The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters

I couldn't put this book down. I knew what the end would be and it still made me cry when I got there. The novel is gripping, funny, and wrenching all at the same time. It is extremely well-written and the device of using letters to tell the story is innovative. You feel like Olivia is writing these letters to you. I can't say enough nice things about this book. It really is one of the best things I've read lately. I lost a beloved cousin to diabetes last year. She was like a sister to me and her struggle against her disease reminded me so much of what Maddie goes through in her struggle with Leukemia. At times it was just painful to read sections of this book because I identified so intensely with the characters and what they were going through. Elisabeth Robinson has obviously spent some serious time in hospitals and knows what it's like to deal with doctors who are less than caring and the frustration of not being able to do more for someone you love.

The T and OA of the Hunt Sisters is a powerful debut novel, and I'm glad I have a signed first edition. It was the recent selection of the First Edition Club of Book Passage, an iconic bookstore in Corte Madera, CA - and this book is a real winner. The entire book is a collection of letters of wildly varying length from Olivia Hunt to all the various important people in her life: her sister (who is battling with leukemia in Ohio), her ex-lover (whom she still loves, but he's an artist in NM), and her best friend (who is trying to get pregnant). There are tons of short and hilarious, acerbic and sarcastic letters to Hollywood directors, actors, producers, money-lenders, etc., because Olivia wants to revive her flagging career by coordinating a big-budget production of Don Quixote, starring Robin Williams.It's a strange juxtaposition of events that come together during the year plus a few months that these `letters' span, and by the end you care deeply about every single one of the characters. Don't miss it.

The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters is a story of true sisterly love. It'll make you laugh. It will make you cry. It's not sappy. It is strong and real and tender and funny. And it's not just about sisters. It's about one woman's relationship with her sister, her best friend, her parents and the lost love of her life.

I strongly recommend The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson . You know, on first glance it gives the appearance of being a rather trivial book, because of both it's format; which consists entirely of faxes, letters, and emails, which make for a very quick read...and because of the subject matter; single 30+ female tries to produce her first movie and is dealing with assorted Hollywood stereotypes, ex-boyfriend, and sick sibling at the same time. HOWEVER, this book really has some wonderful prose and is much more than a fun page-turner. The following quote from the book (a letter to her ex-boyfriend) was also in a review of the novel. It's an example of some of the beautiful writing which runs throughout this fine book: "Maybe we're all born with a protective mental coating like a pomegranate seed has, an invisible placenta that prevents reality from piercing our tender brains, that allows us to fool ourselves until our last breath, that lets us actually believe that one day we'll be discovered and one day we'll be rich, one day the world will see our hidden genius, that lets me believe that somewhere in the recesses of your sweet heart and hard head you still care for me".If you like this kind of writing, and want to get quickly involved in an interesting, sometimes funny/sweet /sad novel, this one is for you.

Thirty-four year-old movie producer Olivia Hunt is struggling to put together a deal to develop an adaptation of Don Quixote when she receives the devastating news that her younger sister, Madeline, has leukemia. She is stunned because unlike herself Madeline seemed contented with her recent marriage and living in their hometown of Shawnee Falls, Ohio.Olivia begins flying back and forth between visits to her sibling and the Southern California movie industry. On the flights she writes letters reflecting on life decisions she has made. She ponders about the wisdom of choosing a career over love when Madeline's health proves how ephemeral life is. As she considers running off to New Mexico to be with her only true love and while her sister's health deteriorates, Olivia has the opportunity of a lifetime filming Don Quixote in Spain. Will she choose love in New Mexico or sisterly love in Ohio or overseas fulfilling her greatest fantasy?This contemporary work of fiction is a tremendous character driven tale that enables the audience to see deep into the heart and soul of the lead character, and through her also those individuals in her circle. Though clearly a major tearjerker, the tale keeps from falling into a sappy soap by Elisabeth Robinson's skillful handling of Madeline's illness as a focus of activity by friends and family in which at times the same person will do something gallant followed by frustrated selfishness and guilt. Thus the support cast seems very real, but the tale is clearly owned by Olivia, who displays the dichotomous traits of cynical concern that readers will appreciate while empathizing for her sister.Harriet Klausner