Granted I haven't done too much reading this summer, but Beautiful Ruins takes the cake for my favorite read of the summer (thus far). It is one of those quick reads that sneaks up on you with loveable characters and a little bit of heart.
Beautiful Ruins follows various characters loosely linked through a Hollywood Producer a little past his prime. The story jumps back and forth between the 1960s in Italy and the filming of Cleopatra to 1990's London, present day Los Angeles, and beyond. Jess Walter navigates between story lines connecting Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, a quaint fishing village, a rudderless writer, and a frustrated movie developer with ease. Walter manages not only to draw you into a hunt for unrequited love but also allows the reader to watch some of the characters grow up and find themselves (but also offers some that don't). I was pleasantly surprised with the way the book unfolded, and it's a great beach read that won't leave you wanting a little more substance.
I'm still reading this one. It hasn't gone as quickly as Seating Arrangements, but it definitely has more substance and I'm enjoying it!
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