There was a problem loading your book clubs. Amor Towles ' new Great American Road Novel tails four boys three 18-year-olds who met in a juvenile reformatory, plus a brainy 8-year-old as they set. So whether its a train schedule or a grandfather clock or Marcelines/Billy's/Wooley's watches time marches on. this roadtrip is a nightmare. VERY disappointing. So it was a no-brainer to pick up his next novel, The Lincoln Highway, when it came out last October. It hurt. , X-Ray But Emmett finds ways to overcome his temper. And best of all, everyone will love itmen, women, young, old. Living in the big city, rushing around amid all that hammering and clamoring, the events of life can begin to seem random. My apologies. Loved Billy and how the author used him as a guiding light throughout the novel. A Literary Work of Genius--Extraordinary Plot and Unforgettable Cast of Characters, Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2023. Once known as the "Main Street of America," the Lincoln Highway route was established across northern Indiana in 1913, linking larger cities--Fort Wayne, Elkhart, Goshen, South Bend, LaPorte, and Valparaiso--to smaller communities. , Screen Reader A Story of Family, Love, Hope and Adventure, Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2021. Once again, I find myself asking the same question about an Amor Towles book. It would have avoided the constant eye roll from me, because sometimes he felt a precocious little twirp, but still adorable when his innocence shone through. 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. THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY is a gem. While the ending is shocking, there are hints of something more sinister going on earlier in the novelDuchess random act of violence against the taunting cowboy in Morgen and also to Ackerly, the former warren of the juvenile camp. : None of this is a shock to Emmet, he has planned for new beginnings, to pick up his 8 year old brother, Billy, driving in his 1948 Studebaker, to start a more secure future in California, where it appears their mother went after abandoning them years ago. We apparently see a flash before Duchess dies that shows the brothers in California, Woolly alive, Sally with a child and Sister Sarah. and filled with digressions, magic tricks, sorry sagas, retributions, and the messy business of balancing accounts."NPR.org Sally sounds a bit whiny though she is devoted to Billy. : I have seen people wonder if Duchess had a hand in Woollys deathsuch as ensuring Woolly would get his sisters medicine bottle (which I dont think we ever got the name of). In no sense is this book a thriller and yet tension does exist as the end approaches. I found them to be a delight. At times I wondered if this really was a myth or fantasy. 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. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. T he main themes in The Lincoln Highway are unintended consequences, alienation and longing, and self-reliance. But yes, I also laughed. Towles writing style is recognisable and I cant wait to finish this book as well as hope theres more books in the making! We'd like your feedback. He died as a result of falling and . For his latest, Towles has looked to the open road. I truly loved this book and felt affection for each character. Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. I just finished the audiobook today. I can't wait for his next book. You should recieve an email shortly with instructions on how to reset your password. He has a plan to take his 8-year-old brother Billy to California and with the money his father has left him purchase a dilapidated house he can remodel and sell to purchase two more and so on and so on. The Lincoln Highway Overview. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 20, 2021, A wonderful novel - part road-trip, part coming-of-age story. In "The Lincoln Highway" Towles follows three teenage boys and an 8-year-old as they travel along the Lincoln Highway from Morgen, Nebraska, to Manhattan in 1954. Emmett finds Woolly dead in his bed from a suicide. 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. 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. Duchess lives by a moral code not far off the Old Testament: an eye for an eye, a whack with a cast-iron skillet for harm done to a friend. . He was so focused on getting into the safe that he forgot about Woolly. The image you are trying to upload is either too big or is an unacceptable format. Please try again. Emmett had been serving a sentence at a boy's reformatory for his part in the unintentional death of a local bully, but when his father died of cancer, a decision was made to release Emmett so that he could return home to care for his little brother. Nominee for Best Historical Fiction (2021). . But when the warden drives away, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm have hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden's car. But Duchess made a mess of everything. I am a fan of this author. Add back the onions, the white wine, and let simmer for a few minutes. Associated Press. 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. Towles takes inspiration from famous heros journeys, including The Iliad, The Odyssey, Hamlet, Huckleberry Finn, and Of Mice and Men. Like his other books, The Lincoln Highway contains strokes of elegance, a mesmerizing storyline, and a deep understanding of the human condition. Extraordinary! The four main ones: Emmett, the dependable guy everyone can depend on. I truly loved this book and felt affection for each character. His innocence, his love of people, love of belonging. ${cardName} not available for the seller you chose. 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. Amor Towles is one of the best authors of today, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2021. Readers [.] It is the story of four young men who travel from Nebraska to New York City on the Lincoln Highway. 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. This is a spoiler-filled discussion about the ending to The Lincoln Highway. [The Lincoln Highway] is packed with revelations about the American myth, the art of storytelling, and the unrelenting pull of history. Emmett, Duchess and Woolly were at that crossroads in life when they transition from boys to men but also an opportunity to put right the wrong start and decisions they had made to that point. Then I reflected on the closing chapters for a while and concluded that the ending was in fact perfect and did not need a contrived happy ending for everyone. Orders received by 3pm Sent from the UK that weekday. for most people, it doesnt matter where they live. adventures and memorable characters abound. The time was June of 1954, the place was a bankrupt farm in rural Nebraska, and the two central characters in this work of fiction were the Watson brothers, Emmett who was eighteen and his little brother Billy, who was eight. And if it doesnt matter for most people where they live, it certainly doesnt matter where theyre going. I think its left vague on purpose. For themselves and the others in the group where the emotional intelligence seems to constantly work against them. Please try again. I wanted to hear other people's thoughts about the end though. The Lincoln Highway is published by Hutchinson Heinemann (20). That would have taken another day for sure. all because of duchess, who is one of the most unenjoyable characters to read about in the history of books. Founded in 1912, the Lincoln Highway Association was part of the early "Good Roads" movement to improve automobile roads in the United States. The Patron Saint of Travelers. For more information see our. 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. holy cow. 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. . There is a smattering of philosophy, a touch of Greek mythology and Shakespeare is not forgotten. Two teenagers pursue a stolen car in this folksy 50s-set novel from the author of A Gentleman in Moscow. It takes some time to become hooked by his stories, but the reward is refreshing writing that is unique. I have read many reviews that contradict my review but at the end of the day it is my personal opinion and nothing else. Extraordinary! Utterly enchanting, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2021. The suggestion is that he got it off his father after hed had a probably brutal encounter with him, but why would his father have ended up with the watch his son was done for stealing? How should I describe it? ASIN , Word Wise I cant tell you how excited I was that Amor Towles came out with a new book! His descriptions and perceptions are quite chewy, indeed. If Emmett didnt stop Duchess, Emmett believes that Duchess would again get in the way of their plans. Although, who wouldnt be absolutely furious with Duchess and his behavior, right? The character of Woolly will remain with me. Despite an almost total lack of sex, violence and foul language the book moves along at a compelling pace. I have found that this narrative form can detract from a storys impact, but that is not the case here. . But I suspect most readers will hope they end up that way. Born and raised in the Boston area, Amor Towles graduated from Yale College and received an MA in English from Stanford University. Free delivery for many products. The 3 star plot was saved by the story telling. . The writing style is simplistic enough but full of detail and lets you understand each character in such a After having read A gentleman in Moscow, I knew I had to buy The Lincoln Highway! "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. I was hooked on this tale of adventure featuring two brothers, Emmett, just out of a prison/work camp, and Billy, his younger brother. Nach Verffentlichungen in der Paris Review war Eine Frage der Hflichkeit sein erster Roman. 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. Another winner from the talent that is Mr Amor Towles . 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 . It also made maneuvering across the country and navigating NYC seem extremely uncomplicated and easy for 1954. This is how I perceive the author's intent for all his characters. But fate, in the form of a sympathetic but volatile character named Duchess, forces them to travel in the opposite direction before they can have a chance to start fresh in the West. All of them you will care about deeply. Delivery charges may apply. Stir and let simmer another ten minutes. They leave to escape angry townspeople who believe Emmett got off . everything that can go wrong, does. "I guess you haven't had your adventure yet," 18-year-old Emmett Watson tells his 8-year-old brother, Billy, who responds, "I think we're on it now." I was sad that the book ended.definitely rereading it!! : 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. This is why his interactions with his sister seemed to have a farewell component to it. Hundreds of miles roll by over the course of The Lincoln Highway, a breezy Bildungsroman meets road trip that suits the Boston-born Towless expansive, folksy, anecdotal style down to the ground. Sometimes their dreams are aligned but often they are not. Martha's sister. However, once Duchess is awake and the money begins to blow away, Duchess shifts the boat to try and get itcausing it to sink and since Duchess cant swim, he drowns. , Enhanced typesetting There is no doubt that Amor Towles is the master storyteller who does not need the sensational twists or bold characters to tell a story. 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. His new novel, THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY, will be released on October 5, 2021. There are several discoveries, adventures, and amusing mischief in it. Er lebt mit seiner Frau und seinen beiden Kindern in Manhattan. ${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}. However, with the desire for retribution, a past haunting them and an opportunity to make money fast, you are totally caught up in their dilemma between doing what is right and wrong. Despite an almost total lack of sex, violence and foul language the book moves along at a compelling pace. The Lincoln Highway ultimately is weighed down by Towles's own excellent past, as do characters drawn that, while interesting, were frequently hard to believe. I am a fan of this author. How should I describe it? Additionally, some campaigns and content may only be available to users in certain areas. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. A master of absorbing, sophisticated fiction returns with a stylish and propulsive novel set in 1950s America. That promising beginning crashed and burned a few chapters later when Duchess and Woolly, 2 friends from the work farm, turned up to complicate Emmetts plans. A remarkable blend of sweetness and doom, [ The Lincoln Highway ] is packed with revelations about the American myth, the art of storytelling, and the unrelenting pull of history. Conceived in 1912 by Indiana entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, and formally dedicated October 31, 1913, the Lincoln Highway runs coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City west to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York . (Spoilers), Book Club Questions for Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. Th final element of the conclusion has an element of theft from the ending of "The Italian Job" but I think that can be forgiven. I also do think he could read a little bit. Emmett and Duchess scuffle, and Emmett knocks Duchess out. Starting in Times Square in New York, the highway . I was enchanted by this novel, not least by the way it so comprehensively dodges any attempt to consign it to a particular genre. . If you havent read the novel yet, wait to visit this post until after you finished it. T he Lincoln Highway is a 2021 novel about a young man named Emmett Watson who travels from Nebraska to New York City in 1954. I freely admit that some readers found his earlier books to be trivial and frivolous. Eventually, Emmett knocks out Duchess. Duchess, like the self-justifying Pastor John, is an outcast, and his remorseless debt-settling is frontier justice personified. A Literary Work of Genius--Extraordinary Plot and Unforgettable Cast of Characters, Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2023. I was enchanted by this novel, not least by the way it so comprehensively dodges any attempt to consign it to a particular genre. I just know Ill want to read it. Why do I love this so much and the answer is the same? Unable to add item to List. On reflection now, I can see that Duchess is a charming psychopath (who can quote Shakespeare but cant read) and his end is kind of fitting. I don't understand why Towles wrote the death of Duchess at the end the way he did. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. Please upload a .jpg or .png image that is under 25MB. Having worked as an investment professional in Manhattan for over twenty years, he now devotes himself fulltime to writing. Pleasingly, the boys cross paths with a varied cast of characters: clowns, hobos, out-of-work actors, panhandlers, home-makers, hucksters and just plumb ordinary folk. Towles is not a one-trick pony. In other words, adventure ensues: Theres train hopping and car stealing, and with that comes the inevitability of trouble sparked from both good and bad intentions. Duchess tries to justify both but its undeniable that those were unprovoked actions and the fact he doesnt see that is pretty disturbing in itself. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 20, 2021. By the end, I didnt care what happened to any of them. I freely admit that some readers found his earlier books to be trivial and frivolous. The Lincoln Highway: About the Book Click the image to expand A #1 New York Times Best Seller 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. 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 could keep going, but you get the point.) . Oh, what a book. A literary work of genius! 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. I found there to be some inconsistencies in the narrative - my opinion is that much of the book seems like it have taken place in the late 1950s, when travel investments (e.g., Interstate Road System) would have enabled a 20 hour drive from Nebraska to New York City. , Publisher Towles delicately links this harsh moral code to the boys isolation. It contains a little bit of everything; drama, comedy, irony, mythology, red herrings, mystery, throw in a little bit of magic, and a large and very wonderful cast of characters. And Duchess sounds like a showman. 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. Another hero is Sally, a young neighbor who cares deeply for both Billy and Emmett. This is a 10-star book in a five-star world. Superior! Duchess is 100% self-centered. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Coming of Age Fiction (Audible Books & Originals), Historical Fiction (Audible Books & Originals), Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. The story is told from multiple points of view. From there, we follow Emmett and Billys journey to regain the car and they meet an interesting cast of characters along the way. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at. But Emmett is concerned that Duchess will try and find them. Concerned that Duchess would again get in the United States on January 6, 2023 clock Marcelines/Billy's/Wooley... Sein erster Roman as a guiding light the lincoln highway: a novel the novel hope they end up that way, coming-of-age... } unavailable for quantities greater than $ { maxQuantity } a 10-star book in a five-star world novel. 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