Rating: 
Summary: A disappointment
Review: This book is definitly the worst of the series in my opinion. I absolutely loved the series, but this one was just like a pre-historic soap opera. There were some good parts in the story. I loved Auel's description of the Mamutoi's reactions to her horses and when Alya brings home a wolf pup. But the whole story was mostly just about the Alya, Jondalar, and Ranec love triangle. It's an ok book if you like that kind of thing, but if not you don't even really need to read it to understand the 4th book (which was a TON better).
Rating: 
Summary: Low point in the series... so far.
Review: I know, I know, Clan of the Cave Bear was fantastic, and Auel is a great writer... BUT, this book nearly ended the series for me. I simply could not believe how trashy and juvenile the plot was: a prehistoric love triangle... how exciting. And whatever happened to Ayla's strong, independent nature? Watching her chasing along behind the jerky Jondalar literally made my skin crawl. I wished I'd skipped this book and gone right to the next which was, thankfully, a little better.
Rating: 
Summary: A Compelling Sequel
Review: I was thrilled to discover that the book following The Clan of the Cave Bear(which I thought was fantastic) was both captivating and interesting. Unlike most sequels, this book does not dwell on the events that occured in the previous book. I encourage all readers to dive into this wonderful story of love and strength.
Rating: 
Summary: A Stunningly Wonderful Book
Review: The Mammoth Hunters by Jean M. Auel is one of the best book that I have ever read. It is amasing how well the aothor gets you into the story with magnificent details and descriptions. My favorite part of the book was when the Camp adopted Ayla into their group. It showed basic human kindness and how even stranges can learn to be accepted. This is a wonderful book in an incredible series. It is a perfect book for leisure and fun reading. I would encourage everyone who is interested in a wonderful story to read about Ayla's life in all of the books in the Earth's Children series.
Rating:
Summary: Surpise after surprise
Review: The main character who has been left alone for a long time is now in love with a man and has become loved by her own kind. Jeleousy get in the way of the two lovers and lots of misunderstandings, between them. Very detailed, which i pictured in my head the whole time. Once you start you cant stop!!
Rating: 
Summary: A HUGE disappointment...
Review: I've really enjoyed the first two books in the series. 'The Clan of the Cave Bear' was pretty good - it's idea was original, it was very well written, and the main character was very easy to identify with. I've read 'The Valley of the Horses' mainly because I was wondering how Ayla was doing after being banned from the Clan... I think that this book was trying to show the "Others'" reaction to Ayla - some would like her instantly, some would grow to like her... Jean Auel just doesn't manage to give this story a life of its own, and it remains flat and 2 dimensional - all the people's reactions were to be expected from what I gathered about the others in 'The Valley of Horses'.Some other reader described the love triangle of this book as 'soap opera-ish'. I couldn't agree more - this part of the story is as bad as the rest...
Rating:
Summary: Jill's Thoughts
Review: This book was full of detail and color. The characters plights were acutly felt by the reader. I nearly screamed aloud about the misconceptions between Ayla and Jondalar. It seemed as if they would never see the mistakes each had made. I could bearly put the book down. The details and turns in the story kept the ending a secret. This is defently a good read for a rainy day.
Rating:
Summary: Shut Up About The SEX Already!
Review: I read this book as an assignment in 7th grade. I'm now 21, and I still think about it, and get tears in my eyes remembering the awe and wonder I felt when I read this book. What does that say? 10 years later it still occupies a special place in my heart! It makes me so sad to think how Jean would feel reading some of these reviews. I think I speak for everyone who loves these books when I say that this series exists on a higher playing field. Those of us who are intelligent enough to actually "get" this book know what I'm talking about. How could anyone dare call it trashy? (makes me wonder how great their sex life is) So maybe there was a little bit too much description. The sex still has a very relevant place in these books . It symbolizes her cross-over from trying so hard to be someone you're not so you can fit in, to giving herself permission to be happy and love/be loved and feel good. Sex in the clan and sex with the others are two totally different concepts! She doesn't know it's supposed to be beautiful and pleasurable. - Thank God for evolution :) - Her only knowledge of it for a long time was that it's something men do TO you, not WITH you. No one seems to remember she was raped! And on top of it she had a baby no one wanted around! Of course she's strong and self reliant. Would you read this series if these experiences turned her into a whiney, crying baby of a woman who can't move on from the bad things that happened to her? No. That would suck! Don't forget Jondalar has his own sexual issues, or was that to subtle for those of you that think it's trashy? You have to look at this as a whole series, because it is the life and times of Ayla - all of them - the good and the bad. Aren't there stupid arguements in your past that lasted a little too long? Come on! It is not meant to be examined and poked and prodded for it's historic accuracy either. That information is there to ENHANCE the story. And last time I checked we don't have a nice, neat record of what it was like to live 35,000 years ago. Who are we to say she's wrong or right, she's not trying to be right or this book would be in the NON-Fiction section. So relax your brain and just read it to enjoy it. Yes the love triangle was a little frustrating but that's what writers call SUSPENSE! This is a very important part of their relationship's growth. They learn to trust in their love. What doesn't kill your relationship will make it stronger. That is the lesson here. Can their love stand the test of time? How could some people miss that?? "Will they ever get back together"? "Will Ayla be left alone again, or with a man she doesn't really love out of convenience"? Her struggles are the same ones we deal with today and I think the whole series is totally relatable. Last but not least, the best part of these books is that through her incredible ability to be so descriptive about what it's like to be Ayla, we are able to feel exactly what she feels. All of these books are spectacular works of literature. I am just dying for the next book or two to come out. Jondalar still has to break the news to his people that his brother is dead. And isn't someone expecting a baby? There is so much more to be told. Jean, we're ready and waiting.
Rating:
Summary: See the world of Earth's Children from many viewpoints
Review: I was surprised to see that readers' ratings of this book were not as good as those for the other three books in this series. In my opinion, it should be the other way around. I think that this is the best book in the series (despite the admittedly contrived, unnecessarily prolonged romantic problems in which Ayla and Jondalar become entangled). This is the only book in the series that gives you a detailed look at life among Earth's Children from points of view other than Ayla's and Jondalar's. Readers who identify more with older people (like Crozie), middle-aged people with heavy responsibilities (like Talut and Tulie), adolescents (like Latie), or young mothers (like Tronie and Fralie) can all have a chance to see what life was like for people like them in Jean Auel's world. The other books tell you about Ayla and Jondalar. The Mammoth Hunters lets you be part of a community.
Rating:
Summary: Compared with it's predacessors - very mediocre
Review: Most reviewers agree that Clan of the Cave Bear - and to a lesser extent, Valley of the Horses - are masterpieces. Fun, engaging, luxurious in their premise, polemics and details. Mammoth Hunters degerates into a soap-opera-ish love-triangle that becomes tiresome rather quickly - and then down-right annoying. For diehard fans of the first two installations of the Earth's Children series - don't expect the wonder and depth... but being addicts, you won't be able to resist - and will probably be disappointed.
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