Sweden | Rosie Amber

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window And Disappeared is a cross between contemporary and historical fiction. The book time slips from current day (2005) back throughout the lead character’s long life.

The book opens in 2005 in Sweden. Allan Karlsson runs away from the old people’s home hours before they insist on celebrating his 100th birthday. He steals a suitcase which he later finds is full of money and he goes on an adventure. He meets a petty thief, Julius Jonsson, together with the suitcase they ditch some criminals, hire a hot dog stand owner as their chauffeur, befriend a lady with an elephant and hoodwink the local constabulary.

We learn of Allan’s early life, his love of dynamite and all things explosive which pave his way to the Spanish civil war, American, Korea, China, the Himalayas, Russia and beyond, where he mixed with world leaders and kept one step ahead of death on numerous occasions.

Written in a dry humour style, this book has been an international best seller and was recommended to me by a fellow avid reader. Ideal for those looking for a book that is a little different and will bring a smile to your face and assurances that there really is very little in life that you cannot do if only you put your mind to it.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

I reviewed this book on Amazon as apart of #AugustReviews month

View all my reviews on Goodreads

Today our guest is Olivia Stocum author of yesterday’s book “Moonstone” and last weeks book “Dawning”. Here are links to those posts. Moonstone: http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4UA Dawning: http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4T3

Let’s find out more about Olivia and her writing.

1) Where is your home town?

I live in Owego, New York, a historic town by a river that floods at little too often for comfort, in a two hundred and fourteen year old house, that has the uncanny ability to be completely surrounded by water and yet still not succumb to the rising floods.

2) Tell us the significance of the title “Moonstone”

Originally Moonstone was meant as a description of my hero, William’s eyes. There is something in the Celtic gene pool that produces very dark hair with pale gray eyes. (Which is what William looks like.) Eventually, it came to mean more… but you’ll have to read the book to find out.

3) Where is Moonstone set?

Historic Scotland, early 1600’s, in the North Highlands. The exact location is completely fictional.

4) I don’t think I’ve read the word “Kilt” in your book? Is there a historical reason?

Yes. The kilt as we know it did not exist until the late 1700’s. I know some writers use the term anyway, but I’m kind of a stickler about such things. You’ll also note that I don’t use the word Sporran for the same reason.

5) I love your rugged brave Scottish men, tell us how William got his shoulder injury.

William was injured in a battle in Sweden, where it was common for young Scottish men to hire themselves out as soldiers.

6) You had fun with some Gaelic words in this book, tell us a couple that William was caught saying.

LOL. Yes, he was caught, wasn’t he.

Here’s a few of the words used in the book:

Mo leannan – this means, my darling, sweetheart, love …

Bean sídhe – A female fairy, otherwise known as a banshee. Often she heralds the coming of doom. (Which sounds awful, but when William first met Rhiannon she was tied up with rope, and he got some of her blood on him. He knew their destinies where somehow intertwined, but he wasn’t entirely sure why or to what end.)

Fey – Again associated with fairies, meaning one who is destined for tragedy.

Tha gràdh agam ort – I love you, or literally, I have love on you. Rhiannon is actually the one to say this (at least in Gaelic anyway)

7) Tell us the motives behind Reginald’s actions.

Laird Reginald was a troubled man from an abusive past. I felt bad for him, really, and wished there was some help for him, but there weren’t any therapists around in the 1600’s, and William had to deal with Reginald for what he was; a threat to his family.

8) If I was around in the 1600’s I think I’d want to be rescued by some of the men in your books, who is your favourite?

Oh boy, you ask a lot of me. Let’s see… Ronan (from Dawning) is my beef head. He can be a tad dense, especially when it comes to women, but he’s completely loyal to Triona. William is my strong, sensitive guy. Unfortunately, he loves a little too deeply, and that makes him overprotective to the point of sometimes smothering Rhiannon. Then there’s Graham, my giant Norse throw-back. On the surface he’s a bear. Inside, he’s a big softy. And lastly, there’s Alec. He’s young and has a few lessons to learn about love, but his current broken heart won’t last forever…

OK, so I didn’t pick a favourite, and I don’t think I ever could! I love them all for who they are, AND for who they will become.

9) I did enjoy all the Scottish vocabulary, which of those words did you enjoy using the most?

Probably mo leannan, but I like all of it.

10) I feel there’s a story to be told for young Graham next, what do you think?

Absolutely. In fact, that is why he wasn’t present at the beginning of the book. While he was away visiting his niece, I was busy getting him in over his head with a certain young noble woman.