Challenge 43: Book Club

[everythingshiny]

CHALLENGE 43: Book Club

Description This Months Book is The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

Comments

[colls]

- Did you enjoy the book
I did! I wasn't sure I'd enjoy Swedish sarcasm (/that was sarcasm). The entire premise amused me a great deal, it was ridiculously over the top and glorious in how irreverent it treated historical events.
- Which plot points did you like?
From his past, I think it's a toss up between his incarceration in Siberia following his magical meeting with Stalin or his time in China with the communist rebels (or the others - I forget which side he was on half the time). From the modern storyline, I liked Benny and the elephant. Mostly the elephant. I mean --- THERE'S AN ELEPHANT. The whole plan to buy a bus so they could go on the run with her was hilarious.
- Favourite characters?
I liked Allan. He's got a lot of stories to tell and I wouldn't mind hanging out and listening to what else he's gotten into - I can suspend disbelief! Also, Einstein's half-brother and his wife. The inspector was interesting, too and I like how he joined the band at the end.
- Have you seen the movie?
I didn't even realize there was a movie, so no. But I want to watch it in Swedish apparently not an option via Netflix
- Did you enjoy how it was written
The pacing was good and I liked how the modern story paralleled moments from Allan's past.
- Or anything else you wanna talk about!
The hot dog vendor who had a litany of almost-degrees was nearly as far-fetched and as amusing as Allan's adventures.

[cardboardcornea]

What I think I really like about this novel is that Allan isn't the only one with this insane, completely implausible life. You see it, to a lesser extent to be sure, in the other characters like Benny and his inheritance situation as well as Beauty and Sonya.

[cardboardcornea]

I just finished the part in Russia. The fact that he just decided that he was done with jail and was ready to move on was hilarious. The meeting with Stalin was also really funny.