Many thanks to my friends at @aaknopf and @prhaudio for the #gifted copies of this book.  

 

Packed with humor and heart.  Tom Hanks and his charismatic storytelling FULLY charmed me.  

 

I could listen to Hanks ramble on ad nauseum, regaling me with stories, fact or fiction.  He’s one of my favorite entertainers to watch in off-the-cuff moments or interviews.  There’s an energy and quirkiness to him that always draws me in.  

 

The brevity required of his short story collection, Uncommon Type, didn’t allow room for his signature style to shine through.  

 

But in this book, his immense storytelling skills are fully showcased, and this book oozes the quintessential essence of Hanks. 

 

The process of shooting a movie is referred to as “The Blur,” due to the overwhelming nature of details and constant moving parts.  At times this narrative felt the same.  A depth of plot.  A large cast.   A wealth of details.  

 

But the movie director’s motto in Making Another, “Solve more problems than you create,” is apropos of Hanks execution here.     

 

Once I let myself relax into Hanks’ style (a storyteller rather than writer), I found myself lost in the pages, devoted to the Vietnam vet who inspired a comic strip and the subsequent movie the comic strip became.  

 

It’s apparent in his acting that Hanks is an astute observer of life.  But it comes across in his writing even more so.  

 

This immersive story with full bodied characters feels genuine and warm, most especially in those heart wrenching moments.   It’s raw and real and all encompassing.  It’s sentimental and empathetic.   For me, this was a masterpiece of storytelling.  

 

Much like the feeling you get at the end of a truly great movie, I was sad to say goodbye to this story after it had dazzled me so.  For days after finishing, I genuinely missed the comradery Hanks created.  And I’d say that’s a total win. 

 

🎧 TMOAMMPM is narrated by Hanks and a full supporting cast.  The book already exuded his essence, but the audio solidified that.  I combined the print and audio, a fully immersive experience.  Hanks’ performance skills brought the words to life, but the physical book included the comics in which the movie is based.  I’d recommend combing the two formats for a complete experience.