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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
The author has a wonderful flair with words and descriptive prose but some of the short stories seemed to lack an ending. I mean, obviously they did end, but some of the endings were anti-climatic, with A Special Weekend among the weakest story and ending.
Topics of the short stories mimic Hanks’ known interests: World War II, space (and time) travel, the entertainment industry and, of course, typewriters.
He created newspaper columnist Hank Fiset, who appears in four stories. Hank reminded me of the late Mike Royko’s Slats Grobnik. I didn’t like the device when Royko (a Pulitzer winner for commentary in 1972) used it and it was no more endearing by Hanks.
Topics of the short stories mimic Hanks’ known interests: World War II, space (and time) travel, the entertainment industry and, of course, typewriters.
He created newspaper columnist Hank Fiset, who appears in four stories. Hank reminded me of the late Mike Royko’s Slats Grobnik. I didn’t like the device when Royko (a Pulitzer winner for commentary in 1972) used it and it was no more endearing by Hanks.
Tom Hank's writing style is pretty much how you would imagine Tom Hanks to be in person: lighthearted, witty, thoughtful, and straightforward.
Unfortunately (a couple of stories being the exception), it feels like he primarily wrote these stories for the sake of writing stories on and about typewriters. So while they are the most charming stories you will read; there's not a lot of depth in the stories and some just feel rather boring.
If anything can be said; Tom Hanks is a remarkable writer and specifically in how he writes characters that feel real and authentic and finds optimism in the everyday stuff of life.
But some of the short stories just feel pointless or like a writing exercise your English teacher would give to you for homework.
Delightful? Yes.
Terribly interesting? Not really.
Individual Stories Rating:
4★
1. Three Exhausting Hours 2 1/2 ★
2. Christmas Eve 1953 3 1/2★
3. A Junket in the City of Lights 2 1/2★
4. Welcome to Mars 3 ★
5. A Month on Greene Street 2 1/2★
6. Alan Bean Plus Four 3★
7. Who's Who? 3 1/2★
8. A Special Weekend 2 1/2★
9. These Are the Meditations of My Heart 4★
10. The Past is Important to Us 4★
11. Stay With Us 3★
12. Go See Costas 3★
13. Steve Wong is Perfect 2★
Unfortunately (a couple of stories being the exception), it feels like he primarily wrote these stories for the sake of writing stories on and about typewriters. So while they are the most charming stories you will read; there's not a lot of depth in the stories and some just feel rather boring.
If anything can be said; Tom Hanks is a remarkable writer and specifically in how he writes characters that feel real and authentic and finds optimism in the everyday stuff of life.
But some of the short stories just feel pointless or like a writing exercise your English teacher would give to you for homework.
Delightful? Yes.
Terribly interesting? Not really.
Individual Stories Rating:
4★
1. Three Exhausting Hours 2 1/2 ★
2. Christmas Eve 1953 3 1/2★
3. A Junket in the City of Lights 2 1/2★
4. Welcome to Mars 3 ★
5. A Month on Greene Street 2 1/2★
6. Alan Bean Plus Four 3★
7. Who's Who? 3 1/2★
8. A Special Weekend 2 1/2★
9. These Are the Meditations of My Heart 4★
10. The Past is Important to Us 4★
11. Stay With Us 3★
12. Go See Costas 3★
13. Steve Wong is Perfect 2★
Very impressed with Tom Hanks. I've always really liked his acting and was not disappointed at all by his writing.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
fun stories. I liked how a few kept popping up throughout
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
I read the first two short stories and thought they were fine but didn't really grab my attention so I decided to move on to something else rather than soldier through. A different reader would probably enjoy it a lot more. His writing was fine, the stories just didn't really interest me as much as I was hoping they would.
I suddenly want a typewriter...
But seriously after reading this I now want Mr Hanks to write every book I read for the rest of my life. This collection of short stories is truly a revelation. He writes about time travel, WWII, and the immigrant experience with equal care and talent. Each story, aside of course from those which are connected and continue the same narrative, has a totally unique voice all its own. I have no idea how Sir Tom managed this when there are professional authors who do nothing but write that cannot accomplish this feat. An almost ten year old boy, a newly divorced mother, and a novice actor on his first press tour are all given vibrant, fully realized life at the hands of this Oscar-winner. I mention his “day job” not to undermine anything to but drive home the point that I have no idea how the hell he finds time to be this talented as a writer. I will say I had high expectations for this book, being a fan of his acting and his down to earth personality, and the book far exceeded them. I can’t pick a favorite story because they are all amazing and hit that sweet spot of leaving you wanting more without feeling incomplete. I am hoping desperately that he releases another collection soon. Tom Hanks, regardless of and entirely separate from his reputation as an actor, is a truly gifted wordsmith.
But seriously after reading this I now want Mr Hanks to write every book I read for the rest of my life. This collection of short stories is truly a revelation. He writes about time travel, WWII, and the immigrant experience with equal care and talent. Each story, aside of course from those which are connected and continue the same narrative, has a totally unique voice all its own. I have no idea how Sir Tom managed this when there are professional authors who do nothing but write that cannot accomplish this feat. An almost ten year old boy, a newly divorced mother, and a novice actor on his first press tour are all given vibrant, fully realized life at the hands of this Oscar-winner. I mention his “day job” not to undermine anything to but drive home the point that I have no idea how the hell he finds time to be this talented as a writer. I will say I had high expectations for this book, being a fan of his acting and his down to earth personality, and the book far exceeded them. I can’t pick a favorite story because they are all amazing and hit that sweet spot of leaving you wanting more without feeling incomplete. I am hoping desperately that he releases another collection soon. Tom Hanks, regardless of and entirely separate from his reputation as an actor, is a truly gifted wordsmith.
I made this my November Book of the Month Club selection hoping that when I read Tom Hanks’ words I would hear his voice, which I call the Morgan Freeman effect. Quickly Tom’s voice faded and I could hear his characters portrayed on paper, which is a bigger testament to the quality of Hanks’ writing. I liked the use of inserting typewriters in every story, but sometimes it felt forced and random.