The Lincoln Highway

Synopsis: Emmett Watson is a nice young man. How in the world did he end up in juvenile reform school? The novel begins in 1954 as Emmett is released a few months early from his stay at reform school. This is in consideration of his father’s death, the foreclosure of the family farm, and his new responsibility of caring for his eight year old brother Billy. After the warden drops him off, two former “classmates” show up, having stowed away in the warden’s trunk. Duchess, Wooly, Emmett and Billy soon set off on their own epic road trip. Emmett and Billy plan to travel to California, but circumstances lead them in the opposite direction, to New York City.

Review: This is a novel with a great cast of characters who have the common goal of seeking a fresh start. They have all been abandoned in one fashion or another, and are all on a journey of discovery and figuring out how to fit into the world. The story is told from multiple POV, and it worked well here. I’m definitely a fan of Amor Towles, and once again he has created a time and place that is vivid and real. It’s quite the feat for a story that also has a bit of the fantastical “hero’s journey” feeling as well. There are lots of ideas in this book. A single wrong turn can really get you off course—an apt metaphor for life, if not a road trip. There is some violence, and dark shadows do fall across our heroes, but this is ultimately a hopeful novel, and I loved every minute of it.

Rating: 5/5

Recipe: Duchess makes dinner for Emmett, Wooly and Billy, creating a dish he calls Fettucine Mio Amore. Thanks to bookclubcookbook.com, I stumbled upon a Q&A with Amor Towles where the author provided the recipe!

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil

1 large or 2 small American bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4 inch strips

1 bay leaf

3/4 cup dry white wine

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

3/4 cup crush tomatoes or tomato sauce (and not an ounce more!)

1/2 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

12-16 ounces fettuccine, preferably fresh

1) Cook the onions in olive oil in a deep saucepan, then set onions aside. In the sam pan, fry the bacon until brown but not crisp. Pour off most, but not all of the bacon fat.

2) Add back the onions, the white wine and let simmer for a few minutes. Add the tomato sauce, chicken broth, oregano and pepper flakes. Stir and let simmer another 10 minutes. Add more chicken broth if needed.

3) Cook fettuccine. Toss about 1/4 of the sauce with the fettuccine and parmesan.

4) Divide the pasta on plates, spoon the rest of the sauce on top and serve.