Play Book Tag discussion

This is Tom Hanks first foray into writing. There are 17 tales set in both contemporary and historical times. Quite a variety of themes with only one thing connecting them and that is a typewriter. Sometimes it is a major part of the story and sometimes is sort of just there. As with any collection they vary in depth and pull. I found some enjoyable but not great, but others moved me. As others have mentioned the two that stand out for them also resonated with me. They are Christmas Eve 1953 and The Past is Important to Us. Enjoyable collection.

Christmas Eve 1953 really stood out for me too so far. His narration gave it a deceptively light touch. I wonder if it would be more powerful in print, or maybe not. Did you read it in print?

NancyJ wrote: "Christmas Eve 1953 really stood out for me too so far. His narration gave it a deceptively light touch. I wonder if it would be more powerful in print, or maybe not. Did you read it in print?"

I did it on audio because - Tom Hanks! yes, that story was memorable. I also liked some of the humorous ones, like the first one about Three Exhausting Weeks. And I liked the one with the NY Worlds Fair, not so much for the person's story but the whole evocation of a time when the future looked amazing.

I have this to read also this month. I think it could end up the single most read of the month.

I just pulled up my review and was surprised I rated this book 2 stars. Apparently, I did not like the stories at all, which is shocking because I remember the book fondly. I remember liking the typewriters and I remember liking the writing style. It flowed effortlessly. But I don't remember any specific story.

Does that ever happen to yall?

Jason, I find it harder to remember short stories than full length books. And, at times I remember novels/books differently than when I read them. That's why I like going back sometimes to read my original review.

I remember reading this book, "Uncommon Type," but due to reading it while my husband was having hip replacement surgery, I really could not concentrate on it. I don't remember the stories at all.

The audio improved it a lot for me. If I had just read the stories, I don't think I would have been impressed.

I read the print version and liked the way the story Christmas Eve 1953 developed, leaking out bits of the past and giving a sense of how Virgil and Bud went through the same horrific war experiences and yet had entirely different ways of dealing with life after war. I thought it was powerful.

But then, in contrast, the story A Special Weekend had a great beginning but then just went flat. I liked the child narrator, and the insight into his relationship with his divorced parents. But it came across as he said, then he did, then they said, etc, etc, etc but with little feeling from the narrator; like he was just an observer.

This happens in most collections. Some really strike you and others are not memorable. But I do like reading them. I often come away with an overall feeling for the writing. Whether I will read more of their stories or not. This may be what Jason was alluding to - what you remember over time may be one story or a feeling for a collection as a whole.