Author : Jonas Jonasson
Publication date : Published July 12th 2012 by Hesperus Press
Hooray! I picked this book up because I was charmed by the title (instead of cover, like I usually do). I once was blogwalking and then I find the review of this book. I knew right then I had to read it soon, and here it is, ladies and gentlemen, my review of The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared.
Allan Karlsson is a hundred-year-old man who decided he didn't want to stay at the old people's house any longer. So right on his 100th birthday, he climbed out of the window and disappear, leaving everybody (the nursing home employee, the police, the journalists, etc) in panic.
The book has more story in it, but of course I won't tell you the details. You have to read it yourself, if you are interested. I'll give you tiny clues, anyway. Allan Karlsson is a badass! He's more that just a mere 100 year old guy (hey, not everyone would live that long, so that alone is special!). He had seen many things happened in the past and I am talking about important political events here. He's a witness to many things and if it were up to me, there's no way I would place him in the nursing home.
Though it's basically a humorous book, The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared actually has more depth in it and it's dark, does that make sense? It's not a book you'd choose if you're looking for a light, funny and easy read, despite of its wittiness. To sum it up, this novel is a mixture of historical fiction, crime, with a touch of fun. Well, I think the humor is important, considering the heavy subject this book delivers. It helps me not getting bored of it. Oh, to tell you the truth, it made me check some historical facts, something I do only when the book is really good.
I like Jonasson writing style and I wish I speak Swedish so I could understand the book in its original language. Yes, the translation is very good, however I believe the funny parts would be even funnier in Swedish. If you lovely readers speak Swedish and have read the Swedish version, please let me know what you think!
Now, time for favorite quote :
Allan thought it sounded unnecessary for the people in the seventeenth century to kill each other. If they had only been a little patient they would all have died in the end anyway.
And this one is pretty hilarious:
"Why are you driving around in a bus?""We've got an elephant in the back.""An elephant?""She's called Sonya.""An elephant?""Asiatic.""An elephant?""An elephant."
High 5 rating for The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared. This book actually makes me want to find out more about Scandinavian fictions. Looks like they're worth checking out, just like their industrial interior design, ah, they're so in the trend right now! Your turn, lovely readers, have you read this book? Have you ever read other Scandinavian fiction? What do you think about them?
Updated: goodness! I never knew it has been made into movie already! But how do I get it, it's Swedish movie, kind of hard to find... arrrgghhhh!!!!
Updated: goodness! I never knew it has been made into movie already! But how do I get it, it's Swedish movie, kind of hard to find... arrrgghhhh!!!!
