Friday Books: 100 Years Old

I read (slowly) and finally finished The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. The author is Swedish, and in my limited experience, he fits into the "unique, quirky" category that I think describes Swedish literature. I may be wrong, as I've only read two or three Swedish authors that I'm aware of. But of the ones I have read, they've both or all been unique and quirky.

This was a fun story about a man who lives, mostly discontentedly, in a nursing home. On his 100th birthday, he can't stand the thought of going to his own birthday party, so he climbs out the window and wanders off, and disappears as far as anyone can figure out.

The book follows his escapades, and switches to flashbacks of his younger years. Remember the exaggerated story line of Forrest Gump, where he meets presidents and other famous people? The 100-Year-Old man does the same thing. His entire life is a series of being in the right (or wrong) place at just the right time, and hob-knobbing with the Movers and the Shakers of the mid 20th century. It's funny and odd.. quirky and a little bit out there. That's what makes it fun.

I never laughed out loud, but it was kind of sweet and funny and just odd enough to be.. almost weird. I hear they made a pretty good movie of this book. I'm going to have to find that movie and give it a try. I have a feeling it would make a great movie.