The 100-Year-Old Man Who Walked Out of the Window and Disappeared is a very intriguing book. The quirky title is enough to attract you, suggesting that this book will be quirky and a little different.
The plot has many twists and turns, but it is essentially a series of ridiculous events that get increasingly silly as the old man tries to escape the police by accidentally taking a suitcase full of money. At the same time, we learn about her past and the wonderful adventures and famous people she has met throughout her long life.
We chose it for our book club, but when I started reading it, I was concerned that this was not the best option for our group. It’s certainly fun and very random, but would there be enough to discuss in a book club?
All the members of our group delivered the book The man of 100 years approx. 7/10. That is usually a normal discussion! It is much better if there are some who love it or hate it completely.
There are some interesting topics to discuss that led to a lively discussion. We enjoy talking about the different types of humor that are present in the book.
The topic of old age was also refreshingly covered in The Hundred Year Old Man. It made us review our perceptions of the elderly and wonder if we should see them more as Allan, the 100-year-old man.
We all agreed that the subplot of Allan’s adventures as a young man was a much more absorbing read than the rather silly plot about stolen money. Many felt they had learned something new about the history of various countries, leaving them wondering if the events in this book had any truth to them.
So is the 100-year-old man’s book suitable for a book club?
This is not a worthy book that will have you lulling its literary prowess. However, it will make you laugh, sometimes even out loud. It’s ridiculous, quirky, and totally unlike anything else we’ve read. For that reason alone, it’s worthy of a book club discussion.
What it lacks in depth, it more than makes up for in its quirkiness. We could all learn something about life from Allan, the 100-year-old man, who seems to wander through life with no worries in the world and without a set plan. How refreshing.
