I’ve read this year. It has an adventure, murder, crime, an elephant, and a really, really interesting cast of characters. Not only does it tell the story of Allan Karlsson’s escape from his retirement home, and all the trouble he gets into, but it also takes you on a journey through Allan’s fascinating life. In Allan, Jonasson has created the most interesting protagonist. He’s grouchy, he loves vodka, he doesn’t go looking for adventure and yet it always seems to find him, and he’s lived this amazing life, but just kind of shrugs about it. He’s exactly the type of character I want to read about.