The Girl Who Saved The King Of Sweden - Jonas Jonasson

Get ready for one hell of a roller coaster ride! Though the author dragged the story bit far but still one can enjoy this book.Jonas Jonasson's previous book "The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared" was a huge hit I enjoyed it lot. This book also to certain extends follows the same template. This is farcial , madcap and absurd.

If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear. Winnie-the-Pooh

This book follows the life of three - an African girl Nombeko Mayeki , intelligent and street smart girl and a "twins who are officially one person".  How these three along with another mad young woman kept the nuclear weapon secret and how they saved the monarchy is the story of this hilarious novel. The story of Nombeko was remarkable - started as latrine cleaner and ended as a ambassador to China through her studious knowledge gathering. The author beautifully explores the life of Soweto people .

With the new antiterrorism laws, the government could call anyone a terrorist and lock him or her up for as long as they liked, for any reason they liked. Or for no reason at all

Among all the characters only Nombeko , Holger Two and the prime minister have some sense. All the other characters act and behave like fools  or may be that's how people react to situation. (??!!). Some times I felt annoyed and sometimes captivating  by those stupid characters popping up here and there. And some part of this novel is very very slow.

“The world went on revolving around its sun at the constant speed and with the inconstant temper it always had.” 

The episodes of Nombeko and Chinese president , the three with King and the prime minister, and  Ingmar's obsession with killing the king - hilarious, specially the actions of Ingmar regarding Monarchy. As in his previous novel - lots of historical characters pops up - Balthazar Vorster, "terrorist" Nelson Mandela ,Olof Palme and Pieter Botha. There are lots of reference to politics of Africa and Sweden and international relationship.

Present—that part of eternity dividing the domain of disappointment from the realm of hope. AMBROSE BIERCE

There are some unforgettable characters other than Nombeko and Holgers - the three Chinese girls creating fake antiques, Vietnam war veteran who built tunnel to escape CIA and the grandma who likes the King and grows potatoes. The author makes the seemingly unbelievable story believable but lack the charm of his first novel "The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared". The writing is clear and funny, though slow at times.

Not a bad one.