Uncommon Type

Uncommon Type: Some Stories by Tom Hanks, 405 pages

Oscar-winning actor and noted typewriter aficionado Tom Hanks authored this charming collection of short stories that all include some mention (either pivotal or passing) of a typewriter. The stories themselves were, on the whole, just what you might expect from America's Dad: not too dark or twisty; the funny ones are full of chuckles, and the serious ones are definitely serious, but not depressing. While his Hollywood cred comes out in a few stories (one of which features a character that I kept picturing as Stanley Tucci), my favorites are two series of connected stories — one series focusing on four friends that travel to Antarctica, go bowling, and orbit the moon; and another series of small-town newspaper columns by an old-school news curmudgeon that reminds me of my journalism school professors. All in all, a delightful collection.