The hundred year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared

OK, I'll confess. What grabbed me with this book is the outrageously long title and the stunningly effective front cover design. I didn't have high hopes for the content. As it turns out it was a remarkably entertaining read. I read this on holiday and that may have added to my enjoyment but the book didn't require much brain power. The story follows the protagonist (100 year old man) who leaves his care home on the afternoon of his 100th birthday party. On his way out he happens to acquire a suitcase belonging to a criminal gang and what follows is an entertaining tale of a man on the run (interspersed with the remarkable story of his life prior to entering the home). It's a clever book in terms of linking a character with events in a century of history but is also a book that doesn't take itself too seriously.