Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Hesperus Press Ltd (2012), 395 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. HTML: 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 tomorrow is his hundredth birthday. 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.Quirky and utterly unique, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared has charmed over two million people around the world.… (more)
Media reviews
Fast-moving and relentlessly sunny, the novel quickly develops into a romp that takes in all the major events of the 20th century. . . the plot is pleasingly nimble and the book's endearing charm offers a happy alternative to the more familiar Nordic noir.
Stalin synger svenske drikkeviser, og Truman blir dritings .Forrest Gump som hundreåring i ny bok.
ANMELDELSE: Han redder general Franco, riktignok etter først å ha plassert en bombe for å drepe ham. Han avverger et attentat mot Churchill, og gir Oppenheimer den endelige løsningen på
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formelen for atombomben.
Det rene soap altså. Samtidig er det — på sin høyst skakke og fantasifulle måte — en fantastisk reise gjennom forrige århundre.
Jonas Jonassen er intelligent, vittig og systemkritisk, der han harver over alt fra fjollete politifolk, rasehygienikere og despoters ideologiske paranoia. I en bok som gir håp om at alle har en fremtid, også hundreåringer. Show Less
Nästan frustande av alla förvecklingar som ryms i debuten släpper jag snart taget en bit in i läsningen. Jag inser att precis vad som helst kan hända och kommer att göra det. Författaren tycks bubbla av infallsrikedom strösslad med lite sensmoral.
User reviews
LibraryThing member jnwelch
"Chief Inspector Aronsson felt a little disappointed at the way things had developed. It would have been much more fun to save a geriatric from the clutches of a gang of criminals, rather than - as now - failing to save the criminals from the geriatric."
The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the
It also turns out that Karlsson is much more capable of handling unpredictable events than might be supposed. His back story is threaded through the rest of the book. As a young man he inherited a dynamite factory and taught himself to be an explosives expert. That skill, in turn, gets him involved in many of the wars of the 20th century, and leads him to meeting leaders from all over the world. There's a bit of a Zelig or Forrest Gump quality to it all, as he goes on wartime adventures that include Spain, America, China, the Himalayas, France, Russia and Iran. He spends time at Los Alamos that proves critical to the creation of the atomic bomb, and has an unlikely celebration night drinking tequila with Harry Truman. He has hilarious meet-ups with Franco and Stalin, manages to save Churchill's life, and so on. DeGaulle can't find him to give him a well-deserved medal, and Stalin punishes him for reciting an unintentionally offensive poem.
What adds to the humor is Karlsson is totally apolitical; he is led on his adventures by the friendships he develops. "On the one hand, you shouldn't lie. On the other, it would be best not to reveal to the general that it was Allan who had set the charge under the bridge and that he had, for the last three years, been a civilian employee of the republican army. Allan wasn't shy, but in this particular case there was a dinner and good booze on offer. The truth could be temporarily set aside, Allan thought."
That practical approach, often driven by good food and booze, is his most defining characteristic. As he manages to make friends and navigate his 100 year self through the minefield of potential mishaps in the present day, even the boss criminal develops a grudging admiration for him. If you're looking for a diversion with some good laughs, that also gives some up close and personal Dr. Strangelove-like perspective on key 20th century leaders and events, this one should fit the bill.
The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the
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Window by Jonas Jonasson, translated from the Swedish original, is an entertaining combination of caper and picaresque. In the present day, 100 year old Allan Karlsson slips out a ground floor window to avoid his boring birthday party, decides to hang onto a big suitcase he acquires by accident at the bus station, and heads off as far as he can go with the money he has in his pocket. Turns out the big suitcase he keeps is full of money from a criminal operation, and the hijinks begin.It also turns out that Karlsson is much more capable of handling unpredictable events than might be supposed. His back story is threaded through the rest of the book. As a young man he inherited a dynamite factory and taught himself to be an explosives expert. That skill, in turn, gets him involved in many of the wars of the 20th century, and leads him to meeting leaders from all over the world. There's a bit of a Zelig or Forrest Gump quality to it all, as he goes on wartime adventures that include Spain, America, China, the Himalayas, France, Russia and Iran. He spends time at Los Alamos that proves critical to the creation of the atomic bomb, and has an unlikely celebration night drinking tequila with Harry Truman. He has hilarious meet-ups with Franco and Stalin, manages to save Churchill's life, and so on. DeGaulle can't find him to give him a well-deserved medal, and Stalin punishes him for reciting an unintentionally offensive poem.
What adds to the humor is Karlsson is totally apolitical; he is led on his adventures by the friendships he develops. "On the one hand, you shouldn't lie. On the other, it would be best not to reveal to the general that it was Allan who had set the charge under the bridge and that he had, for the last three years, been a civilian employee of the republican army. Allan wasn't shy, but in this particular case there was a dinner and good booze on offer. The truth could be temporarily set aside, Allan thought."
That practical approach, often driven by good food and booze, is his most defining characteristic. As he manages to make friends and navigate his 100 year self through the minefield of potential mishaps in the present day, even the boss criminal develops a grudging admiration for him. If you're looking for a diversion with some good laughs, that also gives some up close and personal Dr. Strangelove-like perspective on key 20th century leaders and events, this one should fit the bill.
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LibraryThing member Amsa1959
I can´t understand that this novel has got so enormously popular. It is one of the lousiest books I´ve read. It seems to be written by a student trying to be fun and literary at the same time.
Do NOT read it!
Do NOT read it!
LibraryThing member SandDune
On his one hundredth birthday Allan Karlsson climbs out of the window of his room on the ground floor of the Old People's Home where he lives, less than an hour before his birthday party is due to start. Escaping from the strict regime enforced by the bad-tempered Director Alice, of no-smoking, no
Interspersed with this story is the history of Allan's life. Having left school at ten, becoming an errand boy in an explosives factory gives him an expertise in explosives which takes him to the Spanish Civil war (where he inadvertently saves General Franco's life while supposedly on the side of the republicans), to Los Alamos for the development of the atomic bomb, and onwards to most of the major events of the twentieth century. Without ever meaning to, he manages to become on first name terms with several of the major figures of the times, which comes in handy for somehow who finds himself so frequently in the world's troublespots. These two stories do not intermingle until right at the end of the book, where even at the age of a hundred Allan discovers that he still has contacts.
With a surreal and fantastical plot, and a marvellous cast of characters, this is a very funny book. It's totally unbelievable but that doesn't matter: it's clearly not meant to be taken seriously. I rarely find that books that are advertised as funny actually make me laugh - in fact I'm struggling to think of the last adult book that did so - but the current day escapades of Allan and his henchmen did that on numerous occasions. I found that the sections on Allan's past worked less successfully for me, but were still amusing. This is the first book by the author and I'll definitely be on the look out for anything else he writes.
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vodka and porridge for breakfast at 6.45 every morning, he takes the first bus out of town to wherever a fifty krona note will take him. Never one to consider very carefully the consequences of his actions, at the bus station he steals the suitcase that he has been asked to look after while its owner, a long-haired uncouth youth, goes to the bathroom. Of course, the suitcase is full of money from a drug deal, and the youth is a violent but not too bright gang member who is extremely anxious to get the money back and exact revenge on the old guy who has seemingly taken it. But things do not go as might be expected, and Allan finds that in the eyes of the police he changes from a senile and misplaced old man, to a kidnap victim, to a violent criminal with alarming speed. Picking up a motley crew of accomplices along the way, Allan must evade both gang members and police, in an increasingly surreal chase across Sweden.Interspersed with this story is the history of Allan's life. Having left school at ten, becoming an errand boy in an explosives factory gives him an expertise in explosives which takes him to the Spanish Civil war (where he inadvertently saves General Franco's life while supposedly on the side of the republicans), to Los Alamos for the development of the atomic bomb, and onwards to most of the major events of the twentieth century. Without ever meaning to, he manages to become on first name terms with several of the major figures of the times, which comes in handy for somehow who finds himself so frequently in the world's troublespots. These two stories do not intermingle until right at the end of the book, where even at the age of a hundred Allan discovers that he still has contacts.
With a surreal and fantastical plot, and a marvellous cast of characters, this is a very funny book. It's totally unbelievable but that doesn't matter: it's clearly not meant to be taken seriously. I rarely find that books that are advertised as funny actually make me laugh - in fact I'm struggling to think of the last adult book that did so - but the current day escapades of Allan and his henchmen did that on numerous occasions. I found that the sections on Allan's past worked less successfully for me, but were still amusing. This is the first book by the author and I'll definitely be on the look out for anything else he writes.
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LibraryThing member cameling
If you want a hilarious history lesson of not just events in the last 80 or so years, but of political leaders such as Stalin, Churchill, Kim Jong Il, the Shah of Iran, Henry Truman and Mao Tze Tung to name but a few, this is the book to be read and chortled over.
Allan Karlsson of Sweden, living in
And from that point, the fun starts. He meets a young man who asks him to look after his large suitcase while he goes to the bathroom. But before he returns, Allan's bus arrives so what is he to do? He makes a spur of the moment decision to take the suitcase with him, and from that point on, he embarks on a journey in which he meets a poacher, a failed academic who now owns a failing hotdog stand, a woman with an escaped elephant and an injured gang leader.
Oh and the police now have an arrest warrant out for him and his gang.
Alternating chapters with segments of his life from the time his father left him as a boy, through the years when he discovered a penchant for understanding and building explosives, we follow his incredible and hilarious journey through Sweden, China, America, the USSR, Tehran, Indonesia, France and North Korea, meeting world leaders and inadvertently playing a part in certain epic events, not the least, how the atom bomb was invented.
I've not been so entertained in such a long time.
Allan Karlsson of Sweden, living in
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an old folks' home, decides on the morning of his 100th birthday, to climb out of the window and get himself a bottle of vodka. But why stop at vodka, why stay in this place at all when he's not having any fun and Director Alice has too many rules. And so he takes off in his bedroom slippers and shuffles along, over a wall, which is no mean feat for someone his age, and makes his way to the bus station. And from that point, the fun starts. He meets a young man who asks him to look after his large suitcase while he goes to the bathroom. But before he returns, Allan's bus arrives so what is he to do? He makes a spur of the moment decision to take the suitcase with him, and from that point on, he embarks on a journey in which he meets a poacher, a failed academic who now owns a failing hotdog stand, a woman with an escaped elephant and an injured gang leader.
Oh and the police now have an arrest warrant out for him and his gang.
Alternating chapters with segments of his life from the time his father left him as a boy, through the years when he discovered a penchant for understanding and building explosives, we follow his incredible and hilarious journey through Sweden, China, America, the USSR, Tehran, Indonesia, France and North Korea, meeting world leaders and inadvertently playing a part in certain epic events, not the least, how the atom bomb was invented.
I've not been so entertained in such a long time.
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LibraryThing member shelleyraec
This quirky, funny and clever novel follows the present and past adventures of the endearing Swedish centenarian, Allan Karlsson. Less than an hour before his 100th birthday celebration, Allan climbs out of the ground floor window of his nursing home with no real plan other than to avoid all the
Allan's life, we learn, is characterised by an extraordinary mix of luck and hubris. Endlessly optimistic and resourceful, as Allan travels across Sweden with the grey suitcase variously accompanied by a master thief, a hot dog seller, a red headed woman who spews profanity and an elephant named Sonya, we learn of his astounding personal history. Once an orphaned explosives expert, Allan's skill and his willingness to go wherever life takes him leads him around the globe at the behest of presidents, prime ministers and world leaders. Primarily motivated by good food and vodka, the apolitical, atheist Allen unwittingly plays a integral part in key moments of history from the creation of the Atom Bomb to preventing the assassination of Winston Churchill and giving Richard Nixon the idea that lead to the Watergate Scandal. The intertwining past and present narratives work wonderfully to create a picture of Allan's incredible life and somehow, despite the preposterous connections and unlikely predicaments, it is a journey that seems perfectly plausible.
Translated from the author's native Swedish, the writer's voice has a unique tone that works beautifully with the black humor and wry observation in this novel. The pace is excellent as Jonasson skillfully blends historical fact with fanciful fiction, eccentric comedy with social commentary.
It's fitting that I read The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared sipping on a Vodka 'Cruiser', I only wish I could have shared it with Allan. Charming, sharp and inventive, this novel has earned a place on my favourites list and comes with my sincere recommendation.
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fuss. Contemplating his next move at the local bus station, he is asked to mind a young man's suitcase and hoping it's contents may be useful, absconds with it on the next bus out of town. What follows is an absurd adventure as Allen is hunted by the criminal gang who wants the $50million crowns in the grey suitcase back and the police concerned for his well being, all the while collecting unusual allies in his wake.Allan's life, we learn, is characterised by an extraordinary mix of luck and hubris. Endlessly optimistic and resourceful, as Allan travels across Sweden with the grey suitcase variously accompanied by a master thief, a hot dog seller, a red headed woman who spews profanity and an elephant named Sonya, we learn of his astounding personal history. Once an orphaned explosives expert, Allan's skill and his willingness to go wherever life takes him leads him around the globe at the behest of presidents, prime ministers and world leaders. Primarily motivated by good food and vodka, the apolitical, atheist Allen unwittingly plays a integral part in key moments of history from the creation of the Atom Bomb to preventing the assassination of Winston Churchill and giving Richard Nixon the idea that lead to the Watergate Scandal. The intertwining past and present narratives work wonderfully to create a picture of Allan's incredible life and somehow, despite the preposterous connections and unlikely predicaments, it is a journey that seems perfectly plausible.
Translated from the author's native Swedish, the writer's voice has a unique tone that works beautifully with the black humor and wry observation in this novel. The pace is excellent as Jonasson skillfully blends historical fact with fanciful fiction, eccentric comedy with social commentary.
It's fitting that I read The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared sipping on a Vodka 'Cruiser', I only wish I could have shared it with Allan. Charming, sharp and inventive, this novel has earned a place on my favourites list and comes with my sincere recommendation.
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LibraryThing member Beamis12
Entertaining and clever, although I didn't walk around laughing out loud many parts made me smile. Can a 100 yr. old man be this agile and clever? I'm not sure but decided to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the story. He manages to become embroiled in a present day mishap at the same time we learn
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his back story, all the historical figures he met in his day and how he came to be in the Old Folks home. Set in Sweden, this novel highlights a man with a very long history who has gone from mishap to mishap, meeting many many famous people and has had a very long life. He hadn't let life just happen to him but completely enmeshed himself into everything it had to offer. Recommend for people who love a lighthearted and amusing look at aging and a book that it fun and doesn't take itself too seriously. Show Less
LibraryThing member pdepena
A little humorous, enjoyable read about an interesting old man who decides to escape the nursing home. Turns out he has had quite the interesting life, and he meets up with a few other oddball characters while unwittingly being chased by a criminal. Lots of convenient turns of plot but a good read
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in the end. Show Less
LibraryThing member MarthaJeanne
This book is just plain fun. The plot is totally ridiculous. There is hardly an important person in 20th century history after WWI who gets left out. And the events of 2005 are hardly less fantastic. The 100 year-old who climbs out of the window is soon under suspicion for three murders.
So don't
(I read this in German.)
So don't
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take the plot seriously. Just go along for the ride. Some of the writing is very good, and the descriptions come through even in translation. And if I'm ever threatened by a gandster with a revolver, I shall try to have an elephant close by.(I read this in German.)
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LibraryThing member Clara53
Though entertainingly witty, it's not all light and benevolent humor as the cover of the book would lead you to believe. It's very humorous, yes, throughout, but with the undercurrent of all sorts of misdeeds. (That's the thing - transgressions are turned into humor a bit too readily).
From the
A slight disappointment in the way the story is told from the side of the police pursuing the run-away - no suspense there, as we already know what is happening with him from his own perspective. But great pearls of wisdom here and there - as, for instance, what kept the old man going through life was what his mother had told him in childhood (one of the oldest surviving morals there is...) - that "things are what they are, and whatever will be will be" ... Simple and powerful. And here's one about racism: as a young Swede, the protagonist was extremely curious to see what black people were all about, but "it turned out that there was no difference other than the color of their skin, except of course that they spoke weird languages, but the whites did that too, from southern Sweden onwards." I think this book might make a good movie.
From the
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first page, one expects benign antics of a centegenarian, but things turn out not so benign after all, even though everything evens out at the end. Through the flashbacks into the not-so-plausible life of the protagonist, the author, however, manages to make a lot of excellent points about the most well-known (or notorious!) world leaders and about politics in general (here the former journalist in him comes through) - all told under the veil of light humor, no matter how grim some actions may be. A slight disappointment in the way the story is told from the side of the police pursuing the run-away - no suspense there, as we already know what is happening with him from his own perspective. But great pearls of wisdom here and there - as, for instance, what kept the old man going through life was what his mother had told him in childhood (one of the oldest surviving morals there is...) - that "things are what they are, and whatever will be will be" ... Simple and powerful. And here's one about racism: as a young Swede, the protagonist was extremely curious to see what black people were all about, but "it turned out that there was no difference other than the color of their skin, except of course that they spoke weird languages, but the whites did that too, from southern Sweden onwards." I think this book might make a good movie.
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LibraryThing member RandyMetcalfe
Pure nonsense. Sometimes nonsense is a good thing. It can be wacky or even charming. Here, I’m sorry to say, it is just dull.
The story follows the exploits of a 100-year-old man who escapes from an old-aged home, makes off with 50 million krona, eludes both gangsters and police, forms curious
At first I thought the problem must be the translation. Later I thought that perhaps the whole thing was just an elaborate joke that the Swedish publishing industry was foisting on us (I’m still hoping that might be the case). But sadly, I ended by concluding that the writing itself is just as plodding and unimaginative as it appears. Even Candide, whose peregrinations must be a sort of source, had something important to convey. Here, not so much.
The story follows the exploits of a 100-year-old man who escapes from an old-aged home, makes off with 50 million krona, eludes both gangsters and police, forms curious
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alliances, and largely confirms his recurrent motto, “Everything will work out just fine.” Interspersed with the story of his current exploits, we are treated to Allan Emmanuel Karlsson’s incredible life story in which he meets Presidents, kings, dictators, spies, and communists. Somehow he becomes fluent in Spanish, English, Russian, and Chinese (as well as his native Swedish). He drinks a considerable amount of vodka and notes that you should never attempt to drink a Swede under the table, unless you happen to be a Finn or a Russian. It’s not exactly new information, but it’s about the most reliable of anything you’ll encounter here. What is almost impressive is how such a remarkable life story can be so dull.At first I thought the problem must be the translation. Later I thought that perhaps the whole thing was just an elaborate joke that the Swedish publishing industry was foisting on us (I’m still hoping that might be the case). But sadly, I ended by concluding that the writing itself is just as plodding and unimaginative as it appears. Even Candide, whose peregrinations must be a sort of source, had something important to convey. Here, not so much.
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LibraryThing member brikis98
This book started off great. Fun Forrest-Gump-Esque premise, interesting characters, and good humor. And then it kept going. And going. And going. It kept repeating itself, retelling the same joke over and over, and got to the point where I didn't want to keep reading. It's a fun tale, but it would
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have been much better at half the length. Show Less
LibraryThing member richardgarside
Brilliant, contrived, crazy, unlikely, funny, entertaining - just the best book read this year. Great characters through out. Surely must be hard for the author to follow that.
LibraryThing member JenMDB
Hugely enjoyable. Except for the Epilogue. If I could erase that from my memory I would probably give the book 5 stars.
LibraryThing member foolplustime
It dragged rather too much in places - could have stood to be much shorter. Even so, good in parts.
LibraryThing member PennyAnne
While the comparison to Forrest Gump is unavoidable this charming book is so much better - a dry, wry tale of an 100 year old Swedish man (the book is originally Swedish), his adventures and the amazing things that have happened to him over his long life. Told partly in the present day and partly
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through flashbacks this is just a very funny story - as one of my friends said, it could be a Coen brothers' movie! Show Less
LibraryThing member voracious
This book started out with a good premise... a feisty 100 year old man climbs out of his nursing home window to escape his birthday party and have one last adventure. However, it soon turns into a far fetched tall tale, and though it is warm-hearted, it was too ridiculous for me to enjoy. Much like
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Forrest Gump, the story is sprinkled with famous people that the character just happened to meet and befriend. It's somewhat entertaining, but I didn't enjoy it enough to finish it. However, if you can put aside any need for realism, you may enjoy this more than I did. Show Less
LibraryThing member PaulaCheg
A great book - a bit unbelievable in a Forest Gumpy sort of a way, but funny and entertaining.
LibraryThing member debnance
This is the second book I’ve read this year about a man who has left his home and taken to the road and both books were European. (Is this a new trend in European novels?)
Road trips are old stories, I suppose, and yet also new. Maybe that’s what we like about them.
The main character, Allan
Delightful.
Road trips are old stories, I suppose, and yet also new. Maybe that’s what we like about them.
The main character, Allan
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Karlsson, in this story is one hundred years old and this is probably more in the tradition of a fairy tale, a Forrest Gump life, than a novel of realistic fiction. Our main character has managed to fight in the Spanish-American War and help create the nuclear bomb in New Mexico. Even at one hundred, Karlsson continues to have adventures, getting caught up in a drama with a suitcase full of money and gangsters trying to get it back.Delightful.
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LibraryThing member CptKirk
Brilliantly crafted and clever farce. Great fun and feel good without being at all sentimental. Defintely a top read for 2103.
LibraryThing member Minaudo
What fun.! one head of state too many perhaps?
LibraryThing member horomnizon
I really enjoyed this book and I've recommended it to quite a few friends already. The "Forrest Gump" like life of Allan Karlsson is intertwined with an adventure that starts on his 100th birthday when he leaves the nursing home (out the window of his room). I found the police hunt for Allan and
This seems to be a love it or hate it kind of thing and I loved it. We'll see what my friends say if any of them decide to give it a try.
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the friends he makes along the way quite amusing. I thought it was a good combination of light-hearted storytelling with an interesting look at politics (from a self-proclaimed non-political guy) throughout the 20th century. This seems to be a love it or hate it kind of thing and I loved it. We'll see what my friends say if any of them decide to give it a try.
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LibraryThing member nina.jon
I think I've just read the literary equivalent of Monty Python's Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.
I skipped through the Forrest Gump-esque reminiscences, and concentrated on the latest adventure to befall the centenarian, his friends, the elephant, the dog and a suitcase of stolen money. This
I skipped through the Forrest Gump-esque reminiscences, and concentrated on the latest adventure to befall the centenarian, his friends, the elephant, the dog and a suitcase of stolen money. This
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alone should tell you this is a book with its tongue firmly in its cheek. It's a parody on the perilous life and death chase genre. It's one for those who appreciate absurdity combined with good old-fashioned chase scenes where good things eventually happen to good people – even if they have to wait the best part of a century for it to happen! Show Less
LibraryThing member ssellis
I loved this book from start to finish, the way it was written, the characters and the way history was slotted in! This is how Forest Gump should have been not the sugar coated rubbish we ended up with on the screen.
LibraryThing member isabelx
'You were innocent, weren't you?'
'But innocence can mean different things depending on whose perspective you adopt,' said Benny.
'I was thinking along the same lines,' said Allan. 'President Johnson andre Gaulle for example. Who was guilty and who was innocent when it came to their bad relationship?
'Please Mr Karlsson,' said Prosecutor Ranelid. 'I beg you, please be quiet.'
Alternate chapters describe the adventures Allan has after climbing out of the window and his earlier life as an inmate in a mental hospital, explosives expert, political prisoner, and later in life a spy. Throughout his life, Allan has been a laid-back guy who tends to go with the flow, so it comes as a surprise that he has had such an exciting life and has met so many American presidents, infamous dictators and secret police chiefs. I loved how Allan's expertise with explosives gets him in and out of trouble through out his life, as when he blows up a whole town while escaping from a Soviet gulag because he has decided that five years is long enough to go without a drink of vodka.
I see that I haven't really said anything about the unlikely adventures he has after climbing out of the window of the old people's home, but I'll leave that for you to discover. I'll just say that they are very amusing and would make a good caper movie.
I read this book for an on-line book club and it's definitely the best 20p I have ever spent on a cheap book download.
'But innocence can mean different things depending on whose perspective you adopt,' said Benny.
'I was thinking along the same lines,' said Allan. 'President Johnson andre Gaulle for example. Who was guilty and who was innocent when it came to their bad relationship?
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Mind you, I didn't bring that up when we met, we had other things to talk about, but - 'Please Mr Karlsson,' said Prosecutor Ranelid. 'I beg you, please be quiet.'
Alternate chapters describe the adventures Allan has after climbing out of the window and his earlier life as an inmate in a mental hospital, explosives expert, political prisoner, and later in life a spy. Throughout his life, Allan has been a laid-back guy who tends to go with the flow, so it comes as a surprise that he has had such an exciting life and has met so many American presidents, infamous dictators and secret police chiefs. I loved how Allan's expertise with explosives gets him in and out of trouble through out his life, as when he blows up a whole town while escaping from a Soviet gulag because he has decided that five years is long enough to go without a drink of vodka.
I see that I haven't really said anything about the unlikely adventures he has after climbing out of the window of the old people's home, but I'll leave that for you to discover. I'll just say that they are very amusing and would make a good caper movie.
I read this book for an on-line book club and it's definitely the best 20p I have ever spent on a cheap book download.
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LibraryThing member cathymoore
I loved this, it has such a soft, happy feel to it, real feel-good fiction. It was almost laugh out loud funny in places. Not everyone, surely anyone, can live a life as exciting as Allan Karlsson, but if more people looked at life and approached it like Alan, perhaps the world would be a better
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place. Show Less
Awards
Dublin Literary Award (Longlist — 2014)
Europese Literatuurprijs (Longlist — 2012)
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year (Translation — 2012)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2009-09-09
Physical description
4.41 inches
ISBN
1843913879 / 9781843913870