The Lincoln Highway Book Review: Is Amor Towles’s new book worth a read?

The Lincoln Highway was one of my most anticipated releases of 2021 (along with Klara and the Sun and Cloud Cuckoo Land). When my signed copy from Booka Bookshop arrived, you can bet I abandoned all other books to read this.

The book follows multiple perspectives with the main two being those of Emmett and Duchess. They’re both recently out of a youth facility in Kansas where they served time for different things. Emmett gets out a little early due to his father’s passing, whereas Duchess is trying to be the hero who saves Wooly (another boy from the facility). Emmett kind of goes with the flow, but the reader knows Duchess must have an ulterior motive. The trio picks up Emmett’s young brother from Nebraska and takes The Lincoln Highway to another state. Emmett and Billy aim to head to California, Duchess and Wooly to New York and they only have one car.

Where will they end up going?

Billy is a precious kid, but I did struggle with his character a bit. How is an 8-year-old so smart, so all-knowing in history and all sorts of things at such at that age? A lot of the time, he seems smarter than all the adults around him combined. A good way into the book I decided to suspend my disbelief in Billy and admire him for following the guidance of his beloved red adventure book. Any bookworm will appreciate Billy’s love of that book! I will say though that I’d have expected to see a bit of grief on his father’s passing and leaving the family home behind no matter how exciting the upcoming adventure is, or, am I expecting too much from him?

Where’s Billy and Emmett’s mother was another pressing question that went largely unanswered.

Sally is the only female character (Wooly’s sister only makes a brief appearance). Whilst I did like her a lot, it felt like she was there because someone needs to watch over Billy or keep Emmett out of trouble. I’d have loved to get to know her a bit better as she does have the potential to be a fascinating character.

The edition I read includes a Q&A with the author. Now, this is something I’d usually skip altogether or just skim through, but I’m glad I read it on this occasion as Towles explains coming up with the idea as a complete opposite to his other books, Rules of Civility and A Gentleman in Moscow. There’s an extensive explanation on the story taking place over 10 days in 1954 America (there’s a nice countdown even), an America out of one war and preparing for another. The writing is great indeed as I felt like I was there. Consider me successfully transported back in time by way of Amor’s words. I’m excited at the mention of him working on something very different next, I’ll pre-order it as soon as that’s available.

Overall, this book was a recipe for success as looking at books I’ve rated highly or loved recently, they’re all multiple POS with some historical or fantasy elements and interesting characters. As unlikely as I found some scenes (mostly Billy ones) the writing is so good (no surprise after loving Amor’s other books) that I have to rate this 5 stars. So many sticky tabs were used, you’ve got no idea.

If you’re into history, great characters and a journey through the USA, you may want to check this one out. It’s a long one, but a good one.

I’m not quite sure whether it’ll make it to my top 10 of 2021 yet, but it was definitely an amazing read.

Have you read this book, or, are you planning to read it? Let me know in the comments.