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2.92 AVERAGE
2.92 AVERAGE
I can't really remember whether the previous books in this series were this bad, because I read them a few years ago, but somehow I doubt it. It seems Ms. Auel has had her fans waiting for years and has then delivered to them a complete literary dud. This book probably wouldn't have gotten a second glance if it landed on a publisher's desk without being part of a previously successful series. The plot is boring. So little of substance goes on in the book that you actually lose interest and attachment to the characters you liked in previous books.
It would have been one of the first books I've given up on in years if I hadn't been so curious about how it all ended. Actually, I was glad I stuck it out to the end. Not because there is any sort of good closure to the story, but because the last few chapters are more interesting than the earlier part (let's say, 85%) of the book. I actually had a glimmer of memory as to why I ever cared about the main characters.
If you like endless, confusing, and repetitive descriptions of cave paintings, read this book. Otherwise, just google image search them.
It would have been one of the first books I've given up on in years if I hadn't been so curious about how it all ended. Actually, I was glad I stuck it out to the end. Not because there is any sort of good closure to the story, but because the last few chapters are more interesting than the earlier part (let's say, 85%) of the book. I actually had a glimmer of memory as to why I ever cared about the main characters.
If you like endless, confusing, and repetitive descriptions of cave paintings, read this book. Otherwise, just google image search them.
I feel compelled to add my thoughts to this saga's latest piece. I preface saying that I started the books right around the time Shelters came out (at the ripe age of 12! I think my mom forgot how graphic the writing could be! Although I think I was mature enough to handle it). I'm an avid re-reader, so have read all the books many times. And unlike most it seems, Shelters of Stone was perhaps my favorite book. I love the creation of the Zelandoni culture, especially their spiritual life, and I loved watching Ayla blossom into an acolyte. I felt that that was were all the other books were leading to--not the adventures that she was forced into, but the self-decided exploration of herself and her people.
So for the Land of Painted Caves I think Auel progressed quite naturally to focus on her Zelendoni training. I agree that there were many small "flaws"--if you want to call them that. It was repetitive (as always) and the character development wasn't as advanced as I was hoping. I think Auel got a little too caught up in describing the cave paintings and places she'd seen and while I am sure the details are extremely acurate, I felt that she fell a little short of creating the sense of the spirit world and awe that Ayla and crew felt while visiting. Usually she is so good at combining ritual feeling with the description that the reader feels as if they are going on the spiritual journey as well. In this one I didn't feel that until part three, and since the book is titled "The Land of the Painted Caves" I was a tad dissapointed. But at the same time, I think some of what Auel wants (like Zelandoni) is for us to discover those feelings on our own, so I can go with it.
I also wish that she had written more on the realtionships of between Ayla, Jonayla, and Jondaolar had been more flushed out. Especially Ayla's role as a mother (so she could grow closer to the Great Mother would be very interesting). I suppose it depends on your state of mind and how willing you are to fill in the blanks in their strong feeling for each other, but the book definately falls short here. Again, Auel's focus on the anthropology overtakes this part of the story. It is what keeps the book from a 5-star rating for me.
But overall I love the anthropology and cultural reflections and love all the books, even this one. And I felt that all the repetitive visions Ayla has had throughout the series came to a conclusion, which for me was the main conclusion of the book. I was satisified with it, and happy to know that I can fill in the rest of the story for myself (although I've heard rumors that Auel has now become interested in the Gibralter Straight and might write another book involving that! Ayla goes to Morocco!). In THE END (SPOILER) I also enjoyed that the reason for her and Jondalar's relationship was confirmed and showed the importance of needing each other.
To conclude my own ramblings, I think people should read this book if they like the others, and just keep in mind that it is Auel's story, not theirs. It is hard to read a book you've waited over a decade (or more) for because you have so many expectations and ideas that it will inevitably fall a little short, but if you have an open mind and read it for itself, you will love it. And if you are like me and love exploring their world, culture, spirituality and visions,and the link between the modern developed culture and the ice-age beginning, you will definately want to reread this one.
So for the Land of Painted Caves I think Auel progressed quite naturally to focus on her Zelendoni training. I agree that there were many small "flaws"--if you want to call them that. It was repetitive (as always) and the character development wasn't as advanced as I was hoping. I think Auel got a little too caught up in describing the cave paintings and places she'd seen and while I am sure the details are extremely acurate, I felt that she fell a little short of creating the sense of the spirit world and awe that Ayla and crew felt while visiting. Usually she is so good at combining ritual feeling with the description that the reader feels as if they are going on the spiritual journey as well. In this one I didn't feel that until part three, and since the book is titled "The Land of the Painted Caves" I was a tad dissapointed. But at the same time, I think some of what Auel wants (like Zelandoni) is for us to discover those feelings on our own, so I can go with it.
I also wish that she had written more on the realtionships of between Ayla, Jonayla, and Jondaolar had been more flushed out. Especially Ayla's role as a mother (so she could grow closer to the Great Mother would be very interesting). I suppose it depends on your state of mind and how willing you are to fill in the blanks in their strong feeling for each other, but the book definately falls short here. Again, Auel's focus on the anthropology overtakes this part of the story. It is what keeps the book from a 5-star rating for me.
But overall I love the anthropology and cultural reflections and love all the books, even this one. And I felt that all the repetitive visions Ayla has had throughout the series came to a conclusion, which for me was the main conclusion of the book. I was satisified with it, and happy to know that I can fill in the rest of the story for myself (although I've heard rumors that Auel has now become interested in the Gibralter Straight and might write another book involving that! Ayla goes to Morocco!). In THE END (SPOILER) I also enjoyed that the reason for her and Jondalar's relationship was confirmed and showed the importance of needing each other.
To conclude my own ramblings, I think people should read this book if they like the others, and just keep in mind that it is Auel's story, not theirs. It is hard to read a book you've waited over a decade (or more) for because you have so many expectations and ideas that it will inevitably fall a little short, but if you have an open mind and read it for itself, you will love it. And if you are like me and love exploring their world, culture, spirituality and visions,and the link between the modern developed culture and the ice-age beginning, you will definately want to reread this one.
This book felt like two different books, and not necessarily in a good way.
I love this series and devoured the first five books. This book was a bit like pulling teeth at times. The entirety of Part II could have been easily summarized to make the whole book 1/3-1/2 as long. With all the drama that occurred in Part III, Auel could have spent more time creating tension between main characters or describing more of the training process and the trials that Ayla and Jondalar's relationship went through as a result. There was no need to describe SO many caves in such detail. I love caves, but it was a lot.
Also, if readers were upset with the drama in book 3, they won't like the drama in this book. Ayla and Jondalar apparently learned nothing after being together for 5-ish years.
The ending also felt kind of rushed and everything basically got resolved in 50 pages.
I still love this series, but if people want to end on book 5 and leave the conclusion up to their imagination, that's probably just as good as reading this book.
I love this series and devoured the first five books. This book was a bit like pulling teeth at times. The entirety of Part II could have been easily summarized to make the whole book 1/3-1/2 as long. With all the drama that occurred in Part III, Auel could have spent more time creating tension between main characters or describing more of the training process and the trials that Ayla and Jondalar's relationship went through as a result. There was no need to describe SO many caves in such detail. I love caves, but it was a lot.
Also, if readers were upset with the drama in book 3, they won't like the drama in this book. Ayla and Jondalar apparently learned nothing after being together for 5-ish years.
The ending also felt kind of rushed and everything basically got resolved in 50 pages.
I still love this series, but if people want to end on book 5 and leave the conclusion up to their imagination, that's probably just as good as reading this book.
What a terrible book. 800+ pages and only about 80 of those pages have been taken up with new information. I loved this serious so much and I wish it would have ended at Shelters of Stone. I read so much back story that I don’t think I will ever read those stories again. I’m tired of reading about the foreign woman and her strange accent. How many times do I have to read the same copied and pasted paragraphs about a persons ties. I can’t even begin to cover all of the problems with this book. To sum it up, it was nothing but lather, rinse, repeat to the point of pain and boredom. Not a book I will ever read again.
It was important for me to finish this series. It's been 31 years since she published the first "Clan of the Cave Bear" but she finally finished it. (Really highlights JK Rowlings accomplishment.)
But this is really is the worst of the series. The writing is not good. You're introduced to character threads that she never follows up. It often reads as an juvenile narration of a sequence of events. The same phrases and elements appear again and again contributing nothing to the story. The dialog is often contrived and stilted. While I rolled my eyes and skimmed over the boring parts it wasn't bad enough I put it down.
Jean Auel is now 75. I think it was probably important for her to finish the epic she began but you feel as if she just barely got it out. She admits that life got in her way.
That said, it really was important to finish this series. I still love the details from her research of paleoanthropology and the artifacts of S Europe. It makes me want to take my own tour through the S of France and visit these sites and I'm jealous of her privilege to visit the real sites herself.
Would I recommend it? No, unless you're invested in the series as I have been, in which case, you just have to finish it.
But this is really is the worst of the series. The writing is not good. You're introduced to character threads that she never follows up. It often reads as an juvenile narration of a sequence of events. The same phrases and elements appear again and again contributing nothing to the story. The dialog is often contrived and stilted. While I rolled my eyes and skimmed over the boring parts it wasn't bad enough I put it down.
Jean Auel is now 75. I think it was probably important for her to finish the epic she began but you feel as if she just barely got it out. She admits that life got in her way.
That said, it really was important to finish this series. I still love the details from her research of paleoanthropology and the artifacts of S Europe. It makes me want to take my own tour through the S of France and visit these sites and I'm jealous of her privilege to visit the real sites herself.
Would I recommend it? No, unless you're invested in the series as I have been, in which case, you just have to finish it.
Good. not great. I enjoyed it. Not so much discovery of new 'inventions'. More of her usual emphasis on relations between people, misunderstandings, and resolutions. Brief encounter with Flatheads ends amicably,but still no common communication between the sub-species.
Auel really could use a better editor. She's still repeating herself to much, but it was a little less distracting than in the last novel. While the book wasn't as good as the first two books promised, it had a few really good moments. There were two passages that just made tears rather quickly and surprisingly spring from my eyes. But I had hoped Auel would do more with Ayla's spiritual training, but mostly we just got descriptions of the inside of the caves. Oh, well. I'm not sorry I read through to the end of the series.
http://fantastiskfiktion.wordpress.com/2011/05/04/grottbjornens-folk/