The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

Basically a Swedish Forrest Gump.

Surprisingly acerbic! The advertised Scandinavian pop silliness is present, but tamped down nicely by the Gulliver's Travels satire: a man blown around by the mad political convulsions of the past century. Key tension: the book's main target is people in the grip of political ideologies. The eponymous Allan is held up as a model exception: possessing sensible, apolitical, unfashionable grit and humour. But Allan ends up enabling atrocities: he saves Franco's life in '39! He gives Stalin the bomb! Are we supposed to conclude, against the narrator and protagonist, that political neutrality is actually a horror? Jokes were ok, this tension was good. In one sentence: You shouldn't underestimate old people or hurt anyone over politics, lol.

“Never try to out-drink a Swede, unless you happen to be a Finn or at least a Russian”

** spoiler alert ** ✨REVIEW - The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared✨ by Jonas Jonasson Where to begin with this whirlwind book? It is unlike anything else I have ever read and every moment of it is enjoyable. I usually read very quickly, but this book demands that you slow down and savour the incredible journey as it unfolds. After leading a truly remarkable life, 100-year-old Allan Karlsson dons his slippers, climbs out the window of his retirement home and embarks on an adventure featuring a suitcase filled with cash and a ragtag group of misfits - a petty criminal, a highly educated hot dog vendor, The Beauty and Sonya the elephant. The story flips between present day and the past, providing snapshots of Allan’s unbelievable life, including his affinity for blowing things up! After accidentally blowing up a man, Allan is institutionalized for 4 years. Upon his release, his lifelong adventure begins! He travels to Spain (by foot) and plays both sides during the Spanish Civil War, assisted both the Americans and Russians in the development of the atom bomb, and became well know to some of the most powerful world leaders, including Harry S. Truman, Chiang Kai-Shek, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon and a very young Kim Jong-il! Allan travels the world (often by foot) and is integral to both the creation of the atom bomb and later the disarmament treaties between America and Russia. He is a character that you cannot help but love. This book is truly exceptional, in both its storytelling and in the seamless way the author incorporates important historical events and figures. I loved every moment of the book and was sad when it was finished. 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #100YearOldMan #JonasJonasson #bookclub #books #bookstagram #book #booklover #readin#anxiouspeopleg #bookworm #bookstagrammer #read #bookish #booknerd #bookaddict #bibliophile #booksofinstagram #instabook #love #bookshelf #bookaholic #reader #booklove #booksbooksbooks #readersofinstagram #instabooks #literature

** spoiler alert ** 3.5/5 This was a fairly fun read. Some of the humor and scenes fell flat for me. But I enjoyed the interwoven historical events in the flashbacks. The story doesn't have many stakes and some suspension of disbelief is definitely needed.

This book is a comedic masterpiece. Based off the title alone, you probably already expect a wild ride but nothing can prepare you for how crazy Allan and his unexpected gang's journey gets. From hiding an elephant in a truck, to fooling the FBI, and even saving Churchill, this book has it all. The ending is so satisfying and leaves you feeling warm inside. My only warning for this book is that you might be thought strange when you're reading in public and laughing quietly to yourself (from personal experience).

Unfortunately, the book was not as promising as I wanted it to be. I read it kind of slow, but still it was not that bad. The alternation between the past of Allan and the present moment left me confused at times. The humour is odd, but that doesn't mean it's not funny. The plot is rather chaotic, but I guess that was the idea of the book. Not really absorbing, that's why I'm giving it two stars.

A cross between Forrest Gump and Big Fish that just didn't quite hit the mark for me. Still a few entertaining moments, jut not the laugh out loud ones I expected.

This is one of the rare occasions where I would have enjoyed this more as a physical book. The story itself was fun and amusing. It reminded me of "Around the World in 80 Days". But the narrator for the audiobook read the entire book in the same voice and tone. The characters didn't speak in different ways and there was a lack of inflection for exciting moments. As such, I definitely missed parts and had to go back to relisten. Even with a few relistens the transitions between scenes didn't make sense to me. That might just be my lockdown brain though.