It's What We're Reading Wednesday! Ranger's Apprentice!

I first reviewed John Flanagan's epic Ranger's Apprentice series here, back in 2008, when my high school senior was nine years old.  At least four of us have kept up with every new installment over the last five years.

Number 12, The Royal Ranger was recently published.  As my library has an incredibly long wait time for that volume, I re-visited Number 11, The Lost Stories.

The premise of The Lost Stories is a little hokey, but forgiveable.  Modern day archaeologists digging near the ruins of Castle Redmont find the remains of a cabin in the woods.  In that cabin, they discover a locked box with the Lost Stories of the Royal Rangers.

Flanagan uses this device to answer readers' specific questions about such topics as what really happened to Will's father, how did Halt go from being in line for the the throne of Clonmel to employment as a Ranger of Araluen, what happened to Gilan after Halt left for Skandia?

These and other stories are all told with the same warm-yet-wry writing style that Flanagan uses to spin all of his tales.

If you haven't read the first ten Ranger's Apprentice books, you aren't going "to get" this one.  But if like me, you happen to be a devoted fan of John Flanagan, you may get choked up at some of the scenes.

If you haven't read the first ten Ranger's Apprentice books, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? They are pure adventure tales, like Robin Hood meets King Arthur meets the Lord of the Rings, with touches of fantasy, and a strong dose of medieval history.

This is where you should begin.

A little back story...Will, Jenny, Alyss, Horace and someone else...I forget who...were all orphans raised as wards of Castle Redmont in bonny old Araluen.  Young Will has always dreamed of becoming an apprentice warrior, but his size, specifically his height, or lack thereof  hinders his abilities in that regard.  Enter Halt.  The mysterious crusty old Ranger, who takes Will as an apprentice to one of the noblest occupations in the kingdom.

Rangers are trained in archery, silent movement, small arms combat, and other things helpful in the field of  espionage.  The Ranger's job is to keep the kingdom (and it's people) safe from invaders, traitors, thieves, and tyrants.  It's an incredible and eventful career, just not one that Will had imagined for himself.

In one of their first quests, Will and his sometimes-rival, Horace (who is definitely warrior material) find the missing Princess Cassandra.  Will faces Morgarath, is kidnapped with the princess by Skandians, escapes the Skandians, and goes on to defeat brutes and evil-doers all over the known world.  Every adventure is better than the last, with the original wards from Book One, appearing and re-appearing throughout.

The weaponry and military maneuvers appear accurate to my novice eye, and told in a manner that is easily grasped by my non-militaristic mind.  Yet, Flanagan never bores me!

The Ranger's Apprentice books use very little magic.  The first few volumes do have magically created monsters, used by the evil Morgarath, but the "good guys" apparently have no magical abilities, and they STILL manage to defeat evil.

Like all great stories, Flangan originally wrote these tales for his grandson, Michael who was a 10 year old reluctant reader at the time.  Go to http://www.rangersapprentice.com/ and register as a ranger to read that and more in an interview with author and grandparent, John Flanagan.

There is another series by Flanagan that has some cross-over with the Ranger's Apprentice settings and characters:  The Brotherband Chronicles.  I have not read it myself, but I fully intend to read and enjoy it soon.

An InLinkz Link-up

7 Quick Takes Friday

--- 1 ---

I got Baby J some super cute legwarmers at American Eagle on clearance. No, American Eagle does not sell baby legwarmers, but they do sell wristlets or fingerless gloves that fit these chunky gams. See that hole in the pic? Technically, that's a thumb hole. I'll sew that shut in my spare time.

--- 2 ---

I spent a good part of my week folding laundry and watching Gods and Generals. It's very good. Very long, but very good. Peter will be going on an Civil War History trip this summer, and I think we will be watching lots of Civil War films in preparation. Gettysburg and Glory are on my list. I think we all need some history supplements around here.

Lucy watched Gods and Generals for a few minutes and then asked, "Which World War is this?"

Edmund kept asking, "Which guys are the bad guys?" "Well, they are all Americans." I tried to explain various reasons for secession... states' rights...Northern aggression...all of the things I learned in my "Southern" revisionist history classes in grade school. He kept asking me, "Yes, but who are the bad guys?" I explained that General Stonewall Jackson and General Robert E. Lee were good and prayerful men who desired the abolition of slavery in the Confederacy. I attempted to explain "Brother against brother." "But, Mom, who are the bad guys?"

"Fine! It's the South! I guess you could say the Rebels are the bad guys."

At which point, Lucy asked, "We won this? Didn't we?"

sigh.

--- 3 ---

With only one Downton Abbey episode a week now, I am so happy that White Collar is back. Cultured, criminal hottie, Neal Caffrey is one of tv's best dressed characters. But FBI agent, Peter Burke (played by Tim deKay) is the better played role, in my humble opinion. This show is 99% clean and my older three really like it. It's so nice when I can find a program we can watch as a family. The Chef is just not interested in Nineteen Kids and Counting.

--- 4 ---

I'm reading The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner. I read three fourths of A Conspiracy of Kings, before I realized that it is the fourth in the series. No, this wasn't a "blonde" moment. No where on the book does it say it's the fourth one. I was riveted but very confused. The Thief is the first and a Newbery Honor book. I'm excited to find a new adventure series. This one reminds me of The Ranger's Apprentice books by John Flanagan, which I love.

--- 5 ---

The Chef and I are reading The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White, aloud to Edmund. I have never read this before. I don't know why, since I adore both Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little. I have longed considered the following passage from Stuart Little to be the summation of all that is good in the sensory world.

"Henry Rackmeyer, you tell us what is important." "A shaft of sunlight at the end of a dark afternoon, a note in music, and the way the back of a baby's neck smells if its mother keeps it tidy," answered Henry. "Correct," said Stuart. "Those are the important things. You forgot one thing, though. Mary Bendix, what did Henry Rackmeyer forget?" "He forgot ice cream with chocolate sauce on it," said Mary quickly. "Exactly," said Stuart. "Ice cream is important."

--- 6 ---

The Chef and I both grew up with our parents reading aloud to us. The Chef's father read the children chapters of books such as The Hobbit, the Little House book, the Chronicles of Narnia, typically before bedtime, and usually stopping each night at a most exciting point. My mother read to us after dinner. She also read The Hobbit, and The Secret Garden (click here for a free audiobook), The Outlaws of Ravenhurst, and The Trumpeter of Krakow. Fortunately for me, she only stopped when the author ended a chapter.

I can still hear my mother's voice as she described the beautiful garden behind the wall.

--- 7 ---

Edmund's skating birthday party was an injury free success, Deo Gratias! And we'll be back on the ice tonight, snowstorm or not. Have a lovely weekend!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Happy New Year!

Included in this post: a giveaway, an announcement, and more!!!

Quick update on my last post. Isabel asked about what Susan is reading, so I am copying my response here:

Thanks for the suggestion, Isabel. (She recommended The Grunt Padre for Peter to read.) Susan is starting The Outcasts from John Flanagan's new Brotherband series and is second in line for The Warlock by Michael Scott, which I am reading. This series (The Immortal Secrets of Nicholas Flamel) has gotten way out of control with new characters, realms, battles, doublecrossing, I don't even know who is good and who is bad anymore. It's decent kids' fantasy but I'm no longer a fan.


I began The Outcasts and stopped. I was daunted by the glossary of sailing terms that comes as an intro. Post Christmas, I tired of the Whirly Words app on my iPhone, tried The Outcasts again and really enjoyed it.

The plot is very similar to the first Rangers' Apprentice book, The Ruins of Gorlan. Hal, like Will, is a disadvantaged boy about to begin Brotherband training in Skandia, the setting of this book. Hal's Skandian father died a hero, and his Araluen mother is a former slave, so he doesn't quite fit in with the Skandian boys his age.

Brotherband training is when all the boys turning 16 in within a single year are divided into teams and taught necessary skills like weapons mastery and ship navigation. Sounds a lot like the apprenticeship program in Ranger's Apprentice.

I enjoyed it. I skipped the glossary of terms and never referred to it. I don't think I missed out on anything either. Young readers can always refer to it if needed.

That's about it on books. But here are some other things I recommend this winter:


A must have in Chicago this time of year. I was checking out at the Sephora inside Penney's, and it just so happened that "my lips hurt real bad."



I quickly grabbed this lip treatment and added it to my purchases. The $22.50 price tag gave me pause, but my lips "hurt REAL bad." I love it. I may be addicted to it. The flavor is delicious and the light tint of color makes me feel less pasty this time of year. (I did not know it would give me a "sexy, just-bitten" look as noted in the Fresh website description.)


Silk, sock liners from Lands' End. They aren't scratchy like wool, and they are thin enough that they don't make my shoes too tight when worn under regular shoes. And for those who live in warmer climes, my sil in Ft. Worth wears them as regular socks under her cowgirl boots.

And lastly, this foaming soap is keeping us from having cracked hands. I've used the Earth Mama Angel Baby products before and I love everything I've bought from them. The Angel Baby Bottom Balm has myrrh in it. Have you ever smelled myrrh? It smells spicy, kind of piney, reminds me of chrism. Do you think Mary used it as bottom balm for baby Jesus? It works really well. Also, I use the Angel Baby Shampoo and Body Wash and the Angel Baby Oil to make my own organic baby wipes.

Anyway, Fresh, Lands' End, and Earth Mama Angel Baby have never heard of me. But I am giving away a travel size bottle of the Angel Baby Shampoo and Body Wash and a pair of Lands' End Womens' Medium sock liners in Ecru. All you have to do is comment on this post, and for a second entry, you can "like" my post on Facebook and comment here again to let me know. The winner will be picked on Sunday, January 8th, the Feast of the Epiphany.

Lastly, this blog is undergoing a transformation. You may have noticed that you were re-directed to my new site at www.housewifespice.com where I will continue to blog about books, but lots of other things as well: movies, recipes, tv shows, daily life, science fair experiments (planned and unplanned), and so on. I'm still a Catholic mom who is crazy about books, but I'm crazy about other things too that I'd like to share with you.