Beautiful Ruins: A Novel
The #1 New York Times bestseller—Jess Walter’s “absolute masterpiece” (Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author): the story of an almost-love affair that begins on the Italian coast in 1962 and resurfaces fifty years later in contemporary Hollywood.
The acclaimed, award-winning author of the national bestseller The Financial Lives of the Poets returns with his funniest, most romantic, and most purely enjoyable novel yet. Hailed by critics and loved by readers of literary and historical fiction, Beautiful Ruins is the story of an almost-love affair that begins on the Italian coast in 1962...and is rekindled in Hollywood fifty years later.
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Community Reviews
Vero Amore
What a fun summer read. I liked the flashback storyline.I will enjoy reading more of his work!
I really liked this book. The characters were really interesting and it shed some staggering light on Hollywood stars that I somewhat already knew, but astounded me nonetheless. Walter created a tragic love story within the lives of he developed but with moments of true sincerity, some solid grit, and a touch of romance (not too sappy). A great summer read.
For some reason (despite the great reviews) I did not expect to like this book. I was so pleasantly surprised. It was a beautiful love story that takes place over years. One of the settings is Cinque Terre in Italy- how can you resist that? I would highly recommend it.
For such a well reviewed book I expected more. Was just kind of meh. I didn't care about any of the characters at all. Plot was garbled.
Beautiful Ruins is a beautiful book with a beautiful title and a beautiful cover. I was so very pleased that the inside matched the outside. Complex and flawed characters are supported by the changing scenery, and connections that span years and oceans surprise and delight. I highly recommend this one.
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