Name: Laura Mauler's review of The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
Item: The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared
Rating: 2
Author: Laura Mauler

Jonas Jonasson

"After a long and eventful life, Allan Karlsson ends up in a nursing home. The only problem is that he's still in good health, and in one day, he turns 100. A celebration is in the works, but Allan isn't interested (and he'd like a bit more control over his vodka consumption). So he decides to escape. He climbs out the window in his slippers and embarks on a hilarious and entirely unexpected journey."--from inside front cover.

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

Crystal L

The international publishing sensation--over two million copies sold A 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... After a long and eventful life, Allan Karlsson ends up in a nursing home, believing it to be his last stop. The only problem is that he's still in good health, and in one day, he turns 100. A big celebration is in the works, but Allan really isn't interested (and he'd like a bit more control over his vodka consumption). So he decides to escape. He climbs out the window in his slippers and embarks on a hilarious and entirely unexpected journey, involving, among other surprises, a suitcase stuffed with cash, some unpleasant criminals, a friendly hot-dog stand operator, and an elephant (not to mention a death by elephant). It would be the adventure of a lifetime for anyone else, but Allan has a larger-than-life backstory: Not only has he witnessed some of the most important events of the twentieth century, but he has actually played a key role in them. Starting out in munitions as a boy, he somehow finds himself involved in many of the key explosions of the twentieth century and travels the world, sharing meals and more with everyone from Stalin, Churchill, and Truman to Mao, Franco, and de Gaulle. Quirky and utterly unique, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared has charmed readers across the world. Jonas Jonasson is a former journalist and media consultant. He lives in Sweden.

Laura Mauler

Gavin

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.

The international publishing sensation--over four million copies sold A 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 . . . After a long and eventful life, Allan Karlsson ends up in a nursing home, believing it to be his last stop. The only problem is that he's still in good health, and one day he turns 100. A big celebration is in the works, but Allan really isn't interested (and he'd like a bit more control over his vodka consumption). So he decides to escape. He climbs out the window in his slippers and embarks on a hilarious and entirely unexpected journey, involving, among other surprises, a suitcase stuffed with cash, some unpleasant criminals, a friendly hot-dog stand operator, and an elephant (not to mention a death by elephant). It would be the adventure of a lifetime for anyone else, but Allan has a larger-than-life backstory: Not only has he witnessed some of the most important events of the twentieth century, but he has actually played a key role in them. Starting out in munitions as a boy, he somehow finds himself involved in many of the key explosions of the twentieth century and travels the world, sharing meals and more with everyone from Stalin, Churchill, and Truman, to Mao, Franco, and de Gaulle. Quirky and utterly unique, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared has charmed readers across the world.

Obada Mu

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

Summer Cashmore

** 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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Manohar

** 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.

katarina sarmo

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).

Desislava Milcheva

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.

Jan Talkington

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.

Lysh (She/Her)

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.

Crystal L &
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

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Crystal L &The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

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Crystal L &
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson