Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Over the course of 20 years Auel has taken us from the peninsula in the inland sea, up north and now to the Great Waters of the West. Ayla, Jondalar, Wolf, Whinny and Racer have finally made it across the continent to the homeland of the Zelandoni. I only suggest reading this book if you are a diehard Ayla fan like I am or if you have never read any of the other Earth's Children books.Being a long time fan of the series, it was only my love for the wonderful heroine that made me actually finish this book through. The little development in the two main characters was very disappointing. Probably the best character was the First Among Those Who Serve the Mother. However, it becomes obvious the further you read that Auel is only setting the stage for what will be her next book in the series. In my opinion that wasn't very fair to this book, but it definitely leaves your mouth watering for more. If you think you can handle repeat explanations of things that have happened in other books, you should be fine. But I seriously couldn't handle hearing about how Wolf was raised with the children of the Lion Camp over and over and over. And enough with the Mother's Song! Three times is more than sufficient... and it's even written in the back of the book too. There WILL definately be times where you'll groan, roll your eyes and skip a few paragraphs. However, it is the repeating of past events that makes this book easy to read for those new Earth's Children. You don't have to read all the other books to understand what's going on. If anything, it will make you want to go back and read them to know more about what had happened to the mysterious and beautiful woman, Ayla. You will learn to love her as so many already do. I suggest you buy the first three of the series instead. Books four and five are just missing something... And it almost seems like Auel knows that because she kept rehashing material from her previous books. It feels like Auel was struggling with this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Set-up for Book 6
Review: I just finished the book. I had read the other four, years ago, and I was disappointed it took so long to get Shelters of Stone out. I agree with the criticism of the tedious details and repetitions, but I believe that the author or editor (publisher) felt it was necessary in light of the huge gap in time between Plains of Passage and this one. I enjoyed the book, simply skimming over the plant physiology lectures and the anthropological discourses. I am impressed with Ms. Auel's knowledge, but after a while I just page through it to get back to the story. Despite the shortcomings, the book is entertaining, a good summer holiday read, and I look forward to the 6th. But I hope its out sooner than later.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but I'm glad I waited for the paperback
Review: I read with earnest the first four books in the Earth's Children series and looked forward to following Ayla and Jondalar through the fifth. I was disappointed, however, at the numerous repetitions. Many scenes were repeated, nearly word for word, without purpose. Had the scenes had some sort of significance, or added emphasis to the plot, it would have been different; I wonder if, while writing, Ms. Auel just repeated herself so the book's heft would compare with that of the others. Overall, I enjoyed the story and found the plot satisfying. I am happy, however, that I waited to purchase the paperback.
Rating: 
Summary: Ayla's Back
Review: I took the liberty of reading the other reviews and agree with most of them. Yes, the book is overly long and repetitious. I'm not sure if Ms. Auel was trying to re-aquaint us or herself with characters who've been missing for far too long. Yet, this series remains on of my favorites. The people, places, and customs remain descriptive and rich in her writing style. As always, there is an element of intrigue boiling just beneath the surface. If indeed Book 6 will be the final installment,then The Shelters of Stone has left many questions that will need to be answered.
Rating: 
Summary: The Shelters of SNORE
Review: I have read some duds in my day (basically everything Terry Goodkind has ever written) books that made me practically give up all hope that there is a single author/editor/publisher on earth dedicated to anything but mediocrity - but this..this...catalog of repetitive, slogging, meandering, sixth grade writing level piece of mammoth dung is one of the absolutely WORST books I have ever not finished. I couldn't finish it, honestly - I just couldn't - not after five hundred some odd pages of wanting to go directly to FRANCE and spray paint graffiti all over the cave walls that were Ms. Auel's inspiration for this mess. Ayla - who will always be played by the great (NOT) actress Darryl Hannah in my mind is not actually just a Caucasian ancestor but Albert freaking Einstein, Super woman and a mythical god-dess of all that is holy and beautiful. I have never loathed a character so much. She is beautiful, has enormous breasts, is the greatest lay ever but is also the single most brilliant person of the era. Everyone is awed by her. She never makes a single mistake. She invents everything, tames animals, makes tea, heals, performs surgery, educates everyone, hunts like a man, is a perfect warrior and can make a hell of a meal out of SPAM. All while pregnant. Everyone else in the book is pathetically stupid and her boyfriend is a complete himbo - he might as well be in an ad for Calvin Klein underwear. All he does is grin knowingly. There are endless descriptions of the geology and plant-life of the era (like reading an Earth Science book) and this supposed genius research that Ms. Auel accomplished is stuff anyone with half a brain could figure out with no research at all. Plus she basically tells everyone at the beginning of the book that some of it is accurate but MOST is made up - so there! Like it's my book and I'll make pre-history anything I want it to be. Yeah ok. The Earth's Children geniuses have so much more going for them than people did in as recently as the 19th century. So what happened? Everyone was all new-agey and women were equal to men in complete positions of power and then what - 25,000 years later women didn't even have the freaking vote. Ok, sure, makes sense to me. Anyway the rate at which these folks were creating art and items would have had them in computers and Lear jets in record time. So what the hell happened? Everyone got really stupid? The characters are shallow, there is no plot, the book is filled with repetitive introductions, snippets from the other books and feats of amazing wonder that make Ayla out to be the freaking messiah and all of it is written like a guidebook for writers on HOW NOT TO WRITE. You could lose your sanity stumbling over paragraphs with sentences like: That sounded familiar to Ayla. She wasn't sure why. She decided to make some tea. She dug around in her travel pack for some mint. She liked to bring tea to Jondalar in the morning. As well as conversations like the following that go on for entire CHAPTERS: "I know what you are thinking." she teased Jondalar. "What I am thinking is that with this new spear-thrower that I invented, only after you inspired me, we will be able to hunt much more efficiently and therefore be in less danger from charging bison." Jondalar grinned. "That is right. Charging bison can be very frightening. Remember what the Mog-ur said?" Ayla reminded Jondalar. "Yes I remember, but tell me again." "The Mog-ur said that we should invent a weapon to not be trampled by bison because of his great fear of bison. He was a smart holy man, though I am not sure I know what that word smart or holy actually means," Ayla decided to make some tea while they continued to talk. "Then we shall have to invent words for holy and smart Ayla, words like kamakakapoopoo and blerdge." "I don't like those words Jondalar," though she winked at him knowingly, "Let's just use smart and holy instead, you himbo." If anyone actually does read this kind of drivel and enjoy it please email me so I can say that I have at least been emailed by the most boring person alive. The fact that this woman has sold millions of books is a sad commentary on how uneducated most people are. I had never read any of the middle books after Clan of the Cave Bear (which I thought was at least mildly entertaining) and I picked this one up because I wanted a good thick beach read. Apparently the woman (Ms. Auel) is utterly senile (thus the repetitions) and can't even remember why she wrote this in the first place. Of course her agent and publisher I am sure gently reminded her - FOR THE FREAKING MONEY. Read this book ONLY if you want to have fantasies of throttling an old senile woman (the author) or if you have no wish to contribute anything useful to the universe on any level.
Rating:
Summary: Boring
Review: I was so ready to be done with this book. I absolutely loved the others in the series...lost major parts of entire days reading them non-stop, but this long awaited addition is nothing but repetitious drivel. Really, how many times does Ayla need to be formally introduced. How many caves, rivers & landscapes need to be described in such detail that the reader loses all interest. Nothing happens that I cared about at all.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoy re-reading the series.
Review: You can't please everyone and I suppose this is just one of those times. I purchased and read this book Saturday and found it just as interesting and enjoyable as it's forbearers in the series. I did find a few draw backs though. There are several grammatical errors that I feel would have been hard to miss if proof-read by a competent reader. They do not necessarily detract from the book, but they are a slight bit bothersome. I was a touch annoyed by the repetition. I did not mind the author's retelling of activities in previous books as there were some points that were not as fresh in my mind. Unfortunately, I have to agree with one of the other reviewers in that there are only so many times you can describe how the horses are tamed or Wolf introduced. Regardless of the two points I mentioned above, I found the story entertaining and anxiously await the next book in the series. Hopefully the wait will not be as long.
Rating:
Summary: Cut and paste?
Review: I am typically more understanding and sympathetic towards authors and new books; however, I must say that this book was a disappointment. I felt as if I was reading the same chapter over and over. I even checked once to make sure I was on the right page, but Auel was just describing the Mother's Song once again. There are many very interesting, well-written, and well-researched parts of the book, but it is mostly a review of the past books and LONG descriptions of the same thing. Everyone knows how to cut and paste paragraphs, including Auel.
Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: If "Clan of the Cave Bear" was as mediocre as this book, its likely that the series would have ended right there. "Clan" was an excellent book -- and the others in the series were also very good -- but this book is very lacking in drama and repetitious to the point of boredom. The detailed research, which was skillfully woven into the story in earlier books and gave life and dimension to the characters and events, appeared in this book as lengthy descriptions which interrupted the story. As an Auel fan, I've eagerly read all of the previous books in this series, and was hoping that the negative reviews on "Shelters" were exaggerated. Sad to say, they're not. The only positive thing about this book is that Auel fans will have a chance to re-enter Ayla's world again after a long wait. I'm hoping that the next book will be better...
Rating:
Summary: Traveller Jondular Returns Home
Review: Like most devoted readers of this series I was waiting for this one--Ayala finally meets Jondular's family and the people of the Zelandonnii. I expected more drama & more subplots, especially with Marona, Jondular's jilted lover whom he left to go on his journey, with his brother Thonalan.
On his retun, only a few words of greeting between Jondular and Marona. A high school prank played on Ayala turns out ok and Marona is hardly mentioned again, except for her thoughts towards both Jondular and Ayala at the Summer meeting. Also, Ayala is warmly accepted by his family within 3 days of meeting her. Out of 200 people-Marona and Laramar are the only 2 who dislike her????? Unreal I also found it tedious repeating everything--yes I can appreciate recounting Ayala's early life with the clan, her relationship with wolf and the horses, her acceptance to the Lion Camp, however once the reader is told this initally is it neccessary to recount it every few chapters?
The fourth book, "the Plains of passage', i felt was a most boring read due to the lack of people, dialogue and conflict. Even Jondualr being captured by the Amazon was quick, and onward back to their trek across prehistoric Europe.
This 5th one, should have had some strife--espaecially with Jondular's family being leaders of the Zelandonii, shouldn't have readily accepted Ayala after only knowing of her for 3 days, mainly based their recounting their journey, Ayala telling of her upbringing, making fire with firestones and sewing with the threadpuller. Though they are shown all of this and find their stories amazing, interesting, 'hard-to-imagine," I felt as leaders of this people, they should have kept their ready acceptance of Ayala contained for the family only-- They are aware of the prejudice towards the Flatheads. Even when being told of Ayala's upbringing with the clan, as leaders of this people, they should have given everyone in the ninth cave a chance to know Ayala without the use of theirinfluence of status.
I felt, like with the Clan and the Lion Camp, everyone would have the opportunity to voice their opinions when it became time. Then everyone, including Jondular's family in their position of leadership,could vote for Ayala to be accepted as a member of the Zelandonii or if any objections,then Ayala could show whatever skill, be it with fire, her soothing tea, her sling to them, for approval. If not, she would be at the Summer Meeting after she is mated to Jondular.
Because the story has Jondular's family and the Zelandonni people accepting of Ayala so readily and easily, I felt a new reader may also feel rushed into acceptance of Ayala-- Everything she does is wonderful! Ayala is right! Ayala is so skilled! The reader was innundated with the author's passion for the heroine without any sense of objectivity.
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