The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, Jonas Jonasson

By Jonas Jonasson

(Tansley Reads Rating: 58%)

Icebreaker

 

Who would you consider to be the most important public figure you have ever met?  Where are the most interesting places you have been?

 Questions

1.  Why do you think the author chose to make the main character 100 years old? What does he have to say about the elderly?

2.  Why do you think Allan climbed out the window in the first place?

 

3.  What do you think drove Allan to steal the suitcase?

 4.  Did you enjoy the way the novel switched from the present day to the past? Did it add or detract from your enjoyment of the story?

 

5. Many modern historical events and famous people where woven into the plot. Did you find this added or detracted from the twists of the tale?

6.  Are there other historical figures or moments you would have liked to have seen in the book?

7.  What do you think of Allan’s lack of political interest and stance and how does this affect the story? 

8. Why do you think the author chose to make Allan a eunuch? How do you think this affected his character and was it significant to the plot?

9.  Did you enjoy the humour in this novel?  Did any situation strike you as particularly funny?

10.  What do you think all the main characters had in common, if anything?

 

11.  What did you think about Allan and Amanda getting together at the end of the story?

12.  Why do you think the author repeated the same paragraph at the start and end of the book?

13.  This novel has sold over 2 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 300 languages. Why do you think it has such worldwide, cross-cultural appeal considering Scandinavian literature is often renowned for being bleak and dark?

14: Is there anything else you would like to discuss that we didn’t cover?

15:  Quick round – What did you think of the book?