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2.92 AVERAGE
2.92 AVERAGE
This book was disappointing. The ending was too abrupt, and there are too many incomplete storylines. There was too much repetition. The characters should already have grown past the fears that broke them apart again. It's a tad disappointing after how amazing books 1 to 4 are.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
All I can say is super repetitive.
Just when you thought there was nothing left for Ayla to invent, she went and invented .
Was that really what the entire series was leading up to? Sorry, but I was very disappointed. It didn't feel like the ending of anything, but I don't know if I could make it through another book. It was long and repetitive and boring and tedious and repetitive.
Maybe some of it was me, after going back and reading reviews of the other books, it seems like the other books were repetitive and poorly written as well. I really liked the other books at the time and was looking forward to this one, but I read the first three in 1989 and the other two soon after they were released. I've read so much since then, maybe I just no longer have the patience for this type of book.
There were no surprises, nothing you couldn't guess from reading the previous books. Nothing really happened, there was no story telling, she just explained everything in grave detail.
I won this book through the goodreads first-reads program. It is an uncorrected proof and goodreads is mentioned in the publicity information inside the back cover.
Spoiler
monogamyWas that really what the entire series was leading up to? Sorry, but I was very disappointed. It didn't feel like the ending of anything, but I don't know if I could make it through another book. It was long and repetitive and boring and tedious and repetitive.
Maybe some of it was me, after going back and reading reviews of the other books, it seems like the other books were repetitive and poorly written as well. I really liked the other books at the time and was looking forward to this one, but I read the first three in 1989 and the other two soon after they were released. I've read so much since then, maybe I just no longer have the patience for this type of book.
There were no surprises, nothing you couldn't guess from reading the previous books. Nothing really happened, there was no story telling, she just explained everything in grave detail.
I won this book through the goodreads first-reads program. It is an uncorrected proof and goodreads is mentioned in the publicity information inside the back cover.
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The best word to describe what I feel is: bittersweet.
Auel’s work and research are tremendous over the course of this series. I’m really thankful that she was able to entwine the knowledge she has gathered over the years with a beautiful fictional story.
I loved and hated what I read. The first book, The Clan of the Cave Bear, was one of her best and my favourite was the second one, The Valley of Horses. After that, I struggled quite a bit with the redundancy and some plot choices.
The two main plot points of The Land of Painted Caves (Ayla becoming Zelandoni, which includes the visiting of the painted caves - that takes such a big part of the book that I have to consider it as a main other plot ) started out to be promising. But disappointment started creeping in when Auel renewed a whole plot from The Mammoth Hunters only as a means to have a dramatic effect at the end - when Jondalar has to come running to zelandonia’s dwelling to save Ayla, because they were estranged and he wasn’t around .
The redundancy was still overwhelmingly present: Ayla’s accent, the Mother song, her exotic beauty, all the names and ties, etc. That being said, I felt that the pacing of this book was handled so much better than the last five ones, as it was divided into three parts and we went through 7 years.
The end was troubling. I expected so much more but I understand why Auel wanted to finish with this particular aspect. Overall, I think that some plot points weren’t explored, even though they deserved it, and some events I feel should have happened and they didn’t (meeting her son Durc, for instance ). Surprisingly, and quite ironically, I felt that the ending was rushed.
It is bittersweet for me because I love these characters but in some ways, I feel like Auel didn’t do them justice. However, I can see her writing bettering itself, especially from the The Shelters of Stone to this one. And, once again, the heavily detailed descriptions are truly one of a kind and I’m thankful for Auel and her ability to transport us to the Upper Paleolithic era, as if she was there herself.
Auel’s work and research are tremendous over the course of this series. I’m really thankful that she was able to entwine the knowledge she has gathered over the years with a beautiful fictional story.
I loved and hated what I read. The first book, The Clan of the Cave Bear, was one of her best and my favourite was the second one, The Valley of Horses. After that, I struggled quite a bit with the redundancy and some plot choices.
The two main plot points of The Land of Painted Caves (
The redundancy was still overwhelmingly present: Ayla’s accent, the Mother song, her exotic beauty, all the names and ties, etc. That being said, I felt that the pacing of this book was handled so much better than the last five ones, as it was divided into three parts and we went through 7 years.
The end was troubling. I expected so much more but I understand why Auel wanted to finish with this particular aspect. Overall, I think that some plot points weren’t explored, even though they deserved it, and some events I feel should have happened and they didn’t (
It is bittersweet for me because I love these characters but in some ways, I feel like Auel didn’t do them justice. However, I can see her writing bettering itself, especially from the The Shelters of Stone to this one. And, once again, the heavily detailed descriptions are truly one of a kind and I’m thankful for Auel and her ability to transport us to the Upper Paleolithic era, as if she was there herself.
Very disappointing end to the series, the characters and plot just completely fall apart.
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I love the series, as ever. The pace was good, though some elements were repetitive at times.
Not enough Neanderthals even though more significant, groundbreaking interactions between the hominin groups were hinted at throughout. Not enough variability in the struggles Ayla & Jondalar faced, unlike in previous books in the series. Can't believe the end read like a patriarchy origin story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Sexual content
Minor: Violence
I like Jean's writing, the details she includes can get repetitive, the sex scenes somewhat catering to an indulgence, (hers I imagine!) The character lineup challenged my memory (it's been years since I read the 5th novel)but I like the story. I appreciate the effort she put into researching it all, weaving what we do know with what might have occurred in such an amazing terrain and time. Having read many books in this genre and what it took/takes to survive under those conditions I enjoyed her little lessons in hunting styles, herbology; medicinal, shamanic, culinary, and the technology and spirituality of her invented tribe. In fact I'm inspired to read the series again, maybe back to back. I also appreciated her responses at the back of the book to how she wrote it, the folks who assisted her research and supported her process, although I like a decent Bibliography which wasn't included.
To me the measure of good fiction is an engagement in emotional anticipation and development of persona (not always likeable)of the character which she does quite well. She left enough hanging questions to warrant a followup novel as well!
To me the measure of good fiction is an engagement in emotional anticipation and development of persona (not always likeable)of the character which she does quite well. She left enough hanging questions to warrant a followup novel as well!
I picked this up a year ago when I was on vacation, and enjoyed the easy read. I've read Auel's previous books in the series, and this gets one solid star simply for nostalgia. It's the final book, and it's a good tribute to a series that spanned 30 years.
It loses a star due to needing a solid edit for repetition, telling us the same information we were told earlier in the book, sometimes multiple times. The narrator's point-of-view often switches rapidly, even in the same paragraph, which is irritating. The multiple-POV switching is usually a series of people admiring how attractive and talented Ayla is, and so she can comes off as a Mary Sue (too perfect) character at times. Most of these flaws could have been addressed by a strong editor. If you're an Earth's Children fan, though, it's worth wading through.
Positives: We see the end of Ayla's story, and it's satisfying. She's a modern woman in a prehistorical world which doesn't have many of our current problems (particularly in the treatment of women). A big revelation near the end of the book shows how that kind of society can get to where we are today, and there are a few loose ends that I'm hoping the author will perhaps tie up in short stories. My favourite part of the book is all the research Auel has done - reading about various plants and medicines, how geography and human society were different in those days, innovations people made for more comfortable living. It's fascinating.
Overall, if you're a fan of the previous books, I'd recommend checking this out when you have the time.
It loses a star due to needing a solid edit for repetition, telling us the same information we were told earlier in the book, sometimes multiple times. The narrator's point-of-view often switches rapidly, even in the same paragraph, which is irritating. The multiple-POV switching is usually a series of people admiring how attractive and talented Ayla is, and so she can comes off as a Mary Sue (too perfect) character at times. Most of these flaws could have been addressed by a strong editor. If you're an Earth's Children fan, though, it's worth wading through.
Positives: We see the end of Ayla's story, and it's satisfying. She's a modern woman in a prehistorical world which doesn't have many of our current problems (particularly in the treatment of women). A big revelation near the end of the book shows how that kind of society can get to where we are today, and there are a few loose ends that I'm hoping the author will perhaps tie up in short stories. My favourite part of the book is all the research Auel has done - reading about various plants and medicines, how geography and human society were different in those days, innovations people made for more comfortable living. It's fascinating.
Overall, if you're a fan of the previous books, I'd recommend checking this out when you have the time.
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated