his century of life, his pursuit of vodka and a good meal took him from Sweden, across Europe, Asia, and the U.S. Along the way, he dined with presidents and other key figures, crossed the Himalayas on foot, and aided in the development of the atomic bomb.

Allan's simple, common-sense approach to life and Jonasson's wry observations make the book. For example, on the "fantastic wealth" oil provided for England and Iran. The wealth went to "mainly England, if the truth be told, but that was only fair because Iran's sole contribution to the project was cheap labor--and of course the oil itself." Then there was the time Brezhnev "thought that Afghanistan needed his help. So he sent his elite troops into the country, and they happened to kill the sitting president, so that Brezhnev had no choice but to appoint his own." Then there was the Anglican priest who tried to convince some Iranian communists to adopt Anglicanism so that "Anglicanism would become the state religion in Iran the day the communists took over." He did try to pray about his work in Iran: "But God answered with silence. He did that sometimes, and Father Ferguson always interpreted it to mean that he should think for himself. Admittedly, it didn't always work out well when the pastor thought for himself, but you couldn't just give up." I can relate to that!

The 100-Year-Old-Man is a fun read, with understated humor and a convoluted story line. This is the kind of book that Dave Barry's Lunatics was trying to be. I was reminded more of Jaroslav Hasek's The Good Soldier Svejk. I only wish Peter Sellers were alive to play Allan in the movie version! It's been a best seller in Sweden since its publication in 2009, and is now available in English in the U.S.

Thanks to Edelweis and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!


Tags : The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared [Paperback] Jonasson, Jonas [Jonas Jonasson] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The international publishing sensation-over two million copies sold.\n\nA reluctant centenarian much like Forrest Gump (if Gump were an explosives expert with a fondness for vodka) decides it's not too late to start over ...\n\nAfter a long and eventful life,Jonas Jonasson,The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared [Paperback] Jonasson, Jonas,Hesperus Press,1843913720

The HundredYearOld Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared [Paperback] Jonasson Jonas Jonas Jonasson 8601423309545 Books Reviews

Set in the quaint backcountry of Sweden, this totally delightful story begins with a centenarian who breaks out of his rest home. He comes upon a suitcase stuffed with money and meets up with characters good and bad, chased by both. As he becomes embroiled in events soon followed by the national press, this sighted "Mr. McGoo" is flat-out HILARIOUS, as are some of the country-bumpkins both chasing and abetting him, including one ally with a captured elephant. Yet all of this is very Swedish, down-home realistic, not slapstick.
As we follow this narrative, interspersed are tales of the old man's spectacular accomplishments in earlier times when he had more of his faculties. He was always apolitical to a fault, highly generous, but very naive, which continually led him into dangerous situations. For example, he helped the Los Alamos physicists develop the atomic bomb but, ever helpful, did the same later for the USSR. These earlier scenes are as HILARIOUS as those in the present, including his squirrelly adventures in Spain, America, China, the Himalayas, Iran, Russia, North Korea, and France, where he personally met with their squirrelly leaders.
However, if you wish to follow only the centenarian's current misadventures, you can just skip to the chapters in present time, as the chapters are labeled by year - but then you'd miss some of the best parts of this book.
The book is perfectly written and edited. NO ONE SHOULD MISS OUT ON THIS STORY!
Charming, unbelievable, hilarious, quirky... I enjoyed both the present day journey of Allan and the story of his life. That historical figures weave into the story was originally off-putting to me, but it was a highlight of the book. I'm not a history person but I imagine history buffs will especially get a kick out of it. While I enjoyed the book quite a bit my overall impression and rating is dampened because the chapters surrounding his past at times felt too long. I found his current journey the more engaging story line but his past encounters had some of the funniest bits. It's a fun, silly read.

Recommend for Readers who enjoy unlikely, over-the-top, humorous situations. Bonus points if you're a history buff. Readers who don't mind jumping between present day and past timelines (each with their own narrative). Readers who enjoy a protagonist who is equal parts hero and fool.
When I saw this book I knew I had to grab a copy as a gift for my brother in law's father who turned 100 last week. (Happy Birthday Zach! photo below!) When I noted it had sold 5 million copies and was being released as a movie, I skimmed it and decided it would be an interesting read. And it was. Sort of a "Forrest Gump" for seniors as some of the characters included his the review of his life and wanderings include Harry Truman, General Franco, Stalin, Mao Zedong and others and include descriptions of his assisting in the development of the atomic bomb while working as a janitor as Los Alamos. Some of the fictional characters are great - Einstein's dumber half brother, for example and the twists and turns of his life, though farfetched are interesting. All in all, a fun read. Take a copy to the beach!
Allan Karlsson firmly believes that "When life has gone into overtime it's easy to take liberties." So when he crawls out the window of his nursing home, just minutes before his 100th birthday party, sparking a manhunt and a cascading chain of events, he takes it all in stride. Allan first makes his way to the bus station, where he buys a ticket to as far away as he can get for a 50 crown note. A young man asks Allan to watch his suitcase while he takes a dump, and Allan impulsively decides to board his bus with the young man's suitcase, leaving the angry young man behind.

It turns out the young man is part of a criminal gang (albeit a small, bumbling one) and the suitcase is full of cash. As Allan traverses the Swedish countryside, with law enforcement and a criminal gang on his tail, he proceeds more or less obliviously, in search of a good meal and a drink of vodka. As the story unfolds, Jonasson takes us on a series of flashbacks, telling Allan's life story. In his century of life, his pursuit of vodka and a good meal took him from Sweden, across Europe, Asia, and the U.S. Along the way, he dined with presidents and other key figures, crossed the Himalayas on foot, and aided in the development of the atomic bomb.

Allan's simple, common-sense approach to life and Jonasson's wry observations make the book. For example, on the "fantastic wealth" oil provided for England and Iran. The wealth went to "mainly England, if the truth be told, but that was only fair because Iran's sole contribution to the project was cheap labor--and of course the oil itself." Then there was the time Brezhnev "thought that Afghanistan needed his help. So he sent his elite troops into the country, and they happened to kill the sitting president, so that Brezhnev had no choice but to appoint his own." Then there was the Anglican priest who tried to convince some Iranian communists to adopt Anglicanism so that "Anglicanism would become the state religion in Iran the day the communists took over." He did try to pray about his work in Iran "But God answered with silence. He did that sometimes, and Father Ferguson always interpreted it to mean that he should think for himself. Admittedly, it didn't always work out well when the pastor thought for himself, but you couldn't just give up." I can relate to that!

The 100-Year-Old-Man is a fun read, with understated humor and a convoluted story line. This is the kind of book that Dave Barry's Lunatics was trying to be. I was reminded more of Jaroslav Hasek's The Good Soldier Svejk. I only wish Peter Sellers were alive to play Allan in the movie version! It's been a best seller in Sweden since its publication in 2009, and is now available in English in the U.S.

Thanks to Edelweis and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!