Title: Beautiful Ruins
Author: Jess Walter
Narrator: Edoardo Ballerini
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 352 pages
Audio: 12.9 hours
Year: 2012
Publisher: Harper Audio
Source: Personal Collection
Book Rating: 5/5
Audio Rating: 4.5/5
Summary:
When Dee Moray, an American actress, shows up at his isolated hotel, Pasquale falls in love. But things are more complicated in both their lives, and other people intervene. Years pass, children are born, movies are made, and lives are lost. Finally, Pasquale goes in search of Dee, changing many people’s paths along the way.
My Thoughts:
Beautiful is really the perfect word to describe this book. The tales that are told are poignant and honest. Mistakes are made, people are flawed, and lives don’t quite work out the way they are planned.
The book is told from various viewpoints in two different timelines. The present day story runs concurrent with the story of the past. These are my favorite types of books – always leaving me wanting more just as the timeline switches.
This made my best of 2012 list. I highly recommend it.
Audiobook Thoughts:
Twitter: youvegottaread
Yes, yes, yes. The book is so freaking amazing, yet is nearly impossible to completely describe with any accuracy. Jess Walter is The Man.
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Oh, I am so glad that you loved this one! Wasn’t the audio great? I loved the fact that the narrator was so perfectly suited to the book. Excellent review today!
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I am definitely using an audible credit to listen to this book!! I love when others I trust rave about an audio book! Wonderful review today!
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Twitter: bookaddictheath
Everyone is raving about this book! I’m nervous I wouldn’t “get” it or would have trouble following along with the different viewpoints, but I might just need to put my courage pants on and give it a try.
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Michelle Reply:
January 12th, 2013 at 10:46 am
There isn’t really anything to “get.” It’s not a hard book. Just very well-written.
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