The Lincoln Highway

Hythe Reading Group member Angela introduced us to Amor Towles (not to be confused with Seymour Butts) latest blockbuster Lincoln Highway. Ex wealthy banker/stock-broker Towles’s previous book was a hit with many of us a couple of years ago ( A Gentleman in Moscow) so we were looking forward to this despite its thickness! Not sure that the fact it was Jeffrey Archer endorsed on the cover was a good omen or recommendation. Opinions were definitely divided about this book.
Reviewed by The Guardian who despite themselves lauded it as a homage to the American road trip novel comparable with Kerouac’s On the road and Steinbeck!! High praise indeed but surely an over estimation? Some similarities with Tortilla Flat as all the characters are flawed
A bit of a struggle to read at times particularly during episodes which seemed almost childlike and stretching credulity - scenes with the Professor Abacus Abernethe at the Empire State Building reminiscent of Harry Potter! Fantastical.
Trick with a cork, candle and a bottle possible?
Stereotypes - evil Pastor John, Ulysses the black hero.
However they were very young men in dire circumstances who had all been abandoned as children and the journey was as much about their struggles and search for love and, in Duchhes’s case, justice and retribution.
Really liked it - ridiculous ending but found myself really engaged. Loved the car, characters and enjoy a book about the USA.
Good storytelling - an epic tale,
Enjoyed it and found myself investing in Emmett and Billy in particular and in Wooly to a lesser extent.
Loved the scenes in the Italian restaurant
Compelling, character driven. Stories within stories was very clever.
Well written with a myriad cast of eccentric characters which kept me entertained.
Wondered why the chapters narrated by Duchess and Susan were in the first person and not the others?
Some lovely vignettes and side stories. Enjoyed finding out about each character’s back stories and what had led them to being in the reformatory and on the journey. Unanswered questions ultimately - will Emmett, Billy and Susan make it to California?
Not a terrible book but deeply flawed and quite unlikeable in many ways.
Cannot write women!! All whores, nuns or wives. Wanted more of Sally’s voice - her wit and wry humour.
Did nothing for me. Read to p 65
Too long- enjoyed it up to p 400 - then got bored but speeded up towards the end.
Far fetched and contrived.
Duchess an unreliable narrator? A convincing and conniving narcissist
Tosh from beginning to end- unlikely situations, disliked the writing, characters not credible, too long, too much padding, and stretched credibility. Geography all wrong.
Got to page 300 or so but wasn't enjoying it - quite liked the two brothers Emmett and Billy but couldn't sympathise with the other two protagonists. Dead ends were frustrating.
Fraudulent title as they never actually reach the Lincoln Highway!! Such a disappointment and an anti-climax.
Cliff needs to write the story of his epic journey along it as a young man travelling fro New York to San Francisco and back.
Scores ranged from 0 to 9 reflecting the split in opinions , Total score of 85 so an average of 6.5