Wow, that's a mouthful.
"The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared" perfectly executes the one purpose of a literary novel's title: to grasp the attention of the reader. Let's be honest. As much as we'd all like to believe that we never judge a book by its cover, there aren't many people out there who can pick up a book and not pass any judgment. I happened to pick up this incredibly refreshing book, written by Jonas Jonasson, at the nearest Barnes & Noble a couple of weeks ago, and it is, without a doubt, one of the most unusual yet fascinating stories I've come across.
Indeed, this clever book is about a 100-year-old man who, on his 100th birthday, climbs out a window and disappears from his rather drab old folks' home in Sweden.
Once Allan, the centenarian man who loves his vodka, accomplishes this impressive feat of maneuvering himself out of his window, he proceeds to have a fantastical adventure – an experience that begins with the theft of a highly sought after suitcase, then dodging and befriending a few criminals, meeting an elephant named Sonya, encountering some of the most influential figures in history in a highly entertaining manner and concludes with the same hilarity that draws readers in from the start.
Now, you may have just read that and thought, "I can't imagine a more absurd book. Why on earth would I want to read that?" And I completely understand. I too thought that such a novel might not be worth my time. However, after all of the death, hatred, unrest and terrorism that seems to have become a permanent part of life, you can rest assured that this book is a breath of fresh air.
Allan's world is not terrorized by a fear of the unknown, nor is it concerned with politics or religion. While our favorite centenarian has had a colorful past and had spent time in several different horrible prisons every other decade, his carefree attitude allows the reader to enjoy the author's witty humor in its entirety. If you have felt weighed down by this world or worried about getting old, this book might help you remember that there is little point in burdening ourselves with things that are out of our control.
From the Russian Revolution to the Manhattan Project to present day, Allan has quite literally seen it all and doesn't mind sharing his accumulated tales of harrowing escapades.
The "100-Year-Old Man, Who Climbed Out The Window and Disappeared" may just be one of the most whimsical and eccentric novels you have ever read.
