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The Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway: A Novel | Amor Towles
229 posts | 173 read | 2 reading | 73 to read
The bestselling author of A Gentleman in Moscow and Rules of Civility and master of absorbing, sophisticated fiction returns with a stylish and propulsive novel set in 1950s America In June, 1954, eighteen-year-old Emmett Watson is driven home to Nebraska by the warden of the work farm where he has just served a year for involuntary manslaughter. His mother long gone, his father recently deceased, and the family farm foreclosed upon by the bank, Emmett's intention is to pick up his eight-year-old brother and head west where they can start their lives anew. But after the warden drives away, Emmett discovers that two friends from the work farm had hidden themselves in the trunk of the warden's car. Together, they hatch an altogether different plan for Emmett's future. Spanning just ten days and told from multiple points of view, Towles's third novel will satisfy fans of his multi-layered literary styling while providing them an array of new and richly imagined settings, characters, and themes.
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Megabooks
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My April #roll100! I‘ve already started Good Blood, and I‘d like to get to The Lincoln Highway even though I‘ve bailed on his other books.

Unfortunately, our aide for Dad canceled this morning, and I‘m backup going on 2 hours of sleep. ☹️ I‘m not sure how much longer this is sustainable.

AmyG I‘m sorry. It‘s so hard being a caregiver. 2w
Librarybelle ❤️❤️❤️ 2w
Megabooks @AmyG @Librarybelle They found a fill-in aide thank God! She has 15 years experience, so she‘s been able to jump right in! 2w
See All 8 Comments
Librarybelle Hooray!!! 2w
AmyG Good news! 2w
PuddleJumper 💝 💝 2w
Chelsea.Poole Glad they found a replacement. Hope you‘re able to get some rest! ♥️ 2w
BarbaraBB I am so relieved there is a fill-in. And she sounds good! I hope you‘ll be able to have some rest 🤍 2w
65 likes8 comments
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rwmg
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rwmg
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Pickpick

On his release from a reform school after the death of his father Emmett decides to leave Nebraska for California with his little brother Billy to find their mother. First, however, they have to help two absconders from the reform school, Duchess and Woolly, get to New York, where they are hoping to claim and divide Woolly's inheritance. ⬇

rwmg Great fun, with engaging characters I kept reading to learn more about. Ultimately, the book left me wanting to know what happened next, whether Emmett and Billy made it to California and whether they found their mother. 1mo
28 likes1 comment
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rwmg
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the most dangerous addiction of all

bthegood 😅 1mo
23 likes1 comment
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rwmg
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June 12, 1954 -- The drive from Salina to Morgen was three hours, and for much of it, Emmett hadn't said a word.

----

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

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annahenke
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Great prompt for #threelistthursday @dabbe 📚

1. The Lincoln Highway
2. Harry Potter series
3. Eragon series

dabbe I'm making a list, checking it twice, and I'll make it available to all whether naughty or nice! Thanks for sharing. 💚💙💚 1mo
41 likes1 comment
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rwmg
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LeftyDv
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Pickpick

Good writing and good story telling come together in this novel because Towles writes with porpoise. The plot is very good, but the structure, style, care and craft of his storytelling is beautiful. I wonder what the middle of my story is.

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MamaGina
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Pickpick

“The point is, Billy, that Duchess is full of energy and enthusiasm and good intentions too. But sometimes, his energy and enthusiasm get in the way of his good intentions, and when that happens the consequences often fall on someone else.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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LeslieO
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If it wasn‘t for trying to get a bingo (I finally got a bingo!) I might have put off the tagged book. So glad I didn‘t! 5⭐️s
#Bookspin
#DoubleSpin
BINGO!✅
Tackle the #BOTM TBR✅✅✅
5⭐️✅
4+⭐️✅✅✅✅✅
Excellent reading month✅
#JanuaryRecap #monthlyrecap

Gissy Great! 📚📚📚🎉🎉🎉 3mo
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! Fantastic month!!! 3mo
29 likes2 comments
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kimovsky
Pickpick

How I have loved both Amor‘s novels I have read to this point. This is just as enjoyable as ‘A Gentleman in Moscow‘. I found myself wanting to read it all over again. Highly recommend.

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Karisimo
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1. Yes, but I haven‘t had much practice!
2. Tagged book is by a favorite author!

#two4tuesday
@TheSpineView

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 3mo
22 likes1 comment
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Blueberry
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1. My first car was a stick shift. My father thought it was a good deal and pushed me to buy it even though I didn't know how to drive it.

2. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

TheSpineView Great book! Thanks for playing! 3mo
41 likes1 comment
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Kshakal
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#two4tuesday @TheSpineView

1. My dad tried to teach me when I was 15 and didn‘t go well… haven‘t tried since!
2. Tagged book

@BethM @peaKnit @JenReadsAlot

TheSpineView Thanks for playing 3mo
31 likes1 comment
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BookmarkTavern
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Mehso-so

Released from a work farm where Emmett served for a year on manslaughter charges, he has a plan to start a new life for him & his brother. His friends Duchess & Wooly have different plans for them.

Not what I expected, & I think I would have liked this better in print. It meandered, with some unnecessary extra POVs, & didn‘t follow through on the initial story push I was interested in. Towles is very skilled at characters though. 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑

BookmarkTavern CW 👇🏻 3mo
BookmarkTavern Chapter Seven: Pastor John, brief mention of violence against a child; Chapter Five: Duchess brief description of suicide; Chapter One: Emmett, brief mention of OD suicide 3mo
perfectsinner I loved this one. Probably my fav of his, actually 3mo
68 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Blueberry
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 3mo
Eggs Another great pic and cover 👏🏻👏🏻 3mo
BookmarkTavern I‘m listening to this for my book club! 3mo
54 likes1 stack add3 comments
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TheSpineView
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lynneamch Perfect pick for #HighwayCvr. Each of his books is so different from the other, but love everything he's written! 3mo
TheSpineView @lynneamch 👍🌞🤩 3mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I still need to read this one! 3mo
TheSpineView @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Good but not as good as A Gentleman In Moscow 3mo
Eggs Agree with what @TheSpineView said 🙌🏻 3mo
61 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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Blueberry
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1. The Lincoln Highway
2. Mommy Dearest
3. Visiting my youngest son in Los Angeles.
4. No Boxing Day in America and no mall shopping.
5. Green Christmas. Not disappointed. Snow for Christmas is very unusual for us. The last time was 1988.

#WinterGames

27 likes1 stack add
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annahenke
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Started this one awhile ago and gonna try to finish today! #novelnovember @Andrew65

annahenke I loved a Gentleman in Moscow and the writing is still great but I‘m not as into the story this time. I‘m going to try diving in for a long stretch because I still think it‘s worth it! @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 5mo
Andrew65 @annahenke I‘d agree, this was enjoyable but not as brilliant as A Gentleman in Moscow. 5mo
annahenke @Andrew65 yes, I‘ve been diving in today but gentleman in Moscow has not been derailed in my heart! 5mo
72 likes1 stack add4 comments
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BookNAround
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Trying to get back to this one after setting it aside for months. You can‘t necessarily see, but all three animals are snoozing while I read here. Ozzie is closest. Gatsby is next. And the skittish and seldom seen Sammy is napping on the chair next to the couch.

dabbe Hello there, cutest and snuggliest furries! 🖤🐾🐾🐾🖤 6mo
62 likes1 comment
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MaggieCarr
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Mehso-so

Profound but not what I expected. My favorite quote "Why doesn't summer vacation last until the 21st of September? After all, the season doesn't come to its conclusion on Labor Day weekend. The season of summer lasts until this autumn equinox- just as surely as the season of spring lasts until the summer solstice... It stands to reason that if we all agreed to let summer vacation last until the equinox, the world would be a much happier place."

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Graciouswarriorprincess
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September book report.

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Soubhiville
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dabbe Yes, please! 🤗 7mo
38 likes1 comment
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Custo7
La autopista Lincoln | Amor Towles
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- SOY de la opinión, profesor, de que en esta vida todo lo que tiene valor hay que ganárselo. Que debería costar ganárselo. Porque quienes obtienen algo de valor sin hacer nada para ganárselo están condenados a derrocharlo. Creo que uno debe ganarse el amor de una mujer y el derecho a llamarse hombre a sí mismo. Y uno debería también ganarse el derecho a la esperanza. Hubo un tiempo en que yo tenía un manantial de esperanza, que no me había ganado

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Custo7
La autopista Lincoln | Amor Towles

A los presuntuoso el Señor les brinda la caridad en forma de decepción.

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Custo7
La autopista Lincoln | Amor Towles

En el Sunshine hotel, cada habitación tenía su debilidad, y cada debilidad tenía su objeto que la delataba

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Custo7
La autopista Lincoln | Amor Towles

Ah, pensé al ver la esquina de un libro que asomaba entre los pliegues de las sábanas,....El pobre hombre padece la adicción más peligrosa que existe.

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Custo7
La autopista Lincoln | Amor Towles


'...todos los días nos levantábamos a la misma hora y nos poníamos la misma ropa. Todos los días desayunábamos en la misma mesa con las misma personas. Y todos los días hacíamos el mismo trabajo en los mismos campos antes de acostarnos a la misma hora en la misma cama...
...hay algo realmente desconcertante en hacer todas esas cosas de manera idéntica un día tras otro, sobre todo en la versión de mil página de la propia vida.'

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Custo7
La autopista Lincoln | Amor Towles

Pero todos con los que nos cruzaba Mos parecían satisfechos con su carencia de objetivos. Deja que el camino salga a tu encuentro, dicen los irlandeses, y eso era lo que les sucedía a los viajeros intrépidos en la autopista Lincoln. El camino salía al encuentro de todos y cada uno de ellos, tanto si iban hacia el este, hacia el oeste o en círculos.

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TheSpineView
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#Movie2BookRecs @Klou
Movie: Vacation

Klou Great! 10mo
TheSpineView @Klou 👍😊🌞 10mo
41 likes2 comments
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GinaKButler
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Up next! This one is on these lists:

#14books14weeks2023
#unreadbookshelf
23 in ‘23

I loved his other two and have been putting this one off because of the page count. Hoping I love this one, too!

#bookspinbingo
@TheHeartlandBookFairy (4 of 14)

Amiable Interested to hear your thoughts on it. I ended up liking it, but one of the characters irritated me so much I had a visceral reaction to the book. I found myself avoiding picking up the book whenever a chapter focused on him. Which made it take longer than it normally should have to finish it. 10mo
GinaKButler @Amiable I finally finished…we were week-long baseball tournament which derailed my reading. I really liked it. Rules Of Civility is still my favorite by him, though. And, I HATED Pastor John. 10mo
Amiable @GinaKButler Yes! I also couldn‘t stand Duchess. 😖 My favorite Towles is 10mo
34 likes1 stack add3 comments
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TheBookgeekFrau
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Mehso-so

Just finished and the problem is, nothing will ever again be A Gentleman in Moscow. With that being said, there was a lot I liked about The Lincoln Highway and a whole lot I didn't. The first half of book had my eyes drooping often, and I was on the verge of DNFing, but I liked the MCs too much to abandon them.

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TheBookgeekFrau
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"The drive from Salina to Morgen was three hours, and for much of it, Emmett hadn't said a word."

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

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JessieKB
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Pickpick

Really enjoyed this one!! Follow three boys fresh out of a reform camp on their haphazard journey to California, in hopes of starting new life‘s. The characters that came in along the way (meet smart and sweet little brother Billy, quick witted girl friend Sarah, care taking Ulysses) were fun and heart warming. Very well written book about “life”. I will read his others. Long, but worth it!!

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TheBookgeekFrau
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I've got a quiet week coming up so I figure it's a good time for this

42 likes1 stack add
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JessieKB
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Switching gears!!

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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

Wonderful! I loved this epic story of a group of fascinating young people trying to make their way across the US to better futures while learning their backstories and cheering them on. They are each exceptional and unforgettable. Great on #audio! #BookspinBingo #chunkster @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 11mo
66 likes1 comment
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Writeme
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Pickpick

Well, that was fun! I haven‘t read a book like this for a long time: long but fast-paced; nostalgic but not sentimental; light and playful but grounded in painful truths; easy to read and a marvel of a story. The backbone of the plot centers on three teens and an 8 year old who embark on a road trip, each of them in search of something different and necessary, but the story diverges wildly with each mile. So good!

12 likes1 stack add
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Adventures-of-a-French-Reader
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Mehso-so

So-so read for me...
I just couldn't really get into it. I've read it till the end, but it was slow, I didn't get attached to any of the characters, wasn't actually much interested in the plot... It wasn't badly written, but I didn't care for the plot.

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Donna1980
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Oh, this is going to be good! Started this whilst waiting for my youngest at the track. Can‘t put it down, it drew me in from the first page. Reminding me of another favourite of mine Plainsong. Can‘t wait to see where this book goes.

megnews I loved this one and still think about it. 13mo
7 likes1 comment
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ImperfectCJ
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Pickpick

Okay, wow, I really like this book! It's a bit of a doorstop, but I didn't ever feel fatigued with it. The characters are richly drawn, and the story follows a path that feels inevitable in the sense that myths feel inevitable. Also like a myth, there are rules of morality that the characters must follow. If they stay true to that morality, things work out, even if they take a detour. But if they lose sight of those rules, things don't go so well.

ImperfectCJ This is my #bookspin for February. Also, I went back and forth between print and audio on this one, and the audio is excellent! Marin Ireland, who narrates the tagged and who plays Sissy in Umbrella Academy season 2, narrates the Sally sections, and I love her interpretation of the character. 1y
ImperfectCJ And I just realized, I finished this novel on Abraham Lincoln's birthday! 1y
55 likes1 stack add2 comments
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ImperfectCJ
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I'm not used to encountering anyone with my first name, in fiction or in real life, and it feels quite jarring when it does happen. At least this character is a nice Charity (although I suspect it's her working name rather than her given name).

Karisimo I‘ve only come across my name once and it was used for an evil queen in 1y
ImperfectCJ @Karisimo Yours is definitely an unusual name, too...is it of Greek origin? If so, think it might be related to "Charity" via "Charis"? I was in a writing group long ago with a woman whose daughter shared your name (although I think she spelled it Carys), and my teenaged son was in a class with a Caris when they were 5 years old, but I haven't known anyone else who spelled with a K. I think it looks really nice with a K, by the way! 1y
IndoorDame I‘ve only started to see my name in fiction/tv a few times in recent years. Thank you broader cultural perspectives. I love it! It feels like one more facet of representation that‘s slowly expanding to include me. 1y
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ImperfectCJ @IndoorDame I hadn't thought about the name issue from that perspective! I talk with my students about stories serving as mirrors or windows, and the value of seeing ourselves reflected in stories. For some reason, I hadn't connected names to that, but it makes total sense. (I feel more alienated than included when I see my name, but maybe that's because of the cultural baggage attached to it and how it's used in fiction.) 1y
IndoorDame @ImperfectCJ I definitely get that. Characters with my name aren‘t always portrayed well either because it‘s a middle eastern name, but even when the portrayal has problematic aspects just the fact that those characters exist is validating for me 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1y
Karisimo @ImperfectCJ yes, I think it has Greek roots, I think it‘s related to “charisma” 1y
ImperfectCJ @Karisimo Best I can tell, the name comes from the Greek charis meaning grace, same root as charisma, plural: charites. This site has the same Greek root (χάρις) for both charity and charis https://etymologeek.com/eng/charity but most other sites only trace charity back to Latin. So, maybe they're related, maybe not. Maybe in another life I'll major in Classics or etymology and figure it out. 1y
Karisimo @ImperfectCJ fun info! I‘ll choose to believe that they are from the same root 😁 1y
55 likes8 comments
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megnews
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Pickpick

Believe the hype!

These characters. Their story. They‘ll stay with me a long time.

63 likes2 stack adds
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megnews
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Catsandbooks
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Congratulations on this huge accomplishment Lynn!!! 🎉 💕 🎉 💕
Thanks for hosting! #300kBirthdayGiveaway

The tagged book has been on my list for awhile.

wanderinglynn Thanks! 😘 And thanks for entering! 1y
39 likes1 comment
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Mdion1993
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Mehso-so

After his recent release from a juvenile facility, Emmett‘s plans to take his eight year old brother, Billy, to California are derailed when two stowaways steal his studebaker and flee to New York.

Odyssey ✨ Debts ✨ Multilayered

NOTES: This book is long! The overall build up felt dull, but the last 100 pages took me for a loop in a good way. The ending felt jarring and left me thinking. I‘m just not sure it‘s worth the 600 page commitment.

TheSpineView I agree. Too verbose. 1y
8 likes1 comment
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JillR
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Pickpick

Oh I did like this. A great sprawling novel of a road trip gone awry - which actually doesn‘t sprawl in some ways, as the story takes place over little more than a week - yet it feels huge in scope. I love the gentle humour in Amor Towles‘ writing. A book to read in big greedy chunks during some time off this week, I came to love all the characters and wasn‘t ready to let them go.

squirrelbrain Great review - I liked this one too! 1y
JillR @squirrelbrain I loved A Gentleman in Moscow, but for some reason I didn‘t really fancy this one, so it was a lovely surprise to love it! 1y
43 likes2 comments
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erickahhh
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Panpan

I am sadly disappointed with this one. This novel was a bit long and wordy. The protagonists go on a journey, much like the ones referenced in the book. The history they discuss is a little bit more interesting than their journey. The characters were great but the story development was a little boring.

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Aimeesue
Pickpick

That was a heck of an ending. Thoroughly enjoyed the audio. Also, I now need a yellow Studebaker.

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Aimeesue
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Pickpick

That was a heck of an ending. Thoroughly enjoyed the audio. Also, I now need a yellow Studebaker.

willaful I just loved A Gentleman in Moscow. I'm looking forward to trying some more of his other books. 1y
Aimeesue @willaful I loooooved AGiM. The Lincoln Hwy was very different, and the group I read it with was pretty perturbed that there were no definite ends for many of the characters, but I thought it was great. I need to read The Rules of Civility because one of the characters is the grandfather (or great grand?) of one of the characters in Lincoln Hwy! 1y
willaful I think a lot of the best writers write truly different books every time. 1y
Aimeesue @willaful Yes! I also love an ambiguous ending. Keeps me thinking about the book and the characters, for years sometimes. I guess a lot of people don't like that effect? 1y
30 likes4 comments