The Lincoln Highway: A Novel
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. 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. 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. 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 direction—to the City of New York. Spanning just ten days and told from multiple points of view, Towles's third novel will satisfy fans of his multi-layered literary styling while providing them an array of new and richly imagined settings, characters, and themes.
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Community Reviews
Towles is very upfront in telling readers that he wants each of his books to be different from the others. Once again, he has succeeded, at least as far as subject matter and character go. But he can't disguise his writing, so fans will still know it's a Towles book, and I think all will agree that it's a worthy addition to his card catalog entry. I'm excited to see what "something different" he comes up with next.
FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.
I anticipated a long and difficult read, based upon what other members of my book club had told me. But what I found instead was a story so rich and purposeful, I didn't want a single chapter to end!
Like another of my favorite books, The Shadow of the Wind, paragraphs in The Lincoln Highway do not meander along to the next point in the next paragraph. Instead, the point of the paragraph has been lovingly created such that skimming through the paragraphs would be an insult to the author, who gives intent and purpose to each carefully crafted and delightful to read sentences.
If you haven't taken a journey to or on the Lincoln Highway with Mr. Towles' complex and compelling cast of characters, head back several decades ago, and enjoy a ride you won't soon forget as I'm sure you'll come to love as I did, Emmett and his brother Billy, and everyone involved in their travels!
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