I read this in one day and it was nothing but a page turner. It’s kind of haunting so perhaps this would have been a better suggestion in October. However, I believe it is set around the winter holidays so maybe it’s the perfect time!
This is one of the best books I read the year it came out— it’s originally in French, and is the first of a quartet, but can be read alone. The elaborate world building is such a satisfying contrast to characters that are hyperreal and it was such a beautiful read; I sat with it a long time after I’d finished, and I think it fits the brief of “blow your mind” very well.
I read this in the summer, and it is absolutely a perfect warm weather read, but I honestly love the idea of revisiting a nice cozy warm read like this in the winter - escapism at its finest. Beautiful Ruins is a love story that stretches across countries and years. You'll find yourself in a small coastal Italian village and bustling Hollywood, and you'll meet an equally varying cast of characters. This really is a lush warm read, and not a very long one.
It was really friendly and I felt very lucky to be so welcomed by a total stranger cat. I tried to see the name on its collar a few times but it was too squirmy. After a few minutes of watching it roll around, I felt that I spent enough time in a strangers driveway laughing at and scratching a cat. When I started walking though, it lazily followed me! I made sure it didn't get too far from where it stopped me and the rest of my walk felt a little lighter. (the mystery kitty)
