Uncommon Type - Tom Hanks - 3 stars

[Kelly]

Tom Hanks has written a collection of short stories where he makes most of the characters seem like real people. His writing is straightforward and easy to like. Hanks is a typewriter fan, so in the stories one often shows up.

A bowling story featuring Steve Wong was one of my favorites in the book. Wong only wants to bowl for fun, but has become somewhat of a reluctant bowling celebrity. In another, an immigrant comes to NYC on a ship and chooses to stay in the city. We see him struggle to get his first job. A special story was of a young boy with divorces parents. He spends a weekend with his mother and goes back to the town where they all lived before the divorce. He sees things are not the same.

[Joni]

I love Tom Hanks. I guess I will have to add this one to my TBR.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks for the review, Kelly. I had thought about using and Audible credit to buy this but am having second thoughts. I wish all the stories had been related to Mr. Hanks personal experiences; that might have been more interesting.

[Jgrace]

I checked out the audio edition from my library (overdrive). The stories were charming and I enjoyed having Tom reading to me. :)

[Anita]

Hmmm, I have this out from the library now, but not sure about rushing to get to it. I have a lot of other reading priorities, and it sounds like it was good, not great.

[Ellen]

I am listening to this at the moment and while I think I may end up giving it 3 stars, I see your point, Kelly. Most of the stories have no endings or point to them. I do, however, truly enjoy listening to Tom Hanks read them.

[Jgrace]

I think the stories are primarily character studies. I loved the characters, although I agree that they didn't have conclusive endings. They were entertaining.

[Jason]

I agree that the stories didn't have endings, which is okay. Our lives don't have endings until we die and even then the story goes on. But these snapshots didn't really have any conflict save a few. There was no climax to the story and these snapshots seemed too ordinary. Then the crazy space travel story. The time travel was my favorite. (it does have an ending). And the type writer grew old and a labour. Fantastic writer no doubt. I wish I could find him speaking about this book to maybe understand it or his thoughts better. I couldn't though.

[Jgrace]

:) We'll agree to disagree. In fact thinking back over these stories, I'm thinking I might use an audible credit so I can listen to them again. I did hear an interview about this book, maybe CBS Sunday Morning?

One recurring theme in some of the stories had to do with divorce and broken families. If you know about Hanks early life that makes sense. But, I liked that none of those stories felt hopeless. Other than that I wouldn't look for deep meaning in these stories. It's entertainment.

[Anita]

Jgrace wrote: ":) We'll agree to disagree. In fact thinking back over these stories, I'm thinking I might use an audible credit so I can listen to them again. I did hear an interview about this book, maybe CBS Su..."

Hmmm, I am interested in the subject of divorce and broken families . . .very torn.

Jason, do you normally like short stories? I feel like they are a very different art form, and are often a little offbeat and not to mainstream reader taste. But I also recognize that "no conflict" or no desire is an issue in any storytelling.

[SouthWestZippy]

Ok, you talked me into giving this one a try so, on my TBR mountain it goes. I could just sit and look at his picture all day so holding a book he wrote, will do also. :0)

[Jason]

Anita, yes I like short stories and essays. I like Shirley Jackson and enjoyed John Grisham's Ford County. I greatly enjoy Mark Twain essays and also David Sedaris.

I did not listen to the audio book on this one and I had to force myself from one story to the next. The stories have great premise and then they end and I had to asky, why this story. It was okay. I repeat some of the best writing I've read in a long time.