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 … 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!
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Expected it to be numerous.
Surprisingly good writing!
Great fun and really good writing. Unique concept. Tom Hanks is da man.
I adore Tom Hanks and would buy anything he wrote or see anything he acted in, however, most of these stories are disjointed and just sort of odd. A few of them are fun, but I expected them to be quixotic, but not so uneven in style and flow. I skipped a number of them midway through. The few that I enjoyed were great.
I am not usually a fan of the short story. I usually find them wanting. With
these stories by Tom Hanks, I was left wanting…more. Each story so full and complete within itself was so satisfying. Each story seemed to me like Mr.
Hanks himself, witty, warm and very intelligent. The unifying element of the
typewriter was thoughtfully woven through each story. Well done, sir. But when do you have time to write? Please find more.
Tim Hank’s is an amazing story teller! Each of these short stories was completely engrossing and enjoyable. I was impressed by how different each story was from all the others! Loved it.
Best book I’ve read in a long time.
It is okay. It is not a page turner, but a nice read to escape from reality. Honestly, if Tom Hanks would have not written this and someone else did word for word, it would not have been given as much press as it did.
SHORT stories. Tom Hanks sure pays attention to details but there is one underlying noun that is used in every story. See if you can find it.
I am not usually a big fan of short stories, so the fact that this collection kept my attention was impressive. The types of stories in this book were varied – from day in the life tales to futuristic ones. Some were sad, some had happy endings, and others were somewhere in between. There was one set of characters that appeared in multiple stories which was interesting. Of course, every story had a typewriter somewhere in it – as a bit player or as a main character. I did like the fact that I could put the book down for a few days to read something else and pick it back up without missing a beat. This book once again proves just how talented Tom Hanks really is. It is a book worth reading.
This book is absolutely amazing. Not only is Tom Hanks a great actor but he has taken his talents to a different realm. The book has different stories all incorporating a typewriter, but they are so much more than that. They are whimsical reads, action packed, funny, relatable, and just make you want to go out and buy a typewriter of your very own. Grear job by Tom Hanks.
I listened to the audio version of this book, because Tom Hanks narrates it. His narration was the best part.
This is a collection of seventeen light short stories. Some do not really go anywhere. Some have endings leave the reader wanting and expecting more. But just the stories, themselves, and his narration, are enjoyable, nonetheless.
I really enjoyed the story that takes place in the future. It is about time travel, and an agency that allows its customers to visit the past on a specific day for 22 hours.
Each story is very different, so there is a wide variety to please everyone.
Tom Hanks is as accomplished and talented an author as he is an actor.
I listened to the audiobook. The best part was hearing Tom Hanks read the stories! I enjoyed a couple of the stories, but short stories are not really my thing. I didn’t love this book as much as I wanted to.
Uncommon Type: Some Stories by Tom Hanks is a book of short stories.
Being absolutely enamored with Tom Hanks, I had to get this book. There were several stories that I loved and some I liked, but none that I didn’t. Tom has a way of telling stories that get your attention, and I could actually hear him telling these stories because these stories ARE Tom Hanks. Overall, this is a decent collection for Tom’s debut.
Besides his love for typewriters, if you know the movies that Tom Hanks has starred in, you will see the resemblance of material, from researching and being immersed in the roles. And while competently written, many of the stories didn’t satisfy or make me want more, except for “A Month on Greene Street.” I could have read a whole novel based on that short story. Uncommon Type is a good read, but not an exceptional one.
The book left me wanting more from Tom Hanks. Highly entertaining, engaging characters.