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

I listened to this book on a lark - not knowing what to expect. The premise is unusual: a centenarian (Allan) "escapes" from a nursing home and goes on a wild adventure. While this adventure is unfolding, a parallel story is told about Allan's past. And what a past it is! Without spoiling the fun and inventive story telling, let's just say that Allan got around in his youth, met most of the major international players of his day, and was indirectly involved in some of the world's most pivotal geo-political-military events as well.

But back to the main story. Allan is quite the rascal and he meets up with a cast of other rascals. Along the way, they engage in remarkable acts of criminal conduct (with a wink and a nod) with little concern for the morality of their conduct. Told in a light hearted and playful manner, this book is not meant to be taken too seriously. As my "headline" notes, it is fun, inventive, and (at times) silly.

To the extent that there is a downside, there were many times when I was struck by how preposterous the story was. But I quickly concluded that I was missing the point. Despite this concern, this is a very well written and narrated story. If you are looking for something fun, this is the book for you.

A funny, funny (in a dry humor, tongue-in-cheek, sort of way) book that is fascinating! Full of surprises and unexpected events. I am enjoying it sooo much! And the narrator is perfect! I listen to it on my audible.com app on my iPhone and laugh out loud a lot. I imagine, that when I am driving and the phone sits on the dash playing away, and I guffaw for several seconds, other drivers must get a bit alarmed, since there appears to be no obvious reason for my behavior. Take a listen to it and you will understand! Highly recommended!

Sounds almost as if he is narrating something about which he has personal knowledge. Like he, himself, had witnessed the events!

If I had the uninterrupted time I would. As it was, this afternoon, for instance, my dog tore apart several things in the other room while I listened to the book, rapt, and oblivious to the noises from the other end of the house! The book REALLY engages me!!!

If you know someone with a dry sense of humor or who likes quirky stories, this is the book for them! What a wonderful gift it would make for the holiday season! Thoroughly entertaining! I could imagine a group sitting and listening...and laughing and laughing! Why, they might even want to pause the reading and discuss parts of the story, considering how much history is brought up in it! A book that would be of interest and understandable equally for Europeans and Americans, which is not all that common among books.

This jolly little caper was recommended to me based on my favorable review of “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry”. While I did enjoy that lovely book very much, this selection resembles it only in the premise of an impromptu journey by a geriatric gentleman. This story could be the result of Carl Hiaasen blending Harold Fry with Forrest Gump and adding his own patented lunacy to the mix. There are two storylines at work: the current day journey of Allan Karlssen and the entourage he accumulates while trying to evade a biker gang and the police, and the historical journey of his very eventful Gump-like life that collides with every major global event from 1920 to the fall of the Soviet Union.

I found the current day story line the more entertaining of the two. Readers of Hiaasen’s books will enjoy the very dry, dark humor and root for the inevitable come-uppance dealt by karma as our merry band of fugitives dodge every peril, encouraged by Allan’s optimistic belief that “it is what it is, and what will be will be.” The historical sections were very Gumpish (as noted by many other reviewers), but better because through Allan’s stubbornly apolitical viewpoint, no country or political party escapes a dark satirical skewering. My only complaint was how revisiting history slowed down the more entertaining escape story. Still, it is only a small complaint, because there comes a scene near the end when all those previous historical encounters are bundled together to great hilarity at one person’s expense.

For those who enjoyed Harold Fry for the sweet, gentle tone and ultimately life redeeming message, you may not respond well to the darkness in this story if you are hoping for a repeat. Hiaasen’s fans will have to adjust to a very British reader and a more dry delivery than that author employs. But if those adjustments can be made, if you can just hop on board and take the journey with Allan, then you may be very pleased with “what it is, and what will be.”

How far can a story go when the protagonist starts off at 100? The answer is everywhere and anywhere. With a shifting time line, Jonasson weaves an incredible story about a remarkable man, Alan Carlson, an explosives expert with a calm temperament. Alan gets himself into more binds than Houdini, and like the great magician, wiggles his way out.

The story is not only funny, but gives the reader a lesson in Twentieth Century history. Jonasson manages to combine "Forrest Gump" with "Zelig" and comes up with an unforgettable character whose exploits manage to effect world history.

I could not give a fifth star for story only because Carlson found himself in way too many predicaments.

Three words: Entertaining, Amusing, Historical. Sort of a Forest Gump meets History of the World!

Similar to Forest Gump in that there are fictional effects of the protagonist on true historical events.

Steven Crossley's excellent narration enables the listener to envision the happenings and the individuality of the characters.

Yes. Of course the length of the book prohibited me from listening all in one sitting.

Recommended to me by a friend. I, in turn, recommended it to many of mine.

It's the first so It's at the very top!

Sonjia the elephant's debut in the book..

No but I enjoyed this one.

Yes

This story totally deserves the international bestseller title. With infectious characters and delightful dark humor Jonasson has brought a very unique telling of some of modern history’s darkest moments to the table. Karlsson’s a protagonist you can really stand behind, his ever-constant jovial perspective on life seeps into your head as you read - reading just a chapter easily turned a few of my own sour moods around! Through lies, deceit, and unbelievable outcomes of some of the stickiest situations imagined it’s odd that friendship, however short-lived on occasion, abounds in this story. Its appearance brought this hilarious tale, down-to-earth and let the best of human nature shine.

I don’t think I’d have enjoyed this book as much as I did if it weren’t for my digesting it in an audio form. The narrator did a marvelous job and the story unfolded so perfectly, it just felt like a story that needed to be read aloud. Highly entertaining and laugh-out loud funny.

It was good to find that a Swedish writer could write something that did NOT endanger your mental health. With its echoes (pronounced) of Forest Gump and (faint) Crytonomicon, this book is a terrific antidote to the usual dour northern european crime fiction. It is a great romp with the perfect narrator. As it says in its introduction, "those who only says what is the truth, they're not worth listening to..." Go ahead, suspend your disbelief and enjoy!

It is seldom you find a book that keeps a quick, thrilling and interesting pace from beginning to end. It is less than seldom that you find one which manages to do these things while keeping a smile on your face. " The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared " accomplishes this. It is to our benefit that Jonas Jonasson's book was translated and offered to us as an Audible read. This biography/world political history/spy/ great heist/murder/animal lover and human lovers tale is one you will not be able to easily turn from. The story begins just as the title states, as the 100 year old man steps out of a window and into the flowerbed edging of the home he has only that day entered. Thus he begins an odyssey beyond his wildest imaginings. You will meet mobsters, world leaders, spies, small time thugs, friends, enemies and even an elephant. With the exception of the elephant, of course, they are all in possession of different degrees of intelligence and world views. They all posses a human heart full to overflowing with man's virtues and vices. This journey is well worth taking as there is adventure, mystery, avarice, loyalty, hate, love and laughter, much laughter, on each page. Join in each step the 100 year old man takes, you will be happy you did so.

This one's a winner- a bit fantastic but so much fun! Give it a listen, you won't be disappointed.