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pandaorb's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
No. Nope.
I have a strict rule of putting down a book if I don't like it by 50 pages. Unfortunately for me, I started to get interested in this around page 47, only to quickly lose interest again. For 16 hours, this spectacularly narrated story could only be described as a glacially paced beast meandering between segments that I couldn't get enough of and segments that, frankly, should have been edited out entirely.
I'm working through Wheel of Time. I'm re-reading Stormlight Archives for fun. It is hard to convince me that I don't need any more characters or any more backstory about those characters, but wow, I did not need 90% of the backstory for 90% of these characters. If I hear the phrase "dot dot dot" one more time I will throw the nearest Tom Hanks movie I can find against a wall with all my limited strength.
There was a good story in here, heck, there was even a great story in here! But no editor did Hanks the favor of telling him what to cut so that the diamond would be visible without readers chiseling through layers upon layers of irrelevant character building. Tom Hanks is a successful actor. He should know that the finished product only needs to display the bits of the iceberg that move the story forward, however, he does not exercise this knowledge as an author, instead opting to drop the entire iceberg upon readers in the name of informing them about the reality of showbiz.
Big props to the talented cast of narrators who made it possible to get through this book. It was a pleasure to listen to every single one of you, Mr. Hanks included, but I can't bring myself to have even marginally similar sentiments about the contents of what you narrated.
I have a strict rule of putting down a book if I don't like it by 50 pages. Unfortunately for me, I started to get interested in this around page 47, only to quickly lose interest again. For 16 hours, this spectacularly narrated story could only be described as a glacially paced beast meandering between segments that I couldn't get enough of and segments that, frankly, should have been edited out entirely.
I'm working through Wheel of Time. I'm re-reading Stormlight Archives for fun. It is hard to convince me that I don't need any more characters or any more backstory about those characters, but wow, I did not need 90% of the backstory for 90% of these characters. If I hear the phrase "dot dot dot" one more time I will throw the nearest Tom Hanks movie I can find against a wall with all my limited strength.
There was a good story in here, heck, there was even a great story in here! But no editor did Hanks the favor of telling him what to cut so that the diamond would be visible without readers chiseling through layers upon layers of irrelevant character building. Tom Hanks is a successful actor. He should know that the finished product only needs to display the bits of the iceberg that move the story forward, however, he does not exercise this knowledge as an author, instead opting to drop the entire iceberg upon readers in the name of informing them about the reality of showbiz.
Big props to the talented cast of narrators who made it possible to get through this book. It was a pleasure to listen to every single one of you, Mr. Hanks included, but I can't bring myself to have even marginally similar sentiments about the contents of what you narrated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, and Cursing
Minor: Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, War, Pregnancy, and Racial slurs
ruubarbcrumble's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
womanobsessed's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
pixie_d's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
More than one author is listed. The comic book illustrator gets five stars. Tom Hanks, or more likely a hack ghost writer, leaves a lot to be desired (huge understatement) once the story moves to the present-day plot line. The first two time periods with Robby were fine, however.
amandamillerkelley's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
andreabrightside's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
mrsburg528's review against another edition
I just couldn't get into this book. There was too much going on to follow it clearly. It took me three weeks to get to chapter 3, so I moved on.
sarahjfloyd's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thecurseofchris's review against another edition
4.0
This book is most definitely not for everyone. I can easily see why someone may call this "boring," because I think there is *a lot* of "fluff" scattered throughout the book. But I think there is a lot to like about it too. Tom Hanks managed to take a relatively simple concept (the chronicle of a film being made) and ended up making it surprisingly heartwarming. Had it been trimmed down to exclude some of the more overly detailed passages, I think the book would have turned out better and made the "meaning" of it have more impact behind it.