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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I just cant! The main characters just aren't developing and the whole story is slow. The book is called the Mammoth Hunters and there is only 1 Mammoth hunt, only 1!
Ugh, such a disappointment!
Ugh, such a disappointment!
The Clan of the Cave Bear was an amazing piece of work and the detail and research that went into that story, the sequel, and this one is very special. That's what I really like about this author's writing and also why I'll go on to read the next book in the series.
However, this book was absolutely painful to read. The main conflict had to do with a misunderstanding between two of the characters which was so mind-numbingly easy to resolve that I started to feel a resentment and lowered respect toward characters that I had, up util this book, completely loved.
So, while I was able to get some great reading in imagined historical culture and what prehistoric humans and variations on their different cultures and such may have looked like, I also suffered a great deal for having to read about characters - more than just two of them by the way, it was like a group effort preventing the resolve - who showed such a blatant inability to solve the central problem.
However, this book was absolutely painful to read. The main conflict had to do with a misunderstanding between two of the characters which was so mind-numbingly easy to resolve that I started to feel a resentment and lowered respect toward characters that I had, up util this book, completely loved.
So, while I was able to get some great reading in imagined historical culture and what prehistoric humans and variations on their different cultures and such may have looked like, I also suffered a great deal for having to read about characters - more than just two of them by the way, it was like a group effort preventing the resolve - who showed such a blatant inability to solve the central problem.
adventurous
slow-paced
I have been listening to this for the past month or so. However, I heard a bit I wanted to put down because I really liked the story, but had to find my paper copy to find it again, so I could transcribe it here...
page 383 in chapter 22
"..."I'll tell you a winter story about the Great Bountiful Earth Mother who created all that lives,' the old man said, smiling. Ayla sat beside him on a mat near the fire.
'In a great struggle, the Earth Mother took a life force from Chaos, which is a cold and unmoving emptiness, like death, and from it She created life and warmth, but She must always fight for the life She created. When the cold season is coming on, we know the struggle has begun between the Bountiful Earth Mother who wants to bring forth warm life and cold death of Chaos, but first She must care for Her children.'
Ayla was warming to the story, now, and smiled encouragingly. 'What does She do to care for Her children?'
'Some She puts to sleep, some She dresses warmly to resist the cold, some She bids gather food and hide. As it gets colder and colder, death seems to be winning, the Mother is pushed back farther and farther. In the depths of the cold death, nothing moves, nothing changes, everything seems to be dead. For us, without a warm place to live and the food that is stored, death would win in winter; sometimes, if the battle goes on longer than usual, it does. No one goes out much, then. People make things, or tell stories, or talk, but they don't move around much and they sleep more. That's why winter is called the little death.
Finally, when the cold has pushed Her down as far as She will go, She resists. She pushes and pushes until She breaks the back of winter. It means spring will return but it is not spring, yet. She has had a long fight, and She must rest before She can bring forth life again. But you know She has won. You can smell it, you can feel it in the air."
(That Mamut, he tells a good story.)
I liked the story well enough to put up with the repeats and the annoying part off the love story. Glad I listened though, would have missed some stuff when I skipped over some of the repeating if I had read it.
page 383 in chapter 22
"..."I'll tell you a winter story about the Great Bountiful Earth Mother who created all that lives,' the old man said, smiling. Ayla sat beside him on a mat near the fire.
'In a great struggle, the Earth Mother took a life force from Chaos, which is a cold and unmoving emptiness, like death, and from it She created life and warmth, but She must always fight for the life She created. When the cold season is coming on, we know the struggle has begun between the Bountiful Earth Mother who wants to bring forth warm life and cold death of Chaos, but first She must care for Her children.'
Ayla was warming to the story, now, and smiled encouragingly. 'What does She do to care for Her children?'
'Some She puts to sleep, some She dresses warmly to resist the cold, some She bids gather food and hide. As it gets colder and colder, death seems to be winning, the Mother is pushed back farther and farther. In the depths of the cold death, nothing moves, nothing changes, everything seems to be dead. For us, without a warm place to live and the food that is stored, death would win in winter; sometimes, if the battle goes on longer than usual, it does. No one goes out much, then. People make things, or tell stories, or talk, but they don't move around much and they sleep more. That's why winter is called the little death.
Finally, when the cold has pushed Her down as far as She will go, She resists. She pushes and pushes until She breaks the back of winter. It means spring will return but it is not spring, yet. She has had a long fight, and She must rest before She can bring forth life again. But you know She has won. You can smell it, you can feel it in the air."
(That Mamut, he tells a good story.)
I liked the story well enough to put up with the repeats and the annoying part off the love story. Glad I listened though, would have missed some stuff when I skipped over some of the repeating if I had read it.
At least a 100 pages could be cut from this book due to mere repetitiveness. Or from using redundant adjectives; Ayla was sad and unhappy. Ayla was excited and exhilarated. It's like the author couldn't make up her mind choosing one, so went with several instead.
Then there's the horrid love story... It's like having to wait 4 seasons of Gilmore Girls for Luke and Lorelei to get together. Without subtleties. And witty banter. Okay, without any element of fun or quality, really.
I haven't even mentioned the atrocious sex scenes yet.
The general plot is fine, the details when it comes to interpersonal relationships are awful. Luckily, there's also a lot of interesting information on how to cure hides and paint breasts.
*Note in Dutch for the audio version I've listened to:*
Dieuwertje Blok heeft een prettige stem, maar tering, ieder personage klonk hetzelfde. Ik ga na het horen van de expliciete sex scenes ook nooit meer hetzelfde naar het Sinterklaasjournaal kijken.
Then there's the horrid love story... It's like having to wait 4 seasons of Gilmore Girls for Luke and Lorelei to get together. Without subtleties. And witty banter. Okay, without any element of fun or quality, really.
I haven't even mentioned the atrocious sex scenes yet.
The general plot is fine, the details when it comes to interpersonal relationships are awful. Luckily, there's also a lot of interesting information on how to cure hides and paint breasts.
*Note in Dutch for the audio version I've listened to:*
Dieuwertje Blok heeft een prettige stem, maar tering, ieder personage klonk hetzelfde. Ik ga na het horen van de expliciete sex scenes ook nooit meer hetzelfde naar het Sinterklaasjournaal kijken.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Re-reading it again, and just reminds me how much I loved the Mamutoi in this story, most especially the gentle giant, Talut and his laughter.
Who can resist Talut's booming laugh?
Ayla couldn't. He was the reason she decided to visit the Lion Camp. If it weren't for him and Nezzie, she would never have become Mamutoi herself. The old Mamut was wise though, to adopt her. The friendship between her and Deegie was a true female friendship, with none of the jealousy. Ranec is a good man, and I hope he found someone to settle down with whom he could love as fully and without inhibitions as he did Ayla.
Rydag, on the other hand, always makes me bawl my eyes out. Even the very first scene we meet him, I can feel a catch in my throat and my eyes blurring. The bond between him and Wolf is something that happens but once in a lifetime and I am glad he had him and Ayla to rely on.
Usually, I absolutely cannot stand the misunderstanding trope. It makes me want to throw the book across the room (and if you knew my obsession with books you'd know how much this statement hurt me to write). However, Auel made it more than just a simple misunderstanding. It was a clash of two strong wills separated by a cultural divide. When she writes about Ayla's despair, we can feel it alongside her, and cry out eyes out as she does.
It is one of my favourite books of the series. I am separated with complaining that there was too much of the Mammoth hunters (and it took them too long to finally start their journey back) and at the same time, I need more. I needed more of Rydag's quiet intelligence, Deegies's support, Ranec's art, Talut and Nezzie's love, Tulie's strength and old Mamut's energy. I even missed Frebec and Crozie.
Who can resist Talut's booming laugh?
Ayla couldn't. He was the reason she decided to visit the Lion Camp. If it weren't for him and Nezzie, she would never have become Mamutoi herself. The old Mamut was wise though, to adopt her. The friendship between her and Deegie was a true female friendship, with none of the jealousy. Ranec is a good man, and I hope he found someone to settle down with whom he could love as fully and without inhibitions as he did Ayla.
Rydag, on the other hand, always makes me bawl my eyes out. Even the very first scene we meet him, I can feel a catch in my throat and my eyes blurring. The bond between him and Wolf is something that happens but once in a lifetime and I am glad he had him and Ayla to rely on.
Usually, I absolutely cannot stand the misunderstanding trope. It makes me want to throw the book across the room (and if you knew my obsession with books you'd know how much this statement hurt me to write). However, Auel made it more than just a simple misunderstanding. It was a clash of two strong wills separated by a cultural divide. When she writes about Ayla's despair, we can feel it alongside her, and cry out eyes out as she does.
It is one of my favourite books of the series. I am separated with complaining that there was too much of the Mammoth hunters (and it took them too long to finally start their journey back) and at the same time, I need more. I needed more of Rydag's quiet intelligence, Deegies's support, Ranec's art, Talut and Nezzie's love, Tulie's strength and old Mamut's energy. I even missed Frebec and Crozie.
Wow this is a long book!
Almost too long in some ways. I think the story could be told in less. However regardless I love this series.
This story was probably my least favourite of the 3 I’ve written so far but mainly because of the love triangle that never ended! I love Ayala and Jondalar and even Ranec in the end. All of the mamutoi I have loved.
Ayla had stayed true to her beliefs and her past and that is one of the things I love about her. Her defending Rydag and giving us a slight insight as to how Durc is most likely doing.
By far the best part, for me, of these books is her relationship with animals. I love whinny and Racer and the best part of this series is seeing how mankind has come to be and how we have developed. Ayla is a special person who is the truest form of humankind no matter what others may say.
Almost too long in some ways. I think the story could be told in less. However regardless I love this series.
This story was probably my least favourite of the 3 I’ve written so far but mainly because of the love triangle that never ended! I love Ayala and Jondalar and even Ranec in the end. All of the mamutoi I have loved.
Ayla had stayed true to her beliefs and her past and that is one of the things I love about her. Her defending Rydag and giving us a slight insight as to how Durc is most likely doing.
By far the best part, for me, of these books is her relationship with animals. I love whinny and Racer and the best part of this series is seeing how mankind has come to be and how we have developed. Ayla is a special person who is the truest form of humankind no matter what others may say.
adventurous
emotional
informative
slow-paced
So, I have decided to ditch this book 20% through.
Ayla is no longer a survivor carving out an existence by her sheer grit, gumption and wits. Jondalar is being his usual boring self. The Lion Camp has too many goddamn people which sound too damn similar to one another and I can't keep track of who is who.
I didn't mind the meticulous descriptions of knapping and carving, but as a bleeding heart vegan I have a problem with hunting and butchering descriptions. And I'm not the type to care about romantic plots, they bore me stiff.
Maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe, if there's absolutely nothing better to read, I'll go back to reading this series. But I doubt it.
Ayla is no longer a survivor carving out an existence by her sheer grit, gumption and wits. Jondalar is being his usual boring self. The Lion Camp has too many goddamn people which sound too damn similar to one another and I can't keep track of who is who.
I didn't mind the meticulous descriptions of knapping and carving, but as a bleeding heart vegan I have a problem with hunting and butchering descriptions. And I'm not the type to care about romantic plots, they bore me stiff.
Maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe, if there's absolutely nothing better to read, I'll go back to reading this series. But I doubt it.