How easily we forget, one character muses, that life was the point all along. Theres also a laboured set-up whereby Billy, who happens to be reading the stories of great historical adventurers, meets a man named Ulysses who left his wife and child behind to go to war, and has been wandering ever since. 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. Towles is an incredible storyteller. Excellent Customer Feedback. First, was this Woollys plan all alongto commit suicide and leave his friends his inheritance? 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. is filled with nostalgia as well as the gentle navet and hijinks of those who are young, optimistic, and on a mission. Emmett is dismayed when troublemaker Daniel "Duchess" Hewett and mentally and . This email is already registered. 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. Much worse than death of Woolly - which was so sad and a tragedy but not shocking. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 20, 2021, A wonderful novel - part road-trip, part coming-of-age story. 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. The historical content, the personalities, the solutions to problems, the joy of the ride! It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. This horrifies Emmett and hes determined for Duchess to finally go to the police to own up to his crimes and thats when the two get into a fight. 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. Martha's sister. His mother long gone, his father recently deceased, and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank, Emmett's intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother, Billy, and head to California where they can start their lives anew. a month after 30 days. This guy is a very talented author and since I loved A Gentleman from Moscow, I was looking forward to this one. I truly loved this book and felt affection for each character. Brilliant storytelling! I don't understand why Towles wrote the death of Duchess at the end the way he did. Please try again. 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. The acts of violence against the Cowboy & Ackerly come from an 18 yr old w/anger - being left by his father at 10, then being sent to the work farm unjustly. Billy's voice is exuberant! VERY disappointing. A TODAY Show Read with Jenna Book Club Pick, A New York Times Notable Book, and Chosen by Oprah Daily, Time, NPR, The Washington Post and Barack Obamaas a Best Book of the Year, 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. 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. I say that having absolutely loved Rules of Civility and A Gentleman in Moscow. Pastor John represents the ever-present danger of placing your trust in the wrong authority, a matter Towles touches on more generally by including an atomic bomb drill that prefigured the anxiety and mistrust of the cold war. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. 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. A masterpiece! Your request may take a few days to process; we want to double check things before hitting the big red button. So, maybe he didnt actually kill Woolly but he also didnt help to prevent the overdose. : If you'd like me to review your book, contact me! With this ominous cue you may sense some very unpopular review is on its way! The touches of homespun wisdom, typical of Towles, seemed quirkily sage in the Tolstoy-inspired A Gentleman in Moscow. Towles' previous book A Gentleman in Moscow published in 2016I loved that novel and thought it was such a warmhearted tale. Do you believe that this item violates a copyright? The story is far fetched and almost ludicrous, but the characters who are portrayed come alive and I did not wish the book to end. Sorry, we were unable to unsubscribe you at this time. 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. 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. Please complete your account verification. 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. VERY disappointing. The Lincoln Highway A Novel by Amor Towles Critics' Opinion: Readers' Opinion: First Published: Oct 2021, 592 pages Paperback: Mar 21, 2023, 592 pages Genres Rate this book Write a Review Book Reviewed by: Rebecca Foster Buy This Book About this Book Summary Excerpt Reading Guide Reading Guide Questions 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. I do love everything stopping still like in Marcellines stage act - thats usual Amor Towles elegance. I think so. Set in June 1954 it follows brothers Emmett and Billy Watson who plan to leave their home in Nebraska, and travel along the Lincoln Highway, Americas first transcontinental highway, to San Francisco, where they hope to start a new life. The Lincoln Highway is elegantly constructed and compulsively readable . And Duchess sounds like a showman. About the author (2021) Amor Towles is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Rules of Civility and A Gentleman in Moscow. Read Full Review >> Rave Hamilton Cain, The Washington Post 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. His descriptions and perceptions are quite chewy, indeed. To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. He seems like such a giving person. So again, while I dont think Emmett set out to murder Duchess, I also believe he didnt care what happened to himhe just didnt want to deal with his toxic behavior any longer. But Emmett is concerned that Duchess will try and find them. . This is my personal blog, where I share about the people I meet, the books I'm reading, and what I'm learning. 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. This guy is a very talented author and since I loved A Gentleman from Moscow, I was looking forward to this one. Restaurant owner. At the close of the book, Duchess dies, ostensibly due to his own short-sightedness and greed. Particularly, Emmett and Billy. Thank you for being a Gates Notes Insider. Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2023. . . His unsuccessful farmer father has died, debts mean their family farm has been foreclosed upon by the bank. 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. First of all, what was wrong with the plot? And best of all, everyone will love itmen, women, Oh, what a book. The image you are trying to upload is either too big or is an unacceptable format. : Utterly enchanting, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2021. Please check your email and click the link provided to verify your account. . While Duchess probably thought of himself as a hero, he was the villain, in the end. This is their chance to leave behind Nebraska and its bad memories and try out California. 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. Sometimes if we make the right choices, we will find positive consequences. So the shift in tone during the climax to the ending was pretty shocking. Doris Kearns Goodwins brilliant biography of Abraham Lincoln is more relevant than ever. He is welcomed back to the family farm by the father and daughter from a neighbouring farm. The Patron Saint of Travelers. Once signed in just go to your Account Settings page and set your subscription options as desired. Book Club Questions for The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles, Review: The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley. Extraordinary! After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. . The two boys are alone, but have each other. Does this item contain quality or formatting issues? . 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. 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. Add the tomato sauce, chicken broth, oregano, and pepper flakes. It meandered through irrelevant and illogical anecdotes. And with Emmett, while he did not kill the bully on purpose back in Morgen, it does sound like he has anger issues and only Billy can get him to calm down. In no sense is this book a thriller and yet tension does exist as the end approaches. This is a spoiler-filled discussion about the ending to The Lincoln Highway. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at. After orphaned 18-year-old Emmett Watson is released from a juvenile detention facility in the 1950s, he heads home to the foreclosed family farm in Nebraska. Undoubtedly well written but I felt it generally dragged and failed to engage me. How should I describe it? Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2023. 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. 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. Hes distraught but when he sees Duchess, all Duchess cares about his trying to get Woollys inheritance that is locked away. How should I describe it? will delight in this travelogue's touchstones." Star-Tribune "History [and] adventure collide in The Lincoln Highway . Send me the weekly Top of Mind newsletter. We have several characters on a journey to either find someone or search for the ultimate prize that would make their lives easier. But lets talk over several key events. So it was a no-brainer to pick up his next novel, The Lincoln Highway, when it came out last October. Advance praise for The Lincoln Highway : "Towles' third novel is even more entertaining than his much-acclaimed A Gentleman in Moscow . Was this Woollys plan all alongto commit suicide and leave his friends his inheritance book and felt for... 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