OT: Plains of Passage (for those who've read it)

I know the feeling regarding not finding a forum to discuss the Earth Children books. I read the first 5 (twice) but haven't yet read Painted Caves. In fact, my husband and I have been listening to the audio books for the last 3 or 4 months and he's really enjoying it (not a big reader...) We're on the last leg of Shelters of Stone right now. I have Land of Painted Caves already downloaded so it's going to be a new experience for both of us to enjoy the final book.

CotCB was epic.

Valley of Horses is probably my favorite book. It starts off kinda slow with Jondalar and Thonolan's part, but Ayla's struggle to survive by herself was superb writing.

PoP was kinda boring for me, especially the second read-through and audio book. It's a lot of detailed description of the terrain they travel through their Journey. How many words can Auel use to describe trees? All of them, I guess. There are some exciting parts in the book (the massive rainstorm that almost wiped out Ayla and Jondalar for one) and yes, the meeting with the S'Armunai is probably the best part of the book. But it felt like nothing really happened until they met other caves, the rest of the book was a lot of filler.

Shelters of Stone is excellent as well. I won't spoil you with anything.



“What contemptible scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch?”

Clan of the Cave Bear was brilliant.

Valley of Horses - I loved how it depicted Ayla's struggle for survival, her success in doing so, her domesticating the animals. Wonderful reading, until Jondalar shows up. I found his revulsion of her Cave childhood irritating and way too many sex scenes that read like Mills & Boon [and felt like filler].

Mammoth Hunters - I enjoyed Ayla's interaction with the tribe, her learning new ways and new things about her kind, her relationship with the old shaman. But the love-triangle and stupid childish misunderstandings were really trite and once again Mills & Boonish. And to be honest, I preferred Ranec to Jondalar.

Plains of Passage - reads like a travelogue and the only really good parts were their meeting with a couple of other tribes, including the S'Armunai, the rest is just filler, filler.

Shelters of Stone - the return of Ayla the Super Woman. Seriously, I didn't enjoy this very much. I found Jondalar's people distasteful in general and Ayla's superhero status is becoming a bit much. Won't give away any spoilers though.

Land of Painted Caves - not read yet.

But enjoy it! Best pre-historic fiction out there IMO.

Have you tried ibdb? It is basically the imdb counterpart for books.



"Look not to the heavens for angels, but to your feet, for angels do not come in robes with wings and a halo, but in fur with four legs and a tail."

http://ecfans.com/forums/ultimatebb.php is a great forum for the series.