I had heard really good things about this book for a while and seeing as it was 20p on Amazon and I had a holiday coming up I bought it for my Kindle (I know I feel dirty).
The book tells the story of Allan Karlson who decides to escape his life in an old people's home on his one hundredth birthday. He doesn't know where he is heading but he ends up hiding on a farm with a minor crook, a hot dog stand owner, a "beautiful" lady, her god, the hot dog stand owner's brother, a crime boss and an elephant all wanted for murder.
Alongside Allan's current adventures the book also tells of his life so far. And in a hundred years Allan got up to a lot. From humble beginnings in Sweden he travels the globe meeting famous world leaders left right and centre including Franco, Stalin, Mao and a host of American presidents.
Allan himself is a really entertaining character who doesn't give a hoot about politics or religion and has a general disregard for authority. I really respected his world view and his it-will-be-ok-in-the-end mindset. I also enjoy the liberties the author takes when he writes some of the famous world leaders, particularly Stalin's temper and Kim Jung Il's childhood temper tantrums. It's all good fun and very funny.
Admittedly sometimes the humour felt a little forced and you were very aware that while Allan wasn't interested in politics or religion he was being used to pass comment on them a lot.
But yeah if you want a fun Forest Gump style adventure and if you are prepared not to take any of it seriously or think too much about the practical possibility of the tale then this is a great story.
The book tells the story of Allan Karlson who decides to escape his life in an old people's home on his one hundredth birthday. He doesn't know where he is heading but he ends up hiding on a farm with a minor crook, a hot dog stand owner, a "beautiful" lady, her god, the hot dog stand owner's brother, a crime boss and an elephant all wanted for murder.
Alongside Allan's current adventures the book also tells of his life so far. And in a hundred years Allan got up to a lot. From humble beginnings in Sweden he travels the globe meeting famous world leaders left right and centre including Franco, Stalin, Mao and a host of American presidents.
Allan himself is a really entertaining character who doesn't give a hoot about politics or religion and has a general disregard for authority. I really respected his world view and his it-will-be-ok-in-the-end mindset. I also enjoy the liberties the author takes when he writes some of the famous world leaders, particularly Stalin's temper and Kim Jung Il's childhood temper tantrums. It's all good fun and very funny.
Admittedly sometimes the humour felt a little forced and you were very aware that while Allan wasn't interested in politics or religion he was being used to pass comment on them a lot.
But yeah if you want a fun Forest Gump style adventure and if you are prepared not to take any of it seriously or think too much about the practical possibility of the tale then this is a great story.
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