Title: Uncommon Type: Some Stories
Author: Tom Hanks
Type: Fiction
Genre: Adult, Short Stories, Contemporary
Imprint: Alfred A. Knopf
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Date published: October 17, 2017
Format: Hardcover
Page Count: 405
Source: Publisher
A physical copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
A collection of seventeen wonderful short stories showing that two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks is as talented a writer as he is an actor.
A gentle Eastern European immigrant arrives in New York City after his family and his life have been torn apart by his country’s civil war. A man who loves to bowl rolls a perfect game–and then another and then another and then many more in a row until he winds up ESPN’s newest celebrity, and he must decide if the combination of perfection and celebrity has ruined the thing he loves. An eccentric billionaire and his faithful executive assistant venture into America looking for acquisitions and discover a down and out motel, romance, and a bit of real life. These are just some of the tales Tom Hanks tells in this first collection of his short stories. They are surprising, intelligent, heartwarming, and, for the millions and millions of Tom Hanks fans, an absolute must-have!
– MY REVIEW –
Whenever I talked about this book to people, or posted images of it on my blog or social media, the comments that I received most often were “I didn’t know Tom Hanks was writing a book!” and “Tom Hanks? As in, the Tom Hanks?!” And this was surprising to me. Why, you ask? Because my reaction to finding out about Uncommon Type: Some Stories was that I had somehow always assumed that Tom Hanks wrote books! Haha!
I’m not sure if my favourite Tom Hanks movie, You’ve Got Mail, is to blame or not, but I somehow always associate Tom Hanks with a typewriter or laptop, typing away. While reading this book, I also heard Tom narrating every single word to me in my head. I might be crazy though…and if you’re completely sane and would like the same effect while experiencing this book, I highly recommend the audiobook version which Tom Hanks narrates himself! I know. Isn’t that great?
The writing itself is quite unique, and you can definitely hear Tom Hanks’ personality come through each written word. So, maybe I won’t be the only one hearing Tom’s voice in my head, after all? As is the case with any collection of short stories, whether they be authored by the same person, or different authors, some are better than others! It should therefore come as no surprise that I enjoyed some of the stories more than others.
Another factor to consider when reading short stories (and I became aware of this when I studied short stories back in high school…and I’m glad that I did, because I was made ready for this book, and others like it) is the undeniable fact that you might not understand a character or be given a description of a character in as in-depth a manner as you would with a full-length novel. Some readers may therefore experience a lack of attachment to all, or some, characters. There is also the chance, however, that you may become attached to a character, and then become upset over only have been allowed to spend such a short time with them. (While I am usually the former type of reader, who will not get attached to characters in short stories at all, I did experience the latter occurrence with a short story by William Gibson, titled “Johnny Mnemonic,” which left me quite distraught.) But back to Tom’s book.
I found this collection of short stories by Tom Hanks to be quite enjoyable overall, and I will certainly be re-reading all of the stories (some more often than others) when the mood strikes me. I think that all who consider themselves Tom Hanks fans should at least pick this book up and give it a try, because they will either enjoy the stories (as I have), while also experiencing a side to the person and the actor… (or if they don’t enjoy the experience of the former, they will at least be left with that of the latter).
– ABOUT THE AUTHOR –
Thomas Jeffrey “Tom” Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is known for his roles in Big (1988), Philadelphia (1993), Forrest Gump (1994), Apollo 13 (1995), Saving Private Ryan, You’ve Got Mail (both 1998), Cast Away (2000), The Da Vinci Code (2006), Captain Phillips, and Saving Mr. Banks (both 2013), as well as for his voice work in the animated films The Polar Express (2004) and the Toy Story series.
– PURCHASE LINKS –
THANK YOU FOR READING MY REVIEW! HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK? WHAT DID YOU THINK? AND IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT YET, DO YOU WANT TO, OR NOT? HOW COME? LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
As a huge Tom Hanks fan I will definitely be purchasing this! I totally get the thinking of him already being a writer he does have a huge collection of Typewriters!!
Yay! That’s so great to hear! And yeah, there are pictures of his typewriters all throughout the book! Haha
He is hands down my favourite actor!! I need this book ASAP!
Yaaaay! Can’t wait to hear what you think!
I guess I didn’t realize this was a collection of fiction. It seems like so many celebrities are coming out with memoirs or personal essay collections, so I assumed this would basically be the same thing. Now I’m actually intrigued, and will be picking this up soon. I’ve been wanting to read more short stories anyway.
Yes! I totally forgot to mention that this felt unique to me as well. I haven’t read any celebrity memoirs or personal essay collections (although I mean to eventually), but yeah I liked that Tom published some short fiction in stead! I hope that you enjoy 🙂
Both Lauren Graham and Anna Kendrick have books that are a bunch of personal essays, and I enjoyed reading both of them. They are both fun women and their voices really shine through. And I absolutely love Felicia Day’s memoir; it is as wonderfully geeky as I expected.
Ohhh yes, I had noticed when both of those books came out, and was very tempted to request them. I am still struggling to read more nonfiction than I normally do, though, and I seem to be having more success with books about food and self help haha.
I’d definitely recommend both ladies books. They are only a couple hundred pages long and they read like you just sat down to lunch with a friend.
Oh nice! I’m really liking shorter books lately.
Or if you like audiobooks, I believe both ladies narrate their own books. Lauren Graham’s audiobook is only like 4 hours long.
Yes, I’d heard that Graham narrates hers for sure! I’ll definitely have to check both of them out 🙂
Yay.
Alright, I’m gonna say it. I had no idea he’d written a book! Just the thought of him writing one makes me want to read it, especially because I can’t imagine what kind of fiction that man’s beautiful mind would create. Totally checking it out.
Hehe there is absolutely no shame in that! I hope that you enjoy it when you end up reading it! 😀
great review and i love the gifs! “you’ve got mail” <3 <3 <3
Thanks so much! And I was going to ask haha “did I fangirl too hard in this one?” Hahaha ❤ ❤ ❤
I have been a fan of Tom ever since his old tv show, ‘Bosom Buddies’. He has always come across as a nice guy.
Oh wow, I’ve never seen that show, but may have to check it out! I think that the first movie that I saw him in was You’ve Got Mail when I was a preteen…or maybe a little younger. I looooove that movie, and recently re-watched it actually, haha.
LOVE your review Flavia! I read it with a smile on my face & will def be audiobooking it. You’ve Got Mail is my 2nd favorite Tom Hanks film with the 1st honor going to *druuuuum roooooll* SLEPLESS IN SEATTLE!!! <3 <3 <3 gahhh! my heart can't take the feels these 2 flicks give me haha 🙂
Thanks so much, Lilly! 😀 And yay so glad that you love You’ve Got Mail too! I couldn’t get into Sleepless in Seattle for some reason…but will definitely give it another try some time 😀 now that I know it’s your fave. And I hope that you enjoy the audiobook! <3
Hahaha okay! I’ll keep that in mind! 😉
Um, yes please! This sounds awesome! It doesn’t surprise me at all because he is such a great actor, and doesn’t he already work in directing movies and such? He is able to portray a wide range of characters so it would make sense that he has writing talent.
Haha right?! He’s such a nice and creative person!
He is quite talented! Did you ever see Larry Crowne?
Not yet! But I will have to see it soon!
So funny!
[…] – My Review – […]