Uncommon Type: Some Stories

by Tom Hanks

A TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR

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 hectic, funny sexual affair between two best friends. A World War II veteran dealing with his emotional and physical scars. A second-rate actor plunged into sudden stardom and a whirlwind press junket. A small-town newspaper columnist with old-fashioned views of the modern world. A woman adjusting to life in a new neighborhood after her divorce. Four friends going to the moon and back in a rocket ship constructed in the backyard. A teenage surfer stumbling into his father’s secret life.

These are just some of the people and situations that Tom Hanks explores in his first work of fiction, a collection of stories that dissects, with great affection, humour and insight, the human condition and all its foibles. The stories are linked by one thing: in each of them, a typewriter plays a part, sometimes minor, sometimes central. To many, typewriters represent a level of craftsmanship, beauty and individuality that is harder and harder to find in the modern world. In his stories, Mr Hanks gracefully reaches that typewriter-worthy level.

Known for his honesty and sensitivity as an actor, Mr Hanks brings both those characteristics to his writing. Alternatingly whimsical, moving and occasionally melancholy, Uncommon Type is a book that will delight as well as surprise his millions of fans. It also establishes him as a welcome and wonderful new voice in contemporary fiction, a voice that perceptively delves beneath the surface of friendships, families, love and normal, everyday behaviour.

• ISBN10: 1785151517
• ISBN13: 9781785151514
• Publish Date: 17 October 2017
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 8 April 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Cornerstone
• Imprint: William Heinemann Ltd
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 416
• Language: English

Reviews

[kiracanread]

Tom Hanks, a global treasure, academy award-winning actor and quite frankly a disappointing author. I love Tom Hanks, and it was a shame I really didn't enjoy this book too much. Even having attended a book signing for this release. I read this quite quickly and there were definitely parts of the book that I enjoyed, but overall the stories just felt a bit lacklustre.

[readingwithwrin]

If you can get the audiobook for this one because Tom Hanks narrates it.

I struggle with short stories especially because I like a full story. But having Hanks read it made this so much more enjoyable and helped me get through this one.

None of the stories really stuck out to me sadly.
My rating is purely based off of the narrator. Sorry, not sorry.


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