Book: The Lincoln Highway
Author: Amor Towles
Pages: 592
This is my 21st read for the year
This is the story of Emmet Watson and his brother Billy. It is 1954 and they have recently lost their father, and their farm has been forclosed. Emmet - after serving 15 months in a juvenile camp for involuntary manslaughter - has decided it is time for he and Billy to move on. Billy has an idea that he and Emmet should go west to California to find their mother who left when Billy was just a baby. Emmet is not so sure, but has no other plans. Billy - an avid reader - wants to follow the Licnoln Highway across the country - knowing that the postcards that his mother sent them long ago, will lead them right to her. Before they can set off, though, two of the boys that were in the juvenile camp with Emmet - show up and have other plans. This story spans only 10 days - told from view points of several characters - sents Emmet and Billy on a journey they never expected.
I know this book has a lot of 5 star reviews, but I didn't enjoy it. I really liked his other book - A Gentleman in Moscow - and was anxious to read this one after it received so much hype. However - I found it hokey and just so so. Based on the title, I expected this to be an open road journey book of Emmett and Billy, and even the other two juveniles - crossing the US on the Lincoln Highway. But alas - the Lincoln Highway had about a 5 minute appearance in this book surrounded by constant thwarting of events before Emmett and Billy can start their journey. And then it just.....ends. I did finish the book despite me getting more and more frustrated with the direction of the book (so many repeated plot from different view points it got tiring) because I wanted to see it pan out. And it never did.
Stars: 3
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