Today we’re starting the next book in The Bestseller Code 100 challenge, Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walker for Book Beginnings on Fridays.
Book Beginnings is a fun meme hosted by Rose City Reader blog. To participate, share the first sentence or so of a novel you are reading and your thoughts about it. When you are finished, add your URL to the Book Beginnings page linked above. Hope to see you there!
Beautiful Ruins* by Jess Walker
Summary: Touted both as literary and a historical romance, Beautiful Ruins follows the lives of five people, including Pasquale Tursi and a young movie star named Dee Moray, who meet by chance in an Italian village. Years later Pasquale comes to Hollywood to find her.
First Sentence:
April 1962
Porto Vergogna, Italy
The dying actress arrived in his village the only way one could come directly — in a boat that motored into the cove, lurched past the rock jetty, and bumped against the end of the pier.
Discussion:
I like how it introduces a character, setting, and tone all in one sentence.
Have you seen this book? The font is unusual in the paperback version. It is incredibly tiny and the text runs right to the edge of the page. It may be challenging physically to read this one.
Have you read Beautiful Ruins?
Does the look of the page change your enjoyment of a book?
Hi!
Yes, I like how it introduces everything all in one sentence, too. Very clever.
Love the picturesque book cover, too! I’m intrigued.
Here is my choice for this week: http://bit.ly/2FHVPqf
Have a wonderful weekend, with lots of reading time!
Luv Sass x
Ah, yes, reading time is something to be coveted.
I have this one on my TBR. It looks absolutely gorgeous!
Come join us read it, if you’d like.
Maybe a trip to Italy on the horizon?
I’ve been eyeing this book for a while. Great opening lines! Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog.
I featured this book on my blog several years ago. Like you, I appreciate knowing the setting, character, and tone right away. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I did.
By the way, I don’t remember the copy I picked up from the library having the printing issues you mentioned. Yes, a book’s physical appearance does affect my enjoyment of it somewhat. I’m also turned off by errors–spelling, usage, grammar. Am I picky? Yes!
My Friday post features Before We Were Yours.
Sandra,
Thank you for letting me know. I’ll look for your review.
I read this book a few years ago with one of my book clubs. It wasn’t my favorite read, but it has a lovely setting and some interesting characters.
I found that I’ve learned something even from the ones I didn’t enjoy as much. Takes me a bit longer to get finished, though.
This sounds lovely and melancholy at the same time. Enjoy your weekend and happy reading 🙂
Jo-Ann
That cover is beautiful! 🙂
It does make me want to travel. Have you read the book?