The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared Audiobook By Jonas Jonasson cover art

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

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

By: Jonas Jonasson
Narrated by: Peter Kenny
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Sitting quietly in his room in an old people's home, Allan Karlsson is waiting for a party he doesn't want to begin: his 100th birthday party. Escaping through his bedroom window, into the flowerbed, Allan makes his getaway. And so begins his picaresque and unlikely journey involving criminals, several deaths, a suitcase full of cash, and incompetent but very human police. As his escapades unfold, Allan's earlier life is revealed, and we discover that he played a key role behind the scenes in some of the momentous events of the 20th century.

This ‘imaginative, laugh-out-loud bestseller’ (Daily Telegraph) has sold more than two million printed copies.

©2009 Jonas Jonasson (P)2012 Strathmore Publishing Ltd Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction

Editorial reviews

Jonas Jonasson’s charming novel The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared tells the story of Allan Karlsson, who has just turned 100 and is desperate to escape his own birthday party. On the run from the old people’s home in his slippers, Allan soon is swept into an adventure involving a suitcase stuffed with money, murder victims, villains and police. As the narrative unfolds, we discover more of Allan’s Forrest Gump-like background, having worked on the Manhattan Project, befriended heads of state and had a hand in many of the momentous events of the twentieth century. This delightful audiobook is narrated by Peter Kenny and available for download from Audible.

Critic reviews

“Like Forrest Gump, Allan is an innocent with the knack of being in the right place at the right time. He has had a hand in everything from the Russian revolution to Reagan's Star Wars. Like Allan, the plot is pleasingly nimble and the book's endearing charm offers a happy alternative to the more familiar Nordic noir.” ( The Guardian)
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If you could sum up The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared in three words, what would they be?

Original black humour

What other book might you compare The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared to and why?

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. Similar characters and similar black humour. An aging pensioner goes through a series of unexpected adventures while looking back over the past events of his life.

Which scene was your favorite?

Alan and his relationship with Stalin and other (in)famous world leaders was quite entertaining!

Who was the most memorable character of The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared and why?

Alan for his sheer deadpan humour and eternally optimistic and simple outlook on life.

Any additional comments?

An excellent listen that I would thoroughly recommend to anyone who enjoys a laugh and a small bit of world history.

A hilarious trip through time

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