The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (2009)

https://iwriteinbooks.wordpress.com/2019/01/15/the-100-year-old-man-who-climbed-...

On his one hundredth birthday, Allen Karlsson has better things to do than to wait around for the town and media outlets to celebrate his centenarian event.

What starts off innocently enough (as innocent as breaking out of an old folks home can be), quickly picks up speed as a wild run through time and the countryside.

Along his dash, Karlsson picks up some unlikely traveling companions (including a long haired would-be vet and an elephant named Sonya.

The present day caper (or string of capers as the case may be), is told in multiple third person view points and is sprinkled with more than a handful of historical flashbacks, morphing Allan into a likely contender for Sweden's Forrest Gump.

The story is an easy read, though there are inumberable moving parts. At one point, I thought to myself that I should have kept a running list of characters and their back stories.

None of the characters are particularly likeable in their own right but mushed together and tossed in an adventure, they made for a delightful pack.

I have the second book on my night stand, at the moment, as an ARC and though I can possibly imagine it will top the first, I’m more than ready to find out if it holds up to the wild and scandal of the initial installment.

This isn’t my usual genre but I’m attempting to stretch myself a little bit, this year. If I could be guaranteed that all of my adult literally stories would be on par with Jonas Jonasson, it would be much of a challenge at all. ( )

Think positive, and all will be good.
Whatever happens, should happen anyway.
That's how Alan believes and works for a hundred years, and this method entirely justifies itself throughout his life. Alan Carlson, a 100-year-old Swede, comes out of his bedroom window on his 100th birthday, shortly before his planned birthday party. The book tells the story of his current adventures in 2005, from the moment he fled from his room onwards.
This is a funny and exciting book, but towards the end, a little bit loses rhythm and starts repeating itself.
All in all, a lovely book called with fluency and pleasure. ( )

Laugh-out-loud funny....

Allan Karlsson is the guest of honor at his 100th Birthday Party, but being the adventurous sort , he decides he'd rather not be present and so climbs out the window, walks to the bus station.

At the bus station he meets up w/ a Never Again gang member, "Bucket". Bucket needs to use the bathroom & asks Allan to watch his suitcase.

Allan's bus arrives and he decides to take the suitcase (filled w/ drug money) with him... thus embarking on a journey like no other... except for Allan, his entire life has been a journey like no other>

Allan has met, dined, and been of service to: Franco, Stalin, Harry Truman, Madame Chiang-Kai Shek, Chairman Mao Zedong, Kim Il Jong, a Shah of Iran, Winston Churchill, & Charles de Gaulle to name a few.

I enjoyed the historical references, as they explained quite a bit about world history; but I much preferred Allan's current adventures after climbing out the window of the old folks' home.

I also enjoyed the characters and being able to laugh throughout most all of the book.

It was absurd in places & a bit long, so I cut it down 1 star.... ( )

I had to put this aside because a bunch of books I was asked to review came in, but since I read most of it earlier in this year, I wanted to keep track of it in this year. Will come back and finish/rate when I can finish/rate it properl

Initially I was captivated by this book enjoying the attitude and adventure of this centenarian. As his adventure continues the reader learns of Allan's life over the past 100 years. It then becomes a romp through important events in history. Allan's talent with explosives has him dining with El Franco, Truman, Mao Tse-tung etc. At this point I started to feel impatient as there was a certain predictability about where it was heading.
Others found this entertaining but I won't be seeking anymore by this author. ( )