The 100-Year-Old Man who climbed out the window and disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

Allan Karlsson climbs out of his room at the nursing home to avoid his 100th birthday party, buys a ticket at the bus station, accidentally steals a suitcase full of money and mayhem ensues.  Of course this adventure is nothing compared to the life he has lived up to this point.  His expertise in explosives has led him to encounters with just about every important political figure of the 20th century from Franco to Truman and beyond.  The tale would be silly, well it is silly, if Allan wasn't such a likeable character.  And as unlikely as it all is, you could only wish that a life whose guiding philosophy of "things are what they are, and whatever will be will be" would lead to so much life.  The story jumps back and forth in time from Allan's life adventure to his current misadventure in a John Irving meets Forrest Gump sort of style.  A grand absurd romp.