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The Ramsay Scallop
The year is 1299. Fourteen year-old Elenor reluctantly awaits the return of her betrothed -- a man she hardly knows -- from the Crusade. Thomas, broken, and disillusioned from years of fighting, finds the very idea of marriage and lordship overwhelming. So when the village priest sends them on religious pilgrimage before the marriage, both are relieved. The journey means a postponement of the dreaded nuptials, and a last chance for adventure.
As Eleanor and Thomas wend their way toward the shrine of St. James, they meet many other pilgrims -- each with their own extraordinary tales to tell and ideas to share. There is Etienne, a passionate student of philosophy; Brother Ambrose, gentle teacher of schoolboys; practical Marthe, eager for a decent life for her children. And gradually Eleanor and Thomas come to realize the glorious possibilities of the world around them... and within each other.
As Eleanor and Thomas wend their way toward the shrine of St. James, they meet many other pilgrims -- each with their own extraordinary tales to tell and ideas to share. There is Etienne, a passionate student of philosophy; Brother Ambrose, gentle teacher of schoolboys; practical Marthe, eager for a decent life for her children. And gradually Eleanor and Thomas come to realize the glorious possibilities of the world around them... and within each other.
310 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
9 people are currently reading
840 people want to read
About the author
Frances Temple
9 books17 followersFrances Temple grew up in Virginia, France, and Vietnam. About her third book she wrote, "The Ramsay Scallop is about our need for adventure and motion, for throwing in with strangers, trusting and listening. The story began to take form in northern Spain along pilgrim trails; was fed by histories, stories, letters, by the testimony of a fourteenthcentury shepherd, by the thoughts of today's pilgrims. Concerns echo across years-clean water, good talk, risks welcomed, the search for a peaceful heart. Traveling in Elenor's shoes, I found out how strongly the tradition of pilgrimage continues." Ms. Temple received many honors during her distinguished career. Her other critically acclaimed books for young people include: France Taste of Salt A Story of Modern Haiti, winner of the 1993 Jane Addams Children's Book Award; Grab hands and Run, cited by School Library journal as one of the Best Books of 1993; and Tonight, by Sea another novel set in Haiti.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
December 29, 2008
I decided to reread one of my favorite "journey" books this past week. THE RAMSAY SCALLOP by Frances Temple is set in the year 1300 AD. It follows young Lady Elenor and Thomas, her betrothed, as they make the pilgrimage to Santiago. I love how the author evokes Elenor in the opening lines, clutching her too-long cloak around her, wrapping her fingers in its edges to keep them warm, and standing on tiptoe in her borrowed shoes to catch a glimpse of a beggar musician. Thomas has been off fighting the crusades, and all Elenor remembers of him is that he once locked her in the henhouse.
I'm fascinated by how the author moves Elenor and Thomas across the channel, through France, and into Spain. She uses an omniscient viewpoint, spending most of her time with Elenor, but dipping into the heads of others along the way, the priest that sends them on their pilgrimage, the people they meet along the way, and of course, Thomas, who thinks of Elenor as "the brat."
The author knows how to use a few short bits of description to get the feel of the swamp, or the dessicated landscape, or the mountains. She even manages to project Elenor and Thomas' journey home, without toiling through the actual journey. She's a master!
Wishing you all good journeys in the coming new year!
I'm fascinated by how the author moves Elenor and Thomas across the channel, through France, and into Spain. She uses an omniscient viewpoint, spending most of her time with Elenor, but dipping into the heads of others along the way, the priest that sends them on their pilgrimage, the people they meet along the way, and of course, Thomas, who thinks of Elenor as "the brat."
The author knows how to use a few short bits of description to get the feel of the swamp, or the dessicated landscape, or the mountains. She even manages to project Elenor and Thomas' journey home, without toiling through the actual journey. She's a master!
Wishing you all good journeys in the coming new year!
March 22, 2014
Having visited the Holy City Santiago de Compostela in 2007, it’s fun for me to imagine what it must be like to do actually do the pilgrimage, known as ‘the Way’ or
Camino
—even better what it was like for past pilgrims. The Ramsay Scallop is a young adult novel set during the later years of the Crusades (1299) and tells the story of a reluctant couple sent on religious pilgrimage to atone for the sins of their village, most notably those incurred by disillusioned and despairing crusaders recently returned.
The author, Frances Temple, combines many early medieval stories, folklore and history into this thoroughly enjoyable travelogue. Fascinating as it was for me as a past-middle-age female, I would think this story would appeal to readers of both sexes across age ranges. Highly recommended for teachers, homeschoolers and pilgrims of all sorts.
The author, Frances Temple, combines many early medieval stories, folklore and history into this thoroughly enjoyable travelogue. Fascinating as it was for me as a past-middle-age female, I would think this story would appeal to readers of both sexes across age ranges. Highly recommended for teachers, homeschoolers and pilgrims of all sorts.
June 18, 2013
I wish that they made more books like The Ramsay Scallop. This book personalizes the Walk of St. James while taking you through it. Nora is a sweet character, and her story is marvelous. I do recommend this book for spiritual reasons, but even if that doesn't interest you the spiritual side of it is not overbearing and the story and history are very well done.
December 26, 2014
The Ramsay Scallop is an A+ young adult novel that tells the story of a reluctantly betrothed couple on pilgrimage from England to Spain. Thomas has recently returned, disillusioned, from the Crusades, and Elenor is on the cusp of adulthood, afraid of what her future responsibilities as the lady of Ramsay will be. Neither of them know or like one another, so they're pushed into the pilgrimage by the village priest, who believes it will bring them closer together.
This is one of my favorite YA books because it packs so much into a few hundred pages. Thomas and Elenor meet scholars, families, bards, scoundrels, monks, and even Saracens on their way to Compostela, where they will offer up the sins of their community to St. James. The book isn't so concerned with detailing every stop on the way as it is with presenting the best passages and parts of the long journey from England. And there are so many diverse medieval experiences: Elenor and Thomas talk over the Bible with a student of the new scholasticism and construction with a cathedral architect. In the stretches when they're on the road, the group tells each other stories. A personal favorite is Etienne the scholar telling the story of Patient Griselda to Marthe and Elenor, who can't even make it through the whole thing before they start booing.
I recently picked this up again because I'm reading Diarmaid MacCulloch's A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years, which talks about the origin of the Compostela pilgrimage. (Whenever I ask myself, "Where have I read about this before?" the answer is probably, "In a mostly accurate fictional YA novel ...") The Church went through a massive structural reorganization in the eleventh century, creating a new clerical hierarchy that divided land into parishes. As the medieval economy boomed, individual churches attempted to shield their parishioners from the new opportunities to sin that their wealth provided. The church increasingly began to create canon law and define new penances and roads to salvation (hey Crusades!). People outside the nobility now had the means and mobility to travel to important shrines and receive absolution.
MacCulloch brings up the Compostela pilgrimage - which is what Elenor and Thomas go on - as the flagship pilgrimage, supported by the powerful Cluny Abbey. As pilgrims poured through on the way to the fairly inaccessible northern part of Spain, the monks realized they had an opportunity. They routed pilgrims through Cluny and built their own shrines to encourage pilgrims to stop on the way, and other churches and institutions followed their example.
Elenor also meets an Albigensian Christian in her travels in Spain, the super hot shepherd Pierre Maury (whom I probably had some weird adolescent fantasies about). I actually got excited about this because I was able to identify Pierre as a Cathar, a member of a Christian sect that had strong dualist beliefs and believed that material goods were evil. The Catholic Church denounced the Cathars as heretics (dualist beliefs, e.g. Manicheism, were not all that popular with the official hierarchy) and the battle fought in the city of Albi with Cathar vs. Catholic ended with mass burnings of Cathars at the stake. Elenor reflects on her own town's religious divisions in after meeting Pierre - and especially after meeting his Saracen roommate, Hassan - and it gives me hope that she and Thomas inspired tolerance once they returned home. Let's be real though, it was still the year 1300 so they probably had some mass burnings of their own.
ANYWAY! This book is great, and by the end Thomas and Elenor ~totally like each other~ due to believable, interesting character development. I love this book. Everyone should read it. When you finish, you too can wear the Ramsay scallop:
This is one of my favorite YA books because it packs so much into a few hundred pages. Thomas and Elenor meet scholars, families, bards, scoundrels, monks, and even Saracens on their way to Compostela, where they will offer up the sins of their community to St. James. The book isn't so concerned with detailing every stop on the way as it is with presenting the best passages and parts of the long journey from England. And there are so many diverse medieval experiences: Elenor and Thomas talk over the Bible with a student of the new scholasticism and construction with a cathedral architect. In the stretches when they're on the road, the group tells each other stories. A personal favorite is Etienne the scholar telling the story of Patient Griselda to Marthe and Elenor, who can't even make it through the whole thing before they start booing.
I recently picked this up again because I'm reading Diarmaid MacCulloch's A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years, which talks about the origin of the Compostela pilgrimage. (Whenever I ask myself, "Where have I read about this before?" the answer is probably, "In a mostly accurate fictional YA novel ...") The Church went through a massive structural reorganization in the eleventh century, creating a new clerical hierarchy that divided land into parishes. As the medieval economy boomed, individual churches attempted to shield their parishioners from the new opportunities to sin that their wealth provided. The church increasingly began to create canon law and define new penances and roads to salvation (hey Crusades!). People outside the nobility now had the means and mobility to travel to important shrines and receive absolution.
MacCulloch brings up the Compostela pilgrimage - which is what Elenor and Thomas go on - as the flagship pilgrimage, supported by the powerful Cluny Abbey. As pilgrims poured through on the way to the fairly inaccessible northern part of Spain, the monks realized they had an opportunity. They routed pilgrims through Cluny and built their own shrines to encourage pilgrims to stop on the way, and other churches and institutions followed their example.
Elenor also meets an Albigensian Christian in her travels in Spain, the super hot shepherd Pierre Maury (whom I probably had some weird adolescent fantasies about). I actually got excited about this because I was able to identify Pierre as a Cathar, a member of a Christian sect that had strong dualist beliefs and believed that material goods were evil. The Catholic Church denounced the Cathars as heretics (dualist beliefs, e.g. Manicheism, were not all that popular with the official hierarchy) and the battle fought in the city of Albi with Cathar vs. Catholic ended with mass burnings of Cathars at the stake. Elenor reflects on her own town's religious divisions in after meeting Pierre - and especially after meeting his Saracen roommate, Hassan - and it gives me hope that she and Thomas inspired tolerance once they returned home. Let's be real though, it was still the year 1300 so they probably had some mass burnings of their own.
ANYWAY! This book is great, and by the end Thomas and Elenor ~totally like each other~ due to believable, interesting character development. I love this book. Everyone should read it. When you finish, you too can wear the Ramsay scallop:
September 3, 2013
YOU'VE COME A LONG MEDIEVAL WAY, BABY!
The book's title refers to the Scallop which may be worn by pilgrims who have completed their journey to the cathedral of St. James of Campostella in Spain--a symbol of their successful spiritual (and obviously physical) achievement.
THE RAMSAY SCALLOP provides an excellent introduction to medieval history and mentality, in both sacred and secular areas. Scattered throughout the chaste love story we uncover segments of the phenonmenon called Pilgrimage--which caught the devout spirit of m any Catholics. We follow their route (The Way, as it is reverently called) from England, through France, across the Pyrenees into Spain> During the ocurse of lthier journey readers learn about their raiment and restrictions, travel decorum, religious customs and Eastern beliefs.
The author invites her secondary charaters to elucidate the arts of cathedral building and glass blowing. We witness peaceful coexsistence between Christian and Saracen in Spain, and shiver to learn to the atrocities committed against the Albigensians because of their Biblical heresy.
The eve of the 14th century threatens the peace of mind of all Europe, but 14-year-old Elenor has a more immediate cause for alarm: the long-delayed but inevitable return from the Crusades of her fiance (betrothed during her childhood). She dreads Thomas--not only for his remembered youthful escapades--but because she secretly fears marriage and childbirth, which caused her mother's death.
Elenor chafes under the pre-nuptiual vows arranged by their parents; in fact, she welcomes any delay in becoming a wife. Thomas also is reluctant to wed and bed THE BRAT, as he thinks of her. As each is the last of their line, the marriage is necessary to preserve the Ramsay heritage. Their trusted village priest sends them on a pilgrimage, to bear the sins of the returning Crusaders, as well as the villagers who surived for 8 years without their menfolk. Thier commision is to carefully transport and deposit the scroll of confessions at the Saint's shrine.
Yet this spiritual journey will shape their personal development and focus their social destiny. Both will make difficult decisions and sacrif! ice prized possessions to benefit others. The Knights Templar lay an additional burden on Thomas: he must assume responsibility for a large group of fellow pilgrims. He has to shepherd a ragtag mob and come to terms with Nora, as she decides to be called. Their lives for three months on the road intertwine with those of many other pilgrims, some of whom become good friends; he also decide on a practical course of action for his return to the manor. And in true Canterbury Pilgrim style, they pass the time and the dusty miles by telling tales. Medieval lore cleverly set into a gem of a love story. About Roland and Charlemagne and the Legend of St. James himself. This relaxed introduction to the Middle Ages will educate and amuse young students of World History, as well as provide valuable literary detail and insight into medieval Catholicism. Like a good drama, the story ends after their imposed goal has been achieved, even though the couple have yet to return to England. There are strands of humor as well woven into this tapestry of travel, plus clever comments on the role of Women (as viewed by themselves) in Medieval Society.
(May 9, 2010. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
The book's title refers to the Scallop which may be worn by pilgrims who have completed their journey to the cathedral of St. James of Campostella in Spain--a symbol of their successful spiritual (and obviously physical) achievement.
THE RAMSAY SCALLOP provides an excellent introduction to medieval history and mentality, in both sacred and secular areas. Scattered throughout the chaste love story we uncover segments of the phenonmenon called Pilgrimage--which caught the devout spirit of m any Catholics. We follow their route (The Way, as it is reverently called) from England, through France, across the Pyrenees into Spain> During the ocurse of lthier journey readers learn about their raiment and restrictions, travel decorum, religious customs and Eastern beliefs.
The author invites her secondary charaters to elucidate the arts of cathedral building and glass blowing. We witness peaceful coexsistence between Christian and Saracen in Spain, and shiver to learn to the atrocities committed against the Albigensians because of their Biblical heresy.
The eve of the 14th century threatens the peace of mind of all Europe, but 14-year-old Elenor has a more immediate cause for alarm: the long-delayed but inevitable return from the Crusades of her fiance (betrothed during her childhood). She dreads Thomas--not only for his remembered youthful escapades--but because she secretly fears marriage and childbirth, which caused her mother's death.
Elenor chafes under the pre-nuptiual vows arranged by their parents; in fact, she welcomes any delay in becoming a wife. Thomas also is reluctant to wed and bed THE BRAT, as he thinks of her. As each is the last of their line, the marriage is necessary to preserve the Ramsay heritage. Their trusted village priest sends them on a pilgrimage, to bear the sins of the returning Crusaders, as well as the villagers who surived for 8 years without their menfolk. Thier commision is to carefully transport and deposit the scroll of confessions at the Saint's shrine.
Yet this spiritual journey will shape their personal development and focus their social destiny. Both will make difficult decisions and sacrif! ice prized possessions to benefit others. The Knights Templar lay an additional burden on Thomas: he must assume responsibility for a large group of fellow pilgrims. He has to shepherd a ragtag mob and come to terms with Nora, as she decides to be called. Their lives for three months on the road intertwine with those of many other pilgrims, some of whom become good friends; he also decide on a practical course of action for his return to the manor. And in true Canterbury Pilgrim style, they pass the time and the dusty miles by telling tales. Medieval lore cleverly set into a gem of a love story. About Roland and Charlemagne and the Legend of St. James himself. This relaxed introduction to the Middle Ages will educate and amuse young students of World History, as well as provide valuable literary detail and insight into medieval Catholicism. Like a good drama, the story ends after their imposed goal has been achieved, even though the couple have yet to return to England. There are strands of humor as well woven into this tapestry of travel, plus clever comments on the role of Women (as viewed by themselves) in Medieval Society.
(May 9, 2010. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
October 3, 2015
I read this book slowly — not to savour it, but instead to parcel out the dull task of reading it.
After a few pages, I realized that the author had no intention of writing a fulfilling scene, but rather had decided to chop her book into tiny chunks in which relatively little happened, but where she might have felt that she had imparted some historical fact to her audience, thereby rendering her effort in writing the underdeveloped story worthwhile. That possible aspiration, however, did not happen, because she never dwelt long enough on any one tidbit of information, be it political, occupational, religious, or otherwise, to give the audience a clear idea of medieval forms of life.
Worse than that, Temples does not seem to understand the meaning of a paragraph. She crammed certain trains of thought together in a haphazard manner, jerking the conscientious reader around without warning, switching from general description of landscape to a random emotional complaint of a character or confusing her actual meaning by muddling a whole string of ideas together. Her sentence structure, also, almost never varies, which does not provide even the slightest distraction from her clumsy progress.
Even her main characters did not have much chance to allow for a connection with the readers, nor did they supply a distraction from the poor craftsmanship, because their meandering thoughts and feelings (never concrete or even enjoyable) drowned out any chance of the reader relating to their personalities or struggles. A great many minor characters cropped up along the pilgrimage the book follows, but though they were all individual in background and presentation, none possessed any of the necessary life that could make them independent of the printed word and win them a place in the memory of the reader. I felt almost more attached to the two horses than the humans on the trip as a result.
I would label the book for children, since it felt even less developed than the usual juvenile novel, save that it carelessly addressed a few topics that would make a good many parents wary. With that in mind, I think that the best option for this book is actually the recycling bin.
After a few pages, I realized that the author had no intention of writing a fulfilling scene, but rather had decided to chop her book into tiny chunks in which relatively little happened, but where she might have felt that she had imparted some historical fact to her audience, thereby rendering her effort in writing the underdeveloped story worthwhile. That possible aspiration, however, did not happen, because she never dwelt long enough on any one tidbit of information, be it political, occupational, religious, or otherwise, to give the audience a clear idea of medieval forms of life.
Worse than that, Temples does not seem to understand the meaning of a paragraph. She crammed certain trains of thought together in a haphazard manner, jerking the conscientious reader around without warning, switching from general description of landscape to a random emotional complaint of a character or confusing her actual meaning by muddling a whole string of ideas together. Her sentence structure, also, almost never varies, which does not provide even the slightest distraction from her clumsy progress.
Even her main characters did not have much chance to allow for a connection with the readers, nor did they supply a distraction from the poor craftsmanship, because their meandering thoughts and feelings (never concrete or even enjoyable) drowned out any chance of the reader relating to their personalities or struggles. A great many minor characters cropped up along the pilgrimage the book follows, but though they were all individual in background and presentation, none possessed any of the necessary life that could make them independent of the printed word and win them a place in the memory of the reader. I felt almost more attached to the two horses than the humans on the trip as a result.
I would label the book for children, since it felt even less developed than the usual juvenile novel, save that it carelessly addressed a few topics that would make a good many parents wary. With that in mind, I think that the best option for this book is actually the recycling bin.
March 5, 2014
In 5th grade, when I read the sequel to this book The Beduins' Gazelle, I really enjoyed it. So I was excited to see what The Ramsay Scallop would be like. Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed. To start off with, the main character, Elenor, although fourteen, is pretty naive and immature. In fact, she thinks much like I did at age ten. Furthermore, she has the typical "I'm-betrothed-to-be-married-but-I-don't-want-to-be-married-so-I'll-mope" syndrome. So many books about teenage girls in this era are like this, and it gets old pretty quickly. Even her betrothed, Thomas, has a typical emotionally troubled backstory. So these unoriginal characters get sent together on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in order to get rid of the sins of their estate. As they travel, they meet random people on the road whom they immediately strike up a deep and abiding friendship with. They don't have to get to know these people at all, they just instantly decide to travel together for the rest of the journey. For all Elenor and Thomas know, these strangers could be pickpockets trying to get into their good graces before stealing their money. Of course, that never happens. In fact, there isn't much plot at all in the book. No discernible plot line in the least. Instead, it's mostly about the relationships Elenor and Thomas have with the random strangers. They almost never come into any danger, and nothing particularly exciting or dramatic ever happens, making this a pretty un-entertaining read. While Frances Temple certainly does a good job getting the feel of the early medieval days across, she doesn't succeed in telling a good story. If you do read this, read it for the historical accuracy rather than for an entertaining adventure.
June 1, 2010
I was *really* looking forward to this book, yet it turned out to be nothing like I expected. 14-year-old Eleanor is betrothed to Thomas, aparently somewhere in his 20s, who is currently away on the Crusades. She hopes he will never come home, and when he does, dreads the day they will be wed. For his part, Thomas refers to her as "the Brat" and has no interest in matrimony, it is the 1300's.
The village priest decides to send this reluctant pair on a journey to far away Spain, to the shrine of St. James in order to bring forgiveness on the village.
The plot sounded really interesting, but it was disapointing. I found I couldn't relate to either character, or even take to much interest in their lives. The writing isn't spectacular and the only thing the book has going for it is the historical portrayal.
The village priest decides to send this reluctant pair on a journey to far away Spain, to the shrine of St. James in order to bring forgiveness on the village.
The plot sounded really interesting, but it was disapointing. I found I couldn't relate to either character, or even take to much interest in their lives. The writing isn't spectacular and the only thing the book has going for it is the historical portrayal.
November 18, 2011
I don’t know why I liked this book. It’s not exiting. It’s not scary. It’s told in medieval times, which isn’t exactly my favorite setting. Something about it, though, caught my favor.
It did have its funny moments. The dialog was was witty, and the characters were well developed.
The best way to describe it is by saying that is was charming. Told kind of like a fairy tale, yet not unrealistic. Also, it was very well written.
One would think, by any description of this book, that it would be boring. And it probably is, to lovers of action packed novels. But to me it always had just the right level of melancholy excitement to keep it interesting.
It did have its funny moments. The dialog was was witty, and the characters were well developed.
The best way to describe it is by saying that is was charming. Told kind of like a fairy tale, yet not unrealistic. Also, it was very well written.
One would think, by any description of this book, that it would be boring. And it probably is, to lovers of action packed novels. But to me it always had just the right level of melancholy excitement to keep it interesting.
February 8, 2021
I read this when I was in middle school I think, so I don't remember much. I know they went on a religious journey together and that he was older than her and they were supposed to marry. He didn't like her and they didn't get along well. They slowly come to feel differently towards each other. There's a beautiful church or structure being built that they watch, with maybe stained glass or something. And one night it's cold and he sleeps up against her to keep her warm. I was lucky enough to buy it when my library got rid of it and sent it to their bookshop.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2008
This is Susan's review. I included it because I also read this and I want to remember to recommend this.
Grades 6-8
AR 5.6
Fourteen-year-old Elinor, an orphan, is promised to Sir Thomas hen he returns from the Crusades. She fears death in childbirth, as it came to her mother, but she can’t hope Thomas will die in battle, because then his mean father will marry her. Despite Elinor’s hopes that Thomas will stay away a long time, he returns. Father Gregory sees that the soldiers who return with Thomas need a way to move on from the sins they committed while away, and that Elinor needs time to grow. Father Gregory sends Thomas and Elinor on a chaste pilgrimage to Santiago, to carry the sins of the village to the shrine there. On their travels, the two have many adventures, meet fascinating people, mature and fall in love.
Reminiscent of Catherine Called Birdy, but by no means a clone, this quieter book should interest fans of medieval times.
Grades 6-8
AR 5.6
Fourteen-year-old Elinor, an orphan, is promised to Sir Thomas hen he returns from the Crusades. She fears death in childbirth, as it came to her mother, but she can’t hope Thomas will die in battle, because then his mean father will marry her. Despite Elinor’s hopes that Thomas will stay away a long time, he returns. Father Gregory sees that the soldiers who return with Thomas need a way to move on from the sins they committed while away, and that Elinor needs time to grow. Father Gregory sends Thomas and Elinor on a chaste pilgrimage to Santiago, to carry the sins of the village to the shrine there. On their travels, the two have many adventures, meet fascinating people, mature and fall in love.
Reminiscent of Catherine Called Birdy, but by no means a clone, this quieter book should interest fans of medieval times.
November 17, 2010
Elenor who later becomes known as Nora, is betrothed to Thomas, a boy before he left for the crusades, but later comes back and is a man. They disliked eachother since childhood, but now that they are older they have to do their duty and be married. But the kind Father of the church decided that since Elenor was still of a young age, and too small to yet have children, he comes up with a plan of having the betrothed to make a pilgrimage. And hopefully find a liking in one another. As the two make their way to St. James, they meet many people, hear facinating stories, and learn more about the world, people, and themselves.
I enjoyed reading this book. Not only was it a story, but there were many stories within the folds of the book. I would suggest 'The Ramsay Scallop' who enjoys sitting back and reading stories upon stories.
I enjoyed reading this book. Not only was it a story, but there were many stories within the folds of the book. I would suggest 'The Ramsay Scallop' who enjoys sitting back and reading stories upon stories.
October 24, 2013
I enjoyed the Medieval setting and look into this time period's mind set. Since the two main characters have an arranged engagement they are not too keen on, it is enjoyable to come along on their religious pilgrimage where she grows up a bit and he begins to thaw. You do have to read between the lines a bit to see it unfold. Interesting supporting characters come along that are also fodder for your imagination as the author is just descriptive enough. It may bore some readers as the story is gradual.
Since there are some religious themes and minor sexual themes, I would not recommend it for children (she is found by a shepherd and when she awakes, he has undressed her and put her under warm blankets to revive her, he then offers to "enjoy themselves", she turns down the offer but it still puts a sexual undercurrent in the book)
Since there are some religious themes and minor sexual themes, I would not recommend it for children (she is found by a shepherd and when she awakes, he has undressed her and put her under warm blankets to revive her, he then offers to "enjoy themselves", she turns down the offer but it still puts a sexual undercurrent in the book)
May 6, 2012
A kind of Canterbury Tales for young readers, The Ramsay Scallop tells the story of two people who are tasked with taking the sins of their village to Santiago. The year is 1300 and as men come home from the Crusades, the people of a small English estate struggle to accept the changes that homecoming must mean. Father Gregory sends Elenor, the 14-year-old lord's daughter, and her betrothed Thomas, leader of the returning Crusaders. During more than 4 months on the road, they meet all kinds of people, hear many stories (including at least one of Chaucer's), and learn to appreciate both their roles in life and each other.
I love this novel for its belief in the goodness in people.
I love this novel for its belief in the goodness in people.
June 17, 2009
Here's a journey of self-discovery! Elenor, a girl of rank, has an arranged marriage to a knight returning from the crusades. But the returning warriors have a burden on their shoulders that needs lifting. A pilgrimage is determined to be the answer the village needs in order to heal, but only Elenor and her betrothed are given the task. They must follow specific rules or forfeit the forgiveness the pilgrimage will afford the villagers. All in all a good read. If you like Karen Cushman's "Matilda Bone" and "The Midwife's Apprentice" you'll find you like this style of writing and the time period it's based in. Fun, quick read!
June 3, 2011
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I was pre-reading it to see if it would be appropriate for my 10-year old daughter. While it would go along with our history studies perfectly, there was too much sexual awareness, however gentle, for a middle school child. For me it was a quick and pleasant read. There are many deep topics alluded to that would make interesting discussions with a high school student: sacrifice, body and soul relationship, Christianity and Islam, different sects of Christianity, duty and marriage, just war, etc.
January 16, 2013
If every book takes the reader into a new world, then points to Frances Temple for inviting her audience into the old, long-gone world of medieval pilgrimage. Temple does a fine job telling the story of a journey to St. James of Compostela, borrowing from Chaucer the idea of pilgrims telling
stories within the story. Her characters are uniformly likeable, their adventures jog along at a steady pace, and with minor exceptions,
her research about life in the 13th/14th century is good. Am I damning her with faint praise when I say this is an earnest effort? Kind of . . .
stories within the story. Her characters are uniformly likeable, their adventures jog along at a steady pace, and with minor exceptions,
her research about life in the 13th/14th century is good. Am I damning her with faint praise when I say this is an earnest effort? Kind of . . .
August 25, 2009
Lovely, spare little novel set in Medieval England. Two reluctantly betrothed young people are sent on a pilgrimage to seek forgiveness for the sins of their town. Along the way, they learn about the possibilities in the world around them, in the people they meet, and in each other. Written for lower-level readers, and at first the simplicity of the prose annoyed me, but the story is no less rich nor the meaning any less powerful because of it.
December 5, 2012
This was a great depiction of what occurred in 1300's and about the journey that Thomas and Eleanor in park on a pilgrimage to Spain. Thomas came back from the crusades and really doesn't know about marriage and lordship. Eleanor is not sure about marriage as well and she cannot bear children because she is too small. They were betrothed to each other at a young age and barely know one another. They will learn a lot about each other with this long journey to Spain.
January 27, 2009
This book is chock-full of fascinating information about the "turn of the century"... 1299-1300. A personal view of the problems of the Crusades and the religious pilgrimages undertaken by many at the time makes the time period come to life. At first I was disappointed by the characters emotional blandness, but as the book went on, I found them to feel real. Very nicely written!
February 9, 2009
This was my favorite book for a long time. I love the way the love is naturally developed.
I read it first from the library, and was horrified and yet delighted to find it in the next book sale. Horrified, that no one else should read it, and delighted, because I was going to purchase it for the reasonable price of a quarter.
I read it first from the library, and was horrified and yet delighted to find it in the next book sale. Horrified, that no one else should read it, and delighted, because I was going to purchase it for the reasonable price of a quarter.
November 24, 2012
This was a nice book to read as a break from tough literature in high school! I loved the story, the characters, and the journey. The Ramsay Scallop is a quite easy and fun read as it only took me less than a day to read. The writing is simple, but yet it is well written. It is now one of my favorite books!
May 24, 2010
I'd give this a 3.5 if I could; the story is interesting, the writing a bit less than stellar even though it is a ALA Best Book. Basically good solid historical fiction about a time we read little about (late 1200's)
June 24, 2010
A story of pilgrimage, love, and growth which acknowledges the "tough stuff" of medieval life in a tasteful way. The characters are colourful and endearing, and their journey along the Pilgrim Way is a younger person's Canterbury Tales.
February 13, 2012
I really love this book! Nora (Elinor)and Thomas's relationship developes so slowly that I hardly noticed it, but it really did develope. I thought that the characters were all very well developed, and it was a very refreshing break from vampires and werewolves. =)
April 28, 2012
First medieval-period book I've read in a looong time that had something new to offer... the style definitely reminded me of James Joyce, but then again the author had her own great style that she used, too. The story was thought-provoking and tender and I highly recommend it to anyone.
November 16, 2013
Maybe more like 3.5 stars. This book was a nice read. Not amazing, but not to dull. I liked all the information in it, and the story wasn't so bad either. It just didn't take off at all for me, and the ending seemed a bit abrupt.
October 8, 2017
Mostly 3 stars instead of 4 because I think I will forget it pretty quickly. But I loved it for being a different era and for, ohhhh, showing the realities of life and not sugar coating things too much. And I think I'd have been pretty into as a kid.
November 17, 2008
I loved the poetic narration and rich history of this book, I just wish the ending was a little more solid. (I am still uncertain as to the meaning of the title.)
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August 30, 2010I read this book Sophomore year and I remember enjoying it. I'd like to re-read it again as an adult and remember what I enjoyed about it in the first place.
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