I love keeping track of the books I read, to be able to remember them, for one thing! And, also to reflect on the choices, to recommend to others, and to offer myself a warm pat on the back for my self-directed reading program. The total count this year is 58 (8 more than last year)! I am in the middle of 2 books right now, but they will have to go toward 2024’s list, no cheating allowed. 🙂
In 2023, I read more non-fiction (38 including memoir) than fiction. Non-fiction themes included several excellent books on grief, the environment, and memoir (which crossed over into the grief category in some cases). I realized that although I read a lot of poetry, I don’t “count” those on my annual list, because I very rarely read poetry books cover to cover. I pick them up and put them down, and savor poems as individual moments. I will have to post my poetry favorites sometime! I rank everything I read from 1 to four stars and write a one-sentence review, for my own reference. This year, I am designating a favorite book of the year, chosen from the four-star contenders.
For fun, I will make up some other “favorite” categories too:
FAVORITE BOOK OF THE YEAR: No Country for Eight-Spot Butterflies by Julian Aguon. Remarkable, insightful, smart, beautifully written set of essays on climate justice, self-determination, beauty, darkness and hope. It is one to own and re-read. Non-fiction.
FAVORITE MEMOIR ON GRIEF: Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder. Graphic novel about young woman’s mom dying of cancer, a grief journey memoir. Funny, true, loving.
FAVORITE NON-FICTION ON THE NATURAL WORLD: In Search of the Canary Tree by Lauren Oakes. Adventure, science + heart about the die-off of yellow cedar in Alaska. And, since I read so many books in this category this year, I have to add ONE MORE FOUR-STAR RECOMMENDATION: Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Essays on the marvels of mosses, science + spirit + ecology (an older book but new to me).
FAVORITE ART BOOK: A Bigger Message: Conversations with David Hockney by Martin Gayford. Hockney is continually curious, taken by wonder, appreciation and following his own north star. These conversations are illuminating, wide-ranging, and conceptually interesting.
FAVORITE FICTION: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. Multi-dimensional characters, unexpected plot, nuance and enjoyment, with friendship at its heart. A page turner. BONUS FAVORITE FICTION: The Other Name by Jon Fosse. Highly original, resonant, inside a man’s head. Not an easy read but so authentic about painting, friendship, God.
FAVORITE DHARMA BOOK: Cittaviveka – Teachings from the Silent Mind by Ajahn Sumedho. Transcribed from dharma talks, excellent plain-speaking on practice fundamentals.
Listening Discoveries
I must thank Jefferson County Library for the expansion of my musical horizons. It is a delicious treat to literally choose a CD by its cover and then listen to find out whether I like it or not. This year has been phenomenally good pickings, discovering new-to-me-bands that are now on repeat in my studio.
For Christmas I put together a CD mix for my daughter with a lot of these new finds. Lucie and I share a love of good lyrics, bouncy beats, and originality. So here’s the mix – it is not all new music, and some songs carry specific meaning for us (for instance the Paul Simon songs to his children). But it’s some great stuff, so check it out. (Songs listed first, then artist, then album title)
2023: Discoveries Mix
1 Beautiful, Paul Simon, from Surprise
2 Push Come To Shove, Bruce Cockburn, from O Sun O Moon
3 Feeling Of Beauty, Tift Merritt, from Traveling Alone
4 Good Morning You, Built To Spill, from Built To Spill Plays The Songs Of Daniel Johnston
5 Say Yes! To M!Ch!Gan!, Sufjan Stevens, from Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State
6 No Small Thing, Tears For Fears, from The Tipping Point
7 How We Move, The Revivalists, from Pour It Out Into The Night
8 As We Live, The Interrupters Feat. Tim Armstrong & Rhoda Dakar, from In The Wild
9 Treat You Better, Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards, from Bitter Better
10 Downtown Train, Courtney Marie Andrews, from Come On Up To The House: Women Sing Waits
11 Neighbor Song (feat. Madison Cunningham), Lake Street Dive, from Single Release
12 In A Good Way, Faye Webster, from I Know I’m Funny ha ha
13 Hold On, Aimee Mann, from Come On Up To The House: Women Sing Waits
14 Where The Fox Hides, Laura Cortese & The Dance Cards, from Bitter Better
15 Bloody Rainbow, Built To Spill, from Built To Spill Plays The Songs Of Daniel Johnston
16 Change, Sam Baker, from Mercy
17 Wait For The Sun, The Revivalists, from Pour It Out Into The Night
18 Into The Now, Bruce Cockburn, from O Sun O Moon
19 Father & Daughter, Paul Simon, from Surprise
Coming Up
Check out my upcoming classes offered through Northwind Art School!
March 5. Mindfulness Practices for Art Making. A relaxing way to loosen into your art making.
March 9 & 10. Pacific Northwest Abstract. A new variation on my popular Make It Abstract workshop, this one takes you outside, and working from your own photos!
JUST ADDED: Starts February 8.Your Illustrated Life: Sketchbook Journaling Through Grief. Five weekly classes guiding your way with art and writing that reflects your experience. All levels.
AND EXCITING NEWS: I will be teaching a workshop at Playa At Summer Lake, Oregon, in September 2024! “Inspired Abstract Desert Landscapes” is three days of instruction and field work, followed by 2 days of self-directed residency in this beautiful place. You will enjoy sweet lodging (or choose workshop only), a group dinner, studio space, with a community of artists, and the beautiful surroundings of the Playa. Please join me.