Beautiful Ruins in Around the World

Jan 10, 2013 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it really liked it

Shelves: around-the-world, tournament-of-books, read2013, location-italy

I enjoyed this story, alternating between Porto Vergogna (a tiny town in the rocks outside Cinque Terre) in 1962 and present-day Hollywood. It traces the lives of several characters in their pursuit of authentic lives. I didn't really connect with most of them, since most except Pasquale had a hard time figuring out what they should be about. Still, it had good pacing and I can understand why so many people ranked it a top book of 2012.

It does make you wonder though, has there ever been a book a ...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Daisy rated it really liked it

Shelves: aroundtheworld2012, la-hollywood, italy, scotland

"Hello, eyes."

We love. We try. We die alone.

Act as if...

What if the only way to save the ones you love ... is to leave them behind?

Sometimes ... what we want to do and what we must do are not the same ... the smaller the space between your desire and what is right, the happier you'll be. ...more

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Oct 03, 2014 Barbara rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014-library-bk-grp

This is the library community read for March of 2015. I listened to this on audio. I really enjoyed the reader.

This book was okay for me. I liked it and got through it but I guess the subject matter wasn't that interesting for me.

It's about a young actress named Dee and her boyfriend, Michael Dean, who sends her away to get treatment when he tells her she has stomach cancer. Everything in his world can be bought including the Dr.'s I guess. Michael Dean is a self centered person and only cares ...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Sara rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-book, historical-fiction, itsly, 2016, world-2016

The only positive thing about this book was the wonderful narration of Eduardo Ballerini.

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Jul 12, 2012 Wendy rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2012, fiction, 52-books-atw

I have heard this book is good, but I was initially drawn to it because I love the cover :-)

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Nov 25, 2013 Astrid Lim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, romance, america, europe, art

So I guess you need a certain mood to read a certain book. And luckily, my mood fits this book perfectly. Beautiful Ruins can capture beautifully the lives that we could have - but weren't chosen by us. And how it can shape the lives of other people too. With the perfect settings - from a coastal isolated town in Southern Italy to the glamorous Hollywood lights, and various characters that although are unlikable, but you can't help to try to find out what happens with them :) ...more

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