Amor Towles

A Novel

The Lincoln Highway

A TODAY Show Read with Jenna Book Club Pick “Wise and wildly entertaining . . . permeated with light, wit, youth.” —The New York Times Book Review “A classic that we will read for years to come.” —Jenna Bush Hager, Read with Jenna book club “A real joyride . . . elegantly constructed and compulsively readable.” – NPR 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 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.

Paige Wanner

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 In June, 1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the work farm where he has just served a year 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 and head west where they can start their lives anew. But after the warden drives away, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm had hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden's car. Together, they hatch an altogether different plan for Emmett's future. 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.

Towles voice is always a favorite of mine. This layered story of varying reliable narrations looks at what is important in life, the difference between right and wrong, lawful and just, in a way that I feel will stay with me for a long time. 

Abigail F

Sonia Grgas

Really a 3.5. .5 taken away for that ending. Otherwise another great book from Towles.

Petaco

Now, am I the only person that got some serious Serge A Storms vibes from Duchess? Please tell me that I am not the only one!

I actually really liked this book and too be honest it could have been twice as long and I would not have minded. 

I thought Billy was a sweet kid. He was just so earnest and such a good little brother. His relationship with Emmett (his brother) was just too sweet.

I did enjoy the book very much but I don't think it was as.... tightened up as I would like? I don't know. I just feel like there was something missing. Maybe drop a perspective or two and use the time to give me more meat on some characters or add to the overall length. Possibly devote more screen time to Billy and Emmett?

I look forward to seeing what else the author has!

Felt like a few different books rolled into one. Didn't work for me. It was nice enough, though I expected so much more after A Gentleman In Moscow -- that was 5-star-plus.

Arjan van Woensel

Cristian Garcia

I loved every word in this book, it felt like the almost 600 pages went too quick and I ended up wishin for 600 more.
The story of Emmet, Billy and the rest of the characters felt like a coming of age sort of tale, it was adventorous, wonderful, dangerous, imaginative and overall gripping. I could literally be at work thinking about the night time, when I could finally go back to the story.
It's been ages since a book made me forget my surroundings and I could 'be' with the charaters at all times. Wonderful

Kristen Claiborn

I have said over and over, that how we react to a book depends on many different factors. Finishing a book on the worst day of your life could potentially ruin that book for you, even if you really loved that book. I also think back to one of my all-time favorite books, and I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much as I did if it hadn’t been for that one teacher telling me that book wasn’t appropriate for me. Thank you, Mrs. Ogilvie, for telling me I shouldn’t, and thank you Stephen King for writing that book that I “shouldn’t have read.” (Boy did I go off on a weird adventure here…). Anyhoo, I feel like there are many reasons why I didn’t necessarily connect with this book. I didn’t dislike it, but I just didn’t love it like I wanted to love it. 
	I just recently read something in a book about how those who “have” seem to always get the “power-ups” in life, like being able to finish college debt-free. While technically, ANYBODY can go to college, it’s frequently out of financial reach for most. The young man at the center of this book started at the bottom and was dealt an unfair hand. So, immediately I feel bad for this young man, because we’re led to believe his incarceration was unjust, then he comes “home” to a shit situation. It never gets better for him. I found myself so damn frustrated. The poor fella had been through a lot already, then this author decided to throw down the gauntlet. I was over it as soon as the car was stolen at the orphanage. 
	I did finish the book. I didn’t hate the book. I just found myself with so much sad, and it’s not what I wanted. It’s winter (for me), in Indiana (which is just a depressing place anyway), I didn’t need more sad.

Katelyn Sykes

This was a good book even though it was completely different then I expected it to be. I sometimes had a hard time with how much it followed Dutchess’ life when I wanted to know more about billy and emmett. But overall I enjoyed it

Siya S

Well.....I have no word to describe this book. What the heck just happened? What's up with the turn of events in the last 1/3 of the book?? I'm — UGHHHH!!! 

Not sure if I should give this a 4 stars.....feels like 3.5 to me, since 1) it took me TWO WEEKS to finish it; 2) the random turns of events was a little offputting; and 3) Towles seem to throw Sally, a potentially most compelling female character, into the mix like an afterthought — that's a bit annoying. This one didn't spark joys within me like 'A Gentleman--' and now I'm very confused 🥲

OK, might round this down to 3 in the next few hours...we'll see. 

The story also took a strange turn around the end that makes it feel like a fragment of John Steinbeck 's books. Not particularly a good thing, in this case, since it's been written out like Little Miss Sunshine for the majority of it. Things kind of fell into places in a rather convenient fashion, and the ending! Oh man, don't get me started I—

Have now read through all of AT's novels. Have not been disappointed. Another fantastic plot-driven literary saga.

Sarah Erle

Ashley Janssen

I loved A Gentleman in Moscow, but couldn't really get into this one.

Stacey Rainey 

Unexpected. Really enjoyed listening to this one. Reminiscent of This Tender Land. It is what's earned, not what's given that provides meaning and happiness.

Margaret Sh.

Woolly's last POV got me so sudden and so hard that I had tumbled in my bed for two hours last night 😭😭

Anish Ravipati

Really enjoyed this book. Thought it was slightly a bit dragged out but it was a still wonderful journey to go on.

Leia Douglas

4.5 stars. This was a wild ride and I loved it!

Kathleen Mullins

3.5 - this was a quick read for the length that it was, but i'm not sure it needed to be soooo long. I liked all the characters & how the stories wove together and everything felt very purposeful. It feels like it would make a great multi-story tv show that i would never watch.

Sam Durbin

P.S. The audiobook to this novel is fabulous. Especially Marin Ireland's performance.

Anika | @chaptersofmay

The Lincoln Highway is an adventure-filled historical fiction focusing on a fresh start, and the many ways it can be derailed. The journey spans half a continent but takes place over 10 days, following 18-year old Emmet Watson after his release from juvenile prison. His plan is to travel on the Lincoln Highway from Nebraska to California with his little brother Billy. But two stowaways, Duchess and Woolly, have a different idea and pull the Watson brothers in a whole new direction. 

Amor Towles’ writing is full of wisdom, but laced with humour and levity. It feels very heartfelt, thanks to the philosophical musings balance with connections between characters. Although this book is the tale of an adventure, it’s not overly fast-paced or thrilling. Towles takes his time in setting the scene and mindset of his characters. His literary fluency is stirring, make it easy for the reader to invest in this road trip of a lifetime. 

The book has multiple POVs, which gives you a well-rounded view of each personality. I love the way Towles introduces his characters, using their backstories to create distinctive plot points to then satisfy events as they develop. They’re well-crafted young characters, with flaws and misguided expectations but oddities that make them loveable. 

This is a book with a lot of heart. At the centre is brotherhood, hope, and redemption, as well as themes of race, class, and mental illness. The journey along the Lincoln Highway is one worth following, just to experience Towles’ description of events and fetching dialogue. It’s a beautifully written story, well-articulated, and crafted with layers that’ll certainly pull you along for the ride.

The Lincoln Highway A Novel

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