#wrapup

[lizziethereader]

April 2025 wrapup

I'm done reading books for students for a while, which means I get to read books I actually chose myself again (which in turn means I'm back to reading more physical books) - yay! I got around to a few "I wanted to read this for a while" books in April because they worked out nicely with Orilium prompts and I'm quite happy with how this reading month has gone.

favorite of the month: Games: Agency as Art by Thi C. Nguyen

nonfiction of the month (3): Games: Agency as Art by Thi C. Nguyen, H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald, White Tears, Brown Scars by Ruby Hamad

classics (1): Wessex Tales by Thomas Hardy

philosophy (1): Games: Agency as Art by Thi C. Nguyen

poetry (1): Merrill: poems by James Merrill

graphic novel/manga (1): One Peace Volume 3 by Eiichiro Oda

[illumiera]

Fic Rec Fredas: Week 1-10 Wrap-Up

it's been ten whole weeks since I started up Fic Rec Fredas (with the occasional belated Fic Rec Loredas sprinkled in between), and to celebrate, I thought I'd make a wrap-up post to highlight not just all the fics I've recced so far, but all those that have been sent in to my askbox, too!

without further ado, I suggest you check out the following:

my recs:

#1: mint roots into my heart by pelinalblancserpent (2.9k words, oneshot, Revyn Sadri/LDB)

Revyn never thought that he would care for the savior of Tamriel, but flames always burned brighter than one wanted.

#2: Mirrors Within Dreams by ladydov (57.4k words, ongoing multichapter, Miraak/LDB)

The Last Dragonborn is a Skyrim-raised, two-centuries old Altmer, named Byrdie. She is one who has lived in relative solitude, throughout the wilds of Tamriel, for the majority of her life. She is reserved and humble, though her character has been nothing but questioned since reentering the cold, frigid land of the North Kingdom. Much has changed in the 180 years since she last walked its snow. A year has passed since the discovery of her soul's true nature, and, as expected, she has earned a controversial reputation across the war-torn land of Skyrim. Some see her as the land's savior; others, as its destruction. If you ask Byrdie, she, through sheer virtue, only tries to do what is best for all, for both Skyrim and for the rest of Tamriel; all the while, a group of her estranged-kin threaten all life on Nirn as the people know it. However, now, by a whirlwind chain of events, she finds herself thrown away from the world; she has become shipwrecked, on the remote island of Solstheim, being forced to deal with another ancient evil that gnaws at the very roots of its foundation. Does she have enough time to save this land from this imprisoned dragon? Meanwhile, a ravenous shadow continues to soar over Keizaal.

#3: The Priest and the Dragoness by Lady_of_Fire (155.3k words, ongoing multichapter, Miraak/LDB)

Jia is the Last Dragonborn: the heroine of a legendary destiny complete, a fire-breathing dragoness trapped in a mortal body. Miraak is the First Dragonborn: a Traitor undefined, a frost-breathing dragon trapped in Oblivion, of the same destiny forsaken. But was it ever truly forsaken? What does the First mean for the Last? What will they both mean to Skyrim, divided, kingless, and bleeding as it is now?

#4: EVER-BOUND: FIRST AND LAST AND ALWAYS by aethergardener (10.3k words, completed series, Miraak/LDB)

Powered by spite and destiny both, the Last Dragonborn breathes life into the bones of the First, unaware of the consequences.

#5: I'm Still Here by etcetera_nine (154.9k words, ongoing multichapter, Argis the Bulwark/LDB)

When Argis is made housecarl to the new thane of Markarth, what he expects is a boring life, trailing after a spoiled, disdainful nobleman. What he wants is a brave warrior, a friend he can fight alongside. What he gets, though... is one surprise after another.

#6: The Sprouts of Future by PinesCiderr (4.6k words, oneshot, gen)

Spring is coming to the Reach, beautiful and scary, like the future. What will it be like? Hevnoraak can tell fortunes on grass, blood, and bones, but all he knows for sure is that he must die for the tribe to live. For the sake of his own life, he is ready to go down to the valleys for the first time, to the nords and their dragon bastards. The story of young Hevnoraak, before he became Hevnoraak. A lot about the Reachmen, religion, and love.

#7: Wherever you go, there you are by the_drunken_sailoress (87.1k words, ongoing multichapter, Miraak/LDB)

Ravonna's life was turned upside down several times: when her father was murdered, when she absorbed her first dragon soul, and when cultists tried to kill her, calling her a "false Dragonborn". Little does she know that her life will be turned upside down many more times, especially once upon an epic battle, when the mask of the First Dragonborn falls and she sees nothing but kindness and gentleness.

#8: The Gallows and God's Whisper by Kiir_do_faal_Rahhe (10.4K words, ongoing multichapter, Miraak/LDB)

Alduin has awoken, and the Last Dragonborn is nowhere to be found. After nearly a year of dragon attacks and Skyrim’s citizens fearing for the days to come, there are whispers of rumours that a mysterious Dragonborn has emerged on Solstheim through cultists stirring trouble in his name. One lone adventurer with troubling visions and nothing to lose sets out to learn more and perhaps force him to defeat the World-Eater, only things don’t go as planned when the first dragon is killed…

#9: Epistle and Elegy on the Guardian and the Traitor by BodyLathe (12.1k words, ongoing multichapter, Miraak/Vahlok)

"What a fool you've made of me. To allow your hands to take my love and life; could you not grant me one such intimacy?" Apostled as savior, crowned as Solstheim's Dragon Cardinal, and burdened with the title "Vahlok the Jailor", Vahlok has spent nearly seventy years suffering the weight of the myth of the Guardian and the Traitor. Unable to reconcile his grief, he composes a memoir of his years with Miraak, back when they were still Mika and Loukas, in hopes it somehow reaches him in Apocrypha.

#10: Magelight by jjgremlinson (16.3k words, ongoing multichapter, Original Male Character/Original Female Character; Savos Aren/Original Male Character[s])

In 4E 121, a young, bright-eyed mage named Finnegil travels from Valenwood to enroll in the College of Winterhold, an institution known throughout Tamriel for its excellence in the arcane arts. Finnegil is eager at first to delve into her studies and learn everything there is to know about becoming a master wizard. But when she and a group of fellow apprentices design an experiment that has deadly consequences, her world is forever changed, and the path ahead grows darker. This is the story of Winterhold’s fall from grace and the people left to pick up the pieces.

your recs:

A Taste of Death by Semla (22.6k words, ongoing multichapter, Mannimarco/Original Female Character)

What was supposed to be a chance at a new life for Ria slowly turns into one of her worst nightmares. Trapped in a dilapidated fort with a group of mercenaries, only her brother Rith is left to stand by her side. But the group's dubious patron has his own sinister plans, and they involve Ria.

I Didn't Know You Were Keeping Count by A_Midwinter_Night_Dream86 (129k words, ongoing multichapter, one-sided Bishop/LDB; eventual Ulfric Stormcloak/LDB)

Leara Ormand, the Last Dragonborn, is trying to fulfill her destiny and stop Alduin while battling with her own feelings of self-doubt and anxiety. In walks Bishop, the ranger from the Skyrim Romance Mod, whose obsession infatuation only serves to make Leara worse. Along the way, she reencounters Ulfric Stormcloak, who she knew during the Great War — she prays he doesn’t remember her. Add in the Thalmor hunting her and Leara’s got a full plate. Naturally, there’s always a way to make it worse!

[bookishlyvintage]

everything I read in December (& what I thought about them)

[glitterdinosaur17]

Reading wrap up, January 2025 ✨

[littlenyao]

Thanks to @spicedrobot for the form!

[summerknowledge]

Summer_Knowledge RYM 2023 Wrapped

Hey everybody welcome to my 2023 rateyourmusic wrapped.

I listened to 137 albums this year. This is 13 less than last year but around 5 more than my average since 2019.

Decade stats:

1960s: 6

1970s: 9

1980s: 27

1990s: 63

2000s: 25

2010s: 5

2020s: 2

None of this really surprises me that much but I did think that the 2000s would have beat the 80s. 70s really fell off from last year.

Genre stats:

These stats are based off of rym primary genres. I listened to 65 genres total. That is almost 10 more than last year.

1. Indie rock (30)

2. Alternative rock (26)

3. Power pop (25)

4. Shoegaze (10)

5. Pop rock (9) and indie pop (9)

Not surprising whatsoever.

Most notable first-listens:

Okay I thought it would be fun to choose my favorite albums and favorite songs that I heard for the first time this year. But it’s not really favorites it’s just what I found to be the most notable and impactful I guess because if I was listing my favorites I would just look at my last.fm account. Also I limited to 1 per artist.

Albums:

1. Whale Music - Rheostatics

2. Whatever and Ever Amen - Ben Folds Five

3. The Walking - Jane Siberry

4. Sweet Homewrecker - Thrush Hermit

5. Operation Infinite Joy - Martin Tielli

I only picked five because while trying to pick albums I realized that the vast majority are not very impactful. Also four of these are Canadian.

Songs:

1. Palomar - Rheostatics

2. Behind This Wall - Turning Point

3. Stood Up - Matthew Grimson

4. The White Tent the Raft - Jane Siberry

5. Emaline - Ben Folds Five

6. Sally Ann’s (Style Denial) - Local Rabbits

7. Winnipeg - Martin Tielli

8. Darkness - The Police

9. North Dakota - Thrush Hermit

10. Being With You - that dog.

Nothing really of note here except there’s a lot of Rheostatics songs I could have chosen. Also 6/10 of these are Canadian.

Other notable things:

The Rheostatics obsession was reallyyy bad I scrobbled them almost 5,000 times since first listening in May. I can’t overemphasize that. Also I want to just mention the thing I had for heartland rock in May and also my brief obsession with 90s country pop hits that happened earlier this month. Also I was really obsessed with Leave this City by the Sundays but because I didn’t listen to it for the first time this year I couldn’t include it in my top 10 but if I could include it in my top 10 it would be like number 3. Also I reached 1k Blake Babies scrobbles.

My predictions:

So last year I predicted that I would listen to more shoegaze and I did!!! I also predicted that I would listen to more new wave and I listened to (1) new wave album this year so that did not happen. The surf phase that I tried manifesting also didn’t happen. Instead I had a weird Rheostatics phase, a subphase of the main canrock phase that has been dominating my life for a year and a half. I predicted I would listen to less albums overall which is true!!!!!! And that I would listen to more 80s albums which also happened.

My future predictions are that the Rheostatics phase will be strong for around another 6 months and then finally die out. After that I literally can’t imagine how the canrock phase will continue so I’m predicting that twait no I think that Sloan will tour Smeared in 2024 reviving my canrock phase and shifting its focus to noisier material. I also predict that I will develop a weird phase for something like cabaret or if it’s less weird than that like. Chamber pop. I predict that I will listen to slightly less albums overall. I predict that the 90s will continue to be my most popular decade.

Thank you everyone I would like to thank sonemic and last.fm and discord for these extraordinary stats. Happy new year

[monriatitans]

The image was made in Canva; check it out at the [referral] link here!

June 2025 Wrap-Up

Monday, June 30, 2025

And it's a wrap! Check out what happened in June 2025!

Due to how long it is, if you're curious, you can check it out on the Opinions & Truth | O&T here!

CAUSE OF THE MONTH The theme for June was Pride Month, so, the Cause of the Month is The Trevor Project.

—

Well, these are all the updates I have for now! Thank you for reading!

May every decision you make be in the spirit of fairness, and may the rest of your day NOT go to $#!7!

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To expand the Opinions & Truth | O&T blog, I started The Weekend Game Show | WGS to educate on and discuss game development, to show why they can take years to make, to prevent another stressful Cyberpunk 2077 launch scenario, with the theory being greater understanding brings more patience and emotional regulation. And to show the legitimacy of video games as an artistic medium. My videos are available on YouTube, The Titans' Discord, Steam, Rumble, Odysee, Ko-fi, and on blogging platforms! And on Twitch while the VODs last. In addition, to provide educational material for game designers and artists, as well as some fun reads, I created a bookshop, powered by Bookshop.org, the Rendezvous Point | RP! Check it out here! Also, I give Artist Shout-Outs | ASO to human artists to combat AI's spit, aka. plagiarism laundering. Want to learn more about the Artist Shout-Outs? Click here! #CreateDontScrape The Artists Shout-Out posts can be seen in the Gallery, Discord, and more! Lastly, based on the Theme of the Month | TOTM, e.g. ADtistic (ADHD + Autistic) Awareness Month, I bring awareness to a cause. I'm also an artist under the handle TitansMonriArt | TMA! — Like what you see and wanna know when there's more? Click here to Subscribe for updates and/or hit the Follow button! Enjoy what I do? Please consider supporting via Buy Me a Coffee | BMAC! Lastly, posts may contain affiliate links.

[a-star-in-the-darkness]

June Wrap-Up and July TBR

June was a rough month for me mentally. (I think I just need to get off TikTok, rather than let it convince me I’m too old or don’t look get enough to be worth anything. Obviously, it’s wrong but it gets to me and then I don’t read because I’m crying). So, I didn’t read that much. But here’s what I did! Phantasma by Kaylie Smith This is a dark fantasy about a necromancer who enters a…

[pawansinghchegg]

Effective Ways to Conclude a Presentation With Examples

[lizziethereader]

March 2025 wrapup

not pictured: - No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy - The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson - The Family Game by Catherine Steadman - Gone Girl by Gilian Flynn

March was a good reading month! I did have to read some books for students that I didn't enjoy a lot, but there were definitely some highlights in the books I chose myself.

favorites of the month: Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett and Fullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition, Vol. 3+4 by Hiromu Arakawa

nonfiction of the month (3): The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson, Everything to Play for by Marijan Did and Being Happy by Epicurus

classics (1): The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

philosophy (1): Being Happy by Epicurus

graphic novel/manga (1): Fullmetal Alchemist: Fullmetal Edition, Vol. 3+4 by Hiromu Arakawa, One Peace Volume 2 by Eiichiro Oda

[dasaeroplaya]

[bookishlyvintage]

Everything I read in February (& my thoughts)

[lazyread]

January wrap up!

So, this month was awful in everything else, but at least I got to read some great books. As you can see in the picture, I read five books this month and liked every single one, which doesn't happen very often. I started strong with a great story about a boy who was a slave at a sugar cane plantation. Part adventure, part coming-of-age story of a boy and the impact of slavery on his life. Delivery by Esi Edguyan was crafted well, it kept me interested all along, I didn't want to put down the book.

Next up was The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. Good book but after hearing so much good stuff I was hoping for more.

Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule was great, I have to admit I cried at the beginning. I love Star Wars and when I found out about The high republic I immadietlly bought every book available in my country. Highly recommend this one if you also love star wars, it was a great start for the series.

The Hole was a quick and weird read, that also gets you to thinking. The atmosphere in this is created great - even when it is winter now I seriously could feel the heat that makes your breathing harder.

The last book I was able to get to is Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk - my compatriot. I LOVED IT! Amazing characters? Check. Amazing atmosphere? Check. The narrator's fixation on animal rights and astrology? Check.

[aureliasylvia]

Back 2 Back wrap-up!

#wrapup #30thAnniversary #playstation

[rosesbookgarden]

Spooky Reads and Shows: October Review Roundup

How do you all do with your reading this month? So far it has been a slow month compared to September. But I always read more for magical readathon. I finished 19 books in September so I think I was due for a slow month. What I have been doing more of is watching TV and starting my bookstagram. I think I’m going to try and get that established, then maybe try Booktube towards the end of the…

[a-star-in-the-darkness]

December Wrap-Up

I can’t believe it’s that time again! And the end of the year…wow. Let’s be clear: I did NOT meet my reading challenge for the year, but I don’t see it as a failure because I had fun reading, found some new favorites and still read a lot. Here’s what I read in December: All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman I really enjoyed this book! My favorite fiction I read this month. It’s…