Rating: 
Summary: The Muse is Gone
Review: Now we know why it took Jean 12 years to finish this book. Her muse is gone and with it everything that made the earlier books compelling and interesting. We can only hope she'll find it again for the final book.
Rating: 
Summary: Ties up loose ends
Review: I gave it five stars because I liked it. I considered giving it four stars because I don't think this book will hold much for a person who hasn't read the previous books in the series. It ties up loose ends and sets up an interest for upcoming adventures, but it doesn't carry a lot of excitement of its own. Obstacles are too easily overcome. This book works well as a step in a larger series, but I don't think it could stand on its own.
Rating: 
Summary: Dissapointment
Review: AFter waiting so long I felt cheated after reading this book which could have been summarized in one sentence. Ayla reaches final destination, mates, and has Jondalar's baby. The rest of the book is totally plagarist from the other books in the series. All the events are exactly the same, just the names are changed. There was absolutely no new plots involved. What a shame.
Rating:
Summary: Worthless....Sank Faster Than The Titanic
Review: The only good thing I can say about this book is that I didn't have to buy it. It was a birthday gift from my sister. What a way to celebrate your 60th birthday. I eagerly awaited the 5th installment in the saga of Alya and Jondalar. Jean, you have insulted all of your devoted fans. Give us credit for having read the previous books and stop repeating yourself over and over and over again. Enough already. If you can't do any better than this, forget the 6th book. Sorry Sis, I wish I could get your money back.
Rating:
Summary: SHELTERS OF STONE - A Disappointment
Review: I have read the other books in the series and waited anxiously for this one. This latest is so repetitive that I don't really believe Jean Auel wrote it. An example is that the Mother's Song is about three pages long and is repeated three times. When Ayla is introduced to members of Jondalar's family, the lengthy formal introduction is repeated each time she meets a new member, and there are about two hundred members. It is not until about the last three chapters that the book picks up the pace and we begin to get a story line. Maybe this is where Jean began to write. The novel could be considerably condensed by tightening up the prose and eliminating the redundancy. Where was the editor? I felt embarrassed for the author. I probably will read the final book, but I certainly hope it is an improvement.
Rating:
Summary: Mostly a Review of Previous Books
Review: Jean Auel needs to break out of her mold of trying to make the latest book a stand alone book for new readers. With the latest book this technique has gotten unmanagable. She spent at least a third of the book going over material covered in previous books. She needs to understand that this is a series and she should assume that her readers have read the previous books. If she wanted to include the old material in a short prologue to bring those who haven't read the other books up to date, this would work, since those who have read the previous books could just skip it. As it was, I found this book boring. It was a big disappointment!!
Rating:
Summary: A cure for insomnia
Review: This book is a real snooze. I plan to keep it near my nightstand for the next 12 years - just in case I have trouble dozing off. I loved Clan of the Cave Bear and really enjoyed the next 3 books, but this book is nothing more than a 700 page description of the way the continent of Europe looked 30,000 years ago. BORING stuff. As for the brilliant Ayla, she is relegated to a pathetic shell of her former self. I agree with all the other reviewers about the boring sex scenes, rehash of the Clan ways, etc. etc. That hunt on the 2nd day (page 250 thru 280 or so) was very contrived. They were so greedy they had to have 2 hunts? This was done more to show off Ayla's skill and Jondular's spear than to entertain the reader. It seems that way too much in this book is just 'filler'. I will not run out and buy the sixth book Ms. Auel. When I hear it's been published, I'll re-read Clan of the Cave Bear.
Rating:
Summary: The Shelters of Stone
Review: Jean Auel is a thougtful and entertaining Storyteller. I gave her latest entry to the Earth's Children Series an extra star simply because she does have masterful ability when turning a true tale of fiction -- as was done in "Clan" and "Valley". This installment, however, is nothing more than a recitation of archeological and prehistoric research facts, coupled with excerpts from previous books in the series. The detailed and often boring descriptions of local fauna, rock formations, and environmental evolution reads almost schorlarly. While it is not surprising that she has become an educated and skilled researcher over the years. I do, however, miss the characters and the simple story! When I pick up a book of this type I want to be entertained, not educated. I guess Jean's writing like our species also had to evolve. Too bad it went commercial and she could not continue to humbly tell the story of a few larger than life characters while sitting at the kitchen table. I am disappointed in this book but I, like many others, will eagerly run and purchase the last installment immediately upon release. She is after all Jean Auel -- an All- American success story!
Rating:
Summary: Huge Disappointment
Review: Like other fans, I have waited for this book for so long. It was a bitter disappointment. There is no storyline, the characters are shallow, and the dialogue long and boring. It could stand alone as a non-fiction book on the flora, fauna, geographical oddities, and craftmanship of the time period. I understand there is a need for background and environment, but there is also a need for character and story. Scenarios and characters promising conflict were introduced, then dropped by the wayside. The Clan is an integral part of this continuing story, but they are strangely missing. What happened?
The other books in this series transported us to another place and time, giving us memories almost as real as if we were really there. They stuck in the mind long after the reading was over. This book doesn't deserve to carry the name - it should never have left the editor's desk.
Rating:
Summary: I Felt Like a Child...
Review: How many times do I have to be told about the reactions people have when introduced to Whinney, Racer, or Wolf? How many times do I need to hear about how perfect Ayla is? I found myself skimming pages to get to the meat of the story. Very tedious and very disappointing. It troubled me to write this review. I was so looking forward to reading the latest in The Earth's Children Series as I enjoyed the previous novels. I am sad to say I don't know if I will read the next one. The entire plot could have been written in just a few chapters.
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