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book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
The Hunt sisters couldn’t be more different. Olivia is a Hollywood producer, used to first-class amenities and fleeing from any relationship commitment. Maddie lives the life Olivia ran from – still living near their parents in the small town where they grew up, she is happily married to her high school sweetheart. Olivia rages against the obstacles in her path. Maddie approaches life with idealism and optimism. As the novel opens, Olivia has had one disappointment too many and she is crafting her suicide note. But then she learns that Maddie is seriously ill, and Olivia rushes to her sister’s side.
The novel is comprised of a series of letters, emails, faxes, and telegrams from Olivia to her sister, parents, brother, best friend, ex-boyfriend, and a variety of people in her professional life or associated with her sister’s medical care. In this way the reader really gets to know Olivia, her thoughts, dreams, disappointments, what irritates, infuriates, and excites her.
I was pretty irritated with Olivia through much of the first half of the novel. I found her whiny, irrational, quick to place blame elsewhere, and unable to realize her own culpability in various events. But over time I began to admire her spirit, her tireless efforts to rekindle her career, to “demand” a cure for her sister, to try to set things right with her friends, parents, siblings, ex-boyfriend, colleagues, etc.
The novel is comprised of a series of letters, emails, faxes, and telegrams from Olivia to her sister, parents, brother, best friend, ex-boyfriend, and a variety of people in her professional life or associated with her sister’s medical care. In this way the reader really gets to know Olivia, her thoughts, dreams, disappointments, what irritates, infuriates, and excites her.
I was pretty irritated with Olivia through much of the first half of the novel. I found her whiny, irrational, quick to place blame elsewhere, and unable to realize her own culpability in various events. But over time I began to admire her spirit, her tireless efforts to rekindle her career, to “demand” a cure for her sister, to try to set things right with her friends, parents, siblings, ex-boyfriend, colleagues, etc.
babyruth510's review
4.0
I read this book awhile ago but remember liking it quite a bit at the time.
misfitmoxie's review
4.0
I've just finished weeping my way through the last few pages of this wonderful book. It's a beautiful tale of sisters, of course, but much more so of relationships and relating.
This novel counterbalances the falseness and fecklessness of Hollywood with the intensely weighted reality of dealing with cancer in small town middle America. Even more, it blended them into the tapestry of one life, revealing that the frivolity of the one and the despair of the other are intrinsic in every life. Through this it demonstrates that the point is to take the moment, this very moment whether it be as thin as onionskin paper or as rich as flowerless chocolate cake, and appreciate it, live it, go for it. No matter how short or how long the moment is, the life is, it is worth it.
There were moments I wanted to heave this book across the room or into an imagined deep well because, while I'm nothing like the main character, I understood certain aspects of her journey having faced (to a lesser but no less gripping degree) the situation of having a younger sibling diagnosed with cancer. I was compelled to press on and was not disappointed I did.
The struggle with understanding and with faith and with hope while simultaneously attempting to fathom the immensity of the negative unknown, the basic struggle for life and death, and dealing with the mundanity of daily life is a vividly real confusion. It's a battle, trying to feel that what you want and value still actually holds some importance... and that it is really okay to want those things. Still, when you feel pleasure there is an underlying guilt.
Robinson deftly conveys all this with humor and a touch of grace. Her character's growth at times is so subtle it seems impossible, but that is what I appreciate about this work... it mirrors life so well. One day we recognize the change in us, and find we have a long winding road to gaze at, rather than a single moment, in searching for the "when" of said change. I'm so pleased to have had this experience.
I wanted to close with this wonderful quote, "I said hope is neither false nor true but a kind of happiness itself, a fuel that carries us toward our dreams." May we all, in spite of the odds, keep hope alive, feeling it's singular beauty, as we press ever closer to our dreams.
This novel counterbalances the falseness and fecklessness of Hollywood with the intensely weighted reality of dealing with cancer in small town middle America. Even more, it blended them into the tapestry of one life, revealing that the frivolity of the one and the despair of the other are intrinsic in every life. Through this it demonstrates that the point is to take the moment, this very moment whether it be as thin as onionskin paper or as rich as flowerless chocolate cake, and appreciate it, live it, go for it. No matter how short or how long the moment is, the life is, it is worth it.
There were moments I wanted to heave this book across the room or into an imagined deep well because, while I'm nothing like the main character, I understood certain aspects of her journey having faced (to a lesser but no less gripping degree) the situation of having a younger sibling diagnosed with cancer. I was compelled to press on and was not disappointed I did.
The struggle with understanding and with faith and with hope while simultaneously attempting to fathom the immensity of the negative unknown, the basic struggle for life and death, and dealing with the mundanity of daily life is a vividly real confusion. It's a battle, trying to feel that what you want and value still actually holds some importance... and that it is really okay to want those things. Still, when you feel pleasure there is an underlying guilt.
Robinson deftly conveys all this with humor and a touch of grace. Her character's growth at times is so subtle it seems impossible, but that is what I appreciate about this work... it mirrors life so well. One day we recognize the change in us, and find we have a long winding road to gaze at, rather than a single moment, in searching for the "when" of said change. I'm so pleased to have had this experience.
I wanted to close with this wonderful quote, "I said hope is neither false nor true but a kind of happiness itself, a fuel that carries us toward our dreams." May we all, in spite of the odds, keep hope alive, feeling it's singular beauty, as we press ever closer to our dreams.
emmamgregory's review
3.0
An interesting premise, one sister writes letters to friends and family and is able to complete the story. The story itself was just ok.
cait331's review
4.0
Sarcastic and a tad pessimistic, Olivia Hunt is just as flawed as everyone else. But her relationship with her sister, Maddie, and the rest of her loved ones shows that she is a deeply caring individual.
While Olivia may be the older sister, she is constantly learning from Maddie's triumphs and battles, applying some of Maddie's strength and determination in her own life. As Maddie struggles to fight the cancer that has invaded her body, Olivia's own transformation is shown step by step. By the end of the novel, it's obvious that the experience has allowed Olivia to see what's really important in life.
Funny, poignant, and full of wonderful imagery, The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters is a great story that will make you laugh one minute and nearly break your heart the next. I especially loved the way Robinson told the story through Olivia's POV using letters to various individuals in her life. Each letter describes the events in her life in great detail. From giving the hospital director a piece of her mind to telling her ex how much he means to her, Olivia's letters perfectly reflect her personality and feelings toward each situation.
While Olivia may be the older sister, she is constantly learning from Maddie's triumphs and battles, applying some of Maddie's strength and determination in her own life. As Maddie struggles to fight the cancer that has invaded her body, Olivia's own transformation is shown step by step. By the end of the novel, it's obvious that the experience has allowed Olivia to see what's really important in life.
Funny, poignant, and full of wonderful imagery, The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters is a great story that will make you laugh one minute and nearly break your heart the next. I especially loved the way Robinson told the story through Olivia's POV using letters to various individuals in her life. Each letter describes the events in her life in great detail. From giving the hospital director a piece of her mind to telling her ex how much he means to her, Olivia's letters perfectly reflect her personality and feelings toward each situation.
elizareads35's review
4.0
This was wryly funny, realistic yet philosophical, sweet yet sad, frustrated yet hopeful novel. So, in other words, a lot like life. It consists of the written communication by one Olivia Hunt for about a 14 month period wherein she deals with trying to produce her first film, to deal with the major change her long-standing romantic relationship, and to help her little sister deal with a hugely difficult medical crisis. All three different things intertwine in ways that stretch her, break her heart, and prompt her to think about things she never would have otherwise. In the midst of all the chaos, Olivia's voice is smart, real, and darkly humorous; she's someone I would like in real life and I very much enjoyed reading her story.
kandicez's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this. It wasn't sappy about the illness, and I was really interested in her job. A quick, easy read.
brittaya's review
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
Racist and bad. It was boring and at one point the main character refers to an Indigenous woman as “Pocahontas” and “your sq@uw” which is the Nehiyaw word for c#nt. Disgusting. As an Indigenous person I’m just completely done with this author. Ew.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
spahade's review
4.0
I enjoyed this books. It was inspiring and nice to see the main character transition from one way of life to another. I forgot I had read it and picked it up but after reading the blurb it came back to me.
dutchtineke's review against another edition
2.0
Olivia Hunt is self-absorbed, passive aggressive and only seems to be able to take. She's also racist. I had my suspicions that what she said in one part of the book wasn't nice at all, but then she referred to a half-Navajo woman as 'a squaw picking berries'. I had to google the word 'squaw' and Google told me it's considered a derogatory (especially when uttered by white people) indian word meaning 'woman'.
At this point I was done with the book, but I have managed to finish it.
Writing was okay, the main character was unbearable.
At this point I was done with the book, but I have managed to finish it.
Writing was okay, the main character was unbearable.