Beautiful Ruins

By: Jess Walter

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Nominee, Fiction and Best Solo Narration, 2013

The story begins in 1962. On a rocky patch of the sun-drenched Italian coastline, a young innkeeper, chest-deep in daydreams, looks out over the incandescent waters of the Ligurian Sea and spies an apparition: a tall, thin woman, a vision in white, approaching him on a boat. She is an actress, he soon learns, an American starlet, and she is dying.

And the story begins again today, half a world away, when an elderly Italian man shows up on a movie studio's back lot - searching for the mysterious woman he last saw at his hotel decades earlier.

What unfolds is a dazzling, yet deeply human, roller coaster of a novel, spanning 50 years and nearly as many lives. From the lavish set of Cleopatra to the shabby revelry of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Walter introduces us to the tangled lives of a dozen unforgettable characters: the starstruck Italian innkeeper and his long-lost love; the heroically preserved producer who once brought them together and his idealistic young assistant; the army veteran turned fledgling novelist, and the rakish Richard Burton himself, whose appetites set the whole story in motion - along with the husbands and wives, lovers and dreamers, superstars and losers, who populate their world in the decades that follow.

Gloriously inventive, constantly surprising, Beautiful Ruins is a story of flawed yet fascinating people, navigating the rocky shores of their lives while clinging to their improbable dreams.

©2012 Jess Walter (P)2012 HarperCollins Publisher

Beautiful and captivating

Who was the most memorable character of Beautiful Ruins and why?

I loved the Italian Innkeeper, Pasquale.

Any additional comments?

Wonderful book.A sweet and interesting story that is beuatifully told. I loved how different eras were seemlessly woven into the narrative. I usually read mysterys or thrillers, but this captured my attention and I was sad when it was over. I wish more books/audio books were like this.

I guess I mustn't say,...

Any additional comments?

I tried.,,,,I felt that I had picked up a book at a drug store to read at the beach because I didn't want to destroy my hardback.... You get what you pay for. I was so waiting for a, or some, characters to save the story. Shallow characters. A reprieve throughout with some beautiful Italian scenes. That being said.. Comparing love to zombies wanting brains,... A repetative, rehabilitated, drug addicted, wondering main character... 1960 male dominated actress told a grave, despicable untruth...surprise. Current Hollywood,.. enough said. Oh, and a movie script of, The Donner Party, being produced for $80 million. What? I could not warp my brain into thinking this was a good anything...., love story, mystery,....epic, huh? Sorry, I wanted to love this book as much as some of the reviewers.

A delightful return to Italy and back in time.

As someone whom adores historical fiction, this book was right up my track. I love books that tie peoples past lives to their current predicament. Kate Morton is my favorite author and this tale is similar to her books in that they look back in history to a time when the title characters where younger and weaves the modern with the historical. It was done beautifully here.

I also must say for anyone whom has gone to Italy, especially the Cinque and fell in love with the place, you will feel transported back. It has been just over ten years since I hiked the coast between Riomaggiore and Monteroso del Mar, and the words of the book put me right back in those towns and on those cliffs. I know have to get to Porto Vennere as well!

Touching and thoughtful

Sometimes during the book, I had difficulty keeping up with where we were and who we were talking about. However some of the early reviews I read were dead on. The story is well crafted and it allowed me to learn so much about a lot of subjects. Additionally. I hated for the book to end. A wonderful weaving together of life stories whose lives intersect. I finished the book days ago and find myself still musing about these characters.

Beautiful indeed

Would you listen to Beautiful Ruins again? Why?

I will absolutely listen to Beautiful Ruins again and recommend it to others because it is a sad and funny and heartwrenching story narrated in spectacular fashion. Even though the story bounces between time and place, you always feel connected with the character and context.This was my first Ballerini-narrated book and I will actively seek out more of his work. He is brilliant and emphathetic and simply an excellent storyteller.

Loved reading this book with Audible :-)

I have to say this is the very first novel that I have read to the end 😊only because of audible.com :-) this was a wonderfully written and narrated book! I highly recommend Beautiful rRuins. Loved it!!💕

Great narration

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes-the story takes you away

What did you like best about this story?

the narrorator and Italian that I would have skipped over if I were reading the book

What about Edoardo Ballerini’s performance did you like?

his accents and smooth Italian as well as the way he changed the way he spoke for different characters-sometimes this is annoying but, with him it was great!

Wonderful Story; Incredible Performance

What made the experience of listening to Beautiful Ruins the most enjoyable?

The story is very moving and poignant and spans several decades. The author created indelible characters and sprinkled enough humor through the story to balance out the sad or bittersweet parts. He gets at the essence of every kind of love: romantic, friendship, familial, egotistical self-love.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters and the look into ways certain events play out completely differently for those involved. I loved the characters and the dialog was excellent. The author created rich landscapes.

What about Edoardo Ballerini’s performance did you like?

I loved everything about the narrator's performance. This was one of the best audiobook performances I've ever heard. He made every character come to life. His Italian and Italian-accented English for certain characters was fantastic. And he was able to do all the voices -- male and female -- without sounding absurd or cheesy.

Any additional comments?

The only downside to the book is that the author juggled a few too many storylines and eras. I think it is important to listen to this consistently, or you might get lost as to what is happening and when/where.

Good, solid story

Would you consider the audio edition of Beautiful Ruins to be better than the print version?

I would consider the audio edition of Beautiful Ruins to be better than the print because of Edoardo Ballerini's beautiful narration. He made it possible to accept the storyline, especially with respect to Richard Burton's role. I don't think I would have made it through this book if I had read it on my own.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Pasquale, our main character, was my favorite. From start to finish, he displays a human decency that we wish we could see in everyone.

Which character – as performed by Edoardo Ballerini – was your favorite?

Edoardo Ballerini's Italian is another reason why I was able to get through his book. Having to make these pronunciations on my own would have slowed me down. I was also greatful that the author included definitions/explanations of Italian terms. Some authors don't do that for the reader which causes a disconnect.

If you could take any character from Beautiful Ruins out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Pasquale is the type of person I would enjoy spending time with ... a very trustworthy and surprising character, only to the point that it's believable.

Any additional comments?

I'm glad that I spent time with this book. Normally, it is not one I would have spent my money on, and it's not one that I would listen to again. It did, however, leave me with a lot to think about with respect to character. I have caught myself repeating the line "We want what we want" a number of times since finishing. It's so appropriate.

Beautifully told story

What did you love best about Beautiful Ruins?

This was a rich story beautifully told.

What does Edoardo Ballerini bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The reading of the book is sensational. One of my favourite listening experiences to date. Edoardo Ballerini seamlessly moved in and out of the characters as he wove the story. Very entertaining - every free moment I was going back to my iPad to listen to what would happen next.