CANDY BEANS' 50 BOOKS READ IN 2015

[CandyBeans]

35. by Carol S. Dweck
Finish date: August 2015
Genre: Non-Fiction; Education; Self Help
Rating: C+
Review: Good content, poor writing. I'm sure that packaging this as a self-help book helps sales, but I was interested in it as an educator. It certainly helped me to further develop my education philosophy, and gave me more tools to use in the classroom.

However, I found the writing to be too simplistic and jumpy. On top of that, I was so sick of sports anecdotes by the end, I nearly gave up on finishing. I would be interested in reading something more robust from Dweck. She certainly hits on important enough ideas.

[CandyBeans]

36. by Hermann Hesse
Finish date: August 2015
Genre: Classics; Fiction; Philosophy
Rating: B
Review: The imagery was beautiful, tough the story was a little boring at times. Siddhartha certainly evolves as a character. I found him insufferable until the last 2 pages, which is really kind of the point. Enlightenment is a journey, not a state, and certainly not a trophy.

It was worth the read, but it didn't rock my world.

[CandyBeans]

SEPTEMBER

37. by Jaleigh Johnson
Finish date: September 2015
Genre: Fantasy; Science Fiction
Rating: A
Review: I try to keep up with books for younger audiences for work, and it can be a little boring. However, I genuinely enjoyed this book. It has a cool story with updates for some classic sci-fi/fantasy tropes. It's not terribly deep, but it explores themes around privilege, integrity, and friendship in a way that is appropriate for the age range.

The big draw for me was that main character is a girl, so it's my new go-to suggestion for kids who want the genre without the Harry Potters or Percy Jacksons. It also has a nice steampunk element, so a mechanically-inclined kid could get interested easily.

by J.K. Rowling
by Rick Riordan

[CandyBeans]

OCTOBER
38. by Elizabeth Kolbert
Finish date: October 2015
Genre: Non-Fiction; Science; History
Rating: A
Review: I couldn't put this one down. It was wonderfully written, and full of fascinating information. Previously, I had not considered myself ignorant about climate change or other environmental issue. I knew that change was both naturally occurring and helped along by organisms. I also knew that we as a species were having a negative effect on many parts of the planet. I also knew that there was a lot that I didn't know.

As it turns out, there is way more than a lot that I didn't (and still don't know). That's where Kolbert shines as an author. She gave a lot of accessible and interesting information without preaching nor condescending. She gave enough to help shine light on a much bigger picture, while inspiring my curiousity and wishing she had said a little more about everything.

This is a great book and I will probably read it again.

[CandyBeans]

39. by Robin Sloan
Finish date: October 2015
Genre: Mystery; Fantasy; Fiction
Rating: C
Review: This was fine. It never really captured me though. The male characters were a bit underdeveloped, and (quelle surprise) the female characters were not developed at all. I could imagine that someone would be tempted to argue that the relationship of the main characters represents a power shift in terms of money and knowledge, etc.

That's fine. The fact is, the main character was dull, and his lady friend was duller.

I did like the book shop mystery idea, and the ultimate premise concerning computer vs. human code breaking abilities. I also liked the inventive ways in which the mystery was unraveled. It was a bit like a Dan Brown book with a less tightly crafted mystery, and more gadgetry.

Dan Brown

[CandyBeans]

Samanta wrote: "Hello, Candy! You are doing great with your format but there are a few things you should add."

Thanks! I hadn't thought of that because as I was typing, I was thinking of the characters themselves, not the books. Either way, the citation still makes sense.

[CandyBeans]

40. by Kay Pranis (no photo)
Finish date: October 2015
Genre: Education; Justice
Rating: A
Review: A good introduction to the topic of circles for problem-solving. It's a short read, and probably a good place to start if you'd like to know how they might be utilized in your community.

[CandyBeans]

41. by Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz (no photo)
Finish date: October 2015
Genre: Education; Justice
Rating: A
Review: Another quick read. This one makes the case for using circle and restorative discipline in schools and other community settings that involve adolescents. I was tempted to dock it for being too shallow, but going deeper is not this book's purpose. Convincing someone to eschew the old ways in favor of something that sounds so soft is a big enough task without going all the way into circle dynamics.

[CandyBeans]

42. by Michelle Moran
Finish date: October 2015
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: B-
Review: Earlier this year, I read Moran's Cleopatra's Daughter, and I really didn't care for it. I gave this one a chance because it fulfilled a requirement for another book challenge, and I was got a free copy from the book bank. I hate to admit it, but I couldn't put it down.

It was a nice break from the heavier reading I was doing at work all day. It wasn't terribly robust, and the characters weren't very well developed, but I was OK with that. I liked the daily life details that peppered the book as well. Moran notes some of the historical facts that she changed, and overall I can't comment on accuracy because ancient Egypt is not my specialty.

It's not great literature, but it does not aspire to be. It's a vacation book and it entertains.

by Michelle Moran

[CandyBeans]

NOVEMBER

43. by Doug Lemov (no photo)
Finish date: November 2015
Genre: Education
Rating: A
Review: This book was an enlightening read and it helped me a lot in my job. What I liked best was that is was full of tools. It told you what to do, and exactly how to do it. I was able to use a lot of it immediately. More importantly, it actually inspired me. I read it over a couple of months, and each time I came away with ideas that I was excited to implement.

It's aimed primarily at large-school leaders (i.e. principals), but I found a lot of the points helpful as an academic coordinator and de facto leader. I imagine I'll return to this book many times throughout my career.

[Samanta]

Thank you, Candy! :)

[CandyBeans]

44. by Brené Brown
Finish date: November 2015
Genre: Psychology; Self Help/Personal Development
Rating: A
Review: I picked this up at the suggestion of a presenter at an education conference I attended. It resonated with me immediately as Brown explained her preference for data and numbers to vulnerable human connection. Further, Brown's writing is straightforward, and inviting. It made it easy to read this book cover-to-cover.

Its value to me as an educator and performer is tremendous. I don't feel much like detailing all of the conversations and thoughts I've had since reading it, but I will say that they have been many. That is certainly enough to recommend a book.

[CandyBeans]

45. by Willa Cather
Finish date: November 2015
Genre: Classics; Fiction
Rating: A
Review: I'm not sure why, but I really enjoyed this book. The writing is lovely. The imagery is so evocative of a feeling ... many have said homesickness, and that's something to which I can't relate easily. Even still, I felt moved by the novel.

[CandyBeans]

46. by Jan Ellison
Finish date: November 2015
Genre: Fiction
Rating: B+
Review: I read about this on some book list this year, and it sounded interesting. I like Ellison's writing here. Something about it made the book seem like a big mystery was afoot, but the only real mystery was the way things were remembered and why Annie thought things happened or felt the way that they did. Further, it moved me along in a such a way that I was dying the know what had happened in the past that Annie would reveal next.

For just a moment I was disappointing in the ending. I felt annoyed that the "mystery" person was obviously who I thought she was. However, she was not the point.

A story well told, I would certainly recommend this book to many.

[CandyBeans]

Samanta wrote: "Thank you, Candy! :)"

And thank you! I appreciate your help.

[Jill]

Great progress, Candy Beans!!!

[CandyBeans]

Jill wrote: "Great progress, Candy Beans!!!"

Thank you! It wasn't until I saw your post that I realized just how close I was.

[CandyBeans]

47. by Michael Dobbs
Finish date: November 2015
Genre: Fiction; Politics; Thriller
Rating: C+
Review: Ugh this book. I enjoyed it. I watched the Netflix show, and the source material did not disappoint for story. The political machinations of Urquhart were more simplistic than I expected though. In fact, he didn't seem to be the main character so much as intrepid girl reporter, Mattie Storin.

And girl reporter she was. This is the sticking point for me, and ultimate reason for the low rating. Mattie is a blond. She has sexy legs, and sexy breasts, and at least twice our attention is brought specifically to her nipples. I had to think at least twice about her panties; I know about her short skirts and tight sweaters; I know that she sometimes leans forward just enough so that the idiot she's trying to finagle information out of is hypnotized into giving up the prize.

She is one of two women in the book who have significant roles to play. Don't worry, the other one also has very sexually appealing breasts.

Even though both of these women have sex in the book, neither is a terribly sexual character. Sexualized yes, but not people with sexual appetites informed by more than their genders. (I'm not even going to get into the Mattie's Dad/Francis thing). Though maybe I ought to be grateful - maybe had Dobbs tried to capture a woman experiencing her own sexuality, I would have ditched the book.

So what about Francis? What kind of underwear does he have? What color is his suit? Is he wearing a suit? Does he have nice abs? What color is his hair? Does he have hair?

Since none of these things will lead a reader to picture a naked woman, I guess we will never know. And hell, some of those are probably answerable, but the information is not treated as important.

It's so dreadfully boring to read about men doing things and women doing things while looking hot over an over. So many writers seize on the sex appeal of the women and don't even bother to try to finesse it into important story detail.

In Dobbs' defense I can say that his male characters are bland enough that I almost didn't care about the above.

This book entertained, and I've spent my whole life putting aside the sort of things I've described above because I know that these books and shows and movies are not for me. However, I won't pursue the series, unless someone can tell me that I'll get more politics and fewer boring stand-ins for sexy encounters.

[CandyBeans]

48. by Malcolm Gladwell
Finish date: November 2015
Genre: Business, Psychology
Rating: C+
Review: There's not much to say. This was a super fast read, and the analysis was fairly shallow overall. The best parts were the discussions of Air Walks' marketing campaign, and of school shootings in the afterword. It was fine, but I wouldn't bend over backwards to read it.

[CandyBeans]

49. by Sally Morgan
Finish date: November 2015
Genre: Memoir; Autobiography
Rating: C-
Review: If this book had been just the transcribed tales of Morgan's family, I would have given it 5 stars in a heartbeat. The untold history of Aborigines is too important to let disappear, and the life stories of Morgan's mother, grandmother, and great uncle were interesting to read.

However, Morgan's writing left too much to be desired. I wanted so badly to like this book, but the style was so bland and meandering. The collection of stories growing up seemed pointless. There were some that hinted at the fact that Morgan's hidden roots had effects on her, but the book still seemed more like a family scrap book that a published work.

If Morgan sat down with a ghost writer, I'd read the whole thing again, but as it stands, readers are better off skipping to the transcribed stories and leaving the rest

[CandyBeans]

DECEMBER
50. by Jonathan Safran Foer
Finish date: December 2015
Genre: Non-Fiction; Food; Philosophy
Rating: A
Review: I have written and deleted multiple reviews at this point. Eating Animals is a literary look at factory farming and its many consequences. It's full of facts about how the practice effects animals - human and non-human alike, and on the environment, and it addresses some of the nuances of what eating animals means to families and communities.

Foer makes the case for vegetarianism, and he accomplishes it without resorting to shock tactics or hyperbole. Some of the excerpts are graphic, and horrifying to be sure, but he presents them as facts, not non-sequitur appeals to emotion, and he doesn't bombard you. (In fact, I was grateful that he spreads these throughout the book because I needed a break from the violence).

What I most appreciate about his treatment of the subject is this: rather than giving you a list of facts that "prove" that you should go vegetarian, he gives you information and asks that you engage with it. He believes that this information is enough that it will inspire most people to act in some way, and so he does not need to argue with you.

In addition to stellar treatment of the content, Foer excels at writing a thoroughly readable book. I couldn't put it down (until I had to because I was so overcome with sadness about what our species is capable of).

[CandyBeans]

I made it! I have read 50 books this year! Well, 51 - I finished a work of fiction on the same day as the 50th that I posted above.

My goal is 55 though, and I'm well on track to making it.

Thanks for reading!

[Jill]

Congratulations!!!! You will make your 55 personal goal with time to spare.

[CandyBeans]

Jill wrote: "Congratulations!!!! You will make your 55 personal goal with time to spare."

Thanks so much!