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The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
 
 
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The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared [Kindle Edition]

Jonas Jonasson (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (563 customer reviews) |
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Review

'Imaginative, laugh-out-loud bestseller' The Telegraph

'Fast-moving and relentlessly sunny... Like Allan, the plot is pleasingly nimble and the book's endearing charm offers a happy alternative to the more familiar Nordic noir' The Guardian'

'A mordantly funny and loopily freewheeling debut novel about ageing disgracefully' The Sunday Times

'We can't wait to finally escape into this feelgood tale' Stylist

'Completely crazy, an incredibly funny story' Aftonbladet, Sweden

'First-rate' Der Spiegel, Germany

'Completely crazy, an incredibly funny story' Germany 'Swedish black comic novel that reads like a road trip with Forrest Gump at the wheel' NU.nl, Netherlands --Reviews

'First-rate' --Der Spiegel, Germany

'Completely crazy, an incredibly funny story' Germany 'Swedish black comic novel that reads like a road trip with Forrest Gump at the wheel' --NU.nl, Netherlands

Product Description

It all starts on the one-hundredth birthday of Allan Karlsson. Sitting quietly in his room in an old people’s home, he is waiting for the party he-never-wanted-anyway to begin. The Mayor is going to be there. The press is going to be there. But, as it turns out, Allan is not… Slowly but surely Allan climbs out of his bedroom window, into the flowerbed (in his slippers) and makes his getaway. And so begins his picaresque and unlikely journey involving criminals, several murders, a suitcase full of cash, and incompetent police. As his escapades unfold, we learn something of Allan’s earlier life in which – remarkably – he helped to make the atom bomb, became friends with American presidents, Russian tyrants, and Chinese leaders, and was a participant behind the scenes in many key events of the twentieth century. Already a huge bestseller across Europe, The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared is a fun and feel-good book for all ages.
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Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 578 KB
  • Print Length: 390 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1843913720
  • Publisher: Hesperus Press Ltd. (12 July 2012)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1843913720
  • ISBN-13: 978-1843913726
  • ASIN: B008D30K7E
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (563 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #3 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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› Visit Amazon's Jonas Jonasson Page
Jonas Jonasson
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
78 of 79 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars This old man has all his marbles... 27 Aug 2012
By Bizgen
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
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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93 of 100 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars From The Paperback Version 12 July 2012
By M. Dowden HALL OF FAME TOP 50 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Kindle Edition
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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60 of 65 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious & Clever 11 Sep 2012
By Ms. Emily Benet
Format: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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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, unlike anything I've read before.
I really enjoyed this book;so much so that I read it in just over a day. Would recommend it to anyone.
Published 5 minutes ago by Aisling
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining
History made easy and a clever storyline. Recommended to anyone interested in the 20th century, life and history and contemporary literature..
Published 43 minutes ago by Mrs. J. Sutton
5.0 out of 5 stars Laugh out loud!
I started reading this book with very little expection and then found myself pulled into a fantastic tale of one man's 100 year journey and then one final adventure. Read more
Published 1 hour ago by AndiM
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant book, read it!
Bought this book as a great price and loved the title. So glad I did as it is one of the best books I have read in a long time, the characters are all great and the story is just... Read more
Published 1 hour ago by gj
5.0 out of 5 stars Like a Swedish Forrest Gump.
One of the most uplifting, funny and entertaining books I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Every chapter made me laugh out loud and for perfect for my first book on the Kindle.
Published 1 hour ago by Samuel J Swindells
3.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Good read, very funny in places. Definitely worth the twenty pence that it cost. Would recommend to friends. Get it
Published 1 hour ago by Ross Frazer
5.0 out of 5 stars Crazy but excellent
I found this book extremely enjoyable, with its many sudden twists and turns in the plot. It was very cleverly written, with seemingly unrelated occurrences in Allan's life being... Read more
Published 2 hours ago by Ruby
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read
I bought this book as a gift for my brother who is an avid book reader and quite fussy. He told me it was most definitely the best book he had read this year. Read more
Published 3 hours ago by Sarah Ralphs
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic read...
The only time in my life that I have ever wanted to be a castrated centenarian, Allen Carlsson, my hero!
Published 3 hours ago by ditzybee
5.0 out of 5 stars Surprises with every chapter!
This book is a real page turner! I thoroughly recommend it to any one who wants to read something a little bit different.
Published 4 hours ago by Katie
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