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2.92 AVERAGE
2.92 AVERAGE
Super boring. Repeat of last book. Just meh. She should have ended this book with #5.
First of all, WOW! I read this in 4 days. I did love the series and I liked The Land of the Painted Caves. I have seen some of the other reviews about it being dry. Remember, this isn't an action or romance novel. (Even though it has a powerful love story.) It is historical fiction. I loved the world that Jean Auel created. Jean does a lot of repeating and I see criticism regarding that. In this, I will give her a free pass. She is building a world that is foreign to modern society. It needs the complete descriptions.
The only book I had issue with is The Mammoth Hunters. The historical fiction was great, but the love story had way too much jealousy. While that was an important part of the story, it took away from the book because it was so upsetting.
Jealousy does rear it's ugly head again in this book. Thankfully, it doesn't encompass the whole book. However, it is something that is totally from left field and completely out of pace with the character development. You knew something was coming because of thinly disguised foreshadowing. It was totally unnecessary to the story and provides poor closure to the series. In fact, if Jean Auel had a better ending that was in keeping with the character development, I would have given a five star rating to this book.
Stop reading here if you don't want spoilers. While not quite to the level of being a spoiler, it may give away some aspects of the ending.
You've been warned…
Ok, here you go…
In my opinion Ayla creates her own problems. You cannot ignore your spouse for almost a year and not expect issues. What I don't understand is how Jondalar and Ayla didn't use the watching of the night sky to deepen their relationship. I know I'd be hanging out with my wife and making it romantic alone time. I know Jondalar had other responsibilities and Ayla was busy with training, but come on, a couple few hours an evening together isn't unrealistic. Jondalar comes off as more of a neanderthal here. Totally out of pace with how he feels for Alya. And what is up with all their family and friends just doing nothing! It would be like walking past someone you know and love injured on the street, not stopping and then saying, "oh well!"
With all that said, I am really going to miss Ayla and Jondalar now. I seemed to have burned through 4000 pages pretty quickly. That in itself is a testimony of praise for the series. Thank you to Jean for such a great story. Even with my somewhat pointed criticisms, I want to say I enjoyed this series. Please do go on with it. Maybe something with the children with more healing for Ayla and Jondalar.
Now, I am going to hug my wife and be thankful that neither one of us is as thick headed and dumb as Ayla and Jondalar.
The only book I had issue with is The Mammoth Hunters. The historical fiction was great, but the love story had way too much jealousy. While that was an important part of the story, it took away from the book because it was so upsetting.
Jealousy does rear it's ugly head again in this book. Thankfully, it doesn't encompass the whole book. However, it is something that is totally from left field and completely out of pace with the character development. You knew something was coming because of thinly disguised foreshadowing. It was totally unnecessary to the story and provides poor closure to the series. In fact, if Jean Auel had a better ending that was in keeping with the character development, I would have given a five star rating to this book.
Stop reading here if you don't want spoilers. While not quite to the level of being a spoiler, it may give away some aspects of the ending.
You've been warned…
Ok, here you go…
In my opinion Ayla creates her own problems. You cannot ignore your spouse for almost a year and not expect issues. What I don't understand is how Jondalar and Ayla didn't use the watching of the night sky to deepen their relationship. I know I'd be hanging out with my wife and making it romantic alone time. I know Jondalar had other responsibilities and Ayla was busy with training, but come on, a couple few hours an evening together isn't unrealistic. Jondalar comes off as more of a neanderthal here. Totally out of pace with how he feels for Alya. And what is up with all their family and friends just doing nothing! It would be like walking past someone you know and love injured on the street, not stopping and then saying, "oh well!"
With all that said, I am really going to miss Ayla and Jondalar now. I seemed to have burned through 4000 pages pretty quickly. That in itself is a testimony of praise for the series. Thank you to Jean for such a great story. Even with my somewhat pointed criticisms, I want to say I enjoyed this series. Please do go on with it. Maybe something with the children with more healing for Ayla and Jondalar.
Now, I am going to hug my wife and be thankful that neither one of us is as thick headed and dumb as Ayla and Jondalar.
adventurous
slow-paced
Reductive and boring.
A poor end to the saga.
Don't bother reading it
A poor end to the saga.
Don't bother reading it
So, the Ice Age Soap Opera draws to a close... I can't help myself, I enjoy these! While this is not the best-written of the series, it was still fun to follow the characters, and get glimpses of life in that time period. Makes me want to go caving when I go to France someday!
I just finished reading an advance copy. This books follows the same formula as the other books of the series: enthralling drama mixed with the painstaking detail of the daily life of cave-dwelling people. I wished there illustrations to go along with the incredible descriptions of the caves visited in the story.
For much of the book, Ayla and company tour the sacred caves of the region, go on a mini-Journey, if you will, as part of her training to become a Zelandoni. Ayla spends much of her time in training, which takes years, and this puts a strain on her relationship with Jondalar and her daughter. Complications ensue...
As with the other books, there is a lot of recap- no need to reread the first books again before reading this one. It's not entirely unwelcome for those of us who haven't read the other ones for awhile.
I was tempted to give this book a three-star rating, just because I feel like I had read so much of it before in the first books, but considering that I laughed, cried, and yelled aloud while reading it I decided that I must really like it after all. It's the cheesy good fun we all love about the series. I'm glad that that Auel gave us an end to the saga, even if it is rather predictable.
For much of the book, Ayla and company tour the sacred caves of the region, go on a mini-Journey, if you will, as part of her training to become a Zelandoni. Ayla spends much of her time in training, which takes years, and this puts a strain on her relationship with Jondalar and her daughter. Complications ensue...
As with the other books, there is a lot of recap- no need to reread the first books again before reading this one. It's not entirely unwelcome for those of us who haven't read the other ones for awhile.
I was tempted to give this book a three-star rating, just because I feel like I had read so much of it before in the first books, but considering that I laughed, cried, and yelled aloud while reading it I decided that I must really like it after all. It's the cheesy good fun we all love about the series. I'm glad that that Auel gave us an end to the saga, even if it is rather predictable.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh man. Has Jean Auel lost her touch after all these years she's been working on this series! Repetitive, repetitive, repetitive to the point of boredom. Only made it about 1/2 way before I finally just gave up. Too bad because her first two books were very good, and even the third one was decent. After that, though...
As one of the first series ive ever read, The first four books were ones i started at 13 years old. And grew up on. I had hardcovers of each one that i read again and again.... Then the new ones came out. They just.... made me cry. Its not the same books. Its just not. The story... I dont know. dont even need it. Because if its not going to be continued in the same fashion is like... a slap in the face...
This book took me over a month to finish for a reason. I've never been a big fan of the "zelandonia" stuff – its just not my interest, I guess – so a big portion of this book was a draaaag. It definitely picked up at the end, but it just made me upset! Certain characters frustrated me... I could go on but I don't want to make it seem like it was *all* bad. Its just definitely my least favorite of the series.
I've really enjoyed the series overall, though, and I am sad that I've finally finished it. What am I supposed to do now?? It's given me a lot to think about over the past few months and really helped me prioritize reading in daily life.
I've really enjoyed the series overall, though, and I am sad that I've finally finished it. What am I supposed to do now?? It's given me a lot to think about over the past few months and really helped me prioritize reading in daily life.