The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared

Courtesy Hesperuspress.com

Author : Jonas Jonasson
Origin Language : Sweden
Publisher : Hesperus Press
Translated by Rod Bradburry
Pages : 387

"Once you've reached certain age, it is easier to sense when everything feels exactly right"

This time I chose the popular book which embedded with International best-selling sensation title. Also, this is my first time reading Sweden-based-book which I found so hard to remember the name.

Just like its title, The Hundred Year Old Man who Climbed out of the Window and Disappeared, tickle our curiosity what would happen next, what kind of adventure would be leaded to this old man.

Alan Karlsson is sitting in his room of the Old People Home, waiting on the 100 years old party he never wanted anyway, and then decide to climbed out of his window and  leaving his party behind.

With only using slipper and bring a tiny money, he decided go to bus station and see how far he can go with his money. Sitting waiting his bus come to pick his up, a young man using "Never Again" jacket ask for his assisstance to take care one big suitcase while he finish his 'business' at the toilet.

Turns out, the bus is came before the young man showed up, without further consideration, Alan bring the suit case along with him leaving Malmkoping to Strangnass. 

In Byringe station in Strangnass, Alan met the only one person arround, Julius Jonsson. Being wise with not argue with the only person living in there, Alan told Julius that he just stole a suit case from a young man whom also the member of gang "Never Again" and now he is being pursued by those young man.

Hearing that, Julius gladly received Alan's presence. It is been years since the last time Julius talking with someone. Julius have a bad record in that city and peoples are ignoring him hence he decide to help Alan in his pursuit.

Turns out, the suitcase is content with big pile of money and the young man is trying his best to catch 100 years old man. Destructing the station, kidnapping the bus driver, the young man finally reach Byringe station and found Allan. 

From this moment and so on, the whole point of view of Alan is an old and powerless man is vanished in second. Accidentally, Alan and Julius killed the young man, and found out that they should keep on running to avoid the another gang member.

On the different city, the leader of "Never Again" is furious because he unable to reach his man whom bring a big pile of his money. He sent his another gang member to trace the young man and finally know that his gang member is already die and he will lose his money.

At Malmkoping, the chief inspector is trying his best to found out where 100 years old man has vanished. He believed that the old man is being kidnapped by a member of gangster "Never Again".

The story will lead to the pursuit of the old man by the chief inspector and the gangster of "Never again". After two death suspected, the leader of Gang decide to chase the old man by hisself, and the chief inspector start to suspect Allan as a murderer. 

While the story going forward, the story of 100 years old Man in his past is developed. Alan is a very unique man and 100 years is a very long time age. Alan has been set his foot in various countries, making history while being a witness from history.

Alan is a bomb maker that lead him (always accidentally) met the historical Man of the World, from Harry Truman, Stalin, Mao Tse-tung, Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, Herbert Einstein  and lot mores. He is been on west side and east side in World War II. He set on fire on Russia and made Stalin fainted by him, He save Mao Tse's wife and get a lot benefit from him. He almost received death sentence from Kim Il Sung because deceiving him and saved at the last minute by Mao Tse. 

Well, if you like black comedy, and also history, you will love this book. It is like watching a movie rather than reading a book. The crazy adventorous life of Alan Karlsson, how he move from one country and another, how he survive from one death sentence to another is like watching a comedy film. Unbelievable! but the accurate of the date and event sometimes made me believe that Alan Karlsson is exist! I believe he is the next Albert Einstein who brought atomic bomb both to West and East. I feel like watching Seven Psychopath the movie.

But don't expect in human soul-calling like Life of Pi. Even it is adventure, but the whole different adventure. It is very light book, reader doesn't need to think too deep, just enjoy the forward-and backward storyline. 

And one thing, I definetely agree with Alan Karlsson and very heart with his character is his easy-going-ness. He never had his worry, he believed that every thing will be sorted out when time is come. 

"Never afraid to what it may comes, let every thing sorted out when times is come"

Alan is a very smart man. A very smart until sometime it is hard to define whether he close to his crazyness or his genius mind. 

Overall, I rated 6.5 out of 10. I love Alan, I don't like the not detail thing, but i do love the comedy and history.

"Sometimes your mouth seems to go its own way while your brain stands still"