DVRG MAGAZINE

Once I saw this book on the bookstore’s display, there were two things that attracted me, the simple-and-sleek cover and the amazingly-long title which I still can’t remember perfectly correct until this very moment.

 

I expected nothing the first time I bought this book. I did not know that this book has become a hit in UK and some other country in Europe. But after I finished reading it, I get it.

 

The book itself tells us about an exquisite life of an extraordinarily old man that has gone through numerous world history events. He is a friend of President Reagan, Stalin the Red Tsar, The Chairman Mao, and some other historical figures including President Soeharto and Soekarno.

 

As many people have been fascinated by its humor, The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared has some other exquisite characteristics that may be stuck in some people mind.

 

The man

Explode the house, explode someone on the backyard, it is not a problem. Allan Karlsson, a simple Sweden man who has no tendency to any kind of political system who get his whole life through an extraordinary adventure. Since his young age, Allan has been a great explosion expert. This talent has led him becoming an asset to many prominent historical figures. He is the man behind the historical events that has happened in the twentieth century. He lives the life as he wants, just like he has his own world.

 

The interconnections between historical events in the twentieth century

The writer, Jonas Jonasson, has brilliantly been able to make some prominent historical events, such as the invention of atomic bomb, having interconnections in this fictional book. And the link that connects such events is a simple man called Allan Karlsson.

 

The storyline

The book is written in a unique storyline since each chapter jumps from one era to another that finally comes to the same point at the end of the story.

 

Luck, luck, luck

As the comedy book, it is no wonder when the main character is always surrounded by luck. So does this story, Allan Karlsson has his own luck. He always is able to get away from the near-to-death adventure, not just once! But what makes it good is you will never know how he can get away in each adventure.

 

Dumb, dumber, and dumberer

Just like most comedy movie I have watched, Allan Karlsson has some villains that I can say “They are pretty dumb”. Maybe that is why Allan has always been able to get away from trouble, apart from his luck and intelligence. But not just that, almost every person around him act that way. But, that what makes this book a laugh-out-loud book for some people.

 

Well, one thing I learn from Allan Karlsson is his submission to his faith. It is a satire.

 

“What will be will be” – Allan Karlsson.