Book Review: The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared

Well, that is the world's longest book title! When I got this in Smith's, I was drawn by the mysterious-sounded title and blurb- A perfectly self-aware man waiting for his one hundred birthday party simply climbs out the window of his old people's home and wanders off. Thus begins the surreal and hilarious journey through Sweden on the run from the police.

Allan Karlsson, the centenarian, is an incredible character: Wise, cunning, passive and stubborn all at once. He is never angry and remains calm in the face of the most nerve-wracking of unhappy accidents. So long as he has access to vodka, he's happy with his lot.

The story is completely unbelievable: Incredible coincidences are in abundance, Allan manages to sweet-talk his way out of the stickiest of situations and somehow never gets stuck. As his past unravels, it turns out that he was on first-name terms with the most significant figures of the 20th century- Churchill, Stalin and President Truman to name a few. He accidentally and quite innocently influences the direction of the world's events without ever getting actively involved in politics.

Despite the almost ridiculous unbelievability of the events that unfold as the story develops- graually becoming more and more wild- the reader never doubts them. There is something about Allan that is inherently trustworthy. He never shies away from honesty, no matter how hard it may be to believe. At least, that's what we're led to believe!
It's a funny, engaging tale that compells the reader to keep unfolding the incredible events of Allan's one hundred years. A perfect summer read! 

Buy The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared here

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