Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Beautiful Ruins summary
Jess Walter
Brief summary
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter is a captivating novel that weaves together the stories of a charming innkeeper in a small Italian coastal town and a young American actress, taking the reader on a journey of love, loss, and the enduring power of connection.
Topics
Table of Contents
Beautiful Ruins
Summary of key ideas
Love, Loss, and Redemption
In Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter, we are transported to the Italian coast in 1962, where we meet Pasquale Tursi, a young innkeeper who dreams of transforming his small, remote village into a tourist destination. His life takes an unexpected turn when a beautiful, mysterious American actress, Dee Moray, arrives at his hotel. Dee is seeking refuge from the set of the troubled production of Cleopatra, and Pasquale is immediately captivated by her.
As their relationship blossoms, Dee's secret illness is revealed, and she is forced to leave Italy abruptly. Pasquale is left heartbroken, but he never forgets Dee. The story then jumps to present-day Hollywood, where we meet Claire, a young assistant to a powerful film producer. Claire is disillusioned with the superficiality of the movie industry and longs for something more meaningful.
Intersecting Lives
When Pasquale, now an elderly man, re-enters the story, he is on a quest to find Dee, whom he believes is still alive despite her supposed death decades ago. His search leads him to the set of a film being produced by Claire's boss, and their lives become intertwined. As Pasquale shares his story with Claire, she becomes deeply invested in helping him find closure.
Meanwhile, we learn about the lives of other characters, including Michael Deane, a once-promising young actor who has become a cynical, manipulative film producer. We also meet Alvis Bender, a struggling novelist who was involved in the making of Cleopatra and whose life intersects with Dee's in unexpected ways.
Unraveling the Past
As the narrative unfolds, we are taken back to 1960s Italy, where we witness the events that led to Dee's disappearance. We learn about the sacrifices she made for love and the impact her decisions had on the people around her. We also gain insight into Michael Deane's past and the reasons behind his jaded outlook on life.
Back in the present, Claire and Pasquale's search for Dee takes them to unexpected places, including a remote Scottish island and the desolate Nevada desert. Along the way, they confront their own fears and insecurities, and their journey becomes a quest for personal redemption.
Redemption and Closure
In the end, Beautiful Ruins is a story about love, loss, and the enduring power of human connection. It's about the choices we make and the paths we take, and the ways in which our lives intersect with others' in unexpected ways. It's also about the beauty of second chances and the possibility of finding redemption, even in the most unlikely of places.
As the novel draws to a close, Pasquale and Claire finally find the closure they seek, and in doing so, they also find a renewed sense of purpose. The book ends with a sense of hope, as the characters come to terms with their pasts and look towards the future with a newfound sense of optimism.
How do we create content on this page?
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is Beautiful Ruins about?
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter is a captivating novel that weaves together multiple storylines and spans decades. Set in Italy and Hollywood, it tells the tale of a young innkeeper, a beautiful actress, and a disillusioned writer whose lives become intertwined in unexpected ways. With its rich characters and beautiful prose, this book explores themes of love, regret, and the power of storytelling.
Beautiful Ruins Review
Beautiful Ruins (2012) is a captivating novel that takes readers on a journey across decades and continents, exploring love, dreams, and the pursuit of happiness. Here's why this book is worth adding to your reading list:
- Through its richly developed characters and interconnected storylines, the book offers a multi-dimensional and immersive reading experience.
- Spanning different time periods and locations, the novel paints a vivid picture of the beauty and complexities of life, leaving readers with a profound sense of wonder.
- With its intricately woven plot and unexpected twists, the book keeps readers engaged from start to finish, ensuring that boredom is simply out of the question.
Who should read Beautiful Ruins?
- Readers who enjoy beautifully written novels with multi-layered storytelling
- Those interested in exploring the intersection of love, art, and Hollywood
- People who appreciate vivid and atmospheric settings that transport them to different times and places
Categories with Beautiful Ruins
Book summaries like Beautiful Ruins
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
33 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
Beautiful Ruins FAQs
What is the main message of Beautiful Ruins?
The main message of Beautiful Ruins is the enduring power of love and the impact our choices have on our lives.
How long does it take to read Beautiful Ruins?
The reading time for Beautiful Ruins varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Beautiful Ruins a good book? Is it worth reading?
Beautiful Ruins is a captivating novel that explores themes of love, dreams, and the passage of time. It is definitely worth reading.
Who is the author of Beautiful Ruins?
Jess Walter is the author of Beautiful Ruins.
What to read after Beautiful Ruins?
If you're wondering what to read next after Beautiful Ruins, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susann Jeffers
- Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
- Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
- Carrots and Sticks by Ian Ayres
- Nudge by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein
- Inspired by Marty Cagan
- The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
- Winning by Jack Welch with Suzy Welch
- The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
- The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss