I was completely blown away by this book. It brought to mind the early Tom Sharpe novels; irresistibly my mind kept floating away to a landscape peopled by eccentric old men, inefficient criminals, Peter Sellers in Pink Panther, all the caricatures of television farce.
I won’t detail the plot, you can see that from the other reviews, and by reading the blurb, that it concerns an eccentric pensioner with attitude, with a life story to match, who holds one’s attention all through the book. He needs his vodka and can’t stand the thought of his Centenary party at the old people’s home in which he has ended up where the Matron has been attempting to institutionalise him and take all the joy of choice from his life so, on a sudden whim, he hops out of the window and legs it to the bus station. The other sudden whim, nearly his undoing, was to then hop on the bus with someone else’s suitcase, entrusted to him by the owner, who had popped into the loo. So the tale begins.
It is peopled by real political leaders acting in fairly unbelievable ways (at least, I hope they are !) and yet there is a warning message running through this book on several levels, the least of them being a warning not to take anyone too seriously. Especially leaders of countries, matrons of retirement homes, in fact, anyone in authority, whether voted in or not.
Some people won’t like the way it goes from past to present, but when someone is one hundred years old, I am not sure there would be enough `present’ to build the story on. And it is the past which is so interesting, from a world political point of view, to someone like me who hates anything historical and especially about war. I have assimilated things that I have steadfastly refused to dwell on, and the comical presentation almost makes it more believable than the truth.
Do read this book if you want something to hold your attention, take you back to your father’s youth and most of all, if you want something to make you laugh.
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If you thought that Sweden only produced dour and depressing crime books, then think again. Jonas Jonasson has here produced a comic gem that has been gaining popularity by word of mouth alone.
Meet Allan Karlson, it is the 2nd May 2005, and he is just about to have a hundredth birthday party arranged by the old people’s home, where he resides. This isn’t what Allan wants though, so climbing out of his window he does a bunk. After stealing a suitcase on wheels he starts a manhunt for him, with both the police and criminals after him. As he progresses on his road trip he meets and makes friends with a host of unusual characters.
If that wasn’t funny enough and ripe for comedy we also have another story as such, as we are also shown Allan’s life. Allan has always tried to avoid politics, but throughout the 20th Century, there he is, with some of the big players of the time.
This book is never boring, it will have you laughing away at its comic incidents and characters. Allan just looks for the basics in life, a roof over his head, food and a drink. Ultimately he becomes someone whom you can’t help liking as you find out more about him, and the same goes for other characters in this book. Although there are deaths here ultimately this book is life affirming, and remember, you are never too old to have some adventure and fun.
This paperback edition also contains a short interview with the author, as well as a reading group guide. Indeed this would make great book for a group to read.
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This review is from: The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared (Paperback)
This is the most entertaining book I’ve read for years. I found myself grinning every couple of pages. I loved the absurdity of the main character meeting all these historical world leaders and his wonderful attitude to them. The way the author uses indirect speech makes it hilarious. It’s a feel-good book, great fun and by the end all I’m wishing is I have as many adventures when I hit 100 years of age!
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This old man has all his marbles…,
I was completely blown away by this book. It brought to mind the early Tom Sharpe novels; irresistibly my mind kept floating away to a landscape peopled by eccentric old men, inefficient criminals, Peter Sellers in Pink Panther, all the caricatures of television farce.
I won’t detail the plot, you can see that from the other reviews, and by reading the blurb, that it concerns an eccentric pensioner with attitude, with a life story to match, who holds one’s attention all through the book. He needs his vodka and can’t stand the thought of his Centenary party at the old people’s home in which he has ended up where the Matron has been attempting to institutionalise him and take all the joy of choice from his life so, on a sudden whim, he hops out of the window and legs it to the bus station. The other sudden whim, nearly his undoing, was to then hop on the bus with someone else’s suitcase, entrusted to him by the owner, who had popped into the loo. So the tale begins.
It is peopled by real political leaders acting in fairly unbelievable ways (at least, I hope they are !) and yet there is a warning message running through this book on several levels, the least of them being a warning not to take anyone too seriously. Especially leaders of countries, matrons of retirement homes, in fact, anyone in authority, whether voted in or not.
Some people won’t like the way it goes from past to present, but when someone is one hundred years old, I am not sure there would be enough `present’ to build the story on. And it is the past which is so interesting, from a world political point of view, to someone like me who hates anything historical and especially about war. I have assimilated things that I have steadfastly refused to dwell on, and the comical presentation almost makes it more believable than the truth.
Do read this book if you want something to hold your attention, take you back to your father’s youth and most of all, if you want something to make you laugh.
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|From The Paperback Version,
If you thought that Sweden only produced dour and depressing crime books, then think again. Jonas Jonasson has here produced a comic gem that has been gaining popularity by word of mouth alone.
Meet Allan Karlson, it is the 2nd May 2005, and he is just about to have a hundredth birthday party arranged by the old people’s home, where he resides. This isn’t what Allan wants though, so climbing out of his window he does a bunk. After stealing a suitcase on wheels he starts a manhunt for him, with both the police and criminals after him. As he progresses on his road trip he meets and makes friends with a host of unusual characters.
If that wasn’t funny enough and ripe for comedy we also have another story as such, as we are also shown Allan’s life. Allan has always tried to avoid politics, but throughout the 20th Century, there he is, with some of the big players of the time.
This book is never boring, it will have you laughing away at its comic incidents and characters. Allan just looks for the basics in life, a roof over his head, food and a drink. Ultimately he becomes someone whom you can’t help liking as you find out more about him, and the same goes for other characters in this book. Although there are deaths here ultimately this book is life affirming, and remember, you are never too old to have some adventure and fun.
This paperback edition also contains a short interview with the author, as well as a reading group guide. Indeed this would make great book for a group to read.
Was this review helpful to you?
|Hilarious & Clever,
This is the most entertaining book I’ve read for years. I found myself grinning every couple of pages. I loved the absurdity of the main character meeting all these historical world leaders and his wonderful attitude to them. The way the author uses indirect speech makes it hilarious. It’s a feel-good book, great fun and by the end all I’m wishing is I have as many adventures when I hit 100 years of age!
Was this review helpful to you?
|