I've been disappointed with Adriana Trigiani's last few novels (although her newest, Very Valentine, looks good), but her first, Big Stone Gap, is one of my favourites.
I've just heard Adriana interviewed on Radio 4's Loose Ends and she let slip some info about the forthcoming Big Stone Gap movie. First of all, Adriana is directing it herself (she is a seasoned movie director as well as a novelist). Ave Maria Mulligan will be played by Ashley Judd. The sexy Jack Mac will be played by the sexy Jeffrey Dean Morgan. And Whoopi Goldberg is taking on Fleeta.
Any Big Stone Gap fans? What do you think?
(If you haven't read Trigiani's Lucia, Lucia, run - don't walk - to the book shop! Or click here!)
Thanks for posting this.
I've never heard of this book or author. I'm a Jeffrey Dean Morgan fan, so if this is actual casting news, I'd like to find out more! I'll have to look into this book.
Posted by: Rhymes | 21 May 2009 at 07:09 PM
Didn't SJP buy the rights? Is she still involved? I loved BSG and its sequel (but didn't like the third one much)and thought Lucia, Lucia was brilliantly evocative and moving (although I have "issues" with the ending) but I don't like this new cover, which is neither here nor there but I thought I'd mention it. Anyway! Ashley Judd's not done much lately and she's a good actress (although she doesn't wow me) and JDM is great. Whoopi will be good if she reins herself in. I just never feel the film does the book justice, so I guess my expectations are pretty low... I'm interested, but not excited. x
Posted by: Diane | 26 May 2009 at 12:14 PM
The cover's hopeless, yes. And the movie's not showing on IMDb so I don't know about SJP. Maybe she's producing it?
Posted by: Keris | 26 May 2009 at 01:34 PM
Yes, I meant as a producer, but I wondered if she was still doing it, and if she'd originally wanted to star (wouldn't really suit her though, would it?)
Posted by: Diane | 26 May 2009 at 07:51 PM
Funnily enough, when I heard the Trigiani interview, I thought, 'Oh, so SJP's not going to be Ave Maria' and then I thought, 'She would be SO WRONG for that part!'
Posted by: Keris | 26 May 2009 at 08:14 PM
Have any of you all actually been to Big Stone Gap? Her books make the people who live in southwest Virginia sound like total hillbillies.
I live in Appalachia, which is just beside BSG and I have attempted to read Big Stone Gap and I cannot finish it. It makes me sick. It is a poorly written peice of incorrect trash.
Posted by: KTbeth2010 | 29 June 2009 at 12:41 AM
No, I haven't been there, KTbeth, but I don't think the books make the locals sound like hillbillies at all. In fact, reading this series improved my opinion of the region, which certainly hasn't got the best reputation (and gets a raw deal in much popular culture, I'm sure you'll agree).
Also, I don't know if you know (or care), but the author is actually from Big Stone Gap.
Posted by: Keris | 29 June 2009 at 02:19 PM
I knew she was from Big Stone, trust me she's one of out local "heroes."
She hasn't been back home to Big Stone Gap in a long time, as you can obviously tell from her books. She messes the geography of Wise County up. She puts a town called Coeburn in the Valley, when in reality its near Wise.
And yes I know where I'm from has a horrible reputation but these books certainly did not help it.
Posted by: KTbeth | 18 July 2009 at 09:30 PM
I found the books entertaining and as an Italian-American I found certain aspects relatable.
Posted by: Fara Storaci | 31 July 2009 at 08:01 AM
Thanks for your comment, Fara. Have you read any of Trigiani's other books? I'd highly recommend Lucia, Lucia.
Posted by: Keris | 31 July 2009 at 08:03 AM