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2.92 AVERAGE
2.92 AVERAGE
While I enjoyed this book it was also intensely irritating!
Unlike the last five books which start and end within days and sometimes even moments of each other, this book has three time jumps. I found the first and second part rather tedious, as it details Ayla's Donier Tour. Be prepared for long descriptions of sacred cave after sacred cave. It felt very monotonous. Considering all of the traveling that has happened in previous books, I'd say that the novelty is gone. I'd rather Ayla and Jondalar stay in one place and build a life together. Of course they meet lots of new people, and there are interesting events, but it really did feel repetitive
Most of the meat of the book happens in the third part, and is mostly Ayla and Jondalar having the same communication problems that they had in the Mammoth Hunters. I was furious that Jondalar had been having an affair with Marona. Despite the Zelandoni's culture with regards to pleasures, I found it very hard to believe that he could be with a woman who had been so cruel to Ayla. That did not seem in keeping with his character at all. I know that Auel was trying to demonstrate how far Ayla and Jondalar had drifted, but still....
After all of the repetitiveness of part 1&2, I was pleasantly surprised by the knowledge that was gifted to Ayla during her calling to be Zelandonii. Finally having it be confirmed that babies are equally from their Mother and Father's body was an unexpected way to close out a theme that began in the very first book when Ayla created her theory. It was also interesting to start to see the changes that this information would bring to their culture and to see how Auel was connecting her world to ours.
After writing 6 epic novels, I was curious how some of the loose ends would be wrapped up. First of all, I loved that they were visited by the Mamutoi young men! That was unexpected; I just wish that they had been in more of the story. Although, it was hilarious when Danug basically cussed them out at the end of the book and told them how stupid they were being. But it did seem to be an easy out that all of the four people who hated Ayla moved away by the end of the book. Brukeval and Madroman simply left, Marona mated and moved far away, and Ladroman moved to the 5th cave. All wrapped up in a neat little bow, right?
While the drama of the third part was entertaining, it was also lazy writing in my opinion to revisit so many of the same character flaws: Ayla assuming that Jondalar didn't love her, Jondalar not wanting to know what Ayla was thinking in case he was rejected, Jondalar beating someone up over a woman.... etc. etc. After all of the things that have happened to them both and being mated for years, there was really no character growth, which was disappointing. And yet somehow, they also both seemed out of character to me by the end of the book. And then it was also annoying that there was little communication to resolve their issues. Jondalar proved he loved Ayla by bringing her back from the spirit world, so all is forgiven/resolved. I suppose that's why they never learn.
Finally, I think the most annoying thing was the over-communication from Auel. Instead of referring to previous events, she had to describe everything in excruciating detail as if we - the readers - had completely forgotten these significant events in Ayla's life (or forgotten the multiple retellings since). In addition to incorporating these retellings into her narrative, they also found their way into the dialogue between characters. I mean, really, why should Ayla have to explain to Marthona or Zelandonii who Iza or Kreb/Mogur was? How could they not know the names of her adoptive parents after spending years with Ayla? Or that Zelandonii wouldn't know that the holy men in the clan were called the Mogurs? Utterly ridiculous.
I know that most of this review is filled with complaints, and looking back I'm not sure if I enjoyed the book on its merits or because I felt relief/accomplishment to reach the end of this huge marathon... but I did enjoy the closure it brought, and the questions that it did answer. However, I found it extremely odd that Ayla was not the final narrator. We were in Jondalar's heard and then it moved to Zelandonii contemplating future culture changes. We started with Ayla, we should finish with Ayla. **Also, sorry for the spelling errors, I was listening to this book via audible :-)
Unlike the last five books which start and end within days and sometimes even moments of each other, this book has three time jumps. I found the first and second part rather tedious, as it details Ayla's Donier Tour. Be prepared for long descriptions of sacred cave after sacred cave. It felt very monotonous. Considering all of the traveling that has happened in previous books, I'd say that the novelty is gone. I'd rather Ayla and Jondalar stay in one place and build a life together. Of course they meet lots of new people, and there are interesting events, but it really did feel repetitive
Most of the meat of the book happens in the third part, and is mostly Ayla and Jondalar having the same communication problems that they had in the Mammoth Hunters. I was furious that Jondalar had been having an affair with Marona. Despite the Zelandoni's culture with regards to pleasures, I found it very hard to believe that he could be with a woman who had been so cruel to Ayla. That did not seem in keeping with his character at all. I know that Auel was trying to demonstrate how far Ayla and Jondalar had drifted, but still....
After all of the repetitiveness of part 1&2, I was pleasantly surprised by the knowledge that was gifted to Ayla during her calling to be Zelandonii. Finally having it be confirmed that babies are equally from their Mother and Father's body was an unexpected way to close out a theme that began in the very first book when Ayla created her theory. It was also interesting to start to see the changes that this information would bring to their culture and to see how Auel was connecting her world to ours.
After writing 6 epic novels, I was curious how some of the loose ends would be wrapped up. First of all, I loved that they were visited by the Mamutoi young men! That was unexpected; I just wish that they had been in more of the story. Although, it was hilarious when Danug basically cussed them out at the end of the book and told them how stupid they were being. But it did seem to be an easy out that all of the four people who hated Ayla moved away by the end of the book. Brukeval and Madroman simply left, Marona mated and moved far away, and Ladroman moved to the 5th cave. All wrapped up in a neat little bow, right?
While the drama of the third part was entertaining, it was also lazy writing in my opinion to revisit so many of the same character flaws: Ayla assuming that Jondalar didn't love her, Jondalar not wanting to know what Ayla was thinking in case he was rejected, Jondalar beating someone up over a woman.... etc. etc. After all of the things that have happened to them both and being mated for years, there was really no character growth, which was disappointing. And yet somehow, they also both seemed out of character to me by the end of the book. And then it was also annoying that there was little communication to resolve their issues. Jondalar proved he loved Ayla by bringing her back from the spirit world, so all is forgiven/resolved. I suppose that's why they never learn.
Finally, I think the most annoying thing was the over-communication from Auel. Instead of referring to previous events, she had to describe everything in excruciating detail as if we - the readers - had completely forgotten these significant events in Ayla's life (or forgotten the multiple retellings since). In addition to incorporating these retellings into her narrative, they also found their way into the dialogue between characters. I mean, really, why should Ayla have to explain to Marthona or Zelandonii who Iza or Kreb/Mogur was? How could they not know the names of her adoptive parents after spending years with Ayla? Or that Zelandonii wouldn't know that the holy men in the clan were called the Mogurs? Utterly ridiculous.
I know that most of this review is filled with complaints, and looking back I'm not sure if I enjoyed the book on its merits or because I felt relief/accomplishment to reach the end of this huge marathon... but I did enjoy the closure it brought, and the questions that it did answer. However, I found it extremely odd that Ayla was not the final narrator. We were in Jondalar's heard and then it moved to Zelandonii contemplating future culture changes. We started with Ayla, we should finish with Ayla. **Also, sorry for the spelling errors, I was listening to this book via audible :-)
Obviously very well researched and descriptive but the plot did not progress well, character development was disappointing and the storyline was extremely similar to book 3. Too repetitive and overall not impressed.
I give this book a star only because I don't want anyone to see 0 stars and mistakenly think that I didn't bother to score it, and maybe it's not so bad. As far as I can remember, this is the worst book I've ever read. I'm a huge fan of the series, reread the first three or four books a million times. But this book is so slow, so boring, so repetitive. It's like the first 3/4 of the book are a verbatim publication of her research notes of viewing the caves, and the last 1/4 is plot stolen from one of the previous books (I'll spare you any spoilers, though that does NOT mean I think you should read it) and plopped down into this story. Agonizing. I'm so sorry. I'm going back to reread The Valley of Horses, just to clean out my brain.
Finally finished! After over a month! Loved it & it ended really well but sometimes there's just too much information to take in all at once :)
A Disappointing Conclusion
As an avid (albeit very late) reader of the Earth’s Children series, I have to admit I was pretty disappointed to have the final book end this way. It seemed to me that nothing much happened for the majority of the novel before a fairly rushed and unsatisfying conclusion. The novel still has the basics of Auel’s narrative which enthralled me throughout the series; Ayla is still unquestionably fascinating and the geographical and biological detail is astounding, and I found myself enjoying the novel in spite of its flaws.
As an avid (albeit very late) reader of the Earth’s Children series, I have to admit I was pretty disappointed to have the final book end this way. It seemed to me that nothing much happened for the majority of the novel before a fairly rushed and unsatisfying conclusion. The novel still has the basics of Auel’s narrative which enthralled me throughout the series; Ayla is still unquestionably fascinating and the geographical and biological detail is astounding, and I found myself enjoying the novel in spite of its flaws.
A fitting conclusion. I thought it had a slow start but that the ending was a jumble of emotional highs, when Danug and Drewez turned up, and lows, when Ayla lost the baby and found Jondalar with Marona. I love this series and adore the characters.
So repetitive. Dialogue was stilted. It was a soap opera set 35,000 years ago. I curse the fact that I finish books/series that I start.
The Land of Painted Caves is the sixth book in Jean M. Auel's Earth Children series.
Having read the previous books long ago, I was excited to read this final installment. What I love about this book, and the rest of the series, is Auel's beautiful and detailed descriptions of Ayla's world. Imagery is vivid and the reader really gets a feeling for the ebb and flow of of the daily life of early man. I particularly loved the descriptions of cave paintings and Ayla's medical practice. That said, there is a lot of repetition and readers who are not interested in anthropology might become impatient and long for a bit more action.
I was annoyed that, once again (as in The Mammoth Hunters), the central conflict between Ayla and Jondalar stems from their apparent lack of knowledge about each other and unwillingness to communicate. As in The Mammoth Hunters, this conflict feels hard to believe and even a bit ridiculous, given their deep understanding and love for each other. I spent much of the book wanting to bang their heads together, or maybe to hit Jondalar in the head with a rock!
Loyal readers should read this one, if only for an ending, of sorts. Casual readers would definitely be better off starting with Clan of the Cave Bear, the first, and one of the best books in the series.
Having read the previous books long ago, I was excited to read this final installment. What I love about this book, and the rest of the series, is Auel's beautiful and detailed descriptions of Ayla's world. Imagery is vivid and the reader really gets a feeling for the ebb and flow of of the daily life of early man. I particularly loved the descriptions of cave paintings and Ayla's medical practice. That said, there is a lot of repetition and readers who are not interested in anthropology might become impatient and long for a bit more action.
I was annoyed that, once again (as in The Mammoth Hunters), the central conflict between Ayla and Jondalar stems from their apparent lack of knowledge about each other and unwillingness to communicate. As in The Mammoth Hunters, this conflict feels hard to believe and even a bit ridiculous, given their deep understanding and love for each other. I spent much of the book wanting to bang their heads together, or maybe to hit Jondalar in the head with a rock!
Loyal readers should read this one, if only for an ending, of sorts. Casual readers would definitely be better off starting with Clan of the Cave Bear, the first, and one of the best books in the series.