Beautiful Ruins

I loved this book.  Absolutely loved it.

It's the first book by Jess Walter that I have read (I confess that before I read the book, I presumed that he was a woman).  I will now be reading his entire back catalogue.

I particularly recommend it if you like any of the following: Italy, film, 1960s, writing, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Sub Pop, Cleopatra, sprawling sagas.