The Lincoln Highway
Fiction
Viking
October 5, 2021
Hardcover
592
Purchased
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 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.
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.
My review:
Another epic tale from an author known for telling a great story! This book is a chunkster, but I think if you are enjoying the characters and writing from the get go, it won't feel that long. I did find that the story dragged down a bit in a few places, but because of my continued interest in these characters, any bumps in the reading journey were temporary. If you have read either Rules of Civility or A Gentleman in Moscow, you are already familiar with the way Towles can take you on a journey of literary excellence. It is definitely present in this book, but what I loved even more were the characters! Different chapters are narrated by the four main protagonists; Emmett, his young brother Billy, and the two stowaways Woolly and Dutchess. Throughout the ten days that make up the story, the reader learns more about each of the characters and their backstories, including how three of them came to reside at the work farm. As you can imagine, things don't always go according to travel plans, and navigating through the rough patches is a main focus keeping the plot moving forward. I have to admit that I'm not sure that I believed Billy could be quite as knowledgeable as he sometimes appeared, but I guess that just shows you how much information a reader takes in! The ending was totally satisfying (although one part was very sad), and I felt it gave great closure to the saga without tying up every loose end.
Settle in for a thoroughly entertaining read with characters you won't soon forget. Don't let the size intimidate you, the writing and characters are that good!
