Beautiful Ruins is a 2012 bestselling novel by Jess Walter. It is his sixth novel.[1] The novel is a social satire critiquing Hollywood culture.[1] Though not the explicit focus of the novel, receiving very little direct appearances in the novel, the characters' lives revolve around Elizabeth Taylor and her role in the movie Cleopatra, and the subsequent love affair between Taylor and Richard Burton.[2]
As Seattle Times critic Mary Gwinn notes, the novel is a social satire which explores human nature and satirizing the Hollywood culture that is at the center of the novel.[1] She writes "Beneath Walter's black comic's mask beats the brain of an ethical philosopher and the heart of a romantic. Not everyone in "Beautiful Ruins" gets what they want. But they do get what they need."[1]
In part, the novel is an epistolary novel, relying heavily on excerpts of letters, screenplays and novels being written by the characters, in order to demonstrate different parts of their characters, and highlight the absurdity of their ideas.[2] Similarly, the novel includes significant leaps of time and geography, with much of the early parts of the novel set in an Italian coastal hotel, but later parts are set in Hollywood; Edinburgh; Seattle; Florence, Italy; Portland, Ore.; Truckee, Calif.; and Sandpoint, Idaho.[2] Critic Janet Maslin describes the novel as "more intuitive than linear, a believer in capricious destiny with a fine, freewheeling sense of humor. The deeply romantic heart of 'Beautiful Ruins' is better expressed by constant circling than it would by any head-on approach."[2]
Critical receptionedit
The novel was well received. Washington Post reviewer Allegra Goodman wrote, "Adept at mixing flavors and textures, Walter whips together dying beauty, enduring love, war-shadowed Italy, haunting landscapes, veiled identity."[3] Goodman compared the novel to The English Patient, noting its relatively strong cross cultural, cross time aspects.[3] Mary Gwinn applauded the wit of the novel's satire, noting how the novel is an "ambitious new novel" which "creates an ensemble of memorable characters and runs them through the Hollywood entertainment mill."[1]
Film adaptationedit
In April 2013, Cross Creek Pictures and Smuggler Films announced a feature film adaptation in the works. Todd Field and Jess Walter were confirmed to be writing the screenplay, with Field set to direct.[4] In November of that year, it was announced Imogen Poots was attached, with filming scheduled to begin in Italy in May 2014.[5] In September 2016, it was reported that Sam Mendes signed on to produce and possibly direct the film.[6] However, in June 2020, Niki Caro was announced as director.[7]
^ abcdeGwinn, Mary Ann (24 June 2012). "'Beautiful Ruins': Jess Walter's dark, clever look at Hollywood entertainment factory". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
^ abcdMaslin, Janet (2012-06-07). "'Beautiful Ruins' by Jess Walter". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
^ abGoodman, Allegra (2012-06-18). "'Beautiful Ruins' by Jess Walter". The Washington Post: Book World. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
^"Todd Field To Direct Movie Adaptation Of Jess Walter's Bestseller 'Beautiful Ruins'". Deadline. 2013-04-08. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
^Kroll, Justin (2013-11-19). "Imogen Poots to Star in Todd Field's 'Beautiful Ruins' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
^Nolfi, Joey (29 September 2016). "Beautiful Ruins: Sam Mendes to produce adaptation, may direct". Entertainment Weekly.
^Vlessing, Etan (June 30, 2020). "'Mulan' Director Niki Caro to Helm 'Beautiful Ruins' for Amblin Partners". The Hollywood Reporter.
^Mander, Lelia (13 August 2013). "Spotlight on a Bestseller: Jess Walter's Beautiful Ruins". HarperCollins.
Further readingedit
Athitakis, Mark (June 16, 2012). "FICTION: "Beautiful Ruins," by Jess Walter". The Star Tribune.
Baker, Jeff (23 June 2012). "'Beautiful Ruins' review: A cannonball splash of irresistible fun". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
Greenblatt, Leah. "Beautiful Ruins". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
"Jess Walter - Beautiful Ruins - Book Review". BookPage.com. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
Trubek, Anne (18 June 2012). "Jess Walter writes a shining, imaginative tale in 'Beautiful Ruins'". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
April 10, 2024
beautiful, ruins, this, article, needs, plot, summary, please, your, words, november, 2020, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, 2012, bestselling, novel, jess, walter, sixth, novel, novel, social, satire, critiquing, hollywood, culture, though, expli. This article needs a plot summary Please add one in your own words November 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Beautiful Ruins is a 2012 bestselling novel by Jess Walter It is his sixth novel 1 The novel is a social satire critiquing Hollywood culture 1 Though not the explicit focus of the novel receiving very little direct appearances in the novel the characters lives revolve around Elizabeth Taylor and her role in the movie Cleopatra and the subsequent love affair between Taylor and Richard Burton 2 Beautiful RuinsFirst editionAuthorJess WalterPublisherHarperPublication date2012 Contents 1 Style and themes 2 Critical reception 3 Film adaptation 4 Audiobook 5 References 6 Further readingStyle and themes editAs Seattle Times critic Mary Gwinn notes the novel is a social satire which explores human nature and satirizing the Hollywood culture that is at the center of the novel 1 She writes Beneath Walter s black comic s mask beats the brain of an ethical philosopher and the heart of a romantic Not everyone in Beautiful Ruins gets what they want But they do get what they need 1 In part the novel is an epistolary novel relying heavily on excerpts of letters screenplays and novels being written by the characters in order to demonstrate different parts of their characters and highlight the absurdity of their ideas 2 Similarly the novel includes significant leaps of time and geography with much of the early parts of the novel set in an Italian coastal hotel but later parts are set in Hollywood Edinburgh Seattle Florence Italy Portland Ore Truckee Calif and Sandpoint Idaho 2 Critic Janet Maslin describes the novel as more intuitive than linear a believer in capricious destiny with a fine freewheeling sense of humor The deeply romantic heart of Beautiful Ruins is better expressed by constant circling than it would by any head on approach 2 Critical reception editThe novel was well received Washington Post reviewer Allegra Goodman wrote Adept at mixing flavors and textures Walter whips together dying beauty enduring love war shadowed Italy haunting landscapes veiled identity 3 Goodman compared the novel to The English Patient noting its relatively strong cross cultural cross time aspects 3 Mary Gwinn applauded the wit of the novel s satire noting how the novel is an ambitious new novel which creates an ensemble of memorable characters and runs them through the Hollywood entertainment mill 1 Film adaptation editIn April 2013 Cross Creek Pictures and Smuggler Films announced a feature film adaptation in the works Todd Field and Jess Walter were confirmed to be writing the screenplay with Field set to direct 4 In November of that year it was announced Imogen Poots was attached with filming scheduled to begin in Italy in May 2014 5 In September 2016 it was reported that Sam Mendes signed on to produce and possibly direct the film 6 However in June 2020 Niki Caro was announced as director 7 Audiobook editAn audiobook version was released in 2012 by Harper Audio read by Edoardo Ballerini 8 References edit a b c d e Gwinn Mary Ann 24 June 2012 Beautiful Ruins Jess Walter s dark clever look at Hollywood entertainment factory The Seattle Times Retrieved 2015 08 04 a b c d Maslin Janet 2012 06 07 Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2015 08 04 a b Goodman Allegra 2012 06 18 Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter The Washington Post Book World ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved 2015 08 04 Todd Field To Direct Movie Adaptation Of Jess Walter s Bestseller Beautiful Ruins Deadline 2013 04 08 Retrieved 2015 11 30 Kroll Justin 2013 11 19 Imogen Poots to Star in Todd Field s Beautiful Ruins EXCLUSIVE Variety Retrieved 2015 11 30 Nolfi Joey 29 September 2016 Beautiful Ruins Sam Mendes to produce adaptation may direct Entertainment Weekly Vlessing Etan June 30 2020 Mulan Director Niki Caro to Helm Beautiful Ruins for Amblin Partners The Hollywood Reporter Mander Lelia 13 August 2013 Spotlight on a Bestseller Jess Walter s Beautiful Ruins HarperCollins Further reading editAthitakis Mark June 16 2012 FICTION Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter The Star Tribune Baker Jeff 23 June 2012 Beautiful Ruins review A cannonball splash of irresistible fun OregonLive com Retrieved 2015 08 04 Greenblatt Leah Beautiful Ruins Entertainment Weekly s EW com Retrieved 2015 08 04 Jess Walter Beautiful Ruins Book Review BookPage com Retrieved 2015 08 04 Trubek Anne 18 June 2012 Jess Walter writes a shining imaginative tale in Beautiful Ruins The Plain Dealer Retrieved 2015 08 04 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beautiful Ruins amp oldid 1216699116, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
