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kelldozer's review against another edition
2.0
I have not anticipated a book as much as I did this one. Now that I'm finished, all I can say is... meh.
I have read the entire Earth's Children series many, many times in the past 20+ years. So many times that my husband refers to them as "your caveman books." I have been anxious for the conclusion to the series for some time, and while the book does tie up a few loose ends, I do not feel that is is a satisfactory conclusion to the series. I kind of want to write my own Book #7 to give us fans what we hoped this book would be!
I am familiar with the characters and stories and do actually enjoy reading about the prehistoric history and the mundane daily life in the Ice Age. HOWEVER...
As many reviewers have said, there are far too many chapters spent on repeating what has already happened in previous books, and too many pages spent describing Ayla's Donier Tour and the painted caves she visits. While somewhat important to the story, I guess, that entire trek could have been skipped over or summarized in just one of the sections, instead of taking up the majority of the book.
One huge pro for me is the major reduction in the number of sex scenes. My biggest complaint from [b:The Plains of Passage|74389|The Plains of Passage (Earth's Children, #4)|Jean M. Auel|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1282962812s/74389.jpg|1377315] on is how many pages are "wasted" describing Ayla and Jondalar's Pleasures. While a well-written coupling can be a welcome distraction, I was happy there was just a single scene I had get through. Yet those extra pages should have been utilized in wrapping up a storyline instead of describing yet another painted cave.
All said, I will most likely re-read the book again, as I do with the entire series. Another read will be needed to determine if this is named as my least-favorite of the series.
I have read the entire Earth's Children series many, many times in the past 20+ years. So many times that my husband refers to them as "your caveman books." I have been anxious for the conclusion to the series for some time, and while the book does tie up a few loose ends, I do not feel that is is a satisfactory conclusion to the series. I kind of want to write my own Book #7 to give us fans what we hoped this book would be!
I am familiar with the characters and stories and do actually enjoy reading about the prehistoric history and the mundane daily life in the Ice Age. HOWEVER...
Spoiler
this final book (IMO) is not the place to drone on about it!As many reviewers have said, there are far too many chapters spent on repeating what has already happened in previous books, and too many pages spent describing Ayla's Donier Tour and the painted caves she visits. While somewhat important to the story, I guess, that entire trek could have been skipped over or summarized in just one of the sections, instead of taking up the majority of the book.
One huge pro for me is the major reduction in the number of sex scenes. My biggest complaint from [b:The Plains of Passage|74389|The Plains of Passage (Earth's Children, #4)|Jean M. Auel|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1282962812s/74389.jpg|1377315] on is how many pages are "wasted" describing Ayla and Jondalar's Pleasures. While a well-written coupling can be a welcome distraction, I was happy there was just a single scene I had get through. Yet those extra pages should have been utilized in wrapping up a storyline instead of describing yet another painted cave.
All said, I will most likely re-read the book again, as I do with the entire series. Another read will be needed to determine if this is named as my least-favorite of the series.
kathydavie's review against another edition
1.0
Sixth in the Earths' Children series, a fictional account of life in prehistory.
I have all the previous books in my library. In hardcover. In fact, I can see them right now as I type. And I don't know if I'll be adding this book to that collection. As eager as I've been for Auel to get this book done, I'd have gladly waited another few years if she had spent some time on it and crafted it to the quality of those earlier books.
There is so little of the fire and action in Land of Painted Caves as in her other novels instead we receive a humdrum account of life and Ayla's slow progression through the tests of becoming a Zelondoni. Even that was pretty obscure and innocuous. Even the manner in which Auel divided up the book into three parts was vague. Why not provide a quick summary of the intervening years before continuing with the meat of this next "part"?
Then the title. You'd think with a title like Land of Painted Caves that we'd get a tour of those painted caves…and, actually, you'd be right, we do. There were very brief accounts of some amazing cave paintings interspersed amongst the tedious tours of so many others as Zelandoni takes Ayla on a tour of the sacred caves in their lands as part of her acolyte's training and to introduce Ayla to everyone. An excellent opportunity for conflict over Ayla's foreign ways and her indecent upbringing with Ayla winning everyone over through her abilities and decency. Oh well. What was Auel thinking? Was she writing in her sleep? We know she can do so much better than this mundane text.
I know people have complained that there was too much sex in the earlier books. It doesn't mean she had to practically eliminate it in this one. But, more important, there was hardly any conflict in Caves. Sure there were hints and suggestions upon which Auel couldn't be bothered to act until I was about three-fourths of the way through the book.
The dialog will make you gag it is so incredibly simplistic. I almost expected to hear Jondalar say "ugh". As for Jondalar's drifting. Well, it's a good thing she finally indicated it in the last little bit of the 768 pages. There was no teasing, no buildup, no tension in this story. Then what's the deal with the Mother and Son? It appears that Auel is promoting their future son or Durc as a Jesus figure but then how does the Mother fit in? So far, the Mother has been Gaia, now she's turning into the Virgin Mary?
The best I can recall from Land of Painted Caves was an insight by Ayla in one of the caves: "…the animals painted on the walls were just hints in the darkness more like the fleeting glimpses that most people see in the world outside."
I really, really hope that the little hints and unresolved issues in Caves indicate that there will be a seventh over which Auel will lovingly craft a good story.
The Cover
I'm unimpressed with the cover. I feel as though I'm back in the Valley of Horses. The teeny bit of cave painting allowed to almost show in the top half of the front belies its title.
I have all the previous books in my library. In hardcover. In fact, I can see them right now as I type. And I don't know if I'll be adding this book to that collection. As eager as I've been for Auel to get this book done, I'd have gladly waited another few years if she had spent some time on it and crafted it to the quality of those earlier books.
There is so little of the fire and action in Land of Painted Caves as in her other novels instead we receive a humdrum account of life and Ayla's slow progression through the tests of becoming a Zelondoni. Even that was pretty obscure and innocuous. Even the manner in which Auel divided up the book into three parts was vague. Why not provide a quick summary of the intervening years before continuing with the meat of this next "part"?
Then the title. You'd think with a title like Land of Painted Caves that we'd get a tour of those painted caves…and, actually, you'd be right, we do. There were very brief accounts of some amazing cave paintings interspersed amongst the tedious tours of so many others as Zelandoni takes Ayla on a tour of the sacred caves in their lands as part of her acolyte's training and to introduce Ayla to everyone. An excellent opportunity for conflict over Ayla's foreign ways and her indecent upbringing with Ayla winning everyone over through her abilities and decency. Oh well. What was Auel thinking? Was she writing in her sleep? We know she can do so much better than this mundane text.
I know people have complained that there was too much sex in the earlier books. It doesn't mean she had to practically eliminate it in this one. But, more important, there was hardly any conflict in Caves. Sure there were hints and suggestions upon which Auel couldn't be bothered to act until I was about three-fourths of the way through the book.
The dialog will make you gag it is so incredibly simplistic. I almost expected to hear Jondalar say "ugh". As for Jondalar's drifting. Well, it's a good thing she finally indicated it in the last little bit of the 768 pages. There was no teasing, no buildup, no tension in this story. Then what's the deal with the Mother and Son? It appears that Auel is promoting their future son or Durc as a Jesus figure but then how does the Mother fit in? So far, the Mother has been Gaia, now she's turning into the Virgin Mary?
The best I can recall from Land of Painted Caves was an insight by Ayla in one of the caves: "…the animals painted on the walls were just hints in the darkness more like the fleeting glimpses that most people see in the world outside."
I really, really hope that the little hints and unresolved issues in Caves indicate that there will be a seventh over which Auel will lovingly craft a good story.
The Cover
I'm unimpressed with the cover. I feel as though I'm back in the Valley of Horses. The teeny bit of cave painting allowed to almost show in the top half of the front belies its title.
daniobsessivelyreads's review against another edition
3.0
I loved Ayla and Jondalar's story. However, I found a few frustrating things with the last book.
Spoilers ahead
....
....
I already knew Auel repeats herself...a lot. So, that didn't surprise me. What surprised me is that Jondalar was not loyal to Ayla after all these years of her being loyal to him. Yes, she was busy with training, but all he had to do was ask. This was very frustrating that it was such a large part of the last book. When the opposite happened in the 2nd book.
I wished we new more of what happens to them after this last book. We don't know if they conceive again. Probably. If they keep the horses. Probably. But none of that is even hinted at. Auel just repeats what we already know about conception and that they're relationship is good again. Not where their relationship is going...
Very frustrating for the end of a very long series. I needed it tied up into a bow a little bit better. So that I would have closure as a reader.
Spoilers ahead
....
....
I already knew Auel repeats herself...a lot. So, that didn't surprise me. What surprised me is that Jondalar was not loyal to Ayla after all these years of her being loyal to him. Yes, she was busy with training, but all he had to do was ask. This was very frustrating that it was such a large part of the last book. When the opposite happened in the 2nd book.
I wished we new more of what happens to them after this last book. We don't know if they conceive again. Probably. If they keep the horses. Probably. But none of that is even hinted at. Auel just repeats what we already know about conception and that they're relationship is good again. Not where their relationship is going...
Very frustrating for the end of a very long series. I needed it tied up into a bow a little bit better. So that I would have closure as a reader.
readingwithstardust's review
1.0
The first 600pgs were boring and the last 300 were GARBAGE. Holy fuck I've never been under the impression that these books are Great Literature but I never expected to hate one of them as much as this. What a terrible way to end the series. Hella bummed.
nuttkayc's review against another edition
1.0
Boring. Repetitive. Pointless. Long. Stopped reading it. And I made it halfway through.
donowhit's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately, this didn't even come close to living up to the first in the series - Clan of the Cave Bear. It was extremely hard to read. Someone else said that the author turned on the terrific main character she created, and I have to agree. The Ayla in this book has very little substance compared to the girl in Clan of the Cave Bear...
asurges's review against another edition
2.0
I have no idea why I was compelled to read this beyond the fact that I'd read all the others. I'm giving two stars for all the research, which is fascinating and deeply interesting. I can't help but think that maybe Auel would have been better off telling this as non-fiction/fiction or even as fan fiction of her own novels. This was incredibly slow and lacking in tension, and I was getting frustrated even while I wanted to stick with it to learn more about the people of that area at that time. Abandoned.
afarre01's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great series! I really liked it, even though it was kinda repetitive.