June's Room

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

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared - Jonas Jonasson I knew nothing about this but was intrigued by the title, and when it came up as a cheap deal online I decided to grab it. I'm so glad I did because I really enjoyed it. To sum it up ,I would describe it as a romp, a 'ripping yarn', a shaggy dog story that for once the listener wants to hear..
The hundred year old man of the title is an interesting character stuck in a nursing home from which he fully intends to escape. But his impulsive actions lead to a bizarre and very funny set of circumstances involving gangsters, murder and even an elephant..(don't ask !)
At the same time as all sorts of escapades are being had we read his life story...it put me in mind of Forest Gump..in which he contrives somehow to be present at and take part in some of the salient historical events of the twentieth century. I can really imagine this as a film. I breezed through this book and finished it with a smile on my face...