May is already over and it feels like time is moving so incredibly quickly. It's early June, and so I'm getting together the nerdy things I loved in May and sharing them with others, recommending a few nerd-tastic things to anyone who is interested. Let's get into my favorite nerdy games, shows and books of May 2016! GamesFallout 4: Far Harbor DLC - PC
Far Harbor brought so much new stuff to the table, I'm very impressed. I'm also relieved because it felt like I ran out of content in the base game way too quickly. Despite the lack of content, Fo4 has been my favorite game this year, and I am happy to have such amazing new content to explore in this world. The visuals, music, and atmosphere are my favorite parts of this content, but there are a multitude of awesome things about it that I won't spoil for anyone who hasn't gotten to play. Just know that if you're wondering whether Far Habor is worth the 34.99 it costs on Steam, my answer is yes. Pokemon Shuffle - Android
You start by battling Pokemon using the puzzle pieces, before you’re given the chance to catch the Pokemon and use them to battle and catch Pokemon in the following levels. You’re rewarded with level ups, new Pokemon, expert levels, special levels, and the ability to Mega Evolve. I highly recommend this game as a fun time waster and enjoyable way to get your Pokemon fix on the go. Be advised, it does require internet connection to play. Sailor Moon Drops - Android
That is not even mentioning the beautiful power ups that are included, the free wallpapers you can collect for your phone, and the satisfying sound effects that make the completion of a level feel like an adorable chibi-celebration. I can see myself playing this game until I utterly can’t stand it anymore, then playing it a little more just for the novelty of Sailor Moon official content. Thank you, Bandai, for your contribution to my nerdy satisfaction. Movies/TVDeadpool
Star Wars: Clone Wars
The animation and visuals are well done, and the humor is exactly my sense of humor. Everything in the show is canon, because it’s made with George Lucas, and it’s got a really similar vibe to the movies without trying to be an extended Star Wars movie. It’s family friendly, which I think is also a plus, but it’s got a darkness and a depth that I think really makes it enjoyable for anyone. The abundance of strong female characters is a definite positive factor when it comes to my enjoyment of media, so I really appreciate the positive female role models they’ve inserted in Clone Wars. And some of my favorite characters are so well performed and generated in this iteration of the Star Wars universe that I'm falling in love with them all over again. If you're a Star Wars fan who is not sure whether they should give Clone Wars a try, I think this is a show that can't be missed. And if you're new to Star Wars, I think you'll be able to enjoy this series as well. 5 stars, two thumbs up, new favorite. BooksDaughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor
Zombies: Encounters With the Hungry Dead - John Skipp
So those are my nerdy favorites for the month of May! I'm definitely going to be loving these things for a long time. I've found some really top shelf favorites to add to my repertoire this month, and I am really excited to see what I'll be loving by the end of June.
Leave a comment down below, it would really help me out! Let me know what kinds of nerdy or even non-nerdy things you've been loving in May, I'd be excited to know about them. Until then, read on! Tru~
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I love buying books. It's possible that buying books and seeing them all shiny and new on my shelf is almost as satisfying as actually reading those books. Not quite, but almost. That being said, I'm not a rich person and I don't have a tonne of money to spend on books. Books become more expensive as time goes on, and just like that, all my money is gone. One of the great things about books is that they're often sold second hand. This means that I can find titles I love for inexpensive prices and buy even more when I shop! Another great thing about books is that, like most things, you can buy them online. When I can put those two wonderful things together and buy thrift books online, I'm one happy book collector. So today I am going to share with you my favorite book buying websites, some of which you've probably heard of, all of which are useful to someone like me, who devours books almost as quick as she can buy them. www.thriftbooks.comI love this website. I think it's safe to say that it's one of my favorite websites of all time. There are many things about this website I love. For example, their shipping is pretty quick. They ship from the location that is closest to you so that the books come sooner. And they ship worldwide, so that's exciting for international buyers! Their website is also incredibly user friendly, with a plethora of search refining options, which allow you to narrow down your shopping selections and find new books that might interest you. Another great thing about this website is that they have a lot of purchase options. You're able to choose what condition you want the books to be in; new, good condition, acceptable, etc; and from there you can select paperback or hardcover, and choose which price you'd like to pay. Out of all the websites I've shopped on so far, this one is the easiest and most pleasurable to use due to their website functions, wide array of books, ease of use, and clean bold appearance. I can always find the books I'm looking for and I rarely pay over 5 dollars, even for newer and more popular titles. Highly recommend! www.bookoutlet.caThis is another great website that I can scarcely believe is real, as it seems too good to be true. This website has both an amazing amount of search refining options and the most exciting deals I've seen online. I've found books for a dollar on here that were both popular titles and in great condition. If you catch Book Outlet on a sale day, you could get an armful of books for the price of one new hardcover at Chapters. My only concern with this website is that their stock is limited, so if you don't purchase immediately you might come back and find that title gone already. As long as you shop when you can spend your money right away, you are going to find some amazing deals on some must-have books. I can't recommend this website enough. www.bookdepository.comBook depository is a pretty good website, you can definitely find some good deals here which are less expensive than what you'd find at a store. The wonderful thing about this site is that all shipping is free and they ship to a lot of different places. So if you're interested in getting new books on sale, this is a great place to shop. You can normally get around 2 or 3 dollars off your purchases, and they have a tonne of best sellers to choose from, including special editions and box sets. Even though this isn't the cheapest website, it's got a lot of great deals, and it's a good place to consider shopping if you're looking for a new copy of something special. I would like to point out that this company is a part of Amazon, so if you're not interested in supporting Amazon, you might avoid shopping here. But if you love Amazon and you're interested in getting a good deal, this is an excellent place to start. www.abebooks.comAdmittedly I haven't used this store much myself, only a handful of times, really. However, I've found that it's an excellent place to purchase books online which you might have a hard time finding anywhere else. Signed copies, first editions, and rare collectibles can be searched for and purchased here. So despite their prices being higher than the other sites I've mentioned, this is a great resource for the true book collector who is searching for that certain special something that you can't quite find anywhere else. Another great feature on this site is textbooks! You can purchase textbooks at this online store, some for 70 or even 80 percent off the original price. What's better than a cheap textbook bought online you ask? A cheap textbook bought online with free shipping! Free shipping is apparently available for textbook purchases, which is great for students who are tight on cash and need their books to be a more reasonable price. All in all this is an excellent website for specialty needs, I recommend it for that. So this has been my list of current favorite book buying websites. Just a disclaimer before I sign off, I'm not affiliated with any of these sites, nor do I gain anything from you using my links. I am merely a busy book buying bee looking to share her love of collecting with others and perhaps spread the word about some great websites and awesome deals.
Happy book shopping, readers! ~Tru xo Writer’s Gym has helped me in so many ways and I am grateful to have picked it up. This review is intended to share the benefits I have discovered, in hopes that maybe it can be helpful for you as well. The best thing about this book is that there are articles throughout where real writers share their experiences and lessons. They are invaluable and fascinating pieces of work. To get insight into another writer’s creative process is especially useful when they’re sharing it specifically to teach you how to get better. At the end of the articles there are exercises that are meant to help you become more skilled in your craft. This book has exercises that are useful for writers at any level. Whether you've been writing for months or years, there are projects and tips that will be useful for you. I’ve done a number of the training exercises that occur inside this book and I have found that my writing has improved. Also I have also found that these exercises serve as fun project warm ups. Sometimes before I begin writing I feel a little stiff, like I need to get my creative mind juiced up before I start into the meat of what I’m working on. Having a book like this which I can flip through to find a warm up exercise has improved my creative process and allowed me to become more efficient and more effective when writing. I highly recommend this book to any writer who sits down at their keyboard feeling like they need to get their juices flowing before they write. Another great quality of this book is the recommended reading at the end of each chapter. The books that are listed inside are not only informative and useful, but genuinely entertaining and important. I am the kind of person who loves to have books I can read to become more knowledgeable and more skilled. Inside Writer’s Gym, there are many different suggested titles that are helpful and insightful for the aspiring or experienced writer. It’s awesome to have a book like this nearby when I am looking for my next informational purchase. Also it builds trust in the writer knowing that she lists other reputable titles that I might be interested in. At the end of the day, I feel this is a companion book that I will be turning to indefinitely. I can see myself going back to these exercises and articles time and again, no matter how much experience I eventually acquire. When you’re an artist, there’s no end to the journey to become better at your craft. Having a piece of literature like this beside you is an incredible resource which can inspire you and help you become the best you can be. I give this book 10 out of 10, because I don’t see myself ever truly putting it down. If you’re like me and you desire to become a better writer, I highly recommend this writer’s companion as your next purchase. It's time again to start thinking about my reading goals for the month, and I have a very ambitious pile this April. Usually I read about 4 books a month, but I like to have a slightly heftier pile, just in case I'm not in the mood to read some of the things I've chosen. I have 6 books to share this month, and I'm going to review my favorite at the end of the month. It's exciting to have a bunch of worlds awaiting exploration, I can't wait to see which I like best. Interview With The Vampire - Anne Rice
This is the first novel in the Vampire Chronicles, and I am certain that many of you are well acquainted with this series by Anne Rice. This book is a favorite of mine and since it's been a very long time since I first read it, I believe it deserves a re-read. My goal is to complete the series again this year, I can't wait. I'm excited to revisit the characters in this series and fall in love with them all over again. The Drawing of the Three - Stephen King
At the beginning of this year I was introduced to the Dark Tower series through a randomly selected graphic novel purchase. When I first read the graphic novel, I have to admit, I thought it was a little strange. Despite the strangeness of the graphic novel, I decided to investigate the novel it was based off of, and the story ensnared me. I was pulled in by the dark and brooding Roland, the strange and mysterious setting, and the vivid writing style. After reading the first installment, I went out right away and bought the second. This April I will definitely be getting to this one, as I am highly anticipating the continuation of this story. Writer's Gym - Eliza Clark
I have already started reading The Writer's Gym this month and so far it's amazing! There is so much to learn from this book, the exercises range from refreshers that most writers are probably acquainted with, to new and interesting ideas that will excite your creative center. This is a book which every writer needs to pick up and read through at least once. City of Glass - Cassandra Clare
This book has sat on my TBR for 3 or 4 months in a row, I still haven't gotten around to reading it. I am aiming to finish this series by the end of the year, but I can't be sure if I'll be in the mood for it. I really enjoyed the Shadow Hunters series when I read the first book, but so long after finishing the second one, I'm feeling hesitant to continue. Fingers crossed that I will get to it, but it's not at the top of my list. Nexus - Ramez Naam
This is the book I am currently reading and so far I love it. It is exactly the sort of book I love, a future science fiction novel with twists of dystopian. I'm only 10% of the way through and I am already hoping there will be more in the Nexus series soon. If you love sci-fi and dark fiction, this might be for you. Golden Son - Pierce Brown
Last year I finished the first novel in this series, Red Rising, and I had the same sort of experience as when I read The Gunslinger from The Dark Tower series. At first I had a hard time getting into it because it seemed a little odd to me, and the writing style threw me off. But once I got used to that, I discovered the wild ride that is the Red Rising series. The first installment became one of my favorite books of the year, I can't wait to continue to hop back on this ride in April. Despite the possibly over ambitious size of my TBR this month, I am over joyed at the sight of it. I can't wait to dive into these appetizing tales of intrigue and suspense - as well as some essential learning - and stuff my imagination up with some delicious brain food. Want to share your TBR for this month? Post the titles in the comment section below and show me what you'll be digging into for the month of April! Keep on reading, bookworms! - Truly xo
This year I have been nominated for something called the Liebster Award, which I hadn't heard of before the beginning of this week. After some internet research, I discovered it is something like a YouTube tag. A YouTube tag is a video where you answer questions about a certain topic or yourself, and at the end of the video you tag other people to do the same thing. It helps promote their vlogs as well as your own, which creates a sense of community and fun. When I discovered this was a similar idea, I was so excited! I love YouTube tags, and to be able to do something like that with the blogging community is an awesome opportunity to be a part of something I really enjoy.
Thank you to the blogger who nominated me, Annie from Annie's Perception, I appreciate the nomination and I humbly accept. Rules: 1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog 2. Answer 11 questions you have been asked 3. Nominate 11 bloggers for the award (Or however many you can find) 4. Ask them 11 questions of your own The cool thing about the Liebster Award is that the blogger who nominated you asks 11 questions, and after you answer them, you get to make up your own eleven questions. It's fun to see what kinds of things people are curious to know, and also all the different answers and perspectives people offer. Time to answer some questions! 1. What is the main purpose of your blog?: The main purpose of my blog is to have a place to put the things I want to say and the things I want to create. I want to share my personal life lessons and experiences with others through writing blogs as well as fictional creations. 2. What do you like the most about the blogging community?: Everyone is really supportive, and there are a lot of ways to share your content because of that. A good number of people in the community like to help support and share other people's creations, and that kind of support goes a long way to helping everyone to be successful. 3. What would you say is the biggest achievement in your life?: Overcoming the darkest moments in my mental health journey has been my biggest achievement so far. 4. Would you like to become famous?: I'm not particularly interested in paparazzi and the idea of people prying into my personal life, so that part of fame doesn't appeal to me. But it would be of great value to have a platform on which to launch personal projects that make it easy to reach a large number of people at once. I am working toward building a platform like that, it takes time and effort to get there, there's no overnight success. 5. What is your favorite series and why?: That depends if you mean television or books. My favorite television series changes so frequently, but I do have a few core favorites. Friends, Sailor Moon, The Simpsons, That 70's Show, Undergrads, Clone High...The list goes on. But currently I have been really enjoying Bates Motel and Black Books, which are utterly different but equally brilliant in their own way. My favorite book series isn't anything cliché, like Harry Potter, though Harry Potter is a modern day masterpiece. It's actually a tie between The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer and The Gunslinger series by Stephen King. I have a lot of favorite books and beloved books that don't fall into the series category. Maybe I will make a blog post about my favorite books soon. 6. What plant would you describe yourself as and why?: I would love to say I was something mystical and magical like a tree - old, wise; a statuesque silhouette on a midnight hill, being pulled along lightly by the mysterious fresh-earth scented wind. But I am probably more like cactus or something, kind of prickly on the outside, soft on the inside. And able to store water for times when water is scarce...Or something like that. 7. Do you have a goal in life? What is it?: Yes, my goal is to become an independently published author, a prolific writer, blogger, and a helper of others. 8. What is your favorite tool that helps you get viewers?: Well, people will want to read your work more when it's good and plenty. Which basically means that if you put out a lot of quality content, people will naturally gravitate toward your work, and word of mouth will get you a long way as well. But since I am relatively new to taking this work seriously, I've been making use of Twitter quite a bit. I have grown to really enjoy Twitter and Instagram actually, I think if I could work as a social media consultant or something, I'd be quite happy. 9. What are 11 facts about you?: Oh gosh, 11 whole facts? Okay... 1.) I have naturally brown hair, but on my old license it didn't label any specific hair colour because I dye my hair so many colours that there was no point in labelling it. 2.) I have been writing since I was 6 years old, although mind you my stuff wasn't good back then - I don't know how good it is now, hopefully better than when I was 6. 3.) I have had a lot of pets in my life, most of them rodents, only one dog. I don't think I will ever be ready to have another dog, I already had the perfect one. 4.) I am incredibly introverted, which is why writing suits me, but self-marketing can be hard. 5.) I really love salsa con-queso. 6.) Coffee is my life blood. 7.) Reading is one of my most important hobbies because I am an only child, so I was alone a lot when I was a kid. Books were my way of enjoying imaginative adventures when I was at home, which made being an only child a lot less boring and lonely. 8.) I love yoga. 9.) I am addicted to gingerale in all forms. 10.) Videogames are my other passion, besides writing and books. 11.) My first big birthday present was a SNES as well as Super Mario All-Stars when I was 4 years old. I played that game until I was--I still play that game actually... 10. What would you do right now, if you'd have the chance to do anything in the world?: Travel all over the world writing books and blogs, eating good food, meeting amazing people, taking pictures, seeing sights and generally living life to the very fullest extent possible. 11. What are your pet peeves?: When people bump into me and don't say excuse me. I'm from Canada, and we're pretty polite, so it can really irk me when someone doesn't say excuse me when they knock into me. Rude people of any kind really seem to peeve me, so a lot of my pet peeves stem from stuff like that. But in general I am pretty laid back, so even when I get peeved, I'm not often one to make a big deal about something. Life is too short! My nominees list is a little short, because I couldn't seem to find any more people to nominate in time for this post, but that's okay! Make the tag your own and make sure you have fun, that's what really matters. Nominees: - Lyndsey Parker from www.nailpixi.blogspot.co.uk - Manisha Garg from www.zarahatkeblog.wordpress.com - Nikki Rowley from www.justnikkixoxo.blogspot.co.uk - Harjeet Kaur from www.anecdotesofmylife.wordpress.com - Sarah Mugar from www.passioneasesah.wordpress.com - Krysti Hirst from www.krystijaims.com Thanks again to the person who nominated me! I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the blogging community, and I can't wait to see what answers people give to my 11 questions! Here are the questions I'd like to ask! 1. What is your favorite thing about blogging? 2. What is your most memorable experience? 3. What is your favorite stand-alone book or movie? (Not part of a series) 4. What is your most important value? 5. What country would you most like to travel to? 6. What is your ultimate goal for your blog? 7. What is your dream job? 8. What element from the periodic table are you most like? 9. What is your favorite colour? 10. What do you wish for most in life? Post links to your answers and questions on social media! Link it on the Facebook post in which you were tagged, or post to #LiebsterAward2016 so I can take a look at all your answers. Enjoy the fun! -Truly Cinder By: Marissa MeyerSynopsis: "Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future." This best seller was on my TBR list for way too long before I picked it up a couple of months ago. As soon as I saw this title pass through my GoodReads recommendations, I knew I needed to read it, as the synopsis alone has my name written all over it.
Cinderella is of course the main story arc that this book imitates, and although the similar themes and characters are obvious to anyone who is familiar with said fairy tale, this book definitely takes that story and shapes it into something unique in itself. I have never read anything quite like this imaginative tale before, and even previous to finishing this first installment of the series, I knew this book was going to be a new favorite. If you love fairy tales, magic, mystery, sci-fi, romance and fast paced development, this is definitely a book I would recommend for you. The book starts off by dropping you in the middle of a futuristic New Beijing, and right from the get-go you're pulled into an intriguing universe and enchanted completely by the rich characters and layered storytelling. I wasn't sure how good the writing in this novel was going to be, since this is Marissa Meyers debut work, however I was pleasantly surprised by her talent and I can't wait to read the rest of the series. This novel garnered an overall rating of 9.5 from me, and that is definitely a rave review. I am not the kind of person who normally reads books over again - I like to read things once and move on - however I could actually see myself reading this book again, which seems to me like a bit of magic all on it's own. Storytelling: 10/10 Characters: 9/10 Themes: 9/10 Entertainment: 10/10 Overall: 9.5/10 My final thoughts - would buy again - this is a sci-fantasy lover's dream that will keep you immersed in thought about the story long after you've closed the book. Happy reading! Tru~ Today is a big day for TruBeauty; it is a day when, with the help of my amazing supporters, we reached the 100 like milestone on the TruBeauty Facebook page. To some this may seem like a small feat, maybe something unimportant, but to me it is a symbol of my passion and what I have been able to accomplish with my life's work.
Pride fills my heart as I realize that I really can make possible any dream that I hold, any goal that I want to accomplish. I know that as long as I work hard enough, and I dream big enough, magic can work in it's own mysterious way and bring to life my vision. Despite this being one rather small beginning milestone of a long and arduous journey, it is representative of everything I hope to accomplish in the coming years. I am so happy and so deeply grateful for the opportunity to experience this success. Though I am proud of what I have begun, I know that I couldn't have done it without my supporters. My amazing friends and family who have never left my side; my wonderful followers and readers who have decided to take the time to like my page, or read my reviews, helping me reach other people in the world. And last but not least, I couldn't have done it without my haters and the people who have discouraged me - I am grateful for these people too, because without them I may not have learned how to be as strong and grateful as I am. Now that I have reached this milestone, it's my turn to give back to the people who have helped me to take this leap forward. So to the people who have assisted me in getting the ball rolling, I have decided to reward you with a giveaway. This giveaway will take place on my Facebook page as well as here on TruBeauty's website. It will be a small hair care giveaway to show my appreciation to everyone and everything that has gotten me to where I am today and helped me discover my passion and strength. Within the next few days, after I have organized the details of this giveaway, I will post a status online explaining how to enter and what the prizes will be. I hope that each and every one of you amazing people will enter, and I wish I could give something away to all of you, because you all deserve it. Thank you again for everything you have done to help me, friends, I couldn't have come this far without you. You're all truly beautiful inside and out. Warmest wishes, Tru <3 Synopsis:
“Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius—and, above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren't the fairies of bedtime stories—they're dangerous! Full of unexpected twists and turns, Artemis Fowl is a riveting, magical adventure.” When I first added this book to my library, I wasn’t sure what to expect from it. As far as I knew it was a work of children’s fiction which many people had read and talked about, but no one seemed all that crazy over these days. Finally, after some deliberation, I decided to pick this book up and read it, since it had been sitting on my TBR shelf for months. Trying to go into it with an open mind and no expectations was the way I decided to go about it. In the end, I was extremely pleasantly surprised with what I found inside this little gem, so here I am reviewing this story, which has quickly become a favorite of mine. My favorite part about this book is that it appeals to so many age groups. Everything about it seems to want to reach out to as many different kinds of readers as possible. First you have the combination of fantasy mixed with modern day, which is a type of genre crossover that I think a lot of different readers can appreciate. Then you have your incredibly young anti-hero, who can be said to be both the protagonist and antagonist of his own story. You’re introduced to a unique family setting, which can appeal to people who have non-traditional families themselves. And these qualities, combined with excellent writing and story development, laid the ground work for this book to become one of the most memorable reads of the month of March for me. The best part of this book for me was Eoin’s ability to add a fantasy element to his world, which is supposed to be just like reality, without having me suspend my disbelief all that much. The magical occurrences are well explained, without being overly complex, which makes this book easy for children of all ages, as well as adults, to enjoy thoroughly. Another excellent element added by Colfer was the little innuendos that made this book really enjoyable for a young adult reader like me. Every once in a while Eoin would add a little joke or detail that it was obviously placed there for the enjoyment of an older reader. That was something I was quite appreciative of and it made me think about what a great book this would be to read with your kid. Despite this being a book that is clearly directed toward younger readers, there are so many mature elements, and it is such a rich tale of intrigue and good vs evil, that I land firmly on the side of this being a story for all ages. In the end, I gave this story a 5 star rating on Goodreads, and I am really looking forward to reading the next installment. If you have been looking for a lighthearted read that can tickle your adult side while also speaking to the kid in you, I highly recommend Artemis Fowl #1 as the next story you pick up. Read on Readers! ~ TruBeauty |
What?Blog posts, articles, reviews, lists and more. When?
July 2019
Where?
All
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