Jean Auel

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Sun March 13th, 2011, 12:52 pm

Surprised to see no thread on Auel and since her latest (and supposedly last) book is coming out in about two weeks I thought it was time to start one.

I've read the rest of the series twice now, but it has been years. I did get a chance to read an advance copy of Land of the Painted Caves, but I'll try very hard and sit on my fingers to keep them off that subject until after it's released

While searching for images to use in my review, I stumbled across these little gems. A very enterprising young man has put together video reviews on the first five books (with hilarious editorial comments). If you've never read the other books these might be a bit spoilerish, and they are major time suck but well worth wasting that time IMHO. Enjoy.

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Sun March 13th, 2011, 5:01 pm

Thanks for the link (I think), Misfit. I watched the first three and had to bookmark for later. You're right this will be a major time suck!

As to Jean Auel, I've read all the books so far, except the newest. I felt each book got weaker and weaker. The first three I've read several times, but Plains of Passage and Shelters of Stone, bored me. Auel did a herculean job on research and it shows, but the characters stopped developing and I quit caring. I did a lot of skimming as I didn't need to read how to nap flint or cure a hide one more time. I'll forgive her for crediting every modern achievement from taming horses, to domesticating dogs and creating the atlatl to Ayla and Jondalar, with the excuse of literary license. And, for some reason (my own maturing as a writer?), I found her omniscient POV irritating in the later books. I didn't like popping in and out of everyone's head and would rather have seen their actions.

Having said all that, I want to thank Ms. Auel for providing me with many hours of wonderful reading. She created compelling characters in Ayla, Izza and Creb; and a wonderful world in Clan of the Cave Bear and Valley of the Horses. She wrote a classic that millions have read and enjoyed.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Sun March 13th, 2011, 5:58 pm

Having said all that, I want to thank Ms. Auel for providing me with many hours of wonderful reading. She created compelling characters in Ayla, Izza and Creb; and a wonderful world in Clan of the Cave Bear and Valley of the Horses. She wrote a classic that millions have read and enjoyed.

Very well said and I agree. One of the gals at Paperbackswap just read them all and loved them to bits for the most part but they do start wearing on towards S of S. I doubt I could go back and reread them now.

Jack is hilarious, isn't he? I love his imagery, especially for Ayla and Jondalar (or jon-duh-lar) as he calls them.

What I've found very surprising is despite a huge fan base, the votes and comments on the review up on Amazon have been very supportive. Usually you expect to get hit with a ton of negative votes for *gasp* daring to criticize but that hasn't been the case so far.

Edited to remove pics and add them as attachments. I hadn't realized how big they were. Sorry

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Sun March 13th, 2011, 6:29 pm

I'm reposting *Jack's* images of Ayla and Jondalar as attachments. They were a wee bit too big

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Tue March 22nd, 2011, 1:44 am

Jack has just posted part III of his review of Shelters of the Stone here.

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Tue March 22nd, 2011, 2:46 pm

Thanks, Misfit. I'm trying to decide if Jack is being ironic in that as the books got longer and more boring, his reviews are longer and more boring. But he has hit the nail (so to speak) and did a great job of pointing out all the things that frustrated me about the later books. I'm still debating on whether to read (skim) The Painted Caves when I know I probably won't like it. If I do, I'll probably get it from the library.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Tue March 22nd, 2011, 3:27 pm

[quote=""fljustice""]Thanks, Misfit. I'm trying to decide if Jack is being ironic in that as the books got longer and more boring, his reviews are longer and more boring. But he has hit the nail (so to speak) and did a great job of pointing out all the things that frustrated me about the later books. I'm still debating on whether to read (skim) The Painted Caves when I know I probably won't like it. If I do, I'll probably get it from the library.[/quote]

Interesting thought about the length of his reviews. I am enjoying them, and he really makes valid points about the storyline and character growth (or lack of I should say).

I hear he may plan on taking on Gabaldon next

Only get Painted Caves from the library or it falls in your lap. I do not recommend popping a cent for this one.

The Amazon reviews are so interesting. Normally you'd expect the fans to be nay saying the critical reviews and back slapping the possies, but it's almost the opposite in this case. One recent five star which really didn't say much of anything at all actually picked up a few slaps in the comments/votes.

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Wed March 23rd, 2011, 3:31 pm

[quote=""Misfit""]I hear he may plan on taking on Gabaldon next

[/quote]

I'm looking forward to that! I thought the Outlander series had the exact same problem as Earth's Children: great start and gradually stumbled to a halt. As the series continued the books got longer and rehashed the same old themes; little or no character development. I gave up and didn't read the last two, so maybe they got better!

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Wed March 23rd, 2011, 4:48 pm

[quote=""fljustice""]I'm looking forward to that! I thought the Outlander series had the exact same problem as Earth's Children: great start and gradually stumbled to a halt. As the series continued the books got longer and rehashed the same old themes; little or no character development. I gave up and didn't read the last two, so maybe they got better!

[/quote]

I enjoyed them all except for Echo, but at the time I was so damned enamoured of them I ignored the flaws. I do like to look at the more critical reviews and times and appreciate seeing what others caught that I missed.

annis · Post by **annis** » Sun March 27th, 2011, 3:19 am

Radi NZ's Kim Hill did an interesting interview with Jean Auel the other day. I discovered that her name is pronounced "Owl" amongst other things!

Link here is anyone would like to listen
http://static.radionz.net.nz/assets/aud ... g-m048.asx

And no, life's too short to struggle hrough Painted Caves

I loved Clan of the Cave Bear, but became rapidly disillusioned with its successors- pure prehistorical romance (though I guess we can't call them bodice-rippers - fur-rippers maybe?)