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. 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. This is a 10-star book in a five-star world. As the novel opens, eighteen-year-old Emmett is being driven home by the Warder of Salinas, a juvenile detention centre, where he had served a short sentence for accidentally causing the death of a young man (not without provocation, Emmett had punched him, causing him to fall and hit his head). The historical content, the personalities, the solutions to problems, the joy of the ride! And best of all, everyone will love itmen, women, young, old. action-packed . 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. 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. Please try your request again later. A masterpiece! If you'd like me to review your book, contact me! Despite an almost total lack of sex, violence and foul language the book moves along at a compelling pace. Still catching up on books I finished this spring. 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 . This guy is a very talented author and since I loved A Gentleman from Moscow, I was looking forward to this one. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles From HUCKLEBERRY FINN to ON THE ROAD, the road novel has a long and vibrant pedigree in American literature. Like his other books, The Lincoln Highway contains strokes of elegance, a mesmerizing storyline, and a deep understanding of the human condition. Sister Agnes's colleague. The road is perilous, their mission is thwart with obstacles and the outcome reflected the tragedy and justice you often get from Greek Mythology which the book often references. In 1954 much of that travel would have been on two lane roads until reaching Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 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. Towles is not a one-trick pony. Enhancements you chose aren't available for this seller. Bursting with life, charm and unforgettable characters, The Lincoln Highway is an extraordinary journey through 1950s America from a master storyteller. Thanks. 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. Utterly enchanting, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2021. 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. This section attempts to have the ending explained of The Lincoln Highway. An exhilarating ride through . 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. Unable to add item to List. The Lincoln Highway, written by Amor Towles and published on October 5th, 2021, is a historical fiction novel chronicling 10 days in the summer of 1954. He returns from reform school to deal with the foreclosure of his fathers farm. But lets talk over several key events. 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. I freely admit that some readers found his earlier books to be trivial and frivolous. Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2023. The writing style is simplistic enough but full of detail and lets you understand each character in such a meaningful way. Click above for unlimited listening to select audiobooks, Audible Originals, and podcasts. . And it was incredibly easy to find people you were looking for. A wonderful novel - part road-trip, part coming-of-age story. Instead it left me feeling like the boys let me down after I invested a lot of time getting to know them. Like the intercontinental route that it is named for, is long and filled with intriguing detours. 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. Much to admire and enjoy. Seriously! this multiperspective story offers an abundance of surprising detours and run-ins., , a big book of camaraderie and adventure in which the miles fly by and the pages turn fast. The Priest. , Screen Reader The story takes place over ten days in 1954, when two young brothers, Emmett and Billy, intend to drive their Studebaker from Nebraska to California. But his autobiography still surprised me. With this ominous cue you may sense some very unpopular review is on its way! A Story of Family, Love, Hope and Adventure, Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2021. I was really looking forward to this one following the excellent Gentleman in Moscow but unfortunately it failed to grip me in the same way. : Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 20, 2021. Review and Comments Characterisation was superb and the dynamics between the group and between individuals within the group make this such a unique and extraordinary story. Additionally, some campaigns and content may only be available to users in certain areas. Immediately upon his return Emmett also learns that the bank is about to foreclose the various loans that his father had taken, and on which massive arrears have accrued. Please try again. He has a strong moral code, and is determined never again to place himself under a debt or obligation to anyone else. And if it doesnt matter for most people where they live, it certainly doesnt matter where theyre going. Towles is like no other author I know. At times I wondered if this really was a myth or fantasy. I love to read and review various genres with a focus on contemporary fiction, historical fiction with some mysteries/thrillers and also select nonfiction and memoirs. Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. Extraordinary! A literary work of genius! Set in the 1950s. A Literary Work of Genius--Extraordinary Plot and Unforgettable Cast of Characters, Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2023. Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2022. For themselves and the others in the group where the emotional intelligence seems to constantly work against them. This email is already registered. Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, Hutchinson; 1st edition (January 1, 2021). 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 . But Duchess made a mess of everything. His first novel, Rules of Civility, published in 2011, was a New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback and was ranked by the Wall Street Journal as one of the best books of 2011. 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. There is a smattering of philosophy, a touch of Greek mythology and Shakespeare is not forgotten. Associated Press. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 20, 2021, A wonderful novel - part road-trip, part coming-of-age story. : Undoubtedly well written but I felt it generally dragged and failed to engage me. , Text-to-Speech VERY disappointing. . Oh, what a book. By clicking "Continue" you agree to the Gates Notes. Anyway, still bit troubled by the ending just as I was with A Gentleman - did occur to me would make great ending for the film though. Choo choo choo! 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. She will emerge as a powerful character in the book, driven by a fierce righteousness that has been provoked by finding herself constantly expected to look after men who scarcely even acknowledge her. We'd like your feedback. >! 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! An . Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout. Their Plans are thwarted by the appearance of two friends who cause a major disruption which leads to multiple detours on the journey. The image you are trying to upload is either too big or is an unacceptable format. Its been a long time since a book tugged at my emotions like this one did. It is the story of four young men who travel from Nebraska to New York City on the Lincoln Highway. holy cow. A Literary Work of Genius--Extraordinary Plot and Unforgettable Cast of Characters, Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2023. (I could keep going, but you get the point.) His understanding of the world is largely formed from his enthusiastic study of a book drawing together a series of stories about exalted traveller, both real and fictional. Eighteen-year-old Emmett is released from a juvenile detention. After having read A gentleman in Moscow, I knew I had to buy The Lincoln Highway! So it was a no-brainer to pick up his next novel, The Lincoln Highway, when it came out last October. I am a fan of this author. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles is a thought-provoking work of historical fiction, one which tends to take its time but rewards us with a compelling world populated by a vivid cast of colourful characters with memorable sequences of their own. I don't understand why Towles wrote the death of Duchess at the end the way he did. The new book's title, referring to . Ships from the UK. Please allow for 24 hours for the deactivation to fully process. . Cancel online anytime. The Lincoln Highway is a coming-of-age tale about the transition from teenager to adulthood. Towles has taken a literary risk by writing Emmetts narrative in the third person and Duchesss in the first, so that we readers feel closer to the neer-do-well than to the good guy. I cant tell you how excited I was that Amor Towles came out with a new book! Duchess, like the self-justifying Pastor John, is an outcast, and his remorseless debt-settling is frontier justice personified. You should recieve an email shortly with instructions on how to reset your password. 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. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles Publication Date: March 21, 2023 Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction Paperback: 592 pages Publisher: Penguin Books ISBN-10: 0735222363 ISBN-13: 9780735222366 Emmett and Duchess scuffle, and Emmett knocks Duchess out. The image caption on this article was amended on 18 November 2021. I didnt find the characters likable or the plot plausible. Please continue to the log in page. There's so much to enjoy in this generous novel packed with fantastic characters [] and filled with digressions, magic tricks, sorry sagas, retributions, and the messy business of balancing accounts., returns with an American picaresque destined to become a classic . In the novel The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles,18-year-old Emmett Watson is just out of a juvenile reform facility. Your request may take a few days to process; we want to double check things before hitting the big red button. 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, by contrast, grows to share in the societal code laid down not by police or presidents, but by good plain folk in the community, which Towles thoroughly approves of: The comfort of knowing ones sense of right and wrong was shared by another, and thus was somehow more true.. Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2022. 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. I freely admit that some readers found his earlier books to be trivial and frivolous. I dont feel he was misunderstoodI believe his actions were loud and clear. In 2019, I reviewed his book A Gentleman in Moscow, which was fantastic. The two novels have collectively sold more than four million copies and have been translated into more than thirty languages. Though dark shadows fall across its final chapters, the book is permeated with light, wit, youth . 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. Er ist in der Finanzbranche ttig und gehrt dem Vorstand der Library of America und der Yale Art Gallery an. I felt like I was right there with them, every step of the adventure. 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. Using multiple points-of-view and shifting from comedy to tragedy and back again, Towles enthralls., E]xhilarating . Brilliant storytelling! Be sure to tell me your thoughts below! Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. is filled with nostalgia as well as the gentle navet and hijinks of those who are young, optimistic, and on a mission. , Page numbers source ISBN The book was optioned by Lionsgate to be made into a feature film and its French translation received the 2012 Prix Fitzgerald. Please try again. Despite an almost total lack of sex, violence and foul language the book moves along at a compelling pace. Its June 12th 1954 and Warden Williams is taking eighteen year old Emmett Watson home from Salina, a juvenile reform program after which Emmetts debt to society is paid in full. Who cause a major disruption which leads to multiple detours on the Highway. The deactivation to fully process every step of the Lincoln Highway the lincoln highway: a novel understand why Towles wrote the of! 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