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katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
A rather hilarious screwball comedy about a hitman finding religion!
Jonasson has bagged himself quite a fanbase now after 'The Hundred Year Old Man...' (with his second not quite hitting the high of his debut, for me), and I think he has found a comfortable niche he could quite easily dominate in the screwball European comedy department.
This features a raft of quite amoral (yet still likeable) characters, mockery of organised religion, gangsters, murders and lashings of communion wine.
Our main three end up in a plot together - a recently-freed rather dim jailbird who is bound to head back to prison soon (he can't keep himself from beating people up), a homeless hotel receptionist with no money and a priest whose not only lost her religion, but never had it in the first place.
Just what will this threesome do together? Use all their skills in a business venture that will earn them (or some of them at least) a small fortune. Not quite the right time for Hitman Anders (as they name him) to start feeling an interest in Christianity. Or - is it?
This hops from one insane plot to another, as one venture goes slightly awry, the priest and receptionist manoeuvre Anders into another fantastically mad scheme.
It's brilliant. Tops 'The Hundred Year Old Man' and its elephant for ludicrous and outlandish storytelling. I loved the movement towards the conclusion, and how the three protagonists end up. It's perfect.
Even though one kills people and the other two are stealing money left, right and centre, I still adored them all. I loved the fact that the two are only ever called 'the priest' and 'the receptionist', even after years of story together, it adds to the humour and Jonasson's unique storytelling style.
If you enjoyed his others, you are in for another treat here. And I really hope it gets picked up for filming as well, though some of the humour will not translate well to the screen, it's such an insanely mad plot it will still go down well.
A summer read to enjoy on a warm day, you'll smile throughout.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance reading copy.
Jonasson has bagged himself quite a fanbase now after 'The Hundred Year Old Man...' (with his second not quite hitting the high of his debut, for me), and I think he has found a comfortable niche he could quite easily dominate in the screwball European comedy department.
This features a raft of quite amoral (yet still likeable) characters, mockery of organised religion, gangsters, murders and lashings of communion wine.
Our main three end up in a plot together - a recently-freed rather dim jailbird who is bound to head back to prison soon (he can't keep himself from beating people up), a homeless hotel receptionist with no money and a priest whose not only lost her religion, but never had it in the first place.
Just what will this threesome do together? Use all their skills in a business venture that will earn them (or some of them at least) a small fortune. Not quite the right time for Hitman Anders (as they name him) to start feeling an interest in Christianity. Or - is it?
This hops from one insane plot to another, as one venture goes slightly awry, the priest and receptionist manoeuvre Anders into another fantastically mad scheme.
It's brilliant. Tops 'The Hundred Year Old Man' and its elephant for ludicrous and outlandish storytelling. I loved the movement towards the conclusion, and how the three protagonists end up. It's perfect.
Even though one kills people and the other two are stealing money left, right and centre, I still adored them all. I loved the fact that the two are only ever called 'the priest' and 'the receptionist', even after years of story together, it adds to the humour and Jonasson's unique storytelling style.
If you enjoyed his others, you are in for another treat here. And I really hope it gets picked up for filming as well, though some of the humour will not translate well to the screen, it's such an insanely mad plot it will still go down well.
A summer read to enjoy on a warm day, you'll smile throughout.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance reading copy.
annawilhelmina's review against another edition
3.0
Sättet att berätta på är detsamma som hans tidigare böcker. Roligt och underhållande. Jag skrattade rakt ut som jag har gjort tidigare. Själva historian var inte lika oväntad som i tidigare böcker även om tvistarna var roliga. Tyvärr förvänta jag mig dem.
chester_jeebs's review
4.0
As ever, I love Jonasson's writing style. In my opinion this is not his strongest work, as it lacks the delicious intertwining of world histories that enchant me about his others (but the characters' personal histories still feature). Nevertheless it's a good romp following three central characters and their adventures in the present day: a priest, a receptionist, and a hitman.
Perhaps not a book to recommend to anyone particularly sensitive about their (Christian) faith, but it tackles the topics as ever with humour and spirit as the priest and receptionist come to an...interesting arrangement regarding the hitman which quickly evolves into all sorts of amusing events (to avoid saying spoilers). It doesn't disregard faith, merely criticises it, and presents the characters to judge (or not) as you will. All in all I would recommend this to readers who already love his other books, but to bring the full expectations of his other stories on it would be to set it off destined to be seen as 'weaker'. It's a more relaxing, less multiple-storyline-heavy book that can be enjoyed at a slightly slower pace.
Perhaps not a book to recommend to anyone particularly sensitive about their (Christian) faith, but it tackles the topics as ever with humour and spirit as the priest and receptionist come to an...interesting arrangement regarding the hitman which quickly evolves into all sorts of amusing events (to avoid saying spoilers). It doesn't disregard faith, merely criticises it, and presents the characters to judge (or not) as you will. All in all I would recommend this to readers who already love his other books, but to bring the full expectations of his other stories on it would be to set it off destined to be seen as 'weaker'. It's a more relaxing, less multiple-storyline-heavy book that can be enjoyed at a slightly slower pace.
lovestained's review against another edition
4.0
Not as good as The 100 Year Old Man, but better than King of Sweden.
This book seemed a bit more cynical and a bit less whimsical, but it was an enjoyable read from start to finish.
This book seemed a bit more cynical and a bit less whimsical, but it was an enjoyable read from start to finish.
sunrays118's review against another edition
3.0
It was a lovely book, well written, just 180 pages too long.
sjw84's review
3.0
Sweden's criminal underworld and a hit man who finds God are the centrepiece of Jonas Jonasson's latest madcap adventure.
While I found Hitman Anders and the Meaning of it All to be less humorous than his two previous offerings, this is still a nice read and a good antidote to gritty reads and depressing news.
Worth a read.
While I found Hitman Anders and the Meaning of it All to be less humorous than his two previous offerings, this is still a nice read and a good antidote to gritty reads and depressing news.
Worth a read.
xkyrahx's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
2.75
drianturner's review against another edition
2.0
Recently I read the author's debut hit: the 100 Year Old Man... I absolutely loved it. Its absurdity and irreverence was a refreshing change to the literature I had been reading at the time (eg The Underground Railroad). So I read the sequel straight after.
I think this came too soon for me after his other books; it did not have their freshness. Indeed, they are superior. At times I thought of giving up, if I'm being honest. But books really have to be bad for me not to finish them; this had the benefit of being a short, easy read.
It continued the author's absurdity and irreverence so I did enjoy it. But, for me, it's the least remembered books of the ones I have read of his thus far.
If we think about theme(s), I was attracted to the issue of religion and the indictment of eg TV evangelists. Whilst we laugh at the absurdity of a hitman becoming a preacher, who rakes in loads of money, is that so far-fetched in reality? And the exploitation of the media for personal gain, if handled correctly.
Later the trio hit on the idea of the Hitman being Father Christmas. This was one of the more intriguing parts of the book, for me, but then the book suddenly ended, if the author simply just ran out of interest.
I think this came too soon for me after his other books; it did not have their freshness. Indeed, they are superior. At times I thought of giving up, if I'm being honest. But books really have to be bad for me not to finish them; this had the benefit of being a short, easy read.
It continued the author's absurdity and irreverence so I did enjoy it. But, for me, it's the least remembered books of the ones I have read of his thus far.
If we think about theme(s), I was attracted to the issue of religion and the indictment of eg TV evangelists. Whilst we laugh at the absurdity of a hitman becoming a preacher, who rakes in loads of money, is that so far-fetched in reality? And the exploitation of the media for personal gain, if handled correctly.
Later the trio hit on the idea of the Hitman being Father Christmas. This was one of the more intriguing parts of the book, for me, but then the book suddenly ended, if the author simply just ran out of interest.
cheekylaydee's review against another edition
4.0
Believe it or not, Hitman Anders was my first foray into the madcap world of Jonas Jonasson. You would have thought that with previous titles such as The 100-year-old man who climbed out of the Window and Disappeared, that might have given me a clue as to what to expect, but the answer is no!
Let's set the scene. Hitman Anders has just served a prison sentence for murder. In his mind, he's spent far too much time in there already, so he decides to tone it down by limiting himself to breaking limbs (specialising in kneecaps) for the Swedish underworld.
His admin team, a receptionist called Per Persson and Johanna, a priest who not only lost her faith but never found it in the first place, feed his appetite for alcohol, keeping him so sizzled he doesn't realise that they are taking most of his profits.
However, it turns out to be pretty dangerous having a priest on your admin team, even one who has no faith in the Almighty. Hitman Anders finds religion, and it would seem their previously lucrative business is destined to fail. Ahh but reader, have faith in the innovative brain power of our admin team. We take a trek across Sweden, following our unlikely trio, one on a quest for salvation, the other two on a quest for profit, and right up until the last few pages I didn't know where we going to end up.
A novel bursting with humour, albeit of the dark variety, and if you're of a religious mind set and prone to take offense this wouldn't be the book for you, but if you like finding humour in the most unlikely situations give it a read. You won't be disappointed!
Let's set the scene. Hitman Anders has just served a prison sentence for murder. In his mind, he's spent far too much time in there already, so he decides to tone it down by limiting himself to breaking limbs (specialising in kneecaps) for the Swedish underworld.
His admin team, a receptionist called Per Persson and Johanna, a priest who not only lost her faith but never found it in the first place, feed his appetite for alcohol, keeping him so sizzled he doesn't realise that they are taking most of his profits.
However, it turns out to be pretty dangerous having a priest on your admin team, even one who has no faith in the Almighty. Hitman Anders finds religion, and it would seem their previously lucrative business is destined to fail. Ahh but reader, have faith in the innovative brain power of our admin team. We take a trek across Sweden, following our unlikely trio, one on a quest for salvation, the other two on a quest for profit, and right up until the last few pages I didn't know where we going to end up.
A novel bursting with humour, albeit of the dark variety, and if you're of a religious mind set and prone to take offense this wouldn't be the book for you, but if you like finding humour in the most unlikely situations give it a read. You won't be disappointed!