The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson (2009)

The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson (2009)

A story of one man’s life spanning decades and countries.

Laura’s Rating: 3/5 Stars

Plot: On his 100th birthday, Allan Karlsson decides to escape his nursing home and go on an adventure. Along the way he encounters criminals, an elephant, and an interesting cast of friends. Flashbacks also show insight into Allan’s colorful life, which turns out to be closely entwined with some major historical events.

Analysis: The story is charming and fun. Allan stumbling into influential positions and friendships with presidents feels reminiscent of Forrest Gump, but this story drags on a bit too long in my opinion. I enjoyed the present adventures of Allan as an old man more than the past details of his life, which were interesting, but not necessarily crucial to the plot. The appeal is how he was involved in various global conflicts, friends with government officials, and lived in multiple countries. That stuff is fun, I just wanted an abbreviated version.

I think a fun takeaway is to remember that old people may seem calm and boring now, but they likely have incredibly interesting stories about their lives. And they also might just have a little more excitement left in them.

I liked this book overall, I just found myself getting a bit bored in the middle. It’s a good read if you’re looking for something light and interesting.