Customer Reviews

The Ramsay Scallop

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

It was customary in medieval times for the children of nobility to be pledged in marriage by their parents long before they were old enough to understand it. Property, peace, and wealth were the underpinnings of the relationships, not love or compatibility of age and interests. Fourteen-year-old Eleanor and Thomas, who is eight years older, are the betrothed couple in this story, set at the beginning of the 14th century in England. Thomas has been gone on Crusade for eight years, and Eleanor has no desire to marry him (or anyone else), as she recalls his teasing and torment of her when she was small. The two are sent on religious pilgrimage to a shrine in Spain as "chaste companions" by the priest who has been Eleanor's guardian since the death of her parents. On this journey, Eleanor comes to understand that the adult Thomas is not the boy who went away. She begins to think about marriage very differently, and Thomas makes peace with some of the bitterness an! d disillusionment that he brought back from Crusade. The story is filled with vivid images of peasant and noble life, and it contains a plot that is as enjoyable as it is predictable. Interspersed are stories told by various characters, clearly evocative of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Good sixth or seventh grade readers who appreciate strongly-drawn characters and their relationships more than battle-filled action should like it very much. A teacher using this book with a discussion group will find many challenging philosophical ideas to explore that have relevance in modern times.

The Ramsay Scallop is a very good young adult novel, though it has a few flaws. The story is set in the year 1299, and its two main characters are Eleanor and Thomas. The two are betrothed to one another through an arranged marriage, but they neither one can bear the thought of marriage. Thomas, who has been away fighting in the crusades, only remembers Eleanor as "The Brat" who he pestered as a child. Eleanor only remembers Thomas as a cruel kid, and she fears having to bear children because of her slight build. Though they neither one relish the thought of marriage, there really isn't an alternate choice for the two of them....that is, until Father Gregory decides to send them on a pilgrimage to Spain together. Along the way, the two meet people and have experiences that begin to draw them towards one another. They begin to realize the beauties that the other holds for them.

The novel could be perfect except for two flaws. One is that sometimes the prose is unpolished and rough. The pace is slow (which is not a fault), but sometimes the prose along with that pacing makes the story drag a bit too much. Younger readers, in particular, may have trouble getting through these slower parts. The other flaw with the novel is with its clumsy handling of God. Temple is very correct to introduce religion to the book. The conflicts that each character in the book may have with Europe's religion are important and valid. But Temple only seems to introduce the topic. She raises questions about what the main characters believe and are beginning to believe, but before she finishes studying the topic, she drops it.

Though there are some small flaws with the novel, The Ramsay Scallop has some definite strong points. Overall, it is difficult to find very much better than it is. It is even more rare to find a book with this kind of writing set in the Middle Ages. The Ramsay Scallop is a fascinating young adult novel.

My daughter has read this book many times between the age of 7 and 12 years old, and it was she who requested that I read it as well.

This book brought to life a moment in history. The rich descriptions of the environment brought the sounds, smell, anxiety, hardships, and friendships of the time, to life. It was fascinating to again be aware that all these people were travelling through Europe, all speaking more-or-less the same language, and how in just a few centuries, that language diverged into Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese.

My daughter and I both recommend this book to teachers whose students are studying this time period, and are looking for supplemental reading material to help bring that time and place in history to life.

Based on other reviews, I realize that some 12-year olds may not like this book, but many would... even if they DO also enjoy more fast-paced books.

Well, after reading all of the other reviews offered at the bottom of this page, I was suddenly motivated to write a review of my own. I loved this book and was a bit confused at first about why others hated it.I think that the readers who reviewed this book and thought it was bad were not prepared for all of the information or didn't expect it to be how it was. Obviously there has to be something about this book or else it wouldn't've won the ALA Best Book for Young Adults award. I thought it was very interesting to learn about this time period and all this religious stuff got kind of boring but then you sort of got intrigued. The best part of the book was the blooming romance between the main characters Thomas and Elenor. I loved how at first Thomas referred to Elenor as "the Brat" and then eventually switched to Nora. I'm only a teenager and know as much about pilgrimmage as I do about gnu herding in West Africa (if there is such a thing). I found myself engrossed, though, and all in all it was a really good book I think.

Although i agree that this book was slow moving and the characters roles could have delve deepe into another story this was a good book....It's not about action so i don't understand why you would gather that from it it's about relatinships and hardship not action!!! I suggest this to the young history buff if interested in HISTORY NOT action

Although it's not the best I've ever read, (which is partly why I gave it a 4-star rating) The Ramsay Scallop is interesting, particularly for people who like long-ago stories and who are doing reports for the years around 1300. As for just a fun-read, it's okay. The characters go through a lot of development. For instance, when they leave on a pilgramage, Eleanor and Thomas (they're betrothed, by the way), at first they hate each other. They don't talk at all, and one will do something the other person has warned against, just to spite the other person. By the end, though, they have come to love each other and Eleanor has gotten to know the world a little better.

The Plot: After Thomas returns from the Crusades, not all that stable after all the killing he has seen, the resident 'preist' sends both Thomas and Eleanor on a pilgrimage. He hopes to let them get to know each other a little better. The rest of the book is about the people they meet and the adventures they have. There are many different stories within this book, mostly tales told by people they meet up with during the journey. So the plot is mostly about their journey.

It's a very educational story, telling a lot how life was back then. But if you're the type of person, like me, that loves adventure, you won't get much of it in this book. I'd say it's best for ages 9&up.

Who ever says THIS is a slow paced book hasn't read the great classics.THe best books i have read are ones in which you do not wish to leave the characters behind. Though the writer could have written more about the characters but basically its a tale of journey and self-discovery & that is what has been portrayed
I love medieval times, it was as if they were magical times, with honor, modesty and the world just beginning to grow right before your eyes. It was an age of enlightment and this book does in a way tell you what would have gone on during the 14th century.

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. We follow their route (The Way, as it is reverently called) from England, through France, across the Pyrenees into Spain; we learn of 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; 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, 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 seen by themselves) in Medieval Society.

When I first read this when I was 12 years old, I found it to be quite a drag. The characters talked on and on and there was no real action. Two years later though, I'm beginning to see something more in it. As my title suggests, it has hidden, quiet sort of beauty. The heroine of the book, Elenor, at first appears to be a flat charcter, as do the rest. The author skips lightly from one revolutionary thought or revelation of Elenor's to another. A lot of the moments that should be keyed up, getting the readers primed from something interesting to happened (At least interesting for The Ramsay Scallop) are laid out in a monotone "voice". Still, if you're willing to spend time on this book, concentrating on every sentance, I think you might see the beauty in it that I do. The conflict between Elenor and her betrothed, Thomas. How they learn more about each other and in time, see the strengths and beauties in one another. This book is not for the reader that likes action and suspence, so I do not reccomend it for that reason. However, if you are the sort of reader that likes to take your time and ponder hidden meanings, than this is the book for you.

I liked this book, but in my opinion it ends too early. The numerous stories that were told by the characters were unnecessary and dragged on. On a better note, I found many parts realistic, enchanting and sweet. A very interesting book like none I've read before.