Rating: 
Summary: Art or Life?
Review: First, a clarification: THE TRUE AND OUTSTANDING ADVENTURES OF THE HUNT SISTERS is marketed as a work of fiction and I read it and am reviewing it as such. It's the story of sixteen months in the life of a thirty-ish Hollywood movie producer -- struggling in her job, in her love life, and with her family including a suddenly sick younger sister -- told completely through the letters the protagonist writes during that time.It is an entertaining story, a light and fast read. The format gives it an interactive feel -- there are no transitions between letters, thus readers take a more active role in re-orienting themselves as to time and place and recipient of each letter. The lack of transitions is effectively used to surprise the reader with events that occur between letters. Some of the best are comic surprises, for example when one letter ends with the protagonist insisting she will just absolutely never ever agree to some thing - and the next beginning with her having acquiesced ... the reader smiles knowingly while imagining the details of what led to the compromise. The novel even exposes a little about the work of a producer -- and while watching a movie this weekend, I found myself appreciating the ratio of "covered" to "exterior" locations. I would have liked something more at the very beginning of the story to help me buy into the protagonist's dedication to handwritten letters ... I kept thinking, "why not e-mails?" One answer is because the letters were all dated in 1998 and 1999, when e-mail was still revving up -- but then that made me wonder, "Why specify 1999?" in a novel published in 2004. There was also a reference to paper airline tickets, which felt dated. And the letter format eventually became tiresome. Exhausting, even. It is the ultimate in first-person point of view, and I craved a break from being inside the protagonist's brain, yet kept reading "just one more" and then "just one more" instead of putting the book aside for awhile. Read this novel for its poignant glimpse into life's important relationships, and especially for its entertaining glimpse into the business of Hollywood.
Rating: 
Summary: Funny, poignant, and a fast read
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointment
Review: After reading the reviews, I was looking forward to this book - but to be honest (and I feel a little guilty saying this, since it was a moving topic), I was bored to pieces. The part about the sister battling cancer and her families' reaction was interesting, especially the reactions to the various doctors and hospitals - but even that - especially about the alcoholic father, was formulaic. The part about Hollywood, the letters to the boyfriend, etc, were just plain boring. I ended up skimming much of the book, and was not moved, even at the ending. What is going on with literature lately - poor writing and emotionally manipulative books seem to get this incredible publicity.
Rating:
Summary: The power of letters to tell a story
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: A disappointment
Review: To a large extent this book was a disappointment. While there are some good descriptions, some good phrasing, and a few spots where one feels for the characters, who are so at a loss and pained during a time of crisis-- there are more spots where the phrasing is stilted and even a little stupidly silly (such as when dancers are referred to as jumping around like they have to go to the bathroom). One overall problem with the book has to do with the conviction held by the author/protagonist-- that no job and no life can be as coveted and fabulous and fascinating as that of a life and a job in Hollywood. With this conviction is the continously expressed belief that people who are in pain want to hear about movie stars and movie sets to cheer them up; that one's worth is measured by their proximity to stardom. As other reviews had mentioned, there's something overall self-serving and manipulating in the writing, and this did at times eat away at what could have been a compassionate and heart-rending story. It is overall not a badly told story, certainly a sad story, and one that I wish-- and I feel a little bad saying this-- had been told by someone, anyone, other than Olivia Hunt. Why was it so hard to sympathize with this creature? I also found that the letter-by-letter format took away rather than added to the flow of the story, and that by omitting the voices of others-- which would most likely have provided more sympathy, compassion, maturity, wisdom, and insight-- the true experience of the story was watered down .
I do agree with other assessments that if Little,Brown had not put such a marketing push behind the book, it would not have seen many sales. It makes me wonder about publishing's slowly inching back to more simpleminded styles of writing.
Rating:
Summary: A Stir of the Spirit
Review: On the same playing field as Good Grief, My Fractured Life, and Postcards From the Edge. It is a brilliant and powerful book that will stir your emotions.
Rating: 
Summary: A great read until the end
Review: This book is extremely successful in merging comedy, cynicism, illness, family love and the struggle for meaning in life. The characters are full of flaws and struggles, just like we all are. That is why everyone is so likeable. It is very rare to find women characters in modern ficition that are strong without being obnoxious or unlikeable. The description of Maddie's illness and treatment is so palpable and realistic it is hard not to think about it constantly. Few books can merge so much successfully. However, I feel the book was just cut short at the end and finished too abruptly. I am not sure what I was expecting but I was hoping for a more conclusive ending given the tone and pace set early in the book.
Rating:
Summary: A fun, interesting read with a moving plot
Review: What made this such a wonderful story? The very complex plot. The angle is also intriguing: Olivia who is as self centered as everyone says and suddenly has to put herself aside and deal with her sister's luekemia. I enjoyed reading this for the strides Olivia has to take to try to please everyone. She had a quick-witted sense of humor and cynicism. I thought the most humorous part was the scene in the department store changing room-you'll just have to read it! Good if you are looking for a quick, humorous, emotional, and intriguing read.
Rating:
Summary: sad but not sappy
Review: Heartbreaking but not at all sappy, this story of sisters is smart and funny. Ms. Robinson's cynicism is refreshing. Her take on Hollywood is interesting, and the honesty with which she creates her main character - letting us see her not-so-pretty thoughts - makes this book a cut above.
Rating:
Summary: Didn't live up to hype
Review: I was anxious to read this book. Loved the cover, title and hype, but the book was dull. I stopped reading 20 pages before the end. I didn't care about the characters, the plot was so-so and the prose humdrum. It's a wonder how the author garnered so much prepub publicity. It's hard to believe it had had anything to do with the quality of the book, which was a midlist title at best.
Want to read a book that lives up to some of the buzz? Try GOOD GRIEF by Lolly Winston.
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