Rating: 
Summary: The Journey Book
Review: I have just finished rereading Jean M. Auel's 'Plains of Passage' after buying it in hardcover about ten years ago. Each time I go back to one of Ms Auel's books I rediscover aspects I had forgotten, or never even noticed.
I think the important thing to remember when reading the fourth novel in the Earth's Children series is just that - that it is the fourth novel of a series. It continues a story developed through the earlier three books and bridges a gap between one set of stories and the next. I'm sure it must have been very difficult to write a journey book. Developing characters who very rarely come into contact with others is surely a challenge. I think this accounts for some of the other reviewers' disappointment with the novel.
I can also understand reviewers' comments about the weighty tracts of botanical and geographical information but bring a different perspective to it. I have recently become interested in herbal properties, specifically herbal medicine and found it fascinating to speculate with Jean M. Auel about the use of familiar plants in the earliest days of civilisation. To think how long the human race has used datura, wormwood and chamomile...incredible. Admittedly the geographical and topological data lost me and I willingly skipped those bits. I also found the development of the relationships with the animals fascinating.
In the context of a journey book I found 'Plains of Passage' every bit as enthralling as the rest of the Earth's Children series. It presents a true hero and heroine, romance, historical information and a world that is familiar yet new and exciting. For any who haven't read the novels I can't give a strong enough recommendation to start with 'Clan of the Cave Bear' and work your way through before the fifth novel in the Earth's Children series is released in April 2002.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as rest of series
Review: Looking at the other reviews, I'm surprised this book has such good reviews. I enjoyed the previous 3 books but Plains of Passage is definitely sub-standard. My experience is very few authors are good at "travel dialogue"; describing events that take place while the characters are slowly moving through the countryside on foot. Jean Auel is no exception. I can't keep reading about plants, what they look like at different times of the year, and what they are good for. I don't know how many times she resorts to talking about plants. When they come across people it's the same old thing; fear, shock, and then amazement at the horses and spear chucker. I did enjoy the part were Jondalar got captured and Ayla came to the rescue. That's a good ways into the book though. For those who haven't read the book yet:"Ayla and Jondalar travel uneventfully from where they were at the end of book 3 to Jondalar's home town. Ayla learned how to make soap (if I remember correctly) and made a few new friends along the way." I have high hopes for the next book, but the reviews don't look promising.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost too boring for words
Review: Number 4 in the Earth Children Series, that should have stopped at number 3. This book details Ayla and Jondalar as they return to his home on the other side of Europe. The book is detailed indeed, but the days are nearly all the same: They get up, they travel, they hunt,they cook, they camp, they make love, they sleep, they get up, they travel, etc. etc. If this review is boring you, you get a glimpse of the character of this book. All the time, they travel, I think they will meet with someone who will add some interest, but no such luck. The only encounter they finally have is in the last quarter of the book, and while that part of the story is interesting, it doesn't make up for the rest. Very disappointing
Rating:
Summary: A 14 year old girls review.
Review: I am fourteen, and for a fourteen year old I am an avid reader. Jean's 4th book made me see what reading could do. This book took me inside the minds of Ayla and Jondalar to experience their own personal feelings. This book is set 25,000 years ago when a easily lit fire was a god send. Ayla and Jondalar trek across marshland and glaciers to find a place were they can both call home. This is a truely magnificent book which should be given the praise it deserves. All Jean M Auel books are superb and should be read by all.
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Summary: = )
Review: Since I only recently heard of the books, its amazing that I'm already half way through with the fourth book. The books are so hard to put down. Though some people find the scenes repetive, the book puts Europe(Germany), where I was born, in a whole new perspective. Also, having the travel scenes in between the "action" scenes makes you want to read more. And even though I doubt people talked like that 35,000 years ago, it makes the book easier to put yourself in the place of the characters. This book was great, though Auel will never be able to top her 1st book in the series, The Clan of the Cave Bear.
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely the best series I've ever read
Review: The Earth's Children series by Jean Auel has got to be one of the finest written series ever. I have read similar series by other authors that don't begin to measure up to Ms. Auel. I love the detail she goes into for their every day living, how lives may have been in that time, how they acted and interacted during that time in history. I have been anxiously waiting for 9 years for the next book. I have read, and read, and read, and read ..... at least 2 to 3 times a year, all four books in this series. Ms. Auel, where are you? I hear you've been sick. I sincerely hope you are better and writing #5. Please hurry or I'm going to go stark raving mad (my husband already threatens to have me committed).
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Summary: Again this was a book I didn;t want to put down...!
Review: The Plains of Passage was nothing short of amazing. All of Auel's books have left me with wanting for the next one. This one even though had more than enough details and descriptions was still good. I agree that I think this one had a little too much scenary but considering the trek across Europe emphasizing the geological differences was important and just proved that once again her research was taken not lightly. (But I still think there was just a little more than needed) Also the tribe of man-hating women seemed a lttle farfetched. After a little more thought I could see it happening possibly. Even though it is hard to believe people then had the same emotions as we do now, they are still people and I would think there emotions were similar. My daughter was spawned from an abusive relationship that ended through a more aggressive assult on me sexually. I know I hated men and would see them all dead for all I cared. A year later and I still have a problem trusting men, and from what the headwoman's history was it is a more believable story. Plus, considering the type of mad men we have loose on our streets today how could it be so hard to believe that it wasn't the same then. But then I though how could all the other women of the tribe not stand up to their chief and then I thought of Hitler. So overall this book was just another one of Auel's masterpeices.
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Summary: THE BEST
Review: In the 4th part of this amazing story about unusual Ayla, you"ll find yourself always interested- this is just amazing.
Adventures- there are quite a lot, and it's the best of them all
Rating:
Summary: The Plains of Passage
Review: I enjoyed this book, but not quite as well as the 3 previous. It was a little too detailed at times, and tended to drag on a little. The story however, was wonderful, just like the other three. I am reading the Shelters of Stone at this time, and although "The Plains..." was a little more difficult to get through, it was a necessity and laid the ground work for the fifth book in the series. I would recommend it to everyone, and just hang in there during the monotonous parts. You'll be glad you did
Rating:
Summary: maybe the best in the series
Review: i know it is hard to beat the first clan of the cave bear, but i really liked this one. i did not like the 3rd and am anxious to read the 5th.
read them in order and continue, this one is very good.
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