Sign in with Facebook
Liz's Reviews > The Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway
by
by
Five stars. It might only be the first week of 2022, but I have a feeling this will be my favorite book of the year. It’s been a long time since a book tugged at my emotions like this one did. It grabbed me, and over and over again, I found myself gripping my chest. It hurt. It scared me. But yes, I also laughed.
It’s an adventure story, an odyssey, an “escapade”, as Duchess calls it, with undertones of mythology. Everyone has hopes and dreams and they clash because not a single one can be realized without denying someone else theirs.
As with his other books, the writing is gorgeous. Towles has a way of creating characters and putting them in scenes so realistic, it was like watching a movie. He has a real knack for setting the time and place. I wanted to savor each moment while at the same time frantic to see how this story would play out for each of the main characters. But not just the main characters, I found myself caring for even the secondary characters. I even loved Duchess, a total scoundrel if ever there was one, even as I was shouting at him multiple times to stop his nefarious deeds.
And oh, that ending. Talk about being caught off guard.
I listened to this and bravo to the narrators. Each definitely added to my enjoyment.
It’s an adventure story, an odyssey, an “escapade”, as Duchess calls it, with undertones of mythology. Everyone has hopes and dreams and they clash because not a single one can be realized without denying someone else theirs.
As with his other books, the writing is gorgeous. Towles has a way of creating characters and putting them in scenes so realistic, it was like watching a movie. He has a real knack for setting the time and place. I wanted to savor each moment while at the same time frantic to see how this story would play out for each of the main characters. But not just the main characters, I found myself caring for even the secondary characters. I even loved Duchess, a total scoundrel if ever there was one, even as I was shouting at him multiple times to stop his nefarious deeds.
And oh, that ending. Talk about being caught off guard.
I listened to this and bravo to the narrators. Each definitely added to my enjoyment.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
The Lincoln Highway.
Sign In »
Quotes Liz Liked
“in your time you shall do wrong unto others and others shall do wrong unto you. And these opposing wrongs will become your chains. The wrongs you have done unto others will be bound to you in the form of guilt, and the wrongs that others have done unto you in the form of indignation. The teachings of Jesus Christ Our Savior are there to free you from both. To free you from your guilt through atonement and from your indignation through forgiveness. Only once you have freed yourself from both of these chains may you begin to live your life with love in your heart and serenity in your step.”
― The Lincoln Highway
― The Lincoln Highway
“—It wasn’t a bother at all, the old gent replied, gesturing toward his bed. I was only reading. Ah, I thought, seeing the corner of the book poking out from the folds of his sheets. I should have known. The poor old chap, he suffers from the most dangerous addiction of all.”
― The Lincoln Highway
― The Lincoln Highway
“If you take a trait that by all appearances is a merit—a trait that is praised by pastors and poets, a trait that we have come to admire in our friends and hope to foster in our children—and you give it to some poor soul in abundance, it will almost certainly prove an obstacle to their happiness. Just as someone can be too smart for their own good, there are those who are too patient for their own good, or too hardworking.”
― The Lincoln Highway
― The Lincoln Highway
“The funny thing about a picture, thought Woolly, the funny thing about a picture is that while it knows everything that’s happened up until the moment it’s been taken, it knows absotively nothing about what will happen next. And yet, once the picture has been framed and hung on a wall, what you see when you look at it closely are all the things that were about to happen. All the un-things. The things that were unanticipated. And unintended. And unreversible.”
― The Lincoln Highway
― The Lincoln Highway
“Wouldn’t it have been wonderful, thought Woolly, if everybody’s life was like a piece in a jigsaw puzzle. Then no one person’s life would ever be an inconvenience to anyone else’s. It would just fit snugly in its very own, specially designed spot, and in so doing, would enable the whole intricate picture to become complete.”
― The Lincoln Highway
― The Lincoln Highway
“And I do it because it’s unnecessary. For what is kindness but the performance of an act that is both beneficial to another and unrequired?”
― The Lincoln Highway
― The Lincoln Highway
Reading Progress
February 19, 2021
– Shelved
February 19, 2021
– Shelved as:
to-read
October 7, 2021
– Shelved as:
audio
October 11, 2021
– Shelved as:
book-clubs
January 1, 2022
–
Started Reading
January 6, 2022
– Shelved as:
best-of-2022
January 6, 2022
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-40 of 40 (40 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Kelli
(new)
-
rated it 4 stars
Jan 06, 2022 06:08AM
Sounds like just what I need to break my reading slump! Thanks for the audiobook plug & great review, Liz. Happy 2022!
reply
|
flag
Kelli wrote: "Sounds like just what I need to break my reading slump! Thanks for the audiobook plug & great review, Liz. Happy 2022!"I hope you love it as much as I did. Happy 2022 to you as well!
Glad you enjoyed the book Liz. I have it on my list to read. 🌞
Barbara wrote: "Glad you enjoyed the book Liz. I have it on my list to read. 🌞"Barb, I’ll be curious to see your thoughts. Happy 2022!
Excellent review Liz. Excited to read this ☃️
Liz...wow! I'm so glad this read captured your heart! Stellar review!
Icewineanne wrote: "Excellent review Liz. Excited to read this ☃️"Thanks Anne. Hope you fall in love it hit like I did.
Fran wrote: "Liz...wow! I'm so glad this read captured your heart! Stellar review!"Thanks Fran.
Yippee I'm so glad you loved this one too Liz, I fell in love with it. I don't understand people who are disappointed in it just because it's different from a Gentleman in Moscow, it's terrific!!
Kerrin wrote: "Great review!"Thanks Kerrin.
Dorie - Cats&Books :) wrote: "Yippee I'm so glad you loved this one too Liz, I fell in love with it. I don't understand people who are disappointed in it just because it's different from a Gentleman in Moscow, it's terrific!!"I loved it! I agree that I’ve been surprised at some of the less than positive reviews.
Fantastic review Liz! I love seeing those five stars 🌟
Lori wrote: "Fantastic review Liz! I love seeing those five stars 🌟"Thanks Lori.
What a review, Liz!! I'm in the Libby queue for this one and can't wait after reading your review. Book of the Year candidate in January? Bravo!
Christine wrote: "What a review, Liz!! I'm in the Libby queue for this one and can't wait after reading your review. Book of the Year candidate in January? Bravo!"Thanks Christine. I actually still have a book hangover from this one.
Terrific review of a terrific book!
I love that your year started off with such a rewarding read, Liz. Wonderful review!
Carmel wrote: "Terrific review of a terrific book!"Thanks you Carmel. It truly was!
Kat (on semi-hiatus for a bit) wrote: "I love that your year started off with such a rewarding read, Liz. Wonderful review!"Thanks Kat. I really needed a truly phenomenal book.
Can’t wait to read/listen to this one, Liz. And how nice to find your book of the year so early on…it will be an interesting contest to see if any others measure up!
Carolyn wrote: "Can’t wait to read/listen to this one, Liz. And how nice to find your book of the year so early on…it will be an interesting contest to see if any others measure up!"Hope you love it as much as I did.
One of my book clubs is reading this right now. I didn’t join bc I’m pressed for time. Great review! Maybe I’ll get to it later this year. 🙂
So glad you loved this one, too, Liz! Wonderful review!
Fabulous review Liz. I am behind on his books. I’ve just read a Gentleman in Moscow. I have this on my TBR list
Margaret wrote: "Fabulous review Liz. I am behind on his books. I’ve just read a Gentleman in Moscow. I have this on my TBR list"Thanks Margaret. AGIM is one of my all time favorite books. This is right up there.
Cheri wrote: "So glad you loved this one, too, Liz! Wonderful review!"Thanks Cheri. Looks like we were both big fans.
debbicat *made of stardust* wrote: "One of my book clubs is reading this right now. I didn’t join bc I’m pressed for time. Great review! Maybe I’ll get to it later this year. 🙂"My book club is discussing this tomorrow. Hope you can find time to squeeze it in. It’s definitely worth it.
LIZ! Don’t do that to me. 😜. What’s one more book, right?
Glad you loved it, Liz. It wasn't my favorite by Towles, but still a stellar read.
debbicat *made of stardust* wrote: "LIZ! Don’t do that to me. 😜. What’s one more book, right?"Oh, I know. So many good books, never enough time.
Barbara wrote: "Glad you loved it, Liz. It wasn't my favorite by Towles, but still a stellar read."A Gentleman in Moscow will always be my favorite, but I adored this one as well.
The mythology bothered me a bit, although I could see why it fitted into the story line. Loved your review!
Margitte wrote: "The mythology bothered me a bit, although I could see why it fitted into the story line. Loved your review!"Thanks Margitte.
Just started reading this one :)
Kelly wrote: "Just started reading this one :)"You’re in for such a treat!
Liz! Your review reflected my feelings as well! I have waited months for the library book. Now while reading it , I try to go as slow as I can to savior the fantastic writing. Your words” frantic to see how the story would play out”! Is me too! And the visualization that he is able to draw in my mind is incredible. I really love this author is just lovely and gifted! Thanks for your review it was the best!
Ms Claire wrote: "Liz! Your review reflected my feelings as well! I have waited months for the library book. Now while reading it , I try to go as slow as I can to savior the fantastic writing. Your words” frantic t..."Claire, I’m so glad you loved it as much as I did.
So glad you like this so well Liz. It is one of my favourites from this year as well.
Glenda (trying to catch up) wrote: "So glad you like this so well Liz. It is one of my favourites from this year as well."My book club is discussing it today. This will make the second club to choose it and I’m happy to discuss it multiple times. Glad it was a favorite of yours as well.
