The Rosie Project

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, 2013. 292 pp 

A screwball romantic comedy in print,  this hilariously-narrated novel takes place in Australia and  NYC in the not-too-distant past and is full of pop culture references Americans will get. The title "project" begins when the hero, a brilliant geneticist with Aspergers-like personality traits and a dismal romantic history, develops an internet questionnaire to help him find the perfect woman. I don’t know how accurately the book reflects the thoughts and emotions of autism-spetrum persons and their loved-ones, but anyone who’s ever wished for better social and empathic skills, or who enjoys the Big Bang theory, could probably relate to this book.  All characters are likable in their ways and we end up rooting for them and for a happy ending. A quick and enjoyable read.

The Signature of All Things

 The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert, 2013, 499 pp

This really well-written historical novel (by the author of Eat, Pray, Love) describes the life of a brilliant but socially awkward botanist, Alma Whittacre, the daughter of a self-made 19th-century millionaire who devotes her life to the study of moss. Moss may sound dull, but Alma is not. Gilbert so deftly describes her emotional and scientific progression thru various societies in England, Philadelphia, Tahiti and Amsterdam, as well as the colorful personalities (some actual historical figures) who enter her life with dramatic consequences, that her story seems fast-paced. The conflicts Alma faces as a woman, a scientist and a human being of her times are described in such a satisfying way that readers will find they've learned a lot about botany, scientific method and Victorian culture during the course of the book.

Diamonds are Forever

Diamonds are Forever by Ian Fleming, 218 pages

At first I thought I would have to wait a couple weeks to read this novel as our patrons seemed to conspire against me. Despite having four copies of this novel in the system all of them disappeared a couple days before I went looking for them. Luckily I managed to find it in a collection of Bond works.

Having finished the fourth James Bond book by Ian Fleming, I think Fleming has established a theme with card games and gambling. In all except Live and Let Die there have been high stakes card games and or other gambling. In Casino Royale it was roulette and baccarat. Moonraker had bridge and a couple other card games. And finally Diamonds are Forever has horse racing, slots, blackjack, and roulette. Of course Bond comes out ahead on anything involving lots of money.

In Diamonds are Forever James is selected to replace a smuggler and bring some diamonds into the United States for some American gangsters. His escort from the mob is an attractive Tiffany Case. Naturally Bond develops a crush and wants to get her out of the mob business. Throughout this thrilling story Bond travels from Britain to New York and across the United States trying to unravel a multinational diamond smuggling ring. All of this leads to a climatic final that has plenty of shooting and explosions.

There is a movie with the same title, but the only similarities are the names and that Bond goes to Las Vegas.

Storm Surge

Storm Surge by Taylor Anderson, 465 pages

Reading a series of books can be one of the most frustrating things in the world. Not only do the authors always end their books with you wanting more, you then have to wait months if not years before the next book comes out. By then you have not only forgotten some of the characters but you also don’t remember some of the underlying plots. Anderson takes some elaborate means to help jog your memories. Not only does he give an index at the front for handy referencing, he also gives a small bio on each character as he reintroduces them.

Storm Surge continues the story of the USS Walker who, after getting transported to a parallel world, met the Grik and the Lemurians. In this book both sides of the conflict put their newest technological marvels to the test for control over India. Anderson does a masterful job describing both the land and sea battles in such detail that you feel you were there. His likeable characters make you cringe and read faster whenever they are in danger. Overall this series is a must read for those that like military novels with a sci-fi twist.

 Sadly I have now caught up with the series and despite the fact I want to know what happens next, I must wait.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in Words and Pictures by Brian Selznick, 533 pages

Hugo Cabret is the orphaned son of a clockmaker, living in an apartment above a busy Paris train station and surreptitiously winding all of the station's clocks while stealing what little food he needs to stay alive. He also steals some windup toys from a shop in the station, taking apart the cogs and wheels to fix an automaton his father had been restoring when he died. Things get a bit sticky when Hugo is apprehended pilfering a windup mouse, but, in a roundabout way, getting caught opens Hugo's eyes to early French cinema and Victorian-era magicians.

The flap copy on The Invention of Hugo Cabret calls the book "a cinematic tour de force," which seems an odd descriptor for a novel. However, after reading it, I'm convinced that "cinematic" is probably the best way to describe this story. Nearly half of the book's 533 pages are wordless full-page illustrations that keep the plot moving along. None of these images are described in the surrounding pages, making them vital to Selznick's storytelling, and several are parts of series that zoom in from a wide-angle shot to focus on a small detail, such as running feet or Hugo's hands working on clockwork toy; they would almost function as rough-draft animation cells, though with much greater detail.

While Selznick's storytelling style and the focus on the cinematic works of Georges Milies makes this story seem magical, the tale itself is all entirely possible (though perhaps not entirely probable) in the real world. It's a rare book that can do that, and for that reason, The Invention of Hugo Cabret deserves the Caldecott Medal it won. An excellent story for kids, cinemaphiles, and fans of magical realism a la The Night Circus.

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin, Eric Larson

In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin
Eric Larson,  488 pages, 2011


        William Dodd was the first American ambassador sent to Germany during Hitler's rise to power in 1933.  He brought his family with him, and in the next four years they lived in Berlin, bearing witness to Germany's transformation under Hitler.  Dodd worked as a history professor at the University of Chicago beforehand and was not Roosevelt's first choice for the position.  Initially, I was unsure of how engaging this family would be on paper, but I was sure Larson would find a way to make these people a little more compelling.  He did not disappoint in the the slightest.
        
         The Dodds become fascinating in ways I did not expect- The book reads like a suspense thriller where you know the ending ahead of time. We all know what happened after Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, and Larson is able to produce a picture of life inside Germany before all of that.  He gives us a portrait of a family who were imperfect, well meaning, fairly middle class, and naive to a certain point. 

         William Dodd believed that he should live only on his paycheck his post as ambassador provided him, and this immediately set him apart not only from certain ideas of others in the State Department, but also at odds with diplomatic life within Berlin as well. I really felt for him as he fell further out of favor and became more and more alarmed at the Nazi Regime's practices and brutality.  There is a sense of total powerlessness and frustration as he must temper what he says, how he acts, and decides which functions to attend.  His daughter is also compelling, as a young woman who initially believes that the Nazi party was doing productive things in Germany and slowly becomes aware of their violent agenda.  Through lovers, friends, and her father, her perspective shifts radically during her stay in Berlin.

           Disturbing on many levels, In the Garden of Beasts offers its readers a different approach to history, one that hopefully will encourage the reader to investigate and read more on World War II. Great.

          

NOS4A2

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill, 692 pages

All Charlie Manx wants to do is to give children happiness, and what better way to do that than to take them to Christmasland, a magical place where every day is Christmas morning? Seriously, never-ending sweets and games, roller-coasters and no parents... it's every kid's dream, right? But Charlie Manx is a bad, bad man, and Christmasland is his special place for children, so special that only Manx and his vintage Rolls Royce can get to it. Enter Vic McQueen. As a kid, she had a knack for finding things, and if the kooky librarian's Scrabble tiles are right (and they usually are), Vic can find Manx and Christmasland, and hopefully in time to stop Manx from destroying her life and the lives of those she loves.

I've read Hill's Locke and Key graphic novel series (if you haven't read those yet, stop reading this post now and go read them) and LOVED them, so I had high hopes for NOS4A2. I wasn't disappointed. Hill's writing style echoes that of Stephen King (which shouldn't be a shock to anyone, as Hill is King's son), in that it's scary as all-get-out and full of supernatural elements, but with a healthy sprinkle of humor throughout. That's always been what I loved best about King's writing, and I'm glad to see that it's genetic. I also really appreciated Hill's geektastic nods to superhero comics, Firefly, Harry Potter, and, arguably, Doctor Who (c'mon, a gasmask-wearing baddie with mommy issues? Totally Whovian!). Setting aside my fangirl tendencies, Hill also manages to create some great characters in Vic, Bing Partridge (the aformentioned gasmask man), and Vic's son Wayne. I look forward to picking up some more of Hill's novels, though perhaps after I've gotten over the fear of Christmas music prompted by this book.

Moonraker

Moonraker by Ian Fleming, 256 pages

Moonraker is the third James Bond novel written by Ian Fleming. Fleming works hard to incorporate both of his previous books into Moonraker. He mentions the dark tan/sunburn Bond got in Live and Let Die, along with Bonds famous card playing skills from Casino Royale. The book is divided into two main parts each involving a popular millionaire name Sir Hugo Drax.

 In the first part Bond is called upon to investigate a claim of cheating in a bridge game at the elitist gambling club Blades. Much like Fleming did in Casino Royale with the baccarat game, he walks you through the playing of the hands. Despite my minute knowledge on the playing of bridge Fleming manages to make the walk through not only interesting but in a way thrilling. Unlike my learning of baccarat from Fleming in Casino Royale I still have no idea how to play bridge. Bond quickly learns how the culprit is cheating and repays him in kind.

The second part of the novel involves Britain’s first attempt at making a nuclear missile capable of reaching most of Europe’s capital cities. When the head of security for the project is killed at a bar under mysterious circumstances Bond is brought in to make sure the project is not in danger. Bond being Bond quickly finds himself drawn to the attractive Gala Brand and with her help they uncover a plot that could change the world.

Moonraker is the first novel that has given us a deeper understanding of how Bond spends his time. Fleming describes everything from target practice, to chatting with secretaries, and even mundane paperwork at the office. While it was mentioned previously that there are only three double-oh agents at a time, Fleming reveals that the current three are 007, 008, and 0011. It is also mentioned that Bond only makes £2000 a year which seemed very low to me until research showed that in today’s values it would be closer to £300,000.

Overall Moonraker is a good book but is slightly off the pace of Flemings first two. While deduction and skill were heavily relied upon in the first two, this one seems to rely entirely on luck and a blind eye from the government. This didn't make the story less thrilling, just less believable.

More Than This

More Than This - Patrick Ness
472 pages

In the opening pages of More Than This, Seth dies. Then he wakes up. Not in his small Pacific Northwest town, but in England where he grew up. However, things are… different. He is alone, every house and store he comes across is abandoned; even the birds have disappeared. The weather patterns are unusual. There is an unearthly black coffin in his childhood home’s attic. Is he in hell? Somewhere else?

This isn’t Patrick Ness’s first foray into dystopian landscapes; his Chaos Walking trilogy is one of the true stand-outs in the overcrowded YA dystopian fic genre. More Than This is more slowly paced and contemplative than Chaos Walking, but the philosophical meanderings are dotted with enough action and suspense to keep it moving at a steady clip. Ness’s writing is superb as always, but an unexpected (and somewhat irksome) plot twist toward the middle of the book threw me for a loop. I found the Cormac McCarthy-ish bleakness of the first 200 pages and the absolutely stellar cover design (that door is actually a cutout to the title page) to be the highlights of the book.

When I'm Old and Other Stories

When I'm Old and Other Stories by Gabrielle Bell, 127 pages

I first read Gabrielle Bell in the pages of Kramer's Ergot, an anthology now in its 8th volume which I consider the holy grail of experimental comics.  The short excerpt was part of the graphic novel Cecil and Jordan in New York.  This story, which reads like autobiography, takes an amazing turn when the main character, feeling both objectified and paralyzed actually turns into chair!

Later I was amazed to find that filmmaker Michel Gondry adapted this story for his addition to the film tryptic Tokyo!, (which for my money wins hands down over the New York tryptic New York Stories.)  I also enjoyed Bell's addition to the Drawn & Quarterly Showcase.  So, when this book turned up as a possible withdrawal item, I made sure it made it back to the shelf where it belongs (if only to have a chance to read it myself.)

When I'm Old collects Bell's early work which focuses on the trials of youth trying to find its place in the world through jobs, relationships, traveling, art etc.  Graphically and thematically, it's all over the place. You get a sense Bell is playing around with different styles and genres(fairy tale, gothic, slice-of-life) in an attempt to find her voice.  While most of the stories have a rough, zine-like feel, Bell's storytelling abilities, as well as her sharp social observations, are as keen as ever.  And, like any good zine, there's plenty of angsty commiseration that will make you nod your head in recognition.

The Bourne Supremacy

The Bourne Supremacy by Robert Ludlum, 597 pages

In reading Ludlum’s novels I have noticed that his writing style is a step above the average novelist, not only in vocabulary but in his masterful weaving together of the various plots. He is able to take an almost unbelievable story and through his descriptions make you believe that it could have happened.

This is the second book in Ludlum's original Bourne trilogy and like its predicesor was made into a movie starring Matt Damon.

With Bourne Supremacy Ludlum continues the fast paced life of David Webb. David, who is still recovering from the events of Bourne Identity, is once again relied upon to resolve a brewing crisis, this time in Asia. Complicating matters, his wife has been kidnapped and if he fails she dies. As everything spirals out of control Webb must become the man he once was. He must become the legendary Jason Bourne.

The Natural, Bernard Malamud

The Natural, Bernard Malamud, 231 pages

       This is one of the few books I have read lately that has the power to become an instant favorite, immediately. This is a story about second chances with the setting being our national pastime.
      
        Roy Hobbs is picked up to play the right field position for the New York Knights at the ancient age of around thirty-five and almost laughed out of the dugout. He is properly mysterious, doesn't speak about his past, and is adamant about getting a chance to play.  He is hungry to prove himself, which he does once he is given a chance. He has learned from past mistakes- which robbed him of his career before he even set foot in the majors to begin with. 
       
         Written in 1952, Malamud gives us a narrative that could turn into something sentimental, or hokey, but manages to avoid being so. He crafts a protagonist that is willing to sacrifice everything he has worked for because of his integrity, who refuses to give up and fade into the background of middle age. Roy Hobbs is a man with a genuine devotion to the game, who cannot be bought, a man who named his bat "Wonderboy".  Malamud's hero is still relevant today, and isn't all that different than say, Ryan Gosling's character in the film  Drive.  Wonderful book.
           

Hack/Slash, Omnibus 1-5 by Tim Seely, 1500 pages.

Hack/Slash is every slasher movie loving teen's wet dream.  Imagine a combination of Friday 13^th, Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Child’s Play (Chucky franchise), throw in a scantily clad Goth girl with a penchant for violence, copious amounts of blood, and you have the Hack/Slash series.

Hack/Slash follows Cassie Hack, and her disfigured sidekick Vlad, as they travel the world (and other worlds) tracking down twisted serial killers (known as Slashers), and dispatching them in the most gruesome ways possible.  In Cassie’s world, people that die full of hatred and malice return from the dead as “Slashers”.  These recently resurrected creatures have a simple agenda – to kill, maim, and spill as much blood as possible.  And it’s Cassie and Vlad’s goal to put them out of action.  But don’t’ worry horror fans, there’s plenty of blood and entrails, and a healthy dose of terrified teenage girls in lingerie to revel in before said Slashers are put six feet deep.

The series contains nods aplenty to the horror genre, with guest appearances by Jason Voorhees, Chucky, and Dr. West (from the Re-Animator movie), to make any horror fan happy.  H.P. Lovecraft and Chuthulu are also a big influence.  It also stays true to the tried and tested tropes of the horror genre- blood, guts, monsters galore, and sexy ladies making questionable decisions (Nope, you shouldn’t go check out what that noise in the basement was, especially dressed in that see-through baby-doll negligee).

As the series goes on, Cassie and Vlad venture further afield in their search for Slashers.  They visit other dimensions, travel to the future, and make trips to other comic worlds.  The series is crossover heaven, with Cassie killing Slashers alongside Ash from the Evil Dead series, killing monsters in the world of Archie (this issue is even done in the same art style as the Archie comics), and even hunting down a demonic Tinman, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion.

There are some deeper, more cerebral storylines to accompany the gore.  Cassie struggles with depression and her sexuality throughout the series.  Her disfigured partner, Vlad, helps the writers explore society’s acceptance (or lack thereof) of those who may be different than the norm, but mainly it’s just bad-guys, blood, and buxom ladies.

The Hack/Slash series can be a bit heavy on the gore, and might show a little too much skin for some readers (to be fair, this element draws from its inspiration – slasher movies), but for horror fans - these books deliver.  I’m not ashamed to say that the teenage boy in me grinned like a baboon from the first page, to the very last.

Winger

Winger by Andrew Smith, 439 pages

This book is an interesting study. It's an interesting study in narrative, and how we often root for the protagonist of a story simply because he's the protagonist (and in this case, because the book's written in first person), and not necessarily because they're worth rooting for. Let's be honest: for 2/3 of the book, Winger, the main character here, is a largely unrepentant turd who typically thinks, feels, and acts more with his libido than his brain. It's easy to jump to the argument, "sure he makes some mistakes, but at heart, Winger's a good guy!" But is he? Annie is touted as his best friend, but apart from her laughing at his usually-crude jokes, the relationship seems rather one-sided. She seems to legitimately care about him and his well-being, but 9 times out of 10, his mind is more occupied with how hot she is and how jealous he gets at her talking with other guys than it is with anything remotely friend-like. He's routinely a hypocrite, acknowledges he's a hypocrite, and ignores that knowledge so he can keep being a hypocrite. He lashes out at his friends, plays horrible pranks on his enemies, and for the most part, shows no remorse for any of it.

The study goes further though. The story itself is largely about his need to grow out of that mindset - about how, while Winger thinks of "growing up" as getting a few inches taller and having to shave off his first chin hair, it's really about realizing that love needs to go beyond physical attraction, that education needs to go beyond just mindlessly vomiting back what your teacher tells you, and that friendship needs to go beyond surface-level screwing around.

The question becomes: does the book sell that? And that's a question I have difficulty answering. I'd tend towards "yes," but at the same time, the book sometimes feels manipulative. If this book was written from JP's perspective (one of Winger's friends), it could probably be titled "Bad things happen to a relatively decent guy." I just don't know. I'm not sure if I'm rooting for Winger because I believe he's a good person and I want him to learn and grow and win in the end, or if I root for him because I'm as messed up as he is and I associate with some of his worst elements. I don't know if this books an indictment of juvenile thinking or a celebration of it.

I do know this much: Winger is not the most likable character in the story, and the character who is the most likable makes this novel what it is - powerful. Despite my confusion about much of the book, by the end it's hard to argue that. It is powerful.

Live and Let Die

Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming, pages 247

This is the second book in the James Bond series by Ian Fleming. It follows closely after Casino Royale and in fact the casino adventure is mentioned in conversation. Again this book also has a movie of the same title though parts of it, like Leiter being attacked by a shark, were used in other movies.

When I first picked up the book from the Central stacks the theme song from the movie was playing in my head. As I immersed myself in the novel thankfully the song faded and I was able to bring my full attention the Flemings writing. Like Casino Royale, it is quite evident that this novel takes place in the late 50s to early 60s. Fleming spends some time describing how the African American population is just coming into its stride with notable scientists, doctors and writers, but still uses terms such as "negro" and "negress." His portrayal of that community is also very stereotypical.

As far as plot goes live and let die is a fast paced thriller that follows Bond as he tries to uncover and expose the elaborate smuggling ring of Mr. Big. This takes him on a terror filled journey through New York, Florida and finally to Jamaica. Along the way he meets the lovely and mysterious Solitaire who is a prisoner of Mr. Big. With some help from the CIA he confronts Mr. Big in an action packed conclusion that has sharks, a damsel in distress and fiery explosions.  

Harry Potter, books 2-7

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, 341 pages
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, 435 pages
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling, 734 pages
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling, 870 pages
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling, 652 pages
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, 759 pages

Even if they haven't read these books or seen the movie adaptations, most people have at least a passing familiarity with the story of the boy wizard with the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. For those who don't, Harry is an orphan who grows up not knowing that he's a wizard, and that his parents were killed by the most evil dark wizard ever (Voldemort to you and me and Harry, though most wizards can't bring themselves to speak his name). He attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and under the tutelage of headmaster Professor Dumbledore, the strict Professor McGonagall, and the loathsome Professor Snape, Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione fight magical beasts, learn magic, and find out that the power of friendship and love is as good as any magic they can learn at school.

I've read these books more times than I care to admit, though I will say that my copy of book 5 (the longest in the series) needs replacing due to the wear and tear on its spine. The reason I've read these so many times is because they're simply magical, in every sense of the word. Rowling knows how to weave an excellent story, dropping innocuous breadcrumb hints throughout the seven books that, when you reach the series' conclusion, you think, "Duh, I totally should have thought of that." That, I think, is why I keep reading this series.

That said, this is my first re-read after reading The Cuckoo's Calling, a hard-boiled adult mystery written by Rowling under the pseudonym, Robert Galbraith. That was an excellent mystery and showed what Rowling is capable of when not held by the constraints of a young adult fantasy world. For that reason, perhaps, I didn't find this re-read quite as magical as the previous trips through the series. I still love Harry Potter and I'm sure I'll read them again (though you won't find me posting about them on this blog again), but now that there's a fantastic adult Rowling book (The Casual Vacancy was meh, or at least it was as far as I got through it), I'm a lot more keen to see what else Rowling can do.

*I didn't include book 1, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, in this post since I last listened to that on audiobook in August, before this blog started. But I highly recommend starting there, and even if you have read the book, give the audiobook a whirl. Jim Dale reads it, and he's fantastic.

Chainsaw Confidential, How We Made The World's Most Notorious Horror Movie

Chainsaw Confidential, How We Made the World's Most Notorious Horror Movie
Gunnar Hansen  240 pages




              The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of those movies that I own that I do not pull out to watch very often, I find it that disturbing.  That being said,  when I saw this title on the scrolling menu of our catalogue, I was placing a hold on it before I read the summary.  I was mainly curious about how Gunnar Hansen would write about the movie he starred in as Leatherface, one of film's most horrifying killers. 
  
                Gunnar does not disappoint, I will give him that- this was a quick (what I like to call bubblegum) read and held my attention for the duration.  The only exception for me was when he spends a chapter discussing horror as a genre.  The most captivating parts of the book are when he discusses the making of the film. His description of the unbearable Texas heat, their grueling schedule, and  how some of the scenes were shot made me want to dig out the DVD and watch the film again.  Overall, I enjoyed revisiting what really was a notorious film from the man who did not speak one line during the entire film.

Casino Royale

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming, 213 pages

 

Continuing with my trend of books that became movies I decided to read the first James Bond novel by Ian Fleming. Again this is a series of books where I have seen the movies but never took time read the source material.

Ian Fleming has a style of writing that not only drags you into the books; it also makes you understand them. A perfect example of this is the card game baccarat. Before I read this book the only thing I knew about baccarat was that it is a card game. But through Fleming’s description and by having Bond play through a couple hands in the book, I now have a fundamental knowledge of the game.

The one thing that I disliked about the book compared to the movie is the portrayal of Bond. I was expecting a smooth, ladies’ man but instead got a chauvinistic agent whose job comes before all else. Since Fleming was writing in the 50’s I guess it makes sense but it is hard to imagine the Bond on the screen today saying women belong in the kitchen.

Another observation I had is; why do many action heroes/secret agents have the initials JB. Off the top of my head I can think of James Bond, Jason Bourne and Jack Bauer. Is there a reason for this?

Bourne Identity

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, 523 pages

Having seen all the Bourne movies, and seeing the latest Bourne novels on our bestseller shelves, I felt compelled to finally read this book series. I knew the basic premise; Jason Bourne wakes up with no memories and must piece his life together and discover who he is while avoiding all the men trying to kill him. What I didn’t know was how different the book was from the movie. While they both depict a highly trained government agent who has amnesia investigating his past, one has him killing everyone who gets in his way while the depicts him as a confused man who just wants to know who he is and what has happened to him.

Another difference is the style of writing. The movie is a straight out action flick full of shootouts and such while the book is more of a thriller with subtle twists and turns that really make you pay attention. I will admit that both the movie and the book are quite good in their own ways. But having now read the book I now find myself firmly in the “the book is better than the movie” camp.

As a small aside, can anyone tell me why Ludlum choose that picture for the book cover? No where in the book do I recall a seashell and a railroad spike...

Explorer 1 and Explorer 2

Explorer 1: The Mystery Boxes, Edited by Kazu Kibuishi, 126 pages
Explorer 2: The Lost Islands, Edited by Kazu Kibuishi, 126 pages

Kara just blogged about Kazu Kibuishi’s Flight anthology series (see below), but that’s not his only excellent set of themed anthologies!  Kibuishi is something of a graphic novel anthology wunderkind – his Flight anthologies are targeted at a teen/adult audience, and his Explorer anthologies are similar, but are meant for late elementary/middle grade readers.
 

The short stories in Explorer 1: The Mystery Boxes each revolve around a mysterious box.  In many of the stories, the box contains something magical: a golem, a spirit, or treasure.  In other stories, the box holds an alien, or is actually a time-traveling spaceship.

In Explorer 2: The Lost Islands each story takes place on or near an island.  Of course, none of these are ordinary islands; one is inhabited by hard-working anthropomorphic rabbits, while another has been newly formed by an active underwater volcano.

Perhaps the greatest strength of Kibuishi’s anthologies is the variety of stories they contain.  Each author interprets the anthology’s theme in a unique and unexpected way.  The artwork is consistently great and practically every reader is sure to find at least one story they’ll enjoy.