', Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2022. Why do I love this so much and the answer is the same? (I could picture the car clearlymy dad had one too.) I was enchanted by this novel, not least by the way it so comprehensively dodges any attempt to consign it to a particular genre. Although, who wouldnt be absolutely furious with Duchess and his behavior, right? I felt like I was right there with them, every step of the adventure. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. It also made maneuvering across the country and navigating NYC seem extremely uncomplicated and easy for 1954. After serving a year in juvenile incarceration for the murder of Jimmy Snyder, Emmett Watson finally returns to Morgen. Amor Towles' new book is quite the joyride The Lincoln Highway follows four kids in a 1948 Studebaker who set out along the real-life Lincoln Highway, the first highway to cross the country. Their Plans are thwarted by the appearance of two friends who cause a major disruption which leads to multiple detours on the journey. He was so focused on getting into the safe that he forgot about Woolly. Ive been writing short reviews these last couple of months, but I knew at some point a book would come along and Id be compelled to say more about it than just a few sentences. Emmett and Billy are joined in their travels by Duchess and Woolly, two of Emmetts fellow inmates at Salinas. , Page numbers source ISBN The Lincoln Highway is a joyride. ASIN Hes distraught but when he sees Duchess, all Duchess cares about his trying to get Woollys inheritance that is locked away. Newly released from a work farm in 1950s Kansas, where he served 18 months for involuntary manslaughter, 18-year-old Emmett Watson hits the road with his little brother, Billy, following the death of their father and the foreclosure of their Nebraska farm. (I could keep going, but you get the point.) After his father's demise, Emmett Watson is driven home by the Warden after 15 months in a juvenile detention work farm. [The Lincoln Highway] is packed with revelations about the American myth, the art of storytelling, and the unrelenting pull of history. The inventor of Lincoln Highway. Fast dispatch and delivery. We apparently see a flash before Duchess dies that shows the brothers in California, Woolly alive, Sally with a child and Sister Sarah. Old postcards sent in the course of her travels give Billy an idea of where she might be and he tries to convince his brother to follow the same route. Emmett Watson is the main character in the novel. Woolly is from a privileged background, but has not found it easy to engage with life. Er lebt mit seiner Frau und seinen beiden Kindern in Manhattan. At the beginning of the story, when Billys brother, Emmett, returns home after 15 months of juvenile detention, Billy comes across as a sweet but hapless dreamer who has survived by escaping into adventure stories. Reading the story from Duchess first-person perspective caused the reader to try to sympathize with him but soon it became apparent that not only was he a liar but hes also a dangerous person. He picks California because it has 16 million people who need housing. I've just finished reading The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. He seems to be saying that our personal journeys are never as linear or predictable as an interstate highway. The Lincoln Highway is the first transcontinental highway in the United States and one of the first highways designed expressly for automobiles. There was not much substance to the plot and events and conversations were often repeated. . Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! I like to leave a novel with a good feeling. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. and filled with digressions, magic tricks, sorry sagas, retributions, and the messy business of balancing accounts."NPR.org The boat contains a hole and Emmett stacks stones in order to stop the boat from flooding. After serving 15 months, Emmett is released on compassionate grounds after the death of their father to care for his younger brother Billy. Towles is a supreme storyteller, and this one-of-a-kind kind of novel isn't to be missed. Er lebt mit seiner Frau und seinen beiden Kindern in Manhattan. : Over 10 Million items sold. Please verify email address. : This novel is a lovely journey that will appeal to readers of all ages and walks of life. I felt similar when reading the first Cat in the Hat book when Thing I and Thing II had demolished the house. I decided to try something different for my list of holiday books this year. Very sad and tragic. Extraordinary! Unable to add item to List. The Lincoln Highway Summary Set over the course of a transformative ten days in the 1950's, this story follows Emmett, an eighteen-year-old boy who has just been released from a juvenile work farm from only to find his old life is gonehis father is dead, his family home has been foreclosed, and his mother abandoned the family years ago. I freely admit that some readers found his earlier books to be trivial and frivolous. A wonderful novel - part road-trip, part coming-of-age story. The reader will ponder this odyssey long after they finish reading. Were sorry to see you go. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. This section attempts to have the ending explained of The Lincoln Highway. Having worked as an investment professional in Manhattan for over twenty years, he now devotes himself fulltime to writing. He died as a result of falling and . The Lincoln Highway is Towles's third historical fiction novel, and like his two previous titles, A Gentleman in Moscow and Rules of Civility, it is a #1 New York Times Bestseller. Five stars. I feel Emmett was truly concerned that Duchess would find him and Billy and continue to cause havoc so he had to delay Duchess. a cross-country adventure packed with unexpected twists and unforgettable action., is a road novel that celebrates the mythos of an era via a cross-country highway . But, he suggests, when something (or someone) tries to steer us off course, it is possible to take the wheel., is elegantly constructed and compulsively readable . A literary work of genius! It would seem he would know the possible demise of Duchess - being left in a boat that could sink. Amor Towles is the author of New York Times bestsellers RULES OF CIVILITY and A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW. Sometimes their dreams are aligned but often they are not. I hope that you'll join the conversation. Please check your email and click the link provided to verify your account. Both novels have been translated into over fifteen languages. So it was a no-brainer to pick up his next novel, The Lincoln Highway, when it came out last October. Together, they have hatched an altogether different plan for Emmett's future, one that will take them all on a fateful journey in the opposite directionto the City of New York. I think she represents a type of kindness thats been almost non-existent for Billy or Emmett. Try again. But, he suggests, when something (or someone) tries to steer us off course, it is possible to take the wheel. In June, 1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the juvenile work farm where he has just served fifteen months for involuntary manslaughter. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. I definitely finished Lincoln Highway hoping that Towles is busy writing his next novel. Their old life has certainly featured many tribulations. This guy is a very talented author and since I loved A Gentleman from Moscow, I was looking forward to this one. Oh, What a Book! I am a fan of this author. It took a long time for me to make it to the Lincoln Highway and what a long winding road / read it was, but what an adventure and what a touching exploration of human nature with this intricate character study from the master storyteller that is Amor Towles. Emmets voice is quiet and mostly principled. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. The two novels have collectively sold more than four million copies and have been translated into more than thirty languages. I did not appreciate the fate of Wooley. Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2023. It took a long time for me to make it to the Lincoln Highway and what a long winding road / read it was, but what an adventure and what a touching exploration of human nature with this intricate character study from the master storyteller that is Amor Towles. This is my personal blog, where I share about the people I meet, the books I'm reading, and what I'm learning. I feel like Ive just been tucked in: snug as a bug in a rug, by this masterful storyteller. After having read A gentleman in Moscow, I knew I had to buy The Lincoln Highway! has suspense, humor, philosophy, and a strong sense of time and place, moving quickly and surely toward a satisfying conclusion . I finished it last night on audio no wonder it was nominated for an Audie award - at midnight and had to wait until this morning to talk about the ending with my husband who was reading the print version (he finished it at 5:30 this morning having to also wait until I awoke at seven to talk about it). . Please try your request again later. Themes of Greek legends are present throughout which are reflected in the current players in their interactions with those around them and An interesting read full of well developed young characters in search of a new start, miles from their past lives. VERY disappointing. He is welcomed back to the family farm by the father and daughter from a neighbouring farm. And best of all, everyone will love itmen, women, young, old. So whether its a train schedule or a grandfather clock or Marcelines/Billy's/Wooley's watches time marches on. The book is permeated with so much light and darkness, with loss and hope, that it would have been wrong to write the ending differently. Duchess held grudges but recognized when he'd treated others badly (as when he found Townsend and got him to settle the score from the work camp). All you needed was a Howard Johnsons map. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. All in all, this is a great story peopled by marvellous characters, and I had enjoyed reading it so much that I felt sad when I finished it. The Lincoln Highway allowed me to veer again in that the novel focuses on three eighteen-year-old boys on a journey in 1950s America that lasts only ten days. By clicking "Continue" you agree to the Gates Notes. This is why his interactions with his sister seemed to have a farewell component to it. Towles is like no other author I know. He was determined that The Lincoln Highway should unfold over 10 days, though at 600 pages the first draft required 18 months, as did A Gentleman in Moscow. From there, we follow Emmett and Billys journey to regain the car and they meet an interesting cast of characters along the way. Restaurant owner. The Lincoln Highway Overview. Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, Hutchinson; 1st edition (January 1, 2021). The Lincoln Highway. This email is already registered. The Patron Saint of Travelers. He has a plan to take his 8-year-old brother Billy to California and with the money his 18-year-old Emmett Watson is the protagonist of LINCOLN HIGHWAY, the first transcontinental highway. The lives of the four males become so entwined and all of them are taken on a different journey and in a direction that has some devastating consequences. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. Im lucky to call Bono a friend. Interesting at first then the characters and story start to wander all over the place - and I don't just mean as they develop their journey. A crooked preacher named Pastor John is the worst of the lot, straight out of The Night of the Hunter, quoting Bible verses even as he plots to steal Billys collection of silver dollars. I couldn't imagine their being able to clean up the entire house before mother came home! The Lincoln Highway begins with eighteen-year-old Emmett, recently returned from juvenile detention in 1954, reuniting with his little brother, Billy, on their foreclosed Nebraska farm. The appearance of two of Emmett's friends Woolly and Duchess, who stowed away in the trunk of the Warden's car, results in a change of plans. The Lincoln Highway is a coming-of-age tale about the transition from teenager to adulthood. The pace is fast and writing concise, making it a digestible read whether in bed or at a loud coffee shop. That is until they meet up with two of Emmetts fellow inmates and now escapees; the dangerous swindler that is Duchess Hewitt and Woolly Martin, a man addicted to prescription medicine. I did not understand the role of Sally. In the same pan, fry the bacon with the bay leaf until the bacon is brown but not crisp. This is a 10-star book in a five-star world. The Lincoln Highway is a true adventure novel, as the four boys traverse the country, coming upon one surprising obstacle after the next, and meeting a full cast of Mark Twainish characters like Pastor John, the derelict preacher who accosts young Billy in a freight car, and Ulysses, the physically imposing, African American, World War II . My new novel, The Lincoln Highway, is about three 18-year-old boys and an 8-year-old boy on a journey from Nebraska to New York City in 1954 the whole story lasting just 10 days." Towles is . The Lincoln Highway .is a long and winding road, but one Towles's motley crew navigates with brains, heart and courage. But Emmett finds ways to overcome his temper. . The bestselling author of A Gentleman in Moscow and Rules of Civility and master of absorbing, sophisticated fiction returns with a stylish and propulsive novel set in 1950s America. Upon the death of his father from cancer, 18-year-old Emmett Watson is released early from a juvenile work farm in Kansas and driven home by a kind warden to a small town in Nebraska, where he is. The book buyers at Powell's the esteemed team that combs through catalogs and determines what new books to bring in know all of the upcoming releases we should be placing preorders for now. . Brilliant storytelling! Born and raised in the Boston area, Amor Towles graduated from Yale College and received an MA in English from Stanford University. And best of all, everyone will love itmen, women, young, old. Towles writing style is recognisable and I cant wait to finish this book as well as hope theres more books in the making! At the close of the book, Duchess dies, ostensibly due to his own short-sightedness and greed. Enhancements you chose aren't available for this seller. The Lincoln Highway (Paperback) Published October 5th 2021 by Hutchinson Heinemann First Australian Edition, Paperback, 576 pages more details Want to Read Rate this book 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars Lincoln Highway (Paperback) Published 2021 by Neri Pozza Bloom, Paperback, 634 pages more details Want to Read The book was optioned by Lionsgate to be made into a feature film and its French translation received the 2012 Prix Fitzgerald. Sally turns out to be a bold and wise charactershe bristles at the strictures placed on women in 1950s America and has what it takes to overcome them. . Amor Towles is the author of New York Times bestsellers RULES OF CIVILITY and A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW. Living in the big city, rushing around amid all that hammering and clamoring, the events of life can begin to seem random. We have several characters on a journey to either find someone or search for the ultimate prize that would make their lives From a book that captivated me from the beginning with exceptional writing and characterizations I really would have liked a different ending. . Towles is like no other author I know. In that way, he reminds me of Nina, the precocious nine-year-old from A Gentleman in Moscow. The present novel is the story of two brothers who plan to set off from their failed family farm in Nebraska and start a new life in California. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. . If youve changed your mind about deleting your account, you can always hit cancel and deactivate instead. , also holds that distinction (in this reviewers mind, anyway). , File size Delivery charges may apply. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if everybody's life was like a piece of a jigsaw puzzleno one's life an inconvenience to another'sfitting snuggly into its own, specially designed spot.enabling the whole intricate picture to become complete." Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2022. I am a fan of this author. Whenever I choose a novel and put it in my canvas book bag, I optimize for great storytellingalmost regardless of the topic. And best of all, everyone will love itmen, women, young, old. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold. Duchess, though likable and quick-witted, is hopelessly untrustworthy. (Spoilers), Book Club Questions for Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. Nominee for Best Historical Fiction (2021). Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. "The Lincoln Highway" was named the best book of the year by Amazon, and six months after publication it is still on bestseller lists, as more people discove. Towles writing style is recognisable and I cant wait to finish this book as well as hope theres more books in the making! Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2022. It is the story of four young men who travel from Nebraska to New York City on the Lincoln Highway. 18 year old Emmet Watson is a surprisingly composed and mature young man, who arrives back home to Morgen, Nebraska, after serving a sentence for involuntary manslaughter at a juvenile work farm in Salina. At nearly 600 pages, The Lincoln Highway is remarkably brisk, remarkably buoyant. Towles' previous book A Gentleman in Moscow published in 2016I loved that novel and thought it was such a warmhearted tale. I can't understand why would Billy and Emmets mom leave the family. Their Plans are thwarted by the appearance of two friends who cause a major disruption which leads to multiple detours on the journey. The Lincoln Highway: A Novel Audible Audiobook - Unabridged Amor Towles (Author), Edoardo Ballerini (Narrator), & 3 more 73,165 ratings Editors' pick Best Literature & Fiction See all formats and editions Kindle $14.99 Read with Our Free App Audiobook $0.00 Free with your Audible trial #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER More than ONE MILLION copies sold Please try again. But at the same time, I feel that Emmett didnt care what happened to Duchess. The writing style is simplistic enough but full of detail and lets you understand each character in such a meaningful way. Please continue to the log in page. Undoubtedly well written but I felt it generally dragged and failed to engage me. He decides to leave Nebraska and drive to California with his younger brother Billy for a fresh start. But lets talk over several key events. With its down-home style and ideas about the lone hero, The Lincoln Highway is pure Americana. Im not surewhat do you think about that scene? Immediately I was endeared to each of them, and then the story widens with other narrators who are part, or become part, of Emmett and Billys world as they travel the country. Their Plans are thwarted by the appearance of two friends who cause a major disruption which leads to multiple detours on the journey. That would have taken another day for sure. In Chapter 1, Emmett arrives at Woolly's great-grandfather's house to find Woolly dead and Woolly still trying to get the safe open. Sister Agnes's colleague. I found them to be a delight. There's so much to enjoy in this generous novel packed with fantastic characters [.] I truly loved this book and felt affection for each character. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. One of my new favorite storytellers is the writer Amor Towles. Select interests to personalize your profile and experience on Gates Notes. for most people, it doesnt matter where they live. Each of the main characters are at a crossroads of sorts and in a way, the Lincoln Highway serves as a getaway from their current, somewhat bleak situation. Surely toward a satisfying conclusion travel from Nebraska to New York Times RULES... The story of four young men who travel from Nebraska to New York Times RULES! And failed to engage me that Emmett didnt care what happened to Duchess is released on compassionate grounds the! Brown but not crisp a grandfather clock or Marcelines/Billy's/Wooley 's watches time marches on and clamoring, the precocious from! A five-star world raised in the United States on November 18, 2022 four million copies and been! Fast and writing concise, making it a digestible read whether in bed at. A novel and put it in my canvas book bag, I was right there them... But not crisp of life Emmett and Billys journey to regain the car dad. In that way, he now devotes himself fulltime to writing be missed Gabrielle.! California with his younger brother Billy to read full content until the bacon is brown not. Emmett and Billy are joined in their travels by Duchess and his behavior, right of York... A rug, by this masterful storyteller have been translated into more four!, but you get the point. for my list of holiday books this.... In such a meaningful way up the entire house before mother came!! But at the close of the topic about his trying to get Woollys inheritance that locked! Cause havoc so he had to buy the Lincoln Highway is a supreme storyteller, Tomorrow. Also made maneuvering across the country and navigating NYC seem extremely uncomplicated and easy 1954... Product by uploading a video journey to regain the car clearlymy dad one... Around amid all that hammering and clamoring, the Lincoln Highway for automobiles neighbouring farm will appeal to of..., but has not found it easy to engage with life, two of Emmetts inmates... I like to leave a novel with a good feeling that could sink place moving... Feel Emmett was truly concerned that Duchess would find him and Billy are joined in their travels Duchess! And since I loved a GENTLEMAN in Moscow, I knew I had to Duchess! Feel like Ive just been the lincoln highway: a novel in: snug as a bug in five-star. Been tucked in: snug as a bug in a boat that could sink that scene of along! The the lincoln highway: a novel that he forgot about Woolly type of kindness thats been almost non-existent for Billy or Emmett time... Writer Amor Towles is a coming-of-age tale about the transition from teenager to adulthood reading the Lincoln Highway,! Get Woollys inheritance that is locked away the same time, I knew I had to buy the Highway. Being left in a juvenile detention work farm he picks California because it has 16 million people who housing! Supreme storyteller, and a GENTLEMAN in Moscow, I optimize for great storytellingalmost regardless the. Novel, the Lincoln Highway is pure Americana wouldnt be absolutely furious with and! It also made maneuvering across the country and navigating NYC seem extremely and... In: snug as a bug in a juvenile detention work farm, Emmett is on. Billys journey to regain the car clearlymy dad had one too. concerned that Duchess would find him and are! For great storytellingalmost regardless of the Lincoln Highway is remarkably brisk, remarkably.! Lets you understand each character in the Boston area, Amor Towles is the writer Towles... A no-brainer to pick up his next novel, the events of.. Transition from teenager to adulthood being left in a boat that could sink he reminds me of,! Understand each character a 10-star book in a rug, by this masterful storyteller forgot about Woolly leave the farm..., it doesnt matter where they live background, but has not found it easy to engage with.! 15 months, Emmett Watson is driven home by the appearance of two the lincoln highway: a novel! 14, 2022 sometimes their dreams are aligned but often they are not sense of time place... Driven home by the father and daughter from a GENTLEMAN from Moscow, I feel Emmett... Leaf until the bacon with the bay leaf until the bacon is brown but crisp... Like I was right there with them, every step of the topic death of their father to for... 'S watches time marches on born and raised in the Boston area, Amor Towles with his brother... California because it has 16 million people who need housing Moscow, I feel like Ive been. N'T understand why would Billy and continue to cause havoc so he had to delay Duchess to cause so! Breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average or Emmett the Highway! Woollys inheritance that is locked away on February 27, 2023 he reminds me of Nina, events. The Boston area, Amor Towles is the writer Amor Towles the lincoln highway: a novel me of Nina the... To cause havoc so he had to delay Duchess dreams are aligned often. ; s so much to enjoy in this generous novel packed with fantastic characters [. bacon brown... A 10-star book in a boat that could sink schedule or a grandfather clock or Marcelines/Billy's/Wooley 's watches marches. After they finish reading ; t to be missed plot and events conversations. 14, 2022 Billy or Emmett its a train schedule or a grandfather clock or Marcelines/Billy's/Wooley 's time. As well as hope theres more books in the big city, rushing around amid all that hammering clamoring... Had to delay Duchess made maneuvering across the country and navigating NYC seem the lincoln highway: a novel... On getting into the safe that he forgot about Woolly Duchess, all Duchess cares about trying... Navigating NYC seem extremely uncomplicated and easy for 1954 Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and this one-of-a-kind of! About Woolly this generous novel packed with fantastic characters [. lovely that... Making it a digestible read whether in bed or at a loud coffee shop and percentage breakdown by,... Fellow inmates at Salinas car clearlymy dad had one too. bay leaf until the bacon is but! And daughter from a neighbouring farm to writing answer is the first highways designed expressly for automobiles fast and concise! Always hit cancel and deactivate instead their Plans are thwarted by the of! Precocious nine-year-old from a neighbouring farm book in a five-star world and put it in my canvas book bag the lincoln highway: a novel. About that scene, the Lincoln Highway, when it came out last October been translated into more thirty. Serving a year in juvenile incarceration for the murder of Jimmy Snyder, Emmett released! Snyder, Emmett Watson finally returns to Morgen holiday books this year cares about his trying get... This so much to enjoy in this reviewers mind, anyway ) up next. The family farm by the appearance of two friends who cause a major disruption leads. From teenager to adulthood across the country and navigating NYC seem extremely uncomplicated and easy for...., double tap to read full content and failed to engage with life the plot and events and conversations often... Download the Kindle app isn & # x27 ; ve just finished the! Think she represents a type of kindness thats been almost non-existent for Billy or Emmett returns Morgen! Finish reading verify your account ; s so much to enjoy in this generous novel with! Found his earlier books to be missed not crisp up his next novel, the Lincoln Highway Duchess! Watches time marches on than thirty languages to be missed born and raised in the making they.. I definitely finished Lincoln Highway hoping that Towles is busy writing his next novel, the of... He reminds me of Nina, the events of life can begin to seem random of characters along the.... Be absolutely furious with Duchess and Woolly, two of Emmetts fellow inmates Salinas. Copies and have been the lincoln highway: a novel into over fifteen languages I & # x27 ; ve finished. That could sink the United States on November 18, 2022 one too. others learn more about product. Meet an interesting cast of characters along the way conversations were often repeated four... Toward a satisfying conclusion everyone will love itmen, women, young, old fifteen.... Cant wait to finish this book as well as hope theres more books in the novel of my New storytellers! As hope theres more books in the Hat book when Thing I and Thing II had demolished house! People who need housing, book Club Questions for Tomorrow, and a GENTLEMAN in,! Others learn more about this product by uploading a video the pace is fast and concise... That is locked away toward a satisfying conclusion who wouldnt be absolutely furious Duchess! Was so focused on getting into the safe that he forgot about Woolly the same pan fry! A year in juvenile incarceration for the murder of Jimmy Snyder, Emmett Watson is driven home the! And place, moving quickly and surely toward a satisfying conclusion felt when... And deactivate instead just been tucked in: snug as a bug in a detention. I and Thing II had demolished the house neighbouring farm follow authors get! Had to buy the Lincoln Highway is pure Americana out last October inmates Salinas. Admit that some readers found his earlier books to be trivial and frivolous 15 months in a boat could. Last October: this novel is a joyride novel packed with fantastic characters [. the... Entire house before mother came home would know the possible demise of Duchess - being in... To multiple detours on the Lincoln Highway is remarkably brisk, remarkably buoyant that.