Rating: 
Summary: Worth the wait? Not really.
Review: I was so disappointed in this book. 741 pages of not a whole lot happening. Ayla and Jondalar finally made it to the Zelandonii people to meet his family and friends. They get married. She has her baby. That's the whole book in a nutshell. So what was on those 741 pages? Ayla meets every single person that Jondalar knows and we get to read about their formal introduction each and every time. Sometimes the intros take a half a page. Ayla gives her formal titles each and every time as well. Each and every person who meets her hears about how 2 horses and a wolf came to be her companions--and we do too even though we already knew about it 2-3 books ago. A lengthy three page poem about Mother Earth--we are treated to this not once but THREE times. Was Jean Auel's editor sick or on vacation? As always, Ayla is a compelling character and Auel's descriptions of stone age life are fascinating but there isn't a lot of meat to this book and hardly any conflict. You keep waiting for something to happen but it never does.
Rating:
Summary: ZZZZZ!!
Review: I'm in agreement with everyone else. I was disappointed in SoS because of the long, detailed, repetious explaination of everything. One positive point. It did pickup speed towards the end which will perhaps make the sequel a better work. Good luck Jean!
Rating: 
Summary: Shelters of stone
Review: I too thought this book was well padded,too many repeated name calling.
Rating: 
Summary: Long, but I really liked it
Review: My husband and I both love this series, so I bought the cassette version without hesitation. We listened to the first 6 tapes on a vacation. He refused to continue, saying it was way too long and drawn out. I agree it does have more intricate details than any book I've probably ever read or listened to. However, because it is so long and detailed, it is sort of soothing to me. I get in the car, pop in a tape, and feel transformed back to another place and time. I hear in detail all of the mundane matters of the people of long ago. The love story between Ayla and Jondular (not sure how to spell their names) is nice---they are way too focused on day to day life to engage in any romance-type constant passion, but Auel definitely includes some (equally detailed) intimate scenes. In fact, if it weren't for the rare (every 3rd or so tape) sex scenes, I would donate it to the library when I am done. Overall, I like the tapes. It is an interesting book---I look forward to hearing bits of it as I drive, and I don't care what my husband says---long is just right for this author.
Rating: 
Summary: Unfortunately, I agree
Review: I have to agree whole heartedly with the first three reviews especially. I find the "explicit romance" is similar to reading a romance novel - an entirely different type of book. I was 1/2 way through the book and "still waiting" for the "new" book to begin, not just a running narrative of her previous ones. I read this book simply because I have read them all and her first book was extraordinary. I read fast and it still took me a week to get through this, it was like watching paint dry it was so boring in places. I really hope 6 and yes, I'll buy that one too, is better than this one. I don't think it could get much worse.
Rating:
Summary: Long awaited and worth it overall
Review: It seems like we had to wait forever for this installment of the Earths Children series and I believe it was worth it overall. I found The Shelters of Stone a wonderful continuation of the story of Jondular and Ayla but the constant referring back to previous books a little to much to bear. I found myself skipping pages at a time because the same scenes were being brought up from books past.That is my only criticism. I do have to say that I will purchase and read the last book in the series the day its released but I hope it will not flashback as often. Will it answer all the questions provoked by the previous 5 books? Will it end with the 6th installment or grow further? What will happen to Ayla, Jondolar and their child? I also hope it doesn't take 10 years for it to arrive. I do recommend this book to all who enjoy stories of prehistoric culture. Those of my friends who gave this series a chance were not dissappointed. Neither was I.
Rating:
Summary: Too long between books
Review: When I found out Jean Auel had a new book out, I bought the hard cover not wanting to wait for the soft to come out. That was a mistake. I have been a big fan of Jean Auel for years, and have read her previous books numerous times. Shelter of Stone however left much to be desired. Her detailed description of "everything" was a bit much. I enjoy a good detailed book, but this one was overdone. I had to force myself to pick the book back up and continue reading it. The first five hundred pages were slow going, but after that, things picked up and it was easier to read. Hopefully her next book will be less descriptive of rocks and ledges and more of the story of Ayla and her new homeland.
Rating:
Summary: The never ending story
Review: All English teachers will agree that detail within a story is a must. They will also agree that there is a point where the detail is no longer helpful but, instead, becomes a nuisance. Jean M. Auel's detail of Ayla's surroundings quickly surpassed the category of descriptive writing and entered the ranks of A Bushman's Guide To Nature. I am Only a high school student but it doesn't take a professional to recognize a disaster. The story is slow and filled with useless detail. All in all I feel that Jean M. Auel should abandon any interests she may have in continuing with the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful continuation of a comparison between then & now
Review: I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all of Auel's books, and this one was no exception. I love how she describes the characteristics of the land before it was polluted by so much modern technology. I also love how she portrays human relationships that are so similar to what we encounter today - to show that basic human nature hasn't changed much. Also, I enjoy the discoveries made by Ayla and the other humans, of opportunities that we today so take for granted (such as fire, thread puller, spear thrower, etc.) Auel's books rekindle my genuine appreciation for the earth and all it has provided for us. I love getting lost in the era in which the story takes place. This book in particular has also made me revisit the joys of being pregnant and having a baby (my 'baby' is now almost 4). The story surrounding Lorala, and Ayla's experience with having her own baby, really moved me. Jean Auel, you are such a wonderful inspiration to me! I am anxiously anticipating book #6!
Rating:
Summary: The uses of perpetual cut and paste
Review: I looked forward to the next installment of the Earth's Children series, but found SoS a disappointment. It seems Auel is more concerned with length than content, because there is more repetition and recycling in this book than all her other books combined.Just how many times does the Mother's Song have to be printed? One time through was far more than enough...it's too long as it is. Yet we see it in full 2-3 times, plus a printing yet again after the end of the book. Endless introductions and listings of familial lineages. Endless recycling of portions of the previous books. While yes, some would be necessary, when the same story is retold (when others ask Ayla the same question that has been answered previously) we have to hear the WHOLE THING again. This book was more than twice as long as it needed to be. Instead of letting of really focus on some of the interesting new characters, we're bogged down in endless scenery descriptions. It gets to the point of being difficult to follow the relatively unsubstantial story and character arcs. Auel sets up some conflicts that could have become interesting if brought to fruition. Instead she all but comes out and says *Buy the next book* This volume was a cop-out...filler material...not really respectful of her fan base.
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