November Book

 The Lincoln Highway is a huge novel that is difficult to summarise in a sentence or two. It’s kind of a road trip novel, but it’s also an adventure and commentary on the plight of different people. It’s also a coming-of-age story and a family story with an element of mystery. Trust in where the author takes you, and you won’t be disappointed.

There are multiple characters in this thick novel, all with their own varied story to tell. At the centre of it all is Emmett, recently released from a juvenile work farm after the death of his father. He’s now the sole carer for his eight-year-old brother, and the bank has just taken the family farm. But he has a plan; now all he has to do is enact it. Except that he wasn’t expecting two friends from the work farm to appear at the farm wanting a ride to New York, the exact opposite direction to Emmett’s plans. What follows is an adventure for all involved that includes the railways, theft, revenge, new friends, freedom, and surprising turns of events. One of the strongest points of this 1950s novel is you are never quite sure where it will go next, so in my opinion, the less the reader knows, the more fun it is.

The story is told from multiple characters’ points of view, from Emmett to friends Woolly and Duchess. Interestingly, although Duchess is the most complex character to work out, his sections are told in the first person in comparison to everyone else in the third person. It’s also not just the major characters who tell the story; some of the supporting cast tell the story, adding a richness of perspective. The characters are all flawed, and see justice in different ways, which both adds to the charm of the novel as well as making things more complex for each of them. The reader can’t help but cheer all of them on as they seek to find what will make them happy. Some of the things that happen to them are quite amusing or devastating (poor Emmett can’t catch a trick,) which makes the story fascinating, but the ending really packs an emotional punch as the journey comes to an end. It’s made even sadder knowing that the story is coming to a close, and it’s time to leave these characters.

As always, Towles writes brilliantly. The novel does start slowly, which I’ve come to realise is pretty normal for his works, but it creates the scene for the characters to grow and take over the story. This novel is very different from Towles’ previous novels, so don’t expect a Rules of Civility or A Gentleman in Moscow. It’s different in era, tone, and expanse (this time we have the whole of America to explore), but it does have the brilliant creation of characters with a memorable story that is once again unforgettable. This would also make a great TV series.