Allen Karlsson is turning one hundred. The rest home where he is living these days is planning a celebration but Allen wants none of that. He has two interests in life, explosives and vodka and neither are available at the rest home. So he climbs out of his ground floor window and takes off.
Over the years, Allen's interest in explosives has taken him all over the world and he has met many world leaders. He has worked for the United States Manhattan Project as a janitor who solves the last issue stumping the nuclear engineers and meeting Harry Truman. He meets Stalin and dislikes him, especially after he puts him in the Gulug for five years but he unfortunately has already given them knowledge that lets them develop their own atomic program. He works for a while for Franco in Spain and for his opposition. He works for Mao and the leader of North Korea.
But now he just wants to get away. But nothing is easy in Allen's life. Before he knows it, he has ended up with a suitcase with millions inside. He forms a new group of friends which includes an elephant. There are deaths along the way since the criminals he stole the money from want it back. The police are also involved, first as they think it is an elder alert, then in a manhunt as they decide Allen and his friends are the criminals. Throughout it all, Allen wanders and affects the lives of all around him.
Jonasson was a journalist in Sweden for years before he started writing novels. This book is a comedy of misadventures where Allen roams and makes changes in the world around him. He befriends easily and is happy as long as he has his vodka. The coincidences pile up but he can always call on a network of friends around the world when he needs a favor. This novel is recommended for those who enjoy a light-hearted adventure.
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