*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Title: Uncommon Type
Author: Tom Hanks
Publisher: Knopf
Publication Date: October 17, 2017
ISBN: 978110194615
Synopsis from Goodreads:
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.
As someone who doesn’t often read short story collections, I was pleasantly surprised by Hanks’ Uncommon Type. I don’t often go for fiction written by celebrities. They are usually highly publicized and are not always known for their strong prose. Hanks’ writing is strong and imaginative, which stands counter to everything I expected. I will admit, I was drawn in by the cover, but I was apprehensive at first about how this book would pan out. Without a doubt, I thoroughly enjoyed every single one of his stories. His writing is nostalgic and often reminisces back to a time passed. It’s a tribute to the analogue, especially the typewriter, which tugs at my heartstrings being a lover of typewriters, record players, the printed word, and so on. His stories have a touch of whimsy and are sometimes fantastical, but they and their characters also often portray reality and are relatable. Hanks’ writing is inviting and warm.
The stories aren’t too in depth, and could sometimes have been developed further. For this reason. I gave it 4 stars on good reads. But I think that the essentials are all there. The characters are endearing, the plots are charming and sometimes sad as well. Tom writes about the human experience. He confronts the past and the present, demonstrating the difference across time, but also the sameness of the human experience.
Overall, this book is well written and worth the read. For one who doesn’t love short story collections, I really enjoyed this book. I would definitely read more fiction from Hanks if he ever chooses to write more.
Worn Pages and Ink 