Jonasson creates the near impossible with his astute assessments of today’s unstable global political climate and endearingly sweet characters, providing laugh-out-loud moments in a dark time. Reminiscent of Alexander McCall Smith’s The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency with a side order of Forrest Gump .” — Library Journal (starred review)
“Uproarious....Jonasson’s clever prose, madcap delights, and satirical political commentary will please fans of the original novel and newcomers alike.” — Publishers Weekly
“A welcome visit from an old friend that’s filled with laugh out-loud hijinx as well as thought- provoking and timely satire on the current state of the world and the perils of power.” — Booklist
“As much ludicrous fun as the first book but with the additional bonus of being set in today’s crazy political world.... Highly recommended.” — Express
As much ludicrous fun as the first book but with the additional bonus of being set in today’s crazy political world.... Highly recommended.
A welcome visit from an old friend that’s filled with laugh out-loud hijinx as well as thought- provoking and timely satire on the current state of the world and the perils of power.
A welcome visit from an old friend that’s filled with laugh out-loud hijinx as well as thought- provoking and timely satire on the current state of the world and the perils of power.
Eccentric, unusual and far-fetched in the best possible way.
"If you’re in the mood for some hearty belly laughs, pick up this sequel ... The book is full of irreverence, absurdities, silliness and, yes, even intelligence. It attacks today’s politics and political leaders with a vengeance."
[A] witty caper. ★★★1/2
"If you’d like another interpretation of today’s politics, something to chuckle at and just a good yarn, consider The Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Year-Old Man . ... The story keeps the pages turning. A fun read."
San Francisco Book Review
Imaginative, laugh-out-loud . . . a brilliant satire on the foibles of mankind.
2018-12-11
The hero (of sorts) has aged a year in this wildly implausible sequel to The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window and Disappeared (2012).
Reaching age 101 hasn't slowed Allan Karlsson, who travels from continent to continent with his thieving friend, Julius Jonsson. A hot air balloon becomes untethered in Indonesia, and the gentlemen are soon afloat in the Indian Ocean. A North Korean bulk carrier rescues them on its way to pick up four illicit kilos of enriched uranium in Madagascar. The ship's captain takes them back to North Korea, where they meet Kim Jong-un and convince him that Allan is a nuclear weapons expert who invented "hetisostat pressure" and that Julius is an asparagus expert. Allan gives a North Korean engineer a formula for vitamin C and smelling salts, or possibly toothpaste and bleach. When Kim kicks the Swedes out of the country, Allan picks up a briefcase with the uranium in it—easy to do, since all North Korean briefcases look alike. Allan considers giving the uranium to Donald Trump until they meet and Allan decides that the U.S. president is "awfully close to exploding all on his own" and "should be diagnosed with something." Then he writes a letter on three napkins to Angela Merkel, who comes across as the sanest person in the book. Early on, Allan obtains a "black tablet" that shows news, music, and naked ladies. Thus he learns more than Trump, who learns all that's worth knowing from Fox. Allan and Julius meet a grocer/coffin-maker and help her sell designer coffins at a travel and tourism trade fair. Allan discovers Twitter and Facebook, Julius plants asparagus with an assist from Merkel, and a bad guy in Africa learns the hard way what lions like to eat.
Delightful nonsense that will lift a lot of spirits.
