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A review by chirson
The Shelters of Stone: Earth's Children, Book Five by Jean M. Auel
4.0
Well, look here, I remembered finding this volume rather a disappointment in comparison to the previous books, but on this (second? third?) re-read (and the first one in a long time) I was thankfully in the right frame of mind to appreciate what it was and not wish it was what it isn't.
I love Ayla. She's naturally not a realistic, flawed and complex protagonist of psychologically realist fiction, as I think some critics want her to be. She's a heroine, and an amalgam of many thousands of years of early humans' thinking and striving, condensed for the reader's pleasure. So what. Jondalar is still, well, just a Jondalar (anywhere else he'd be a ten, but oh well). This volume does not let Ayla do much invention or discovery (she does find a magical cave and do some experimentation with external application of analgesics, but that's a slow summer for her), but the journey she's on - finding a way to fit into the existing, complex social structure of Jondalar's Cave and people while not compromising her deep-seated belief that Clan are people / fighting against ablism and neglect of children (standing up for a disabled youth and encouraging the community to take care of a malnourished infant) - is also compelling and engaging.
I also appreciated witnessing the continuation of her growth into power, her decision to pursue further training, and of course, the way in which her ideas about domestication instantly find followers because girls love horses.
I've only got the final volume left in this re-read (and then a few years' break, and then I can start again at the beginning, which, let's face it, I absolutely shall). In some ways, this is my ultimate comfort read, and I am so thankful it exists and that I'm not too snobbish to enjoy it.
I love Ayla. She's naturally not a realistic, flawed and complex protagonist of psychologically realist fiction, as I think some critics want her to be. She's a heroine, and an amalgam of many thousands of years of early humans' thinking and striving, condensed for the reader's pleasure. So what. Jondalar is still, well, just a Jondalar (anywhere else he'd be a ten, but oh well). This volume does not let Ayla do much invention or discovery (she does find a magical cave and do some experimentation with external application of analgesics, but that's a slow summer for her), but the journey she's on - finding a way to fit into the existing, complex social structure of Jondalar's Cave and people while not compromising her deep-seated belief that Clan are people / fighting against ablism and neglect of children (standing up for a disabled youth and encouraging the community to take care of a malnourished infant) - is also compelling and engaging.
I also appreciated witnessing the continuation of her growth into power, her decision to pursue further training, and of course, the way in which her ideas about domestication instantly find followers because girls love horses.
I've only got the final volume left in this re-read (and then a few years' break, and then I can start again at the beginning, which, let's face it, I absolutely shall). In some ways, this is my ultimate comfort read, and I am so thankful it exists and that I'm not too snobbish to enjoy it.