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captain_valour 's review for:
The Last Neanderthal
by Claire Cameron
I'm not exactly sure what I expected from this book, but it definitely surprised me with what was within its pages. Oh and warning, there may be a few spoilers in this review.
The story focuses mainly on Girl, a Neanderthal within a family of 5, and the extinction of her race as her family starts dying off on her as well as those around her. Another perspective was surprisingly thrown in there too: an archeologist who found the remains of a female Neanderthal and a human boy, evidence of the two coexisting at the same time. As the story continues, you realize the Neanderthal is Girl, but always try to figure out where the human comes into the story. I didn't mind the present day perspective so much, but it wore out its welcome at times because I just wanted to read more from Girl.
Three things bugged me about this story though. First, was the incest. It was just awkward to read about siblings having sex, even though I'm sure it did happen. Second wasn't as bad, but as a guy, I find it hard to read about a girl giving birth and everything she goes through. Ok, it might've been fine if it was just once, but when both MCs were giving birth back to back, it just got weird, even though I knew why the author did it. And lastly, was the ending. Cause the story builds up making you believe you'll find out the answers to the Neanderthal extinction, or even more about the bones they find. But you find out nothing, you can only guess who the human may be and why the Neanderthals were wiped out. So it kinda bugged me.
But, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story and the way the author separated the MCs frames of mind when their thinking patterns would've been totally different over the span of thousands of years. So props to her for that. And if none of the above stuff bothers you, give it a read, cause it was worth it.
Thanks for letting me read this beautiful book for my honest review! It was a joy to get to finally read it!!!
The story focuses mainly on Girl, a Neanderthal within a family of 5, and the extinction of her race as her family starts dying off on her as well as those around her. Another perspective was surprisingly thrown in there too: an archeologist who found the remains of a female Neanderthal and a human boy, evidence of the two coexisting at the same time. As the story continues, you realize the Neanderthal is Girl, but always try to figure out where the human comes into the story. I didn't mind the present day perspective so much, but it wore out its welcome at times because I just wanted to read more from Girl.
Three things bugged me about this story though. First, was the incest. It was just awkward to read about siblings having sex, even though I'm sure it did happen. Second wasn't as bad, but as a guy, I find it hard to read about a girl giving birth and everything she goes through. Ok, it might've been fine if it was just once, but when both MCs were giving birth back to back, it just got weird, even though I knew why the author did it. And lastly, was the ending. Cause the story builds up making you believe you'll find out the answers to the Neanderthal extinction, or even more about the bones they find. But you find out nothing, you can only guess who the human may be and why the Neanderthals were wiped out. So it kinda bugged me.
But, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story and the way the author separated the MCs frames of mind when their thinking patterns would've been totally different over the span of thousands of years. So props to her for that. And if none of the above stuff bothers you, give it a read, cause it was worth it.
Thanks for letting me read this beautiful book for my honest review! It was a joy to get to finally read it!!!