Book Talk . . . The Lincoln Highway

 The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles is the best novel I have read in the last ten years!!! Yes, it is that good!!!  It’s storytelling at its absolute best. Amor Towles also wrote another of my top five recent favorite novels, A Gentleman in Moscow. A number of people have told me that they just couldn’t get in to that novel. It’s pace is slow at the beginning and it takes a while to build. While I thought it was a masterful piece of writing, I can understand why some people might not have engaged with that novel, but please trust me, as soon as you begin The Lincoln Highway you will be hooked and happily along for the ride. 

You will meet eighteen year old Emmett, his eight year old brother Billy who is a delightful character, and two friends from the work farm where Emmett had served time for involuntary manslaughter. After his release,  Emmett’s plan had been to head to California with Billy to start a new life. His friends Woody and Duchess who had walked away from the work farm decide to go along for the ride, but they soon steer the journey in another direction.  

Reading along, I couldn’t help thinking of Tom and Huck’s raft trip on the mighty Mississippi and the many characters they encountered as do Emmett and Billy. Sam Clemens would have, for sure, given a nod of approval to The Lincoln Highway. 

It also occurred to me that three of the best novels that I have read in the last five years have been “journey” novels. Besides The Lincoln Highway, in previous posts I have also highly recommended West with Giraffes by Linda Rutledge and Peace Like a River by Leif Enger.

In any event, climb into the back seat of Emmett’s powder-blue 1948 Studebaker, get comfortable, and go along for this ride.  I promise you will love this book!!! 

Here are the titles I received when I recently had asked for recommendations. It’s always good to have a list of books from which to choose:

     One Hundred Years of Lennie and Margot    

     The Rose Code - Kate Quinn

     Becoming Mrs. Lewis - Patti Callahan

      Britt Marie Was Here - Fredrick Brackman   

     This Tender Land - William Kent Krueger

     Ordinary Land - William Kent Krueger

Yesterday, I met friends for lunch at the South Shore Country Club in Hingham. Carol, our unofficial, dedicated social director:-) , manages to get us all together from time to time. Eight happily retired Weymouth teachers were able to make it to this lunch, and it was lovely to see and catch up with everyone. We dined outside on the patio and will meet again next month. Hopefully, even more of us will be able to make it wherever we decide to gather. :-)

Finally, for Emma fans, here she is today after a trip to the groomer. I wasn’t able to decide which image  to share, so here are two.

Next time . . . we’ll talk chickens!!! ;-)

Saturday Sampler

 My dad's oldest sister, my Aunt Mildred,  always had a fuchsia hanging pot at the entrance to her breezeway.  I love to photographing fuchsia, so I make a fuchsia hanging pot each summer, as well.
Alas, this magnificent white iris below is blooming in my neighbor's yard not mine. It is truly spectacular.

I am sad that I have finished reading  Amor Towles' novel A Gentleman in Moscow. It starts slowly and thus it took me a while to get into it. I kept wondering why so many people had recommended it, but I kept reading and was gradually drawn in. It is perhaps the best novel that I have read in the last ten years. The writing is exquisite.  The protagonist, Count Alexander Rostov, after the Bolshevik revolution is sentenced to permanent house arrest in the Metropol, a grand old hotel in the center of Moscow. Confined from the age of thirty, the young aristocrat seeks to live a life of purpose within the walls of the Metropol.

At dinner the other night, I spoke glowingly of this novel. A friend who had read it did not enjoy it at all. She commented that there was no action in the story. Isn't it interesting how another reader may have such a diametric opinion of the same book? I should add that my friend is a voracious reader; this novel, however, did not capture her interest.

I, on the other hand, found it to be a treasure. The scenes were beautifully rendered and the people with whom the count engages richly drawn. The plot does move, especially after a young child is entrusted to his care.

What I knew of Russian history came from college World History classes and films. This novel taught me much about Russia's turbulent history and perhaps offers insight into the Russian psyche today.

It's a subtle novel, but a rich, finely written one, and I urge you to make the acquaintance of this Gentleman in Moscow. BTW, I read that this novel is in the development stage and will be turned into a television series. I can see that it would make for a wonderful mini series, but please don't wait until then. Read the novel as the writing is too special to miss.

On a lighter note, I picked up this pillow for my sunporch the other day, and being 'the consumer' cut off the attached tag. These tags always make me smile. Had there been at some point a rash of hoodlums racing through department stores slashing off these tags??? What's up with that??? Under penalty of law, I promise to never do such a terrible thing.

For Emma fans . . . she came home from the groomers Thursday afternoon sporting this lovely flower.

 

Auntie Laurel sent this image along.

 

Those who know and love miniature schnauzers know that one end is bark and the other end tail wagging exuberance. My Emma would bark like crazy at robbers attempting to break in and when they were inside she would promptly roll over begging for a belly rub. Let's  hope that the barking would discourage any would be burglars. :-)

Construction on the new Tufts Library is coming right along. Click on this or any other photo for a larger version.

And finally, just to put a smile on your face . . . . . . :-)

Have a wonderful week.