Rating: 
Summary: An Average Read...
Review: Earth Children Series: 1.)THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEARS 2.)THE VALLEY OF HORSES 3.)THE MAMMOTH HUNTERS 4.)PLAINS OF PASSAGE 5.)THE SHELTERS OF STONE The adventurous life of Ayla continues here in The Valley Of The Horses. This time she is no longer a child of 5 but 17 years old, living on her own for three years after being cursed and banished by the Clan who once adopted and accepted her. Here, we read the heart wretching moments of her loneliness, as well as her courage for survival. Although, some parts are a bit repetitive and flimsy, the experiementings, discoverings, trials and errors are an interesting read. I find Ayla's animal companions heart warming, her determination inspiring. In this book, we are also introduce to Jondalar, a handsome & charasmatic Zelandonii, who travelled with his brother Thonolan's, searching for adventure. The brothers story have some appealing moments but it dragged on a little too much for my liking. I find myself skipping pages, anticipating the meeting of Ayla and Jondalar, which unfortunately didn't occur until the chapter 19th of this book (and 10 chapters later, the book ended. Imagine that!). For me, it took too long for both characters to finally meet up. Also, Thonolan's story seemed to distract me, perhaps I just didn't grasp the point of his story in this book. Nevertheless, Jondalar is an exciting character for Ayla. I enjoyed this book more as soon as the two met up. They not only learned about each other but from each other. After breaking the communication barrier, they shared ideas, exchange customs and experiences... then came the acceptance and love. I find their relationship a challenge, as well as intriguing. However, I am sad to admit that this book didn't create a lasting impression on me. Compared to THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEARS, this one just didn't seem to completely move me nor did it captivated me. It is overall an average read, which I would still recommend especially to those who have started the Earth Childrens Series. I am hoping that the 3rd book of the series,THE MAMMOTH HUNTERS will be more to my liking.
Rating: 
Summary: Captivating
Review: This novel continues right where "The Clan Of The Cave Bear" leaves off. Ayla, the lead character in the book, has been cursed with death and is forced to leave the only people she has ever known. Her journey takes her to the Valley of Horses, where Ayla chooses to live. Along the way, she befriends a Horse and Cave Lion Cub. Unlike "Clan Of The Cave Bear" this book was not as intriguing as its original. Certain parts of the novel, I felt could have been cut out, i.e. I thought the whole story of Jondalar and his brother Thonolan could've been cut out. I know it was put there for us to be introduced to Jondalar, but their story was not that interesting. I would have perferred that they kept them out of the story until Ayla meets them. It would've kept the novel at a steady pace rather than cutting back to Ayla and then cutting back to Jondolar. I think it would have made Jondolar more intriguing, if he were more of a mystery. What excited me about "COTCB" was the Cave People themselves, were unlike anything like us, as to where in this book the Zolandiis and Mamutoi are more of who we are today, which I find unbelievable. But overall, I am very happy with this book, and Am very happy for Ayla in this book! There is a certain flare to this book which is compelling. I definetly have grown attached to Whinney and Baby! I do recommend this book to anyone who is interested, and I will continue on with "The Mammoth Hunters"....
Rating:
Summary: I think it is a must if you want to continue with the series
Review: I think it was a little slow until Ayla and Jondalar meet up. But if you skip this one it will leave alot of information out that is important in the "Mammoth Hunters" So, those of you that grew to love Ayla in "The Clan Of The Cave Bear" Stick it out and read "Valley Of Horses". In my opinion you wont be sorry you did. Unitl Ayla and Jondalar meet up the chapters jump back and forth from telling what is happening in Ayla's life to what's happening in Jondalar's. This is a must read if you're going on in the series. And take from me or not, book 3 "Mammoth Hunters" is just as fast paced as "Clan of the Cave Bear", or faster.
What I want to know from any of Jean M. Auel's fans is; How do I get my hands on The book "Ayla's Herbs"?!?!
Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the orginal...
Review: Okay, maybe I just was not in the right mood but I just could not get into this book like I did for Clan of the Cave Bear. Reading about Jondalar and Thonolan are a complete waste of time (they are just crusing for chicks). Ayla's story is so much more interesting. Hooking them up is a painful waste of pages. Clan is a far superior read in my opnion.
Rating:
Summary: Credible Cultures and Characters
Review: Ayla first entered my fictional realms in the early eighties. I was swept away by her emotional and physical struggles on a prehistoric tableau that resembled our own in so many ways. The conflicts of the first Earth's Children book were real and heart-wrenching. With the announcement of Jean M. Auel's upcoming fifth book, I decided it was time to catch up on this bestselling series. "The Valley of Horses" quickly took me back to Ayla's struggles. Jean Auel does a great job of integrating the facts of the first book without seeming forced. Although her writing becomes overwrought at times, I'm still amazed at the manner in which her narrative sweeps me into a different time and place. I'm also amazed at her ability to capture human emotions in a realistic manner, while introducing cultural and time-oriented contrasts that always seem credible. She creates another world with utter believability. She also relies on romance to keep this book going. Okay, I appreciate the historic significance of Ayla's and Jondalar's meeting and consummation. I wanted it to happen as much as the next guy--or should I say girl? I'm a romantic at heart, but these two seem just a little too physically perfect at times. Ayla and Jondalar are likeable and memorable. I don't need to know every physical detail of their anatomies and couplings to like them more than I do. With that complaint aside, I enjoyed the relationships Ayla builds with the animals, and I admired Auel's ability to make the Mamutoi and Sharamudoi Caves come alive with their own history and civilization. I'm looking forward to "The Mammoth Hunters," hoping to discover a little more adventure than romance.
Rating: 
Summary: MUST READ!!
Review: Everyone should try this series. All of the books in it are excellent and informative. I came across the first in the series, "Clan of the Cave bear" by pure accident. I loved it and bought the rest of the series. EXCELLENT SERIES!!! However, I have noticed children of 10 and eleven have read it. This is not something for young children due to some sexual content. Although it is done in great taste, I, a mother of two, don't think that is appropriate. For young adults and over, this series is truely fantastic. Even if you don't think you would like it, TRY IT!! I usually don't go for these types of stories, but I truely loved it. Excellently written to captivate the reader. An early man love story, but so much more. Adventure, danger, excitement, romance, survival, IT'S ALL IN THIS BOOK.
Rating:
Summary: Hidden lessons in from Ayla's time
Review: I have to say, when I started with Clan of the Cave Bear, I was only intereseted because I saw the movie and wanted to compare it with the book. (Come on, I know some of you were imagining Darryl Hanna as Ayla!) But, as always, the book was better. Then imagine my delight when I saw that there wasn't one, but three books after that! Yeay! I could almost feel the terrible loneliness Ayla experienced, even when reading on a full train to work. The relationship between Jondolar and Thonolan was priceless, and I grieved with both when their loved ones died. But the cultural exchange between the tribes and and Jondolar's lessons to Ayla really intrigued me. It shows that no matter what language you speak, or sign, there are universal truths that bring all of humanity together. And the clean, natural peace of the valley made me disappointed with what human's have done with that type of place in the 21st century. We need to take a few lessons from these "primitive" peoples and re-learn how to care for Mother Earth and ourselves.
Rating:
Summary: Something About Ayla
Review: Exiled to a solitary existence in a beautiful but harsh world with only her animal companions to keep her company, Ayla, the beautiful prehistoric babe, dreams of the one man who can win her heart -- the one man strong enough to satisfy her burning desires! And then along comes Jondalar with his really big... spear. Ok, I know this is the book where Ayla has her sexual awakening, but I'd really thought Auel, whose "Clan of the Cave Bear" had me in tears, would have handled it all with at least a smidgen of finesse. Instead, she kept feeding us all these unsubtle little reminders about Jondalar's impressive physical attributes -- whoah, no need to whip out the tape measure on my account. And then the inevitable sex scenes were so amateurishly written, I had to laugh out loud -- I'll never be able look at the word "slot" in the same way again. As a story, this was pretty good, though it in no way lived up to the promise of Clan of the Cave Bear. As a book about a woman's sexual awakening, this was more primitive than the characters themselves.
Rating:
Summary: Superwoman meets Mr. Hunk
Review: In my opinion this is the best book of the Earth Children series. Ayla, a Homo sapiens girl raised by Neanderthalers after her parents have died (book 1) has fled the clan and has found a pieceful valley to live in. It is amazing what she can invent all on her own: what took mankind hundreds of thousands of years she manages on her own in just three years or so. Even though this makes the story rather unbelievable, the writing is so entertaining that yu keep on turning the pages. Parallel with the story of Ayla's survival in the valley runs the story of 2 brothers on a long quest for they-don't-know what. One of the brothers dies, but the other one barely survives, meeting the love of his life, namely Ayla. All is well that ends well.
Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable Things in the Valley
Review: The Valley of Horses, the second book in Jean Auel's Earth's Children series, is a mediocre book. The Clan of the Cave Bear, the first book, was well constructed and thought out. In this book it seems that Jean Auel has totally forsaken the understandable plot line. Switching the main characters every other chapter is confusing. The characters have nothing to do with each other until the last 1/6 of the book. Recapping the previous books within the text of the current book is the most insulting aspect. If the reader cannot remember what happens from book to book, perhaps he should read them again, or not be reading them at all. --- Forced to live in a cave by herself for three years, the heroine, Ayla, makes life as bearable as she can. She tamed a horse and a lion, built complicated carrying equipment, and learned to make a fire with flint. The thought of a cave lion obeying a person is absurd. Large cats order the pride's dominance by the size of its members. The lion is obviously bigger than Ayla. Ayla invents equipment to carry her kills back to her cave. By accident, she discovers how to strike fire from flint. Then she and a "man of the others" (a member of Ayla's race) make contraptions called "spear throwers." The thought that all of these inventions and more are the product of one or two minds is ridiculous. Although Ayla is very intelligent, the possibility of these devices being invented by coincidence is not plausible. --- In Jean Auel's favor, there were several parts of the book that were appealing. Her use of description is one of the best qualities of the book. She has researched the herb lore of the time and region, and what she presents as fact is indeed believable. --- Readers pick up a book for many different reasons. Some want to be taught, some want to be entertained, and some want an escape. I am a member of the last category and I don't think that this book has fulfilled my wishes. The first book in the series The Clan of the Cave Bear is the best so far in this series. I don't think that The Valley of Horses can carry the series. The necessary components aren't there. As a sequel, it doesn't carry the weight that the first book did. --- This book is an easy read, and if the reader is not nit-picky, quite enjoyable. When I look past everything that annoys me about this particular book, I can see what Ms. Auel was trying to do. It is my opinion that this book should have been a draft instead of a published work.
|
