Friday, August 2, 2013

The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared -Jonas Jonasson

Thanks to my friend in Switzerland for recommending me this wonderful book. He told me that the french translation is very good and not sure about English one nevertheless asked me to try it and i did. It was a most enjoyable four days in my reading experience. Just awesome.

Allan Emmanuel Karlsson, on his hundredth birthday jumps out of his window and escapes from Old People's Home at Malmkoping. That is the starting of a roller coaster journey that will bring laughter through out. Allan's had a knack of being at the right place at right time which influences world history.

Allan is a explosive expert with excess likeness for Vodka and never think too much about politics.Even though  he is apolitical, he has dinner with almost all the major leaders of the world - President Truman, Stalin, Kim Jong II, Mao Tse-Tung etc. He helps USA to built atom bomb and also help USSR to built the same.
The Journey : 
From Sweden to Spain/Poland then from Spain to USA, helps US scientist in building atom bombs. From USA to China, helping Soong May-ling but end up helping Mao's wife to escape. From China to Afghanistan to Sweden. Again from Sweden to USSR where he helps them to build atom bombs. He escapes from USSR to North Korea, then to Bali, Indonesia for long vocation. After vocation he journeys to Paris accompanying Indonesian Ambassador, from there to Russia again then to Sweden. Atlast back to Bali, Indonesia with his new friends for vocation.
Escapes :
First , Allan along with Missionary Ferguson escapes from Afghanistan prison by fooling the Internal security chief in helping to kill Winston Churchill. Then he escapes from Russian gulag along with Herbert Einstein, brother of Albert Einstein,this time also causing heavy damage to the place.Lastly from the Old Age House.
The deaths :
Allan's bomb to kill Winston Churchill kills the Iran security officer, of course it was planned murder by Allan.After his escape from the Old Age House , he and his friends unintentionally kill one and intentionally kills another.

Forget the logic, there are some questions regarding various activities by the lead characters but never mind.

From the moment Allan jumps out of the window, the author takes you to the world of laughter. I do not know how many times i laughed out loudly. Even when i was not feeling well , i remember some of the scenes and laughed in bus journey.The hilarious episode of Allan and Herbert Einstein's escape and their subsequent vocation in Bali, was simply awesome. The addition of extra verse(22.And they all lived happily ever after) by the typesetter in the bible, the story of Never Again gang etc will surely make one laugh.

The author beautifully links the historical events with the life of Allan,i think thats why author created a character who is hundred years old. The journey of Allan through these historical events were funny rather than serious as one would expect.Credit to author for bringing the lighter side of all those events.

Is this novel  a classic? definitely no but one can read and laugh in many places.

A charming , sweet, hilarious and funny book which not only brings laughter but also takes us back to history lessons!

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