When nursing home resident Allan Karlsson climbs out the nursing home window to avoid his 100th birthday party and to get his hands on some liquor he accidentally ends up with a suitcase full of cash. He then boards a bus without a destination to get away from the home's vile director, who strictly controls the community's vodka consumption. Meanwhile, the mayor has shown up for the birthday party to find out that his photo op has disappeared and sends the entire police force after the geriatric fugitive. Once the suitcase owner/thief discovers his money is gone, he gives pursuit. Soon everyone finds out a 100-year-old man can be very resourceful. Joining Allan's journey is the owner of a hot dog stand, a crime boss, a watermelon farmer, a beauty, and a criminal-crushing elephant. This impossible and impossibly hilarious odyssey is peppered with famous people and memorable events from history with a twist of the bizarre. Narrated by Steven Crossley, this is a marvelous marriage of
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and
Forrest Gump and highly recommended.
VERDICT Readers will be absolutely charmed by Allan and his adventurous spirit as well as his companions, both human and otherwise. ["This quirky novel is a sly, satirical look back at international relations in the 20th century through the eyes of an old man who has seen it all," read the review of the Hyperion hc, LJ 9/1/12.—Ed.]
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