I love Tom Hanks.
Big, Turner and Hooch, The Burbs, Sleepless in Seattle, Forest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, Philadelphia, Cast Away, I have grown up with Tom Hanks. Toy Story, Cars, The Polar Express, my children have grown up with him! He produced my favourite ever TV series (Band of Brothers). I so wanted this book to be good. I so wanted his writing to be as moving, as funny, as heartbreaking as his acting.
But was it?
The physical copy of Uncommon Type (hardback for me) was just beautiful. A gorgeous burnt orange hue with a ribbon book mark, pictures of typewriters at the start of every story (for it was short stories we were dealing with) and the kind of inside cover you wished you could print out and use as wrapping paper. The paperback, a pale pastel blue is equally beautiful and a glamorous edition to any bookshelf.
Each short story features a typewriter, sometime obviously, sometimes a mere slip of a mention. (True or False President Woodrow Wilson used a typewriter in the White House?)
The group were very divided about the stories with not many of us having read all the way through. The main criticism seemed to be that many of his stories were not actually really stories but points or musings. I actually enjoyed this, feeling that short stories can be bold and can be different but I take on board how much freedom Hanks was given in writing this book. Other less famous authors may well not have had the same opportunity.
We were surprised that some of the characters reappeared, a link that I haven't experienced with other short story collections. The group quite liked this and I personally loved how Hanks didn't use it as a way of writing a novella. Each story was totally unrelated despite the repetition of names and faces.
My favourite was story was Welcome to Mars - a title that could be construed in so many different ways: a teenager who is a martian in an adult world; a son who is a martian travelling unexplored ground after his discovery; a surfer trying to conquer the vast unclaimed expanse of sea.
A Special Weekend was just heartbreaking, Stay With Us was heart warming and the sheer range of subjects covered was astonishing. The Group's favourite story was Alan Bean plus four having the bizarre concept of four adults travelling round the moon (not landing!) in a homemade rocket ship. It didn't stand up to any kind of scrutiny yet those that read it went with it and really enjoyed it.
I quickly forgot I was reading Tom Hanks however a few of the group said they couldn't and this worked as both a hindrance and a help. It was easy to see his career influencing his choice of topics: Christmas Eve 1953 - Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers, Alan Bean plus four - Apollo 13, A Junket In The City Of Light - any actor promoting a film.... My career choices certainly couldn't produce such content!
To be honest I think I loved this book before I read it and it would have taken a lot for me to be swayed from that position. (Does anyone else ever get like that about a book?) The group were less so enamoured however when scoring there was a clear 'Team 5' or 'Team 8' divide (of which I of course fell in to the latter.) We went middle for diddle and gave it a collective 6.5.
The link to the book takes you to The Main Street Trading Company a book shop, cafe and deli. Nestled in the Scottish Boarders it has recently been named Britain's Best Small Shop 2018!
Our next book will be Laurie Lee - Village Christmas and Other Notes On An English Life to be reviewed on 13 December.
Bring on the mince pies!
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