One of my Top Ten Favs... | The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children)

Earth's Children Series (all 5 books) | The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children) | Jean M. Auel

books:


	• The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children) Jean M. Auel Bantam Books, 1983 - 495 pages average customer review:based on 476 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A MUST READ!

For anyone not familiar with Jean Auel's work you're in for a real treat!
The first book in her Earth's Children series is the beginning of one of the most
imaginative, well-researched, darn tootin' good stories ever written. Fascinating, memorable characters and the
rare chance to learn a little something about the earth in its ancient pre-history days are only the beginning of what Auel has to offer in the Clan of the Cave Bear.
Also note, if you've seen the movie adaptation starring Darryl Hannah (or likely the first twenty minutes before giving up) you'll be happy to know that the book
is nothing like it. I think there are many elements of the story that really do not translate well into a movie format. Since I've read the book, I enjoyed a few aspects of the movie because I already knew what was going on.
The book is a delightful read. Tough to put down and the kind of story that stays with you and really makes you stop and think about people and how we came to be the way we are. If you've made it this far in my little love rant over this book, you've just gotta buy it!! You won't regret it, and neither will the people you lend it to after you've read it. But be careful about lending it. The reason I'm writing this book review is because I had to buy a new one since my first copy was borrowed and never returned!

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One of my Top Ten Favs...

An old favorite, the series by Auel was just recently brought back to mind when I found it at the library and reread The Clan of the Cave Bear. I had the entire series up to The Shelters of Stone but unfortunately lost them in Katrina. Between that and my 1st edition collection of Harry Potter hardbacks I still swallow a sniffle. An epic tale, deeply rooted in historical fantasy, the series is a wonderful view of pre-historic man's (woman's) life and a series that I cherished for a long time. While the last book that I read The Shelters of Stone was a disappointment, the other books were highly enjoyable and up there as a Top Ten PJV Series Favorite.

REVIEW: The series focuses on a Cro-Magnun female named Ayla who loses her parents in an earthquake and is raised by Neanderthals. Being a member of a more evolved species than Neanderthal man, Ayla is distrusted by a lot of the Neanderthal clan, but loved by the woman Isa that adopted her, and her brother, the spiritual leader of the clan. The first book covers Ayla's life within the clan and the trials she must face as a child of the Others, never to fully be accepted by her adopted people.

In later books (you might want to stop reading here if you would like to avoid spoilers) Ayla travels from her life within the Neanderthal clan to find her own people. On the journey she finds out just how diverse her own people are and how even distrust runs through them when an unknown element is introduced. Ayla even finds something that she would have never found within the Clan. She finds love, the love of a man and with him she finally finds acceptance and home. Their journey is what plays out in the later books, always hinting at a final bloody conclusion that matches Clan with Other, the son she left within the Clan and the son she will bear with her new people.

The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children)You can't pass up this series, I really recommend it. Auel spins a tale in a voice that will resonate through you. The research she put into writing these novels shows within every sentence. I felt as if I could be living within the cave walls with these people, instead of just reading about them. Ayla as a character took a place within my heart as few characters do, and I love to visit her every now and again to check in and see how life is treating her in the harsh Paleolithic world.

I enjoyed every book in this series, except for The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children). I did read it through though, but it's poor plot and excessive repeating of back-story was a major disappointment and left me with a sour taste in my mouth regarding the series. But don't let that hold you back from reading the first four!

RECOMMENDATIONS: Fans of fantasy and early man historicals should enjoy. But I also recommend this to anyone that would enjoy a good epic adventure that has a bit of romance, a lot of action, along with a ton of information that just might school you along the way.

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Earth's Children Series (all 5 books)

This review is for the entire Earth's Children series. I purchased the set from Pristine Books through Amazon.com. Overall I was very impressed with this seller, and would certainly order from Marguerite again. I received the order quickly, and all five books were carefully packed. Upon arrival I was very happy with the last three books of the series - they were first editions and in excellent condition. I was initially disappointed with The Clan of the Cave Bear (it was a 2001 rather than 1980 printing) and The Valley of Horses (it was a 1982 printing as hoped but the maps on the inside of the cover were discolored). I emailed the seller through Amazon and Marguerite responded promptly to my concerns. She went out of her way to replace both books, and I am now very happy with them (both are early prints in very good condition). Marguerite shipped the replacements at no additional cost and paid for the return shipping of the original books. The first two books of this series are apparently more challenging to find, so if an early print or first edition is imperative to you I would recommend you contact the seller prior to placing your order. If Marguerite does not have them in stock I'm sure she will do her best to find them for you. As for the books themselves, the series is wonderful!

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a man who hits his people can never lead the Clan

Little nonsense with great characters, what more can one ask for in a novel??? A plot, yep a pretty good one.

The story carries itself from begging to end with a slew of people (or flatheads) that inspire emotions such as pity, fear, hate, or just interest.

Speaking of hate, Broud is a punk that if I ever ran into him in an alley..... I would run for my life, the flatheads are really tough and he is one mean dude.

Ayla, Our Prehistoric Scarlet!

This novel is wonderfully well written and the reader automatically falls in love with, Ayla, a Chro-Magnon woman who finds herself living with Neanderthals. She faces many turmoils and she never gives up or indulges in lingering depression. Like Scarlet O'Hara, Ayla always knows that tomorrow is another day!

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Story of the orphaned Ayla's struggle to fit in and survive in the period when Cro-Magnons and Neanderthals existed at the same time on the Earth.