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August 2013:
The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of a Window and Disappeared
by Jonass Jonasson.
First Published: 2009
Wikipedia entries:
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The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of a Window and Disappeared
by Jonass Jonasson.
Whatever else people thought of the book there was universal agreement that it was far too long – only half of us had managed to finish it.
The novel runs with two parallel narratives, pre- and post-defenestration.
This structure was appreciated for driving the story and creating cliff-hangers.
Certainly the book has a considerable amount of humour but falls well short of the “hilarious …. dynamite comedy” of its gushing reviews.
It can also be read as political satire commenting on racial prejudice, war, politics and corruption though it reveals little regarding the author’s own convictions.
The hundred-year-old man’s adventures following his daring escape probably make for a better story
than the rather laboured account of his accidental involvement in just about all the significant historical events of the 20th century (apart from the Cuban revolution).
It was this part which we felt could have benefited from some careful editing.
NS
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Awards:
AA Book Club
- 2010 Swedish Booksellers Award
- 2011 German Pioneer Prize
- 2011 Danish Audiobook Award
- 2012 Prix Escapades
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