Today In History

6th February, 1954: Mercedes introduced the 300SL coupe, the car is far advanced of anything else with its gull-wing doors a six-cylinder engine and a top speed of 155mph.

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Dawnkeepers

I had this book on my nightstand for over two weeks. I wanted to read it as soon as possible but every time I picked it up to start, I would set it down. My problem, was that I loved, absolutely loved the first novel of The Final Prophecy series, Nightkeepers, and I was having second thoughts about the second book, Dawnkeepers. Would it be just as good as the previous book? Or would I end up feeling like it was a waste of my time?

Here's the blurb for Dawnkeepers by Jessica Andersen:

The countdown to the end of days has begun. According ancient prophecy, on December 21, 2012. Mayan demons from the underworld will trigger an apocalypse. Only the Nightkeepers, mortal descendants of a race of magic-wielding-warrior-priests, can prevent the annihilation of all mankind

Nate Blackhawk can't help but resent the demands of his bloodline. Unlike his fellow Nightkeepers, he isn't about to let the gods determine his destiny - especially when it comes to love. Which means he refuses to submit to the unquenchable desire he feels for Alexis Gray, the shockingly beautiful trainee who first appeared in his visions. But that's easier said than done, considering that Nate needs Alexis's help in uncovering the seven Mayan artifacts inscribed with clues on how to defeat the demons.

Alexis is willing to do whatever is necessary to prove herself as a Nightkeeper. She believes in the life she was born into and the future the gods have written for her - even when it comes to Nate, who seems intent on ignoring the intense passion between them. But as she and Nate test their powers in a race to recover the seven statuettes before the demons do, Alexis finds it impossible to deny her feelings for the one man who's destined to be hers.

Let me start by saying that it was not a waste of time reading this book. I enjoyed it. Now, that being said, I didn't think it was as good as the first book. But from experience, seconds books never are.

The beginning of the book had an action/adventure feel to it, and that got me hooked. I was so enthralled with it that I read uninterrupted for several hours. The setting was amazing (as usual), the characters are believable (their feelings) and likable (well, some of them at least), the rituals and beliefs were interesting and gripping and they kept me turning the pages.

The main characters, Nate and Alexis, were good, I liked the way Nate grew to understand his feelings towards the Nightkeepers, his family and eventually his feelings for Alexis. Alexis on the other hand, I didn't care too much for her, a romantic lead. She had this need to be as powerful, as needed, and respected as her mother was previously, her winikin Izzy really got on my nerves, always pushing her, and manipulating her (in my opinion). Anyway back to romance, I didn't think it was there, well, at least not like the first book. The chemistry/lust was there but the little things that would make this a "romance" wasn't there in my opinion.

I also think that I might have been more interested on what was going on with the rest of the Nightkeepers. Rabbit, still dealing with the death of his father, and understanding and experiencing his gifts. Anna, basically being forced to come home and help, even it's the last place that she wants to be. Lucius, his curiosity got the better of him, so now he's enslaved and possessed by evil magic. And the search for missing Sasha continues...I'm sure they'll find her next book.

Speaking of which, Skykeepers, will be released in the summer.

Dawnkeepers by Jessica Andersen (4/5) Paranormal Romance; Mayan Mythology; Published: Signet Eclipse (January 2009); Series: # 2, The Final Prophecy; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (16); 2009 Support Your Local Library (12); 2009 Pub Challenge (2);

Today In History

5th February, 1922: DeWitt Wallace and his wife Lila Wallace publish the first Reader's Digest magazine designed to provide abridged articles on a wide variety of subjects, for easy reading.

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Looking for Anne

I am a huge fan of Anne of Green Gables, I have read the book many many times, and each time I discover something new. As much as I love Anne and her books, I didn't know much about the author, L.M. Montgomery. I knew she was Canadian, from Prince Edward Island, and that she was married to a pastor, and later lived in Toronto. When I saw Looking for Anne: How Lucy Maud Montgomery Dreamed Up a Literary Classic on the staff recommendations shelf at the library, I couldn't resist adding it to my bag.

I'm not a huge fan of biographies. Let me rephrase that,I enjoy them but most of the biographies that I've read have bored me to tears. The difference of this biography is that is somewhat a dual one, it's about Anne and Maud. The character and her creator. How Anne came about. What made Maud write about an red headed orphan girl?

I'm surprised that I read it so quickly. I read it in two days, with biographies I can go on for week struggling along. But I found the way the author set out her information, even if it's all theory, because we really don't know what was going through Lucy Maud Montgomery's mind. It definitely shows that the author went to great lengths to get previously unknown information on the author.

I was also surprised on finding out certain things about Maud, some are understandable and others just seem far-fetched. But the traits that make sense are shyness; her need to be loved and accepted; feeling more comfortable with women then with men; her feeling of abandonment (her mother died when she was very young, and her father left her with her maternal grandparents); her ability to "live" in her dream world; her need for independence. I won't go into detail on the far-fetched ideas, because you really need to read this book.

Now that this book has wet my appepite for Lucy Maud Montgomery I'll be looking out for more on this author, and maybe I'll just re-read the series again.

Looking for Anne: How Lucy Maud Montgomery Dreamed Up a Literary Classic by Irene Gammel (4/5) Biography/Cultural History; Published: Key Porter Book (2008); New Author; Canadian Author; 2009 100 + Reading Challenge (15); 2009 Support Your Local Library (11);

Wordless Wednesday

Hubby took this picture last fall. Isn't it beautiful?

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Today in History

4th February, 1938: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released and had major success in the box-office, making more money than any other motion picture up till that point.

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Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Should Be Reading. Here's how you play:

* Grab your current read.
* Let the book fall open to a random page.
* Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
* You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
* Please avoid spoilers!

Here's my teaser:

"Seymour turned on the sidewalk and waved. Then he slung his mailbag over one shoulder and sauntered up to my window." - taken from page 48 of The Ghost and the Femme Fatale by Alice Kimberley.

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I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

It's the first Tuesday of the month, and it's time for Classics Bookclub, which is hosted by 5 Minutes for Books. And for February, we read Maya Angelou's autobiography, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. This is my third time reading this book. I first read it at University, and then again when I was pregnant with my first child. And both times I was entrahelled by what I read. I knew what to expect from book, but I was curious on how I would react to certain events that happened to the author.

Nothing much changed from the previous times that I read the book. I still felt the anger and wonder of what happen to the author as a child and how she drew strength to survive. And the humiliating way the she, her family, were treated just because of the color of their skin. It's revolting, it just makes me angry. I wish I could express it better, I just do not have the words.

I think what I love most about the book, is the author's voice. Even though it's prose, it has a poetic flow to it.

I searched for Maya Angelou's poem Caged Bird. And I would love to share it with you:

Caged Bird

A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

Maya Angelou

The book is going back to keeper shelf. It's just one of those books...

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou (Reread) Autobiography; Published: Random House (1969); Classics Bookclub; 100 + Reading Challenge (14);

Today In History

3rd February, 1959: Rock 'n' Roll singers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson died in a plane crash today along with the pilot when their chartered plane went down near Mason City, Iowa.

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Today In History

2nd February, 1990: President De Klerk of South Africa lifts the 30-year ban on leading anti-apartheid group the African National Congress(ANC). He also stated the jailed ANC leader Nelson Mandela would be released.

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Today In History

1st February, 1920: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police as the federal and national police force in Canada is established when Royal North West Mounted Police and the Dominion Police are combined as a single force.

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Yesterday In History

31st January, 1961: A chimpanzee named Ham sent into space by the United States has been recovered alive and well.

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