1.  In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette by Hampton Sides, 1//12/2023, 5 stars.  This is a great read based on the jounals and notes left behind by the captain of the ship.  Awesome.

2.  Marc Chagall by Howard Greenfeld, 1/29/2023, 5 stars.  Wonderful book with many examples of the author's work.  I so enjoyed this read.  It was written with love from the first page to the last.

3.  Growing Pains: The Autobiography of Emily Carr by Emily Carr, 1/3/2023, 4 stars.  Interesting memoir by Canada's premier artist.  Written in simple language with short chapters.  Chronicles the development of her art career.   A most entertaining read.  I liked it. 

4.  A Writer's People: Ways of Looking and Feeling by V.S. Naipaul, 2/7/2023 3 srars.  The author traces and discusses for the reader the early writers that he read including his father, offering insight about those whose work affected his own.  On the fly leaf the book is described as "part meditation, part remembrance, as elegant as it is revelatory..."  

5.  The Lantern-Bearers and Other Essays by Robert Louis Stevenson, Jeremy Treglown, DNF,  "happy thinking"

6.  Grant Wood and Marvin Cone: Artists of an Era (Iowa Heritage Collection)  by Hazel E. Brown, 4 stars, 2/11/2023  Grant Wood section has many tales and incidents as the author tells the story of his life and his link to the people around him.  Marvin Cone's section seems less complete, perhaps because he chose a different life, most often as an art teacher. 

7.  Concerning the Spiritual in Art by Wassily Kandinsky, 3/3/2023, 3  stars.  Discusses how painting relates to music.  Certainly, discussion of color and form use by artists helps one understand Kandinsky's approach to painting.  Applies these ideas to the works by other artists.

8.  My Brother, Grant Wood by Nan Wood Graham, John Zug, Julie Jrensen McDonald, 4.5 stars, 2/12/2023  Warm wonderful biography written by Grant Wood's sister.  Love the detail and her comments.  They were very close and she served as his model for some of his paintings, including American Gothic.

9.  Erik Satie by Rollo H. Myers, 3+ stars, 2/20/2023.  Satie was an eccentric individual whose composing ventured beyond the music of his time.   A fantasy lover and one whose humorous references to himself, his music and other composers, he was said to be a forerunner of modern music.  But I agree with one reviewer who said, "It helps to have an excellent understanding of late classical music from 1850-1920."  Nevertheless, it's a most interesting read.

10.  Willa Cather: A Memoir by Elizabeth Shepley Sergeant, 2/26/2023, 3 stars, 2/25/2023, witten by Ms. Sergeant who was a close friend and includes some of her own life which was disappointing to me.  However, I had not realized how much Ms. Cather traveled and how many artists she collected as friends.  Her books certainly improved with the insight she gained throughout life.

11.  Letters to Milena by Franz Kafka, 3/10/2023, 4 stars.  Kafka writes interesting and romantic letters to Milena.  Enjoyed his thoughts, ideas, lively descriptions and emtional reactions.  

12.  Winslow Homer in London: A New York Artist Abroad, 1881-1882 by David Tatham, 3/18/2023, 3 stars.   Author takes a close look at Homer and his time in England.  While he can document some of his time in London much is speculation based on his personality and work habits.  What I loved most was seeing photos of two of his wonderful paintings:  "Hark, hark! The Lark" which I enjoyed more after reading the author's explanation and "The Life Line" which reached out to me without knowing anything about it.  It's so moving.

13.  Lady Sings the Blues by Billie Holiday (this copy not in systerm), 3/20/2023, 4 stars.  Life for her was so difficult.  Not only was she Black but she was naive and taken in by others who took her money and marred her reputation.  Nevertheless, her fans loved her.

14.   Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer, Monique Gray Smith, 3/24/2023, 4 stars.  Fascinating read about how to live with the earth rather than on it.  Take only what you need.  Pass the first, take no more than half at any time and give thanks to the plants for sharing.   Love the discussions about strawberries (heart berries), sweetgrass and cattails.  Good read.

15.  Turning the Feather Around: My Life in Art (Midwest Reflections) by Margot Fortunato Galt, George Morrison. 3/26/2023, 4+ stars.  Fascinating story as the author talks about his artistic life.  His most famous comment is probably that he "was an artist who happened to be an Indian."  He loved his art but acknowedged that he could not support himself and his family with his art.  For many years he worked in a friend's frame shop and as his fame grew was often recruited to teach art at various colleges and universities.  As one reads this book one can easily follow the growth of his career and how his art changed with education, experience and exposure to the ideas and work of other artists.

16.  Modern Spirit: The Art of George Morrison by W. Jackson Rushing III, Kristin Makholm, 4/3/2023, 4 stars.  A wonderful book with many full color plates of the author's artwork.  Especially loved the last section which detailed his life not only in art but with his family and friends.  Kept a book mark in the plates section so I could quickly look at the artwork referred to in the text.  I did find the references to which pieces might have been prompted by another artist's work or influence tedious at times but the book is well worth the read.  

17.  A Time of Gifts: On Foot to Constantinople: From the Hook of Holland to the Middle Danube (Travel Library) by Patrick Leigh Fermor, 3 stars, 4/30/2023.  An interesting chronicle about a walking tour across Europe including historical notes and comments about the people and places the author encounters.  Interested in architecture, historical buildings and churches are carefully described.

18.  Rosie : My Rufous Hummingbird by Arnette Heidcamp, 4/9/2023, 5 stars.  What a beautiful book!  Lots of lovely photos of Rosie and the blossoms she visits.  And, the story is so much fun to read.  So dedicated to saving these important little birds who are precious to our environment.  Not many people I know would go to the extent that Heidcamp goes to creating an environment and food for the hummingbirds she that enrich her life so much. 

19,   Over the Top and Back by Tom Jones, 4/22/2023, 4 stars.  Very interesting autobiography.  Tom Jones was born and raised in a Welch mining town.  School was difficult as he has dislexia which was not recognized.  Family was very important to him.  As his career blossomed he talks about the songs that he sang that helped him become recognized as well as those he missed that sent others into the charts.  I liked it a lot.

20.   It Takes a School by Jonathan Starr, 5/15/2023, 4 stars.  A story about developing, building and operating a school in an undeveloped country that has been ravaged by war.  Suspicion and distrust of foreigners plagues the teachers and the founders creating dangerous and chaotic conditions.  Purpose of the school is to provide education for the young to become future leaders of the country.

21.  Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution by Nathaniel Philbric, 7/2/2023, 4 stars.  Fascinating tale about both  the British and the colonists as the conflict between the two accelerates.   Some of the actions by both not only increased hostilities but seemed inappropriate.  In addition, there were internal issues on both sides.

22.  The Book of Joy by LAMA;TUTU, 8/1/2023, 5 stars.  This wonderful book by two of the greatest spiritual leaders of our times is one to keep on the shelf to pick up whenever life seems overwhelming.  How does one find joy?  By sharing with others.  By forgiving but not forgetting because some people think forgiving authorizes their behavior.  Instead,  they must be held accountable.  Joy discusses how these approaches enhance one's life and improve both physical and mental health.  

23.  Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World's Largest Owl by Jonathan C. Slaght. 8/31/2023, 5 stars.  Had neve heard of fish owls until I happened upon this book.  What a fascinating bird and a fascinating tale told by a scientist who is devoted to the preservation of this rare species.  Excellent read.

24.  How to Speak Dog: A Guide to Decoding Dog Language by Aline Alexander Newman, Gary Weitzman, 9/6/2023, 3 stars.  A quick fun read about how to interpret dogs'  body language, sounds and actions.  Complete with pictures and little notes about various breeds and when to call the vet.

25.  I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown, 919/2023, 3 stars.  Thanks Margaret for recommending this book.  It was like stepping into the shoes of a black woman.  Sometimes she was very angry and rightfully so.  Have seen someof the same issues with our Native American population in SD.  Even our governor is racist about our Native Americans and Hispanic populations.  Looking for the companion piece bu having trouble finding a copy.  Will keep trying.

26.  The Many Lives of Mama Love: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing by Lara Love Hardin  Wow!  What a read.  It was good to read a book about someone who became addicted to drugs and how they found their way out of it and made a positive new life.  In spite of her education she fell into the trap of using drugs.  So glad she was able to rise above it all and do what she was meant to do.  Looking at her book on forgiveness now.

27.  The Book of Forgiving The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World by Desmond Tutu, Mpho Tutu, ISBN 9780062203564, is a book that explores forgiving, what it means and how to do it.  Whether someone has wronged or you have wronged someone it's hard to know how to deal with it.  Some issues last for years.  Some never get solved.  But change can occur for both individuals if one tries.  And, yes, it may all change and a new friendship or love can evolve.  It doesn't mean one forgets but one realizes that both can move on and create something new.

28.  Words Are My Matter: Writings on Life and Books by Ursula K. Le Guin, DNF.  Not what I expected at all.

I didn't see this before, but went looking when you mentioned it in the TBR Too Long swap.

I've read these books so far:

1. It Was Me All Along: A Memoir Author: Andie Mitchell This was very readable and I even went further to take a look at the author's blog.
2. Breathe: When Life Takes Your Breath Away Author: Angela Burgin Logan, Samson Logan This wasn't the best writing ever, but the story was interesting.In some ways it was like an infomercial on insisting that your doctor listens to you.
3. The F*ck It Diet Author: Caroline Dooner Yet another Diet book that gives me some tips, but I don't trust the main idea. This one is based on Health at Any Size, which has some good points, but I'm not giving up on losing!
4. I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness Author: Austin Channing Brown I greatly appreciate this book for the insights into life as a Black woman. 
5. Doing Nothing Is No Longer an Option: One Woman's Journey into Everyday Antiracism Author: Jenny Booth Potter This one shares a story that was in the previous book but from another person's perspective. The two together are great. 
6. Simply Jesus : Experiencing the One Your Heart Longs For (LifeChange Books) Author: Joseph M. Stowell This is a tiny book but with some good points. 
7. A Marriage Made in Heaven: Love, Tragedy, Faith, and Recovery âAuthor: Cynthia Ukah 3 stars, generous maybe. I wanted to love this because a portion of it is set where I grew up, and indeed I really enjoyed reading the author's descriptions and impressions of where I grew up. The story is interesting. However, it could really have benefitted from a better author. The was so much jumping around time wise that it made the memoir more difficult to read.
8. Lean Body, Fat Wallet: Discover the Powerful Connection to Help You Lose Weight, Dump Debt, and Save Money Author: Ellie Kay, Danna Demetre 3.5 stars. This is one of the better books I have read on physical and financial health. I liked the ideas about habits that apply to both kinds of health. I didn't learn much that was new to me, but I will apply some of the ideas to my life.
9. The Mercy Prayer: The One Prayer Jesus Always Answers Author: Robert Gelinas 4 stars. This book was a very quick read and had some very interesting things to say about the mercy of God. I learned a lot and am trying some of the applications.
10. I Can't See God...Because I'm in the Way: Getting Beyond Self-Centered Religion to a Passionate Faith (ConversantLife.com®)
    Author: Bruce Bickel, Stan Jantz 4 stars. This book took a long time to read because it was very thought-provoking. It had various ways we block ourselves from God, each with a chapter and some illustrative stories, along with some guidance about combating these tendencies. I put it on my list to read again sometime.
11. Nobody Wants Your Sh*t: The Art of Decluttering Before You Die Author: Messie Condo. 3.5 stars. This is an irreverent take on Swedish Death Cleaning, encouraging the reader to deal with their stuff before the heirs are forced into an unpleasant job. I found it motivating, and there were a few good ideas about how to deal with certain categories of stuff.
12. Seduction of the Lesser Gods Author: Leslie Williams 4 stars. The subtitle for this book is Life, Love, Church, and Other Dangerous Idols. This tells more about what is in the book. The author focuses on how these things, love, life, church, etc. Can become gods in our life if they become more important than Christ to us. Yet because they are good things it can be vey easy to put them at too high a priority in our life.

Goal met for the year, but I will keep reading!

1. It. Goes. So. Fast.: The Year of No Do-Overs Author: Mary Louise Kelly I enjoyed this quick read. Some of it was so like my life! I want to try some of her fiction now.
2. If God Is In Control Why Is My Life Such A Mess? Author: Michael Youssef The author used stories about the prophet Elijah and stories from his life to illustrate principles of Christian life. I learned some things.
3. When Jesus Was a Green-Eyed Brunette: Loving People Like God Does Author: Max Davis The book had some good insights about living in a Christlike way. The stories were engaging, and over the course of the book, I felt gently nudged to do better. I really liked the quote from Gene Edwards about how reading the Bible is not the one true method of becoming more Christlike.. especially since it is relatively recent that people could do so.
4. Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race Author: Debby Irving I learned so much from this book! The author candidly shares how she started as a clueless do-gooder and grew to understand ways she was benefiting from being part of the dominant White culture and what she could do to truly make a difference in the area of racism.
5. Don't Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy to Your Life Author: Anne Bogel I learned a lot from this book too. It was written well, including illustrative stories, and I especially liked the way she encouraged taking small steps and to consider the outcomes of a choice as the outcomes of an experiment, so you can use the results, no matter what they are, to inform your next choice, instead of considering it a failure if the choice doesnt seem optimal in hindsight.
6. You Will Not Have My Hate Author: Antoine Leiris, Sam Taylor (Translator) This was almost a poetry book, with each chapter almost a free verse essay, shedding light on the author's thought processes as he coped with losing his wife to a terrorist attack and resolving to move forward in a positive way with his toddler son, not limiting their lives by hating the terrorists.
7. Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks Author: Annie Spence This was a different kind of book! The author is a librarian, and she writes letters to various books, thanking them for what she learned or explains why they are being culled, etc. I would have enjoyed it more if I had known more of the books. But I did end up adding a few books to my "want to read" list.
8. Finding Your Way through Depression Author: Pam Rosewell Moore This book is a bit dated, but there is still good content. This author was the assistant to Corrie ten Boom for the last several years of her life and she is a good author. In the 90s she found herself struggling with depression, and based on her personal experience she has advice for Christians and churches in the area of depression. Much of the book deals with what a Christian with depression might face such as the misconception that a person with depression must have some sin in their life, but I thought the most helpful part of the book was her advice to others on how to show love effectively to a person with depression.
9. Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear Author: Jinger Duggar Vuolo, Corey Williams I really liked this book. I was impressed by how the author did not turn away from all of her childhood beliefs when she realized some things she had been taught were false. Instead, she carefully evaluated what she had been taught, rejecting contradictions and keeping truth.
10. Paperback Crush: The Totally Radical History of '80s and '90s Teen Fiction Author: Gabrielle Moss This book was a nostalgic fun look back at some of the series I read back in the 80s and 90s, though I was surprised at how many I was not familiar with.
11. Wild Things: The Joy of Reading Children's Literature as an Adult Author: Bruce Handy I enjoyed this book a lot, though I was surprised by some of the books the author chose to discuss and some of my all time favorites that were left out.