Movie Natters: September 27, 2006 Archive

When you don't have a TV

Posted at 3:16 PM on September 27, 2006 by Euan Kerr (1 Comments)

Author Jane Hamilton, hailed by critics for her literary prowess, describes her novel plots as being the stuff of "Monday night movies."

Hamilton came to the MPR studios today to talk about her new novel "When Madeline was young."

She rarely skimps when it comes to raw emotion, blending in a good dose of tragedy and occasional violence. So it surprised me a little when she was non-committal about the movie adaptations of her work. She says she never watched the film made of "The Book of Ruth."

"I knew what happened in the end, and I had lived with her so long," she says. "I just couldn't bear to be in her story any more." She says she doesn't think she will ever be tempted to go back to the film.

She thought the people who made of "A Map for the World" were very earnest and she they had done a good job with the story.

And then there was "Disobedience," the one that got away.

"Somebody from HBO in 2000, or 1999, was interested in it. And I don't watch TV. I had never heard of HBO. I said 'Oh, no. I don't think so.'

At this memory Hamilton threw back her head and laughed with delight. "WHOOPS!"

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