Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter (2012)
Overview
Beautiful Ruins is a 2012 novel by American author Jess Walter. The novel tells the story of two characters, an Italian innkeeper and an American actress, whose lives become intertwined over the span of fifty years. It is a story of love, loss, and the unpredictable nature of life. The novel has been praised for its intricate storyline and vivid descriptions of the Italian Riviera.
Plot Summary
The novel follows two characters, Pasquale Tursi and Dee Moray. Pasquale is an innkeeper in the small coastal town of Porto Vergogna on the Italian Riviera. Dee is an American actress who arrives at Pasquale’s inn in 1962. The two form a bond, but Dee is forced to leave Italy when she discovers that she is pregnant with a man she had only just met.
The novel then jumps forward 50 years, to 2012. Pasquale, now an elderly man, is contacted by a Hollywood producer who claims to be making a movie about Dee. He wants to find out what happened to her and the child she left behind in Italy.
The story then moves between 1962 and 2012, revealing the truth about Dee’s child and Pasquale’s life, as well as the lives of other characters from the town of Porto Vergogna. The novel is a story of love, loss, and the unpredictable nature of life.
Main Themes
The novel explores a number of themes, including the power of love, the importance of family, and the universal beauty of life, despite its struggles. It also touches on the idea of fate and destiny, as well as the unpredictable nature of life.
Interesting Facts
- Beautiful Ruins was a New York Times Best Seller and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
- The novel has been praised for its vivid descriptions of the Italian Riviera.
- Jess Walter wrote the novel in six months.
- The novel was adapted into a film in 2021.
FAQs
Q: Who wrote Beautiful Ruins?
A: Beautiful Ruins was written by American author Jess Walter.
Q: What is Beautiful Ruins about?
A: Beautiful Ruins is a story of love, loss, and the unpredictable nature of life. It follows two characters, an Italian innkeeper and an American actress, whose lives become intertwined over the span of fifty years.
Q: When was Beautiful Ruins published?
A: Beautiful Ruins was published in 2012.
Q: Was Beautiful Ruins made into a movie?
A: Yes, Beautiful Ruins was adapted into a film in 2021.