Book Recommendations

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

By Jonas Jonasson

Fiction, Humorous, General, Sagas, Historical | 400 pages
1 recommendation
A larger-than-life old man with a fondness for vodka goes on an unexpected adventure in this whimsical novel -- perfect for fans of Forrest Gump and A Man Called Ove.

The international publishing sensation -- more than six million copies sold worldwide!

A reluctant centenarian much like Forrest Gump (if Gump were an explosives expert) decides it's not too late to start over . . .

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 in one day, he turns 100. 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 (not to mention a death by elephant).

It would be the adventure of a lifetime for anyone else, but Allan has a larger-than-life backstory: Not only has he witnessed some of the most important events of the twentieth century, but he has actually played a key role in them. Starting out in munitions as a boy, he somehow finds himself involved in many of the key explosions of the twentieth century and travels the world, sharing meals and more with everyone from Stalin, Churchill, and Truman to Mao, Franco, and de Gaulle. Quirky and utterly unique, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared has charmed readers across the world.  
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Veronica Allan
17th Nov 2024
"While travelling in Sweden you may come across some unusual people, Sweden is full of them! Enhance your visit by reading the story of Allan Karlsson, the 100-year-old adventurer, before you go and you’ll surely enjoy your visit even more! Of course Allan is fictional, and so are his adventures, nevertheless, the indomitable spirit of the Swedish race will be less of a mystery to you. It’s impossible to confine this hilarious novel to one or two genres, but if you enjoy reading about mystery, crime, adventure, humour, history, travel and/or explosions, you’re very likely to enjoy this book and its sequel - The Accidental Further Adventures…….. and learn quite a bit about Sweden and world history along the way! You could choose to read this book for no other reason than as a conversation starter with every adult Swede you meet. It’s one of the country’s most famous bestsellers."