Warner Bros. has just picked up the rights to J. Ryan Stradal’s acclaimed debut novel KITCHENS OF THE GREAT MIDWEST, which made waves this past summer following its July release. Out from Viking/Pamela Dorman Books, the quirky read became an instant NY Times bestseller and one of the most hotly-read books of the summer. Our sources confirm that the studio only just acquired the foodie hit and no producers are on board yet. Chantal Nong and Cate Adams are shepherding this one, with the intent to go a edgier route rather than a One Hundred Foot Journey-type.
The Tracking Board reported on the book‘s availability this past August, though it’s clear why it didn’t remain on the market for very long. The delectable read debuted t0 immediate praise, with commendations from outlets such as Entertainment Weekly, The Guardian, People Magazine, NPR, The Washington Post, LA Magazine, Library Journal, Kirkus, The Skimm, Oprah.com, Bustle.com, BBC.com, and countless others.
An Amazon “best book of 2015” and NY Times Book Review Editor’s Pick, Stradal’s unique, funny, and engrossing story explores how food brings together community and creates a sense of identity. The novel centers on a young woman with a “once-in-a-generation” palate who becomes the head chef and shepherd of the country’s most premier and exclusive underground dinner spot, raised to appreciate the flavors of her hometown and of the importance of good food by her father.
Winner of the 2014 Best Novel award in the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition, Kitchens spends each chapter focusing on a single dish and character, capturing an endearing spin on foodie culture and the zeitgeist of the Midwest.
Though Kitchens is his first novel, Stradal has also worked in television and film, serving as senior story producer on hit reality series Deadliest Catch and Ice Road Truckers, as well as an associate producer on Chad Hartigan’s feature This Is Martin Bonner.
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