If nothing else, read this book just to meet the character of 8-year-old Billy. The characters in this book are like few that ever populate the pages of a novel in that each one is unique and each one is so real I felt like I really knew them. The book takes place over 10 days, and the chapter numbers (which, at first glance, are confusing) begin at 10 and count down to one, indicating a climactic progression. Each is on a quest just like the heroes of legends past to realize a special ambition. Their escapades are hilarious, heartbreaking, and unexpected. One thing leads to another, and Duchess and Woolley 'borrow' Emmett's car and money to drive to New York on the Lincoln Highway, while Emmett and Billy ride the rails with the hobos to chase after them. But surprise! Duchess and Woolley escaped from Salina by hitching a ride in the trunk of the car being driven by the warden to take Emmett home. Emmett and Billy decide to drive to San Francisco by way of the Lincoln Highway-Emmett to start a new life for the two of them and Billy to find their mother. His mother disappeared soon after Billy's birth, his father has just died, and their Nebraska farm has been foreclosed. Emmett has been officially released from Salina, but his old life is forever gone. Each has a fascinating backstory, which is gradually revealed throughout the novel. Added to this mix of 18-year-old boys is eight-year-old Billy, Emmett's precocious (and precious) little brother. There are four main characters, three of whom met each other while in a juvenile detention center in 1954 in Salina, Kansas: Emmett, Duchess, and Woolley. And best of all, everyone will love it-men, women, young, old.Įxquisitely and perfectly written by Amor Towles, this novel is an adventure, a testament to the power of friendship, and a coming-of-age story all wrapped up in an unputdownable tale that continued to surprise me at every turn. How should I describe it? Superior! A masterpiece! Extraordinary! Brilliant storytelling! A literary work of genius! (I could keep going, but you get the point.) This is a 10-star book in a five-star world.

The lincoln highway reviews