Jonas Jonasson And The Art Of Not Complicating The Simple

In life there are simple and complex things. Through an endless number of subjects of different levels of difficulty. Now, if we raise everything that is simple to the maximum power, we end up living a really problematic existence. That is why it is a good idea to read Jonas Jonasson, because he makes common sense his banner.

In Jonas Jonasson’s literature, his enormous commitment to simplifying what is already simple stands out, using logic and common sense. Obviously, this fact shows a world in which bad manners, outlandish personalities, and stupidity roam freely in a truly dangerous breeding ground.

Who is Jonas Jonasson?

Jonas Jonasson is a Swedish writer who is not very prolific, but he has made a strong landing on the world literary scene thanks to the work that has made him internationally famous, “The Grandfather Who Jumped out of the Window and Ran away”, from 2009. Jonasson He was born in the Swedish town of Växjö, into a middle-class family. His father drove ambulances and his mother was a nurse.

The writer studied Spanish and Swedish at the University of Gothenburg, although his professional activity took him to the world of journalism, working for the daily newspaper in his hometown, Smalandsposten . This led him to found his own media company, OTW, in 1996, which became a benchmark in his country thanks to his hard work.

However, Jonas Jonasson jumped into the international literary arena in 2009, thanks to the publication of his first work, the great and funny “The grandfather who jumped out the window and took off”, which has even been taken to the cinema. Later, in 2013, he confirmed his good line for prose with “The illiterate who was a genius of numbers.”

Jonas Jonasson and the history of the 20th century

If there is one thing that stands out for Jonas Jonasson’s powerful and fun narrative, it is his extensive knowledge of recent world history. The 20th century is an excellent breeding ground for this writer.

Through a central character, who usually acts as the common thread of the story, Jonas Jonasson accurately narrates some of the events that have marked our present, always from a truly sarcastic point of view.

The funny thing is that the central character in Jonasson’s narrative is usually a person with a lot of common sense. They have a rather innocent look, but wise, of a life that could be much simpler, but it is not because of the human stupidity of wanting to complicate everything, even if it is not necessary.

Thus, its central characters interact with imaginary Stalin, Truman or Einstein, seeking different views of the recent history of humanity, which has been peppered with misunderstandings and coincidences, something that defines the current world in which we live.

The genius of Jonas Jonasson

To many, perhaps Jonasson’s sharp and wry look at our world may seem simplistic. Obviously,  not all problems can be solved with a bar conversation over several glasses of burning water. Yet based on grandstanding, follies, impossible imaginations, and blind and improbable beliefs, it doesn’t seem like we’ve achieved much today either.

Jonasson shows a world with an uncertain course, through characters who seek their place on a planet that does not understand them  and that insists on making their lives impossible, although they simply want tranquility and normality. The truth is that, if we think about it, isn’t it something of tranquility, peace and quiet that we are all looking for? Wouldn’t life be a bit easier if each one was dedicated to his own, and stopped meddling in the neighbor’s affairs?

This is perhaps the greatest lesson we learn from reading Jonas Jonasson. Dedicate yourself to yours, keep your eyes clean and at peace, and leave others alone with their problems. Perhaps that way everything would be much simpler, understandable and comfortable for everyone. But just maybe …