The Libraries of Greene County are hosting another Greene County Reads book discussion on Thursday, November 3. The book will be The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. A companion program on Sunday, Nov. 13, with guest speaker Darcy Maulsby is also being planned.
The book tells the story of 18-year-old Emmett Watson and a trip he takes with his 8-year-old brother across the Lincoln Highway from Nebraska in search of their mother in San Francisco. Their plans are changed when two teens Emmett met at a juvenile work farm show up with plans to go collect a family fortune in New York. The story spans their 10-day journey and includes rich characters and settings and themes Iowans can relate to.
“This book has a wonderful cast of secondary characters who would be familiar to those who lived during the period depicted in the book. Each one of them affects the three boys who are the central characters in a unique way. The ending of this book will come as a surprise to many. The journey along the Lincoln Highway is filled with adventure,” commented discussion leader Jan Scharingson.
Born and raised in the Boston area, Amor Towles graduated from Yale College and received an MA in English from Stanford University. Having worked as an investment professional for over 20 years, he now devotes himself full time to writing in Manhattan, where he lives with his wife and two children. His previous novels are Rules of Civility and A Gentleman in Moscow
Greene County Reads is an annual event sponsored by the Greene County Librarians Association. This is the 15th year for this county-wide book discussion. Three libraries in Greene County will host the discussions. All three discussions will be led by Jan Scharingson, retired East Greene high school English teacher.
“We are having a second series of book discussions this year because two books held so much appeal,” explained Jefferson library director Jane Millard. “’The Butterfly Effect’ was set in Ames by an author from Boone. And the historic Lincoln Highway runs right through Greene County. Both books were requested by our patrons for our book discussions this year.”
Anyone who would like to participate in the book discussions is encouraged to check out a copy of the book from any of the six public libraries in Greene County. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles is also available from the Bridges eLibrary. Register to attend one of the book discussions on Nov. 3 at the place and time that is most convenient. Discussions will be held at the Paton public library at 9:00 a.m. and the Grand Junction Public Library at 2 pm. The Jefferson public library will host the evening session at 7 pm at the Milwaukee Depot, on the Lincoln Highway near the fairgrounds in Jefferson.
The annual county-wide book discussions are free and open to the public. Greene County Reads is made possible by funding support from the Greene County board of supervisors. Light refreshments will be served. For more information or to register for one of the discussions, contact your local public library.
The companion program on Sunday, Nov. 13, at 2 pm at the Grand Junction Community Center is an author talk and book signing by Darcy Dougherty Maulsby from Lake City. Her new book, The Lincoln Highway in Iowa – A History, was published this month. “We hope everyone will come and listen to Darcy talk about her new book. We’ll have the Lincoln Highway museum open across the street from the community center in Grand Junction before and after her program,” added Joyce Ausberger, member of the Greene County Lincoln Highway Association, co-sponsor of the event. Admission to the museum is free.
