You Are Not Your Thoughts: The Secret Magic of Mindfulness by Frances Trussell Review

You Are Not Your Thoughts: The Secret Magic of Mindfulness by Frances Trussell 5/5 Stars 104 pages
Published November 30th 2018 by O Books

Are you plagued by overthinking that eventually leads to depression and even suicidal thoughts? Scared that your life is going nowhere and you’re doomed to the darkness forever? Then this is the book for you.

 

At only about one hundred pages, this book is jam packed full of techniques not only to ground yourself when you start to spiral, but why you feel this way and why you should change it. I learned a lot more than I thought I would, but mostly that a lot of people feel the same ways and don’t know it. This book can help people all around the world wake up and realize that there’s more to life than suffering, addiction, and sadness.

 

You may think that you are your thoughts and that your thoughts are you, but this proves exactly the opposite. It gives you ways to calm down when you’re feeling like you’re out of control or overthinking, and motivational ways to keep your cool. It even explains how meditation and mindfulness works even if you feel like it’s not working!

 

I think the biggest thing I’ve learned from this book is that mindfulness is something that suddenly clicks on for a lot of people. Like a light switch, it seems like it’s so simple and makes so much sense, but you couldn’t even think about it when you’re in the darkest parts of your life. That and, your brain can’t distinguish between memories and real life, so when you’re stuck in a thought cycle of living in the past, your brain gives you a kind of fight or flight for it.

 

Overall, this was a really interesting book, and it’s really worth the read. I definitely recommend it for anyone at any part of their lives, good or bad, because I think it’s just so important that everyone should know it. After all, all we have is the present. The book is available here, and here’s a link to the author’s Twitter if you’d like to keep up with them.

Thanks for reading!

My Life in Books Tag

I was wondering what I should post today, but then I found the world of book tags! So here I am, trying one out. This is the “My Life in Books Tag”, I can’t remember where I found it, but I thought I would give it a shot. So here it goes!

Pick a book for each of your initials…

A- U-R- O- R- A-

Count your age along your bookshelf, what is it?

Pick a book set in your city/country.

(Actually this book is set in the city I’m from, and when I read it I was still living there!)

Pick a book that represents a place you’d like to travel to..

(I’d love to live on a satellite wow)

Pick a book that’s your favorite color.

Which book do you have fondest memories of?

(This was one of the first books I really got into, bought it at a school book fair and it really turned me onto books. For some reason I gave it a low rating on goodreads when I first made my account, but I really want to read it again lol)

Which book did you have the most difficulty reading?

(This is a book that I started but never got past the first chapter. It’s still in my to read list, but I’m not sure when I’ll actually sit down and try to read it again lmao)

Which book in your TBR pile will give you the biggest accomplishment when you finish it?

(Probably just because its massive)

 

And that’s that! I did my first book tag. Took a while to do, but I think it was really interesting, and will try to find other cool ones in the future. Let me know if you try it or have read any of these books! I’d love to hear opinions.

Thanks for reading!

Hillbilly Volume 2 by Eric Powell Review

Hillbilly Volume 2 by Eric Powell 5/5 Stars 132 pages
Published January 2nd 2018 by Albatross Funnybooks

In the same beautiful art style as the last volume, we meet Rondel yet again. This book holds a handful more tales of his life, and I loved every single one of them. The last one was in one of my monthly favourites, so naturally I was stoked to get to check out the second volume. This one begins with Rondel wandering around in the woods.

 

An arrow flies into a tree by his head, shot by a terrified man who’s so exhausted he can barely stand up. He says he hasn’t slept in days, because there’s a devil in the woods who’s been tormenting him. It started with his bait missing, and ended with a full on demon taunting him every night. Rondel’s there to help.

 

He’s the same character we know and love from the first volume, but now he’s alone. He’s very consistent, and really tough. The art is just as gruesome and beautiful as ever, and the story and the art match up really well. It’s everything I hoped for it to be.

 

Overall I really enjoyed reading this volume, and every chapter was interesting and kind of mind blowing at times. My favourite part would probably be the strange kind of old style 3D part, just because it was so much different than the rest of the book. Of course, my favourite character is still Rondel, because who else would there be to pick? I can’t wait for the next volume.

 

If you’re interested in checking out the first book, here’s a link to my review of it. The book itself, is available here, and here’s a link to the creator’s Twitter, if you’d like to keep up with him.

 

 

Thanks for reading!

Moodtopia by Sara Chana Silverstein Unboxing Video

Luke Cage: Everyman by Anthony Del Col, & Jahnoy Lindsay Review

Luke Cage: Everyman by Anthony Del Col, & Jahnoy Lindsay 5/5 Stars 192 pages
Published November 27th 2018 by Marvel

Luke Cage may be indestructible, but in this volume, he learns that he is still human after all, the hard way. When I picked this up, I couldn’t wait to start reading it, and devoured it. I loved the Netflix series, so naturally, I loved this. I think it’s perfect, and it really grounds you to read it, because even the strongest people have their own problems. And that’s something that everyone should know.

 

It begins with a man driving somewhere north of Harlem. He’s terrified that someone’s out to get him, and thinks that there may be a tracer in his phone. The next thing that happens is gruesome, he pukes all over the front seat and dash of his car, and crashes head on into a pole. His secret is revealed in a note on the passenger seat.

 

Luke Cage is the strongest of the strong, everyone knows that. On a very hot day, he’s playing basketball with some local teens, and he’s with his daughter, Danielle. He’s worried about her, she seems sick, so they leave. But a strange SUV begins following them. A man hops out of the car and needs his help, saying he was directed from Heroes for Hire. Naturally, he gets in the car with the man and his daughter.

 

This isn’t any normal car ride though, and as they take Danielle to the doctor, the man explains the situation. Someone is after him for his dark past, and he needs protection. Luke agrees to help, but isn’t feeling very good so he gets the doctor to check him out as well. That’s when everything he knows starts to spiral. The doctor says he may have CTE, a brain disease that mainly effects football players who get too many concussions. Suddenly his world is turned upside down.

 

Not only does Luke Cage battle insane villains in this book, but he also battles an internal demon, the disease. He’s not so indestructible after all, and this book really shows that he’s a real person under that bulletproof skin. Not only was there a life lesson in this, but we got to see some characters that we all know and love, Iron Fist and Jessica Jones. There wasn’t a single page in this that I didn’t love.

 

Overall, I think this is an amazing story, and I think everyone should read it. If you think that you might not be into it, I swear you will be by the last page. This book is full of violence, but also a lot of good lessons, and that really makes for an awesome book. The art and the story really weaved themselves together in such a way that’s unforgettable, and I definitely would buy a copy for not only myself, but other’s as well. Definitely check it out if you get the chance. The book is available here, and here are links to the creator’s Twitter pages, if you’d like to keep up with them.

 

https://twitter.com/anthony_delcol

https://twitter.com/jahnoyl?lang=en

 

Thanks for reading!

Flavor, Vol. 1 by Joseph Keatinge, Ali Bouzari, Wook Jin Clark, & Tamra Bonvillain Review

Flavor, Vol. 1 by Joseph Keatinge, Ali Bouzari, Wook Jin Clark, & Tamra Bonvillain 5/5 Stars136 pages
Published November 27th 2018 by Image Comics

I know I say this a lot, but Flavor is unlike any of the other graphic novel’s that I’ve read lately. Not only is the art style quirky and cute, but the story is as well, though it does harbour something dark just out of reach. From the first page, I couldn’t wait to see what I was getting myself into.

 

Xoo is a young girl who lives with her parents, who can’t get around very well, and require a caretaker. She also runs their restaurant by herself, which is really impressive. Though she is mature for her age, she isn’t an adult in the eye of the government, and her uncle Geof must come into the story to help out.

 

He hasn’t been around in years, but he’s happy to see everyone. Xoo, on the other hand, isn’t impressed. Though he tries his best to get her to like him, he can’t help but slip up, and in a few big ways. I’m excited to see what happens next with the family.

 

Not only does it follow Xoo and her family, but switches between a young boy in the place just simply called, “the academy”. It’s dangerous for chef’s to be unlicensed, but because of how prestigious The Academy is, not many people can get into it. He goes home to an empty home, but a rich empty home. But something that struck me as a little weird, he has the other half of Xoo’s picture, of the three of them. I wonder how they know each other?

 

The world that they live in is dangerous, not only is it full of scary law enforcers, but also strange rules and competitions. Unlicensed chef’s duke it out anywhere they can, to win the prize of their choice, and if they lose they are put into what seems like slavery. When Xoo enters, the law cracks down before she can turn in her dish, and she must escape without losing her life.

 

Overall I enjoyed reading this book. I’m glad that there’s more to the book that I haven’t seen in this, and something so dark that’s so close to the story, yet so far away. I’m glad I got the chance to read it, and if you’re into comics with quirky characters that are really into cooking, then this is the book for you. Not only is it a really interesting story, but there’s actually a recipe for crepe’s in the last few pages that I can’t wait to check out. Check it out if you get the chance! The book is available here, and here are links to the creator’s Twitter accounts so you can keep up with them.

 

https://twitter.com/joekeatinge?lang=en

https://twitter.com/AliBouzari?lang=en

https://twitter.com/wookjinclark

https://twitter.com/TBonvillain

 

Thanks for reading!

The Gluten-Free Instant Pot Cookbook: Fast to Fix and Nourishing Recipes for All Kinds of Electric Pressure Cookers by Jane Bonacci, & Sara De Leeuw Review

The Gluten-Free Instant Pot Cookbook: Fast to Fix and Nourishing Recipes for All Kinds of Electric Pressure Cookers by Jane Bonacci, & Sara De Leeuw 4/5 Stars 144 pages
Published September 18th 2018 by Harvard Common Press

If you’re struggling with ways to keep your food gluten free and you have a pressure cooker, then this is the book that you need to read. Although I don’t have a pressure cooker, it really interests and scares me. The book itself is a super quick read without any pictures, and gives you all the information you could possibly need to begin.

 

This book isn’t here to mess around, and that’s apparently through the quick instructions and the lack of pictures. Although personally I do like to compare what I made to a picture, it’s not necessary if you’re just looking to dive right into delicious recipes. Not only does the book give you exactly that, but it also explains why it’s better to use a pressure cooker, and all the parts of it as well as how to use it safely.

 

One of the most important things that this book teaches you, in my opinion, is how to make a gluten free flour blend. I thought you could just buy that kind of stuff, but it makes sense that it would be better if you could make your own. I think that even if you don’t have a pressure cooker, you could probably work around the recipes to make them on a stove top, or even the oven. They’re not very complicated, but they sound delicious.

 

Something that really interested me was the pumpkin black bean chili, because I’m not sure what it would be like to have pumpkin in your chili. Other things included in this book are frittata’s, oatmeal, and even home made sausage. The book is really interesting, just a little bland to look at. I would definitely buy this for myself, or a gluten free friend or family member. I can’t wait to make some of these recipes. The book is available here, and here’s a link to the author’s Twitter.

 

https://twitter.com/myimpkitch

https://twitter.com/TheHeritageCook?lang=en

 

Thanks for reading!

Alt-Life by Thomas Cadène Review

Alt-Life by Thomas Cadène 4/5 Stars 184 pages
Published April 6th 2018 by Le Lombard and Europe Comics 

Ever wonder what the future holds for people in an augmented reality? If you read this book, you might have a better idea. Following Rene and Josiane, they are some of the first people to venture into the new world that has been created to escape reality. Anything is possible, you just have to think about it.

 

After climbing into a sort of bag that connects into them, they’re pushed into a completely simulated word. Though there aren’t other people in there yet, they’re happy to test everything out and escape from reality completely. It seems like an abandoned island, but like I said, anything is possible, and in a second after wanting more people there, they show up. You can have anything you want, you just have to accept that it isn’t reality, or you might run into some problems.

 

The reason I couldn’t give this book a full five stars, is because I had a really hard time reading the writing. Though it did get easier as it went on, I just couldn’t get every word, and that was kind of frustrating. I liked the story, but the reviews that other people have left, painted a very different picture than the actual story did. What I’m trying to say is, don’t judge a book purely from reviews. If it seems like something you’d like, definitely check it out. The art was very interesting and a lot different than other books I’ve read lately, but if you’re not into nudity you might not like this book, because it’s full of it.

 

Overall I enjoyed reading this and getting to know the characters. Check it out if you like futuristic worlds with insane technology, but also people dealing with their very real feelings in a very fake world. The book is available here, and here’s a link to the creator’s Twitter.

Thanks for reading!

Unboxing Video of The Expedition by Chris Babu

The Vision, Volume 2: Little Better than a Beast (Vision #2) by Tom King, Michael Walsh, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Jordie Bellaire, Mike del Mundo, & Clayton Cowles Review

After finishing the first volume, I couldn’t wait to see what I was in store for with the next one. I loved it, and I was

The Vision, Volume 2: Little Better than a Beast (Vision #2) by Tom King, Michael Walsh, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Jordie Bellaire, Mike del Mundo, & Clayton Cowles 5/5 Stars 136 pages
Published December 13th 2016 by Marvel

sure I was going to love this one, and man was I right. Beginning with The Vision and The Scarlet Witch laying side by side in bed, it shows a different life a long time ago. It goes through the motions, following their lives as Avengers and trying to continue as a couple, and they then get married and have children. They love each other, and that’s a very new thing for The Vision.

 

That is, until one day he loses his life. He becomes a completely different Vision, and although he technically is the same person, he’s lost his body and if he wants to be truthful, he’s not their father and husband. The Scarlet Witch falls out of love with him, and reminisces when he used to be kind to them. He leaves, and although he does eventually restore to his old self, it’s too late.

 

So that’s when he builds the family that we got to know in the last volume. It all comes back to The Vision at his family home. Only this time, we’re introduced to a new character, Victor Mancha, son of Ultron. What could go wrong, right?

 

I loved getting to see a completely different side of The Vision, and I was sucked in immediately to the story. The story itself is so interesting, and I love the characters. Though they’re very different than myself, they have their own problems that they need to work through. I’m glad I got the chance to check out this book, and I definitely recommend it to anyone who’s read the first book. I’m sure you don’t absolutely have to read it, the story makes a lot more sense when you read them together. It’s available here, and here’s a link to the first book if you’re interested. Here are the links to the creator’s Twitter’s, as well.

 

https://twitter.com/TomKingTK

https://twitter.com/Mister_Walsh

https://twitter.com/ghwalta?lang=en

https://twitter.com/whoajordie?lang=en

https://twitter.com/deadlymike?lang=en

https://twitter.com/ClaytonCowles

 

Thanks for reading!