Book 4, The Plains of Passage: Earth's Children

received the hardback copy in less than a week. my paperbacks were looking pretty rough and the hardback is larger print. love the entire series and read them annually. I need a good vacation back in time that I get reading these books.

First, i should say that I read four of the six books in the series. As a lifelong fan of all things prehistoric, a well-researched work of fiction about early humans seemed attractive to me, especially a series that is so famous around the world. Personally, although I am aware that reviewing a Literary work written by a woman and that has a woman as the main protagonist- as a male- may lead to accusations of bias- I believe that readers of my review may be well-served by reading reviewes written by women, of the same series. There they will find that anyone with any understanding of literature will be able to understand the strengths and weaknesses of this series, and that some of my personal feelings are shared, albeit in different words, by others regardless of gender:

1: the greatest strength of this series and it's author, is researchh: Jean M. Auel certainly should be commended about research and the dedication to realism. In that she certainly sets an example to many authors.

2: However, this strength is also where the weakness starts: as noted by other reviewers, the details of daily life in just about any era, can disrupt the plot's progress. Not knowing WHEN details are relevant to the plot is a problem that besets many authors with commendable intentions, from Tolstoy to Joyce. in short: an editor is important.

3: Questionable Realism: ayla's nearly super-human capabilities , compared to so many other people that she encounters, most notably the ever-besotted Jolanadar, have raised a few eyebrows among readers. When "clan of the cave bear" was published, the world at large already knew that early humans were more advanced than what was hitherto assumed- but it should be borne in mind that the early days of humanity were BRUTAL. Human bonding, communication and love certainly did exist, but my personal impression was that Mrs. Auel describes a world in which danger is marginalised, compared to the dangers of male-female relationships. as I write this review, an example that springs to mind is the famous author Wodehouse, who continued to write his idealized comedies of Jeeves and Wooster, with berties attempts at avoiding marriage and his aunts, to whom he referred as "primeval mastodons", while the horrors of WW2 unfolded in Europe.

4: now that i've mentioned mastodons, I remember that "The Mammoth Hunters " revealed a glaring problem in the series as a whole: for a series about the prehistoric world, the prehistoric animals that made that period attractive to us today- men and women alike- are hardly there. Mammoths, Cave Bears- it would have been perfectly legitimate , and historically acceptable, to give them a bigger presence (pun intended) in the series as a whole. Our history is influenced by our interactions with them in those days.

5: Misplaced emphasis: i know perfectly well that this is a personal statement and readers of this review may disagree: This series is weighed down not only by an almost obsessive attitude about daily details, but even more so with romance. Anyone familiar with the concept of "conflicts in literature"- Humanity against Nature, humanity against itself, etc- look it up- will ask this simple question: were humans really capable in Cro_magnon times to devote so much time to romantic relationships? did they have no other concerns? apparently this was more important than other aspects in the series that are more interesting but seem secondary, such as the early beginnings of theology, cosmology and the megafauna of the day. For a series that began with evident knowledge and erudition , it descends quickly into a series that with some changes could take place in the modern world about modern people.

In conclusion: writing about the historic past is appealing not only because of the details of the period and the need for an accurate description thereof. Its also an attempt at opening a door into the mindset of the people who lived at these times. When writing about the period before the invention of writing is concerned, speculations about that mindset are unavoidable, but these early humans seem altogether too perfect and altogether too preoccupied with their personal relationships to be part of the vast dramatic sweep of prehistory. A work of literature is never idle entertainment or "just a story". but this time the message behind the plot is difficult to discern: we know that early humans were more advanced than the vision of them that exists in the publc's mind, and that possibly even before the early civilizations of Mesopotamia, societies were matriarchal. but there should be much more to a literary plot by way of a message to the reader.

Daniel Barak , M.A. (Comparative Literature)

This is the last of this series that I read. I was interested in what happened to Ayla, but after reading this book I felt like it was an awfully long book for nothing to have happened. It's Ayla and Jondalar traveling. It didn't really go anywhere, plot-wise. Which actually would normally be okay with me if the rest stops on the journey are interesting, but it's kind of the same thing over and over. Ayla has sex with Jondalar. Everyone who meets Ayla is impressed with her, and those who are male would like to have sex with her. She has skills she invented and seems to have been single-handedly responsible for passing on a good couple dozen survival skills to cultures she encounters. And it's weird that someone who's clearly got the skills and abilities necessary to survive on her own acts like she's so dependent on Jondalar. She doesn't usually act like she has low self-esteem (except in weird little pockets where she conveniently remembers being raised as Different); she seems pretty confident and headstrong and willing to tackle supposedly insurmountable odds to help people. And yet she acts like she's physically dependent on her man. It's kind of incongruous.

And of course just like every other book, a lot of the pages are taken up by rambles that fill in research and history and scenery. Hmm. The only thing the extra text really helped me see was how long a journey is when you're not in a vehicle and you feel every step. (Jondalar complaining about it a lot helped reinforce that even though it was annoying.) But there was a lot of weird canned philosophy--I got pretty tired of them discussing how pregnancy happens, and I just remember thinking when I closed the book that I didn't really care where they were going to go next because they would be worshiped or attacked and bring inventions that get them worshiped or attacked and ramble about the same things and have sex. It's one thing to convey something being boring; it's another thing entirely to bore the readers.

The fifth book in this series wasn't out when I finished reading this one. It took twelve years. I thought about going back to reread the first four books so I could have context for book 5, but I realized I just didn't care enough and my reading list is huge enough.

As with most of the others in the Clan of the Cave Bear series, this one dragged for much of the book. One of my notes to myself says "only 3 % in and already sick of descriptions of plants." Don't get me wrong, I think it's great she includes some science and some medicinal lore etc, but she really goes overboard with it. There are long sections with a lot of description and very little action.

A big chunk of the book is the same - nightmares, lots of walking, sex. There is also a lot of them worrying independently when they could just talk it out and reassure one another - a big flash back to The Mammoth Hunters. I was starting to wonder if this was the only plotline she can come up with.

On the other hand, she does do a good job of making the animals into characters. With a good chunk of the book devoted to their travels, it could easily have gotten incredibly boring focusing on only two characters. Her ability to transform the two horses and the wolf into characters we can care about and be interested in saved the traveling portions of the book from being a total bore.

I also felt she missed some opportunities in the early portion of the book to spruce up the action - at one point they encounter an abandoned camp, and she discusses looking for her son. If she had done so, the first half of the book might not have been quite so dull (but might have been even longer!).

One thing she does do really well, and always has, is creating evocative settings and bringing the scenes to life. However, she often resorts to the same themes, both during this book, and throughout the first half of the series as a whole. As I already said, she keeps reverting back to the same plot lines and descriptions to give the story depth. I would have liked to see some more variety - I suppose at least here we had some commentary on the bugs and the animals of the steppes to break it up, which I did enjoy at times.

Along the same lines, every single meeting with another group of people (except for one) uses the same plotline. MINOR SPOILER: Ayla's medicine is always used as a buffer to get people to trust her. While it works, I dislike it when authors fall back on the same easy plot explanation, and she really is guilty of that here.

Minor note: Wolf is just too well trained to be believable. Most modern dogs are not so well behaved, and he is only one generation from the wild. I just didn't buy it sometimes.

So why didn't I down rate this book? The latter half. SPOILERS: When she finally meets a group led by an evil woman and a council called the "wolf women" it finally spruces up a bit. Their leader is obviously designed as a foil to Ayla, the dark side to her light side. It worked, and the story finally became interesting. It finally had some dimension and action to it.

The last half of this book was her best work since the original Clan of the Cave Bear book. I finally felt rewarded for slogging through the last book and the first half of this one, and again felt an interest in finding out what happens to Ayla. Finally!

In sum, this book has the same strengths and weaknesses as her others - great setting, interesting historical background, decent characters, but far too much description, causing the book to go on, and on, and on. That said, the last half really picks up and has some of the best content so far in the series. If you've been thinking about giving up on the series (as I had)...don't!

Although I am a die-hard fan of this series and have all of them in hard cover, I am now putting them all onto my Kindle. With the first three books, You get a story line worthy of true greatness. With this one, it could have, and should have, been written in 200 pages … or less! Finally, at chapter 15, there was some story line worth reading. However, it doesn't last. Trying to either make this a stand-alone book, or else just liking the sound of clicking computer keys, this book is repetition on top of more repetition. If you want a book of botony, zoology and sex, you will get this book. If you want a decent Earth Children book, go on to the next in this series. This book must be a practice piece for her horrible writing for the last one she attempted to write …

Another long novel in the "Earth's Children" series, with escapades as Ayla the Wonder Woman travels with Jondalar the Frown, two horses and a wolf to parts unknown in their prehistoric world. Of note, the scenes where Jondalar is captured are pretty interesting. Ayla discovers she is a better shrink than Freud, asks all the right questions and figures out why the leader of the group is mean and nasty. In her spare time, Ayla does not walk on water, only swims. Scarcasm aside, she and Jondalar are symbols of what Early Man could achieve way back when. It is interesting to read about cooking techniques, the use of salt, hide curing and gatherings to discuss ways in which to procure meat for the hearth. Once again, the sex scenes are soft porn in some ways, and are not as frequent as previous novels and not as distracting from the overall plot line. The dialogue is better this time, and yes, you can skip parts of meticulous details about flora and fauna and get to the action. Jean Auel nearly has us believe that Wolf can talk, but that is just poetic license and fluff. It is the stuff of fiction that makes us cringe at times. However, if you are like me and want to finish the series, then I say plod on, skip over what you don't wish to read, and have a ball. Still interesting at times, fun in parts, but long.

As with most of the others in the Clan of the Cave Bear series, this one dragged for much of the book. One of my notes to myself says "only 3 % in and already sick of descriptions of plants." Don't get me wrong, I think it's great she includes some science and some medicinal lore etc, but she really goes overboard with it. There are long sections with a lot of description and very little action.

A big chunk of the book is the same - nightmares, lots of walking, sex. There is also a lot of them worrying independently when they could just talk it out and reassure one another - a big flash back to The Mammoth Hunters. I was starting to wonder if this was the only plotline she can come up with.

On the other hand, she does do a good job of making the animals into characters. With a good chunk of the book devoted to their travels, it could easily have gotten incredibly boring focusing on only two characters. Her ability to transform the two horses and the wolf into characters we can care about and be interested in saved the traveling portions of the book from being a total bore.

I also felt she missed some opportunities in the early portion of the book to spruce up the action - at one point they encounter an abandoned camp, and she discusses looking for her son. If she had done so, the first half of the book might not have been quite so dull (but might have been even longer!).

One thing she does do really well, and always has, is creating evocative settings and bringing the scenes to life. However, she often resorts to the same themes, both during this book, and throughout the first half of the series as a whole. As I already said, she keeps reverting back to the same plot lines and descriptions to give the story depth. I would have liked to see some more variety - I suppose at least here we had some commentary on the bugs and the animals of the steppes to break it up, which I did enjoy at times.

Along the same lines, every single meeting with another group of people (except for one) uses the same plotline. MINOR SPOILER: Ayla's medicine is always used as a buffer to get people to trust her. While it works, I dislike it when authors fall back on the same easy plot explanation, and she really is guilty of that here.

Minor note: Wolf is just too well trained to be believable. Most modern dogs are not so well behaved, and he is only one generation from the wild. I just didn't buy it sometimes.

So why didn't I down rate this book? The latter half. SPOILERS: When she finally meets a group led by an evil woman and a council called the "wolf women" it finally spruces up a bit. Their leader is obviously designed as a foil to Ayla, the dark side to her light side. It worked, and the story finally became interesting. It finally had some dimension and action to it.

The last half of this book was her best work since the original Clan of the Cave Bear book. I finally felt rewarded for slogging through the last book and the first half of this one, and again felt an interest in finding out what happens to Ayla. Finally!

In sum, this book has the same strengths and weaknesses as her others - great setting, interesting historical background, decent characters, but far too much description, causing the book to go on, and on, and on. That said, the last half really picks up and has some of the best content so far in the series. If you've been thinking about giving up on the series (as I had)...don't!

Well, at least I found a lot of the plant lore interesting. I listened to this on audiobook and they could definitely have found someone better to narrate. The person who narrated sounded much like someone reading a tale to children...which made the sex scenes a bit awkward and weird, definitely not titillating as I imagine they were meant to be...I found myself rolling my eyes and wanting them to get beyond those scenes. Also, the "wonderwoman" Ayla sounded like a whiny, feeble female due to the narration. Definitely not going to read or listen to any more of this series.

I enjoyed the first 3 books in this saga. But this one...whew. I agree with other reviewers that it's a just a long walk, punctuated by sex and Ayla-is-a-miracle-worker episodes. Then they walk some more...

...past another [landscape detail] and another [landscape detail] and another [landscape detail] [stop for sex] and another [landscape detail] and... [save someone] and another [landscape detail]... ad nauseam.

I do want to GET TO the last 2 books, but for the love of Mother Earth, but to get there, I'm paging past page after page after page of another [landscape detail]. I just start skipping when my eyes see another [landscape detail] and I keep skipping until I get to "quote marks" again.

Ayla is like a prehistoric Forrest Gump. Is there anything she can't do? No one she can't charm? It's all a bit tedious.

One of my favorite books in the series. Here our favorite heroine Ayla *finally* learns what it's like to live with a group of 'others' and learn their ways. She learns what it's like to fit in, and be accepted. And accepted she is. Too well, as we learn.
This incredible story gives us a peak at how people lived back then, and some of the practices it's believed they followed.
Once again Ayla is faced with pain, and love, and loss. As wonderful as I felt this story was, I started crying from the time she was officially accepted by the Mamutoi (the mammoth hunters) until the very last page. Even the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and last time I've read this book, I cry at the same moment, through the very end of the book. I cry because it's happy, sad, frustrating, and joyful. I know how it's going to end, but until it actually happens, I'm so frustrated at the characters, this last time I was reading this book, my son caught me yelling at the book. I.was.yelling.at.a.book.
Jean Auel does a magnificent job writing emotion into her pages, it's unbelievable.
I have the memory span of a gnat, I can't remember 5 minutes ago. I can watch the same movie for 4 days straight and not remember I've seen it, and when watching it, be clueless what's going to happen. I read a book and within a week, I'm able to read it again because I've forgotten how it ends. With the exception of 2 authors. J.K. Rowling, and Jean Auel. I re-read these books not because I've forgotten them, but because I actually remember them. and I love them.
if that isn't enough encouragement, I don't know what is.

Ayla and Jondalar head out to his homeland (because while Ayla is supposed to sacrifice her newfound family, the Mamutoi, Jondalar can whine and complain to get what he wants). They stumble upon Mammoths having sex, the Sharmudoi and the Ramudoi who almost immediately induct Ayla into their clan, a group of Femi-Nazis (aka, what many conservatives think Feminists are), a couple of Clan people, the Losadunai, and Jondalar's sister. In the meantime, Ayla and Jondalar cross rivers, have lots of sex, chase after their damn animals, and talk about where babies come from.

NOTE: I listened to this on audiobook so some of the names might be misspelled.

This book is a perfect example of what happens when you write a novel and don't have a plot to fill it. The book becomes just a volume of people going here and there, bumping into random tribes for the hell of it, and studying in excruciatingly textbook detail the flora, fauna, and biosphere.

In some ways, this book is actually an improvement over the (in my opinion) dismal "Mammoth Hunters". We don't have any stupid Big Misunderstandings, we get to meet a lot of new peoples and customs, and journey stories are some of my favorites. That said, this book is something that I definitely couldn't call "Mammoth Hunters" and that is BORING.

Journey stories are inherently tough and not everyone is going to like them. I think a good journey story is more than just Character X has to get to Point B. A good journey story will have the CHARACTER undergo a change, some sort of trial, in the midst of the external journey. By the time the character reaches the end of the journey, something should have been learned, characters should grow, knowledge should be gained.

None of that happens in this journey. At the end of the book, Ayla and Jondalar are the same vapid, 1-Dimensional Mary Sue and Marty Stu they were when they started this book. Ayla is perfect in every way; every man wants to tumble in the furs with her, she is the most gorgeous woman ANYONE has ever seen (and everyone will let you know it), everything she does is perfect and wonderful, she can win over people who hate the Clan and anyone associated with it, she can heal a rape victim with a few sympathetic words, she can save a village from Femi-Nazis but come out without having shed ANY blood, she teaches people how to sew (a skill that apparently NO ONE ELSE is capable of learning), and she can get ANY tribe to almost immediately want to have her join their clan. If Ayla has a flaw, it is the "I don't realize how beautiful I am" curse (yes, even after all this time with Jondalar and the bajillion men saying how gorgeous she is, Ayla still thinks she is "Big and Ugly"). Or the "I have to save someone no matter the cost" (but don't worry--unlike in "Clan of the Cave Bear" where Ayla wasn't able to save someone, Ayla never has that problem here!). Both of them are Mary Sue checkmarks in my book.

What makes Ayla more irritating in my book isn't her Mary Sue qualities (although they were enough to make me want to hit something). What makes me upset is how Ayla falls for the trap so many novels featuring a female protagonist fall for: Ayla gives up EVERYTHING for Jondalar. She even jokes, "Well, I belong to you, don't I?"

Uh, no, you don't. You belong to yourself.

This sort of "I can't live without a man" behavior needs to stop. I am sick and tired of reading about a woman who subjects herself to a man and lets him make all the decisions. And Ayla, who is a strong, independent, competent woman, has done that. She wanted to stay with the Mamutoi, her adopted people. But Jondalar whined so she left with him for HIS people. She wanted to stay with the Ramudoi and the Shamudoi, but again, Jondalar whined and Ayla followed him. Time and again, Ayla wants one thing and Jondalar complains. He usually gets his way (the only exception is with the animals--why can't Ayla have that same stubborn attitude in other things???), and Ayla is the one who has to suffer.

But is Jondalar ever shown to be the bad guy? Does Ayla ever hate him because he always gets what he wants?

Of course not! We can't have conflict in these unbelievably perfect, nonexistent people! We can't have Jondalar and Ayla fight about going back to his home because that's what he wants. Then Ayla and Jondalar wouldn't be a Mary Sue and Marty Stu--and we CAN'T have psuedo-realistic people in this book.

Jondalar is the same meathead from "Valley of the Horses" with more equipment in his underwear than personality. You could say that he does change in this book, that he goes from cringing about "Flatheads" to acknowledging the Clan people as being humans. But that conflict was pretty much resolved last book with his "Big Fight" with Ayla. To me, Jondalar is a whiny b!tch. I don't exactly know what Ayla likes about him; his job seems to be complain about how slow their progress is, have great sex with Ayla (uh, doesn't this WASTE time that could be spent traveling???), and get captured. The ONLY scene in this ENTIRE SERIES so far that has shown why Ayla could like him is a scene early on where Jondalar picks some berries for Ayla and gives them to her. For once, Jondalar takes some time to think of what Ayla wants, goes out of his way to get it, and gives it to her selflessly. And even though I don't like Jondalar as a character, this scene was legitimately sweet, and the ONLY time I've ever felt ANY chemistry/romance between the two.

As for other characters, there are so many and they appear so infrequently, I couldn't keep them straight. Furthermore, they come in two classes: those that love Ayla and Jondalar immediately and those that don't and have to be won over with a few choice words from our Mary Sue. Who cares what their names are, if they are basically the same character from that clan a few hundred pages ago?

The same goes for the multiple tribes of people we see. There are some duplicates from "Valley" (the Shamudoi and the Ramudoi), but honestly, with the way all the tribes immediately love Ayla and Jondalar, there is nothing that makes them stand out. I had hoped for more excitement as Jondalar met some of these people back in "Valley", but nope, it is all an Ayla-brag-fest. "Let me show you my spear-thrower...Let me show you my thread puller." "ZOMG, Ayla, you totally rock! Join our tribe, pretty, pretty please?!" It would have been much more interesting had Ayla and Jondalar spent more time with just a few, instead of hopping along like they did.

And here is where I get into one of my other pet peeves about this book: the repetition. It is positively unbelievable how much repetition is in this book. Everything from the last three books is repeated numerous times. Here are just a few items that Auel repeats constantly:

Where do babies come from? discussions
Ayla and Jondalar having sex
Bodily functions (Ayla's "moontime", people taking a crap or p1ss)
Inventions Ayla or Jondalar have made
Someone mentioning Ayla's "strange" accent
People who almost immediately adore Ayla
Ayla or Jondalar's story
Someone being in awe of the tamed animals
Someone being surprised at how good with kids Wolf is

And this is only just a sampling. There is a LOT of repetition in this book. At one point, you just want to scream, "ENOUGH ALREADY!"

Another problem that Auel continues to have is mistaking research for story. Now, I appreciate all the research she has done in these novels to make them realistic. I just don't want to READ that research when I am in the middle of a story. It's bad enough when Jondalar and Ayla are journeying, and Auel plunks down a huge textbook description of glaciology. But it is even WORSE when our Perfect Couple are in the middle of what is supposed to be an intense scene (such as being in the middle of the Femi Nazi camp), and they stop to trade secrets on making ceramics (no, I am not kidding!) or have long conversations explaining every last detail of a character's backstory (again, not kidding), all the while diffusing ANY tension from having Ayla and Jondalar in enemy camp. This is FICTION; fiction benefits from good research, but research thrown into the story DOES NOT make a good story.

I need to take the time to talk about one of the worst "plots" in this book. During their year-long journey (and, damn, does it feel like a year long journey for me!), Whinny is kidnapped by wild horses (no, I am not joking). Ayla and Jondalar go after her (after spending WAAAAAAY too much time talking about what they will and will not take). As they try to rescue her, Jondalar is kidnapped by the Wolf Sisters, aka the Femi Nazis. He is thrown into a holding area, not fed, treated with disdain, etc. and Ayla must save the day.

I absolutely hate this scene. Not only because Attaroa, the leader of the Femi Nazis, is lamest leader ever (I still have NO CLUE why ANYONE followed her, especially since it seemed like NO ONE liked her), but also because this Femi Nazi seems to say, "You are right: women can't be trusted to lead. Only men can lead."

Uh, excuse me? Wasn't this supposed to be an empowering novel about how great and awesome and respected women are? I'm certainly not seeing it. In fact, every time I turn around, I see one more instance of where a woman is brought down to build up a man. And, lemme tell you, I hate it.

Auel could have made a nice, poignant, SUBTLE case against patriarchy, but instead, it comes off as support for male dominance. Women can't lead--they would only throw men in a concentration-like camp. Women can't lead--they are crazy and can't unite people and can't be focused. It's disgusting and revolting, and this was THE WORST PART of the book for me.

The ONLY good thing from this whole debacle was the comparison of Attaroa and Ayla's backstories and a glimpse of what Ayla might have become. Of course, much of it was undermined by the Men are better than Women motif. And the Deus Ex Machina ending (which I totally predicted).

And, because I haven't dedicated near enough time to it, let's talk about the sex. Jondalar and Ayla have sex. A LOT. They are ALWAYS in the mood to have sex (even when Jondalar is b!tching about how slow their progress is), and their sex is almost ALWAYS the same sex scene. Jondalar does this, Ayla screams that, blah, blah, blah. I have never read sex scenes that were more boring or more unsexy. If I could have skipped them on my audiobook, I would have.

Oh and if human sex isn't your thing, don't worry: the book basically opens to Mammoths having sex. Yeah, that was what was missing from the last three books...NOT!

This book was so boring. I really had to push myself to finish it--particularly past the atrocious Femi Nazi parts. Sure, there was stuff that wasn't as bad as "Mammoth Hunters", but there were other parts that just made me want to do physical damage. If you were frustrated with "Mammoth Hunters" but have liked all the books generally, you may still like this book. If you are looking for a plot and a story that challenges characters, look elsewhere.

Brought to you by:
*C.S. Light*

The Plains of Passage is the fourth book in Auel's wonderful Earth's Children series. Unlike the others, I don't recommend that this one be read as a stand-alone. There is just too much background information and the series should be read in order. For those unfamiliar with the series (and this could be a possible spoiler) it revolves around Ayla, a little girl who was orphaned and raised by a clan of Neanderthals who took her in, taught her their ways and their sign language. When she is forced to leave the Clan and her son behind, she makes her way to a remote valley where she makes unlikely friends in the animals there and eventually, a tall handsome man who is on a journey from the West, Jondalar, discovers her there. They fall in love and make a small trip where they meet the Mamutoi people and they gain not only friends, but family as well in the meeting. However, Jondalar is anxious to return home and he and Ayla start back on a journey to the lands of the Zelandonii far to the west.

This book is about that journey. It starts shortly after they leave the summer gathering of the Mamutoi and start heading west to get back to the Great Mother River who they will follow all the way to the end in the West. Along the way they encounter several different types of people, some good and some bad, and learn their ways and make new friends. With them are Ayla's two horses and the wolf cub she has raised from a pup which causes both fear and admiration from the people along the way. Not all are so impressed however and it is up to Ayla to rescue Jondalar when he is captured and their future seems uncertain as to whether they will make it back to Jondalar's home.

The characters in this book are more rushed than they have been in the previous books. Ayla and Jondalar are a little too perfect and it makes them unbelievable and doesn't promote connectedness in their characters. The other people in the book are only mentioned briefly as they are on a journey that takes them away from everyone quickly and therefore don't have the richness that is seen in the Mamutoi tribe or Ayla's clan in the previous books.

The writing is very descriptive and while that's normally a plus in Auel's book, here it makes the reading very tedious. Since they are on a journey they pass through many lands and vegetation and Auel takes the time to describe ALL of it. But, on a better note, she actually has other people invent things instead of Ayla and Jondalar for once and this makes the book a little more believable than some instances in the previous three. Readers should be warned that there are several explicit sex scenes in this book (and the others) and Auel leaves nothing to the imagination in them. Some people may like this, others may not.

While its not my favorite book in the series and arguably not as good as the first three, I still enjoyed this continuation of Ayla and Jondalar's story. I would rate it about 3 1/2 stars as its not bad, but definitely not up to par with Auel's normal work.

Book 1: The Clan of the Cave Bear
Book 2: The Valley of Horses
Book 3: The Mammoth Hunters

The Plains of Passage
Copyright 1990
757 pages

Review by M. Reynard 2011

Okay, I am being factitious, but minus the horses and add a travel trailer and you've got Jean M. Auel's version of "seeing the country" that most folks dream about experiencing if they are into traveling the open road and gathering around the campfire.

Basically, "The Plains of Passage" provides segue vignettes that lead the reader to the next installment, "The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book Five)" which brings to a head all of Ayla's fears regarding her "differences" and how they will fit in with Jondalar's people the Zelandonii. For the most part, "Passage" is just that, a passage to the next obstacle that Ayla faces in her ultimate journey of self-discovery. Given Ayla's magnificent proclivity for invention, where's that giant pterodactyl when you need it?

Unfortunately, getting from Point A to Point B isn't always exciting. Always one to greet with chagrin the dreaded question from the kids in the backseat, "Are we there yet?", I find that after multitudinous descriptions of the glacier, the rock formations and the plant life found in abundance all along the trail, I had gone back into my own history, seat-buckled into the back of my father's old Dodge, watching the scenery whisk by with each lapsed mile and daring every once and a while to ask if the journey was nearly over. In a similar sleep-inducing fashion, Auel uses the "passage" as a vehicle for repetition, recounting things from Ayla's past with the Clan and her more recent adventures with the Mammoth Hunters to perhaps fill the blanks for the first time reader. Attempting to provide a window into Ayla's brain so that we, too, can marvel at specific synapses firing as they rebirth the horse, Racer, re-stitch Jondalar's muscles together after the attack of Baby, the cave lion or Ayla's first impressions regarding the Mother's Gift of Pleasures, achieves only in making one wish that they can settle back with a pillow and a blanket and sleep during that portion of the trip. Stopping to make camp uncomfortably signals the advent of a bout of explicit lovemaking which those of us in the "back seat" would rather forego. Why not just allow the couple their private time?

The monotony of too much description--my hat is off to Auel for the extensive research she did in crafting this entire series--lurid lovemaking with a frantic Jondalar observing size, thrust and quantity with the calculating abilities of a scientist and frequent flashbacks breaks only when the couple happens upon one of the many tribes it meets along the way and other people and their stories take the spotlight. Sadly, Auel uses these "Others" only to show her reader how "unusual" Ayla seems to those who live communally--punctuating this "difference" by remarking on her accent, her ability to control her animals and her overall inventiveness that makes one wonder if Ayla will eventually discover that she is indeed of the ultimate Others--a race of space aliens that plant Ayla in a prehistory to guide the less advanced man to technological nirvana.

Regardless of these pitfalls, the story does have its moments. The theme of "Flathead" discrimination rears its bulging head again with more encounters with the "Clan" to demonstrate the species' humanness to Jondalar. Eventually Auel must address her fan base and realize on paper the ultimate "Clan" and Ayla reunion where Ayla and Durc make contact not in memory but in some Summer Meeting reality. In "Passage", the Neanderthal-Cro Magnon tete a tetes do not salve Ayla's need for her son; they occur only to prove Ayla's open-mindedness and further her future Civil Rights movement and draft and eventual Caveman Bill of Rights.

The entire section revolving around the Wolf Women of the S'Arumunai revs up the action, allowing Wolf to further redeem his worth in Jondalar's skeptical eye and introduce more proof to Ayla's theory regarding the conception of children when she notes that the the store-like women secluded from their men are not birthing girl-children as planned--they are not reproducing at all. An almost QED for Ayla's Axiom for what happens when putting Leg A over Leg B.

Bottom line? "The Plains of Passage" transitions Ayla from one camp of the Others to the people of her mate-to-be Jondalar. With the exception of the encounter with the prehistoric the stores, "Passage" takes the prize as Auel's weakest offering. If only pterodactyls weren't extinct--Ayla could have fashioned some kind of a saddle and she, Jondalar, Wolf, Whinney and Racer could have emulated a Jurassic Kitty Hawk experience where the ETA from Point A to Point B would have been an abbreviated blip on the radar. Recommended only for die-hard Ayla lovers.
Diana Faillace Von Behren
"reneofc"

When I originally read PoP, I definitely saw all the problems with it-- repetition, Jondalar actually being kind of a jerk, more repetition, too much time spent on minute details of food/plants/animals etc. etc. etc., and did I mention repetition?
But there were also a lot of positive things this book had going for it. The conflicts and problems felt real. The story was always moving forward. It had a lot of memorable moments. I ended up reading my copy several times. And the thing is, that after finding out...

SPOILER SPACE!

Just how unspeakably horrific the final book in the series is, PoP looks infinitely better by comparison. The fourth book had its problems without a doubt, but at least it didn't make you put it down and yell "Did Jean Auel actually WRITE this???" (Not a good thing to do. It scares the cats. ;) Honestly, I recommend stopping with the fourth book and just pretending they never got back to Jondalar's home at all. Readers will be a lot better off.

I love all of the Earth's Children books and have read the entire series back to back at least 20 times. Seriously. I love these books, but I have to say this one is definitely my least favorite of them all. I dont have much to add after reading the other reviews, about the repetitive descriptions of the scenery, NODES! LOL, and how pretty much perfect Jondalar and Ayla are and how they always manage to save the day. But what gets me, as a dog owner and animal lover is how perfect the ANIMALS are! I realize that wolves and horses are very intelligent creatures and certainly can be trained, and even trained with hand signals (as I've trained my own dogs). But the things that Ayla is able to make them do just strains the imagination. It is as if her animals can not only read her mind but she can train them to consistently do things that goes against their own instinct. Particularly the way Wolf behaves when Ayla is about to be dispatched. Although, that is the one time that Wolf actually DOES follow his instincts no matter what Ayla told him to do. A little far-fetched, some of it, but again, I love the whole series and you can't read the series and skip a book. I do admit to skipping over some parts but still I would recommend this book, if for no other reason, than it is a part of a wonderful series. Every time I read these books is like a vacation to me. I hope there are more books to follow Shelters of Stone.

I am compelled to provide this review (even though I have never provided such a book review before) to negate at least in part some of the unjustified negative comments that I have read on this site. Perhaps this book is not for everyone. If you're looking for fast action and non-stop suspense at every twist and turn, perhaps you should try the Da Vinci Code (which I also like) or the many similar books in that genre. But let's get on to my take on this book.

This book is a richly detailed adventure story of an epic prehistoric journey across ice age Europe. As one might expect with any lengthy journey, there are routine parts where the participants just plod along. (Some of the comments claim these are the slow parts!) But the author has filled even these parts of the story with meticulously researched details that add a high level of interest to the story including the herbs that Ayla uses for healing, the noteworthy characteristics of the changing landscape, and other factors germane to that time period. There is still plenty of action interspersed with the more routine parts of the journey to keep the book moving. As with any journey (today or prehistoric or life itself for that matter), the over goal is to enjoy the journey and savor all the incomparable details, not just rush to the end point.

The author has an uncanny ability to take the reader inside the heads of the main characters to better understand their dilemmas and related thoughts about other characters in the book. The character development is so outstanding that one feels that the main characters are long time friends, and that you are even following along with them on their journey.

I am immensely curious about our prehistoric ancestors and what their daily trials and tribulations of life were like. This book provides a reasonable insight into prehistoric life based not only on the author's opinions, but on substantial research as well. Did everything happen exactly as Jean Auel presents it? Probably not exactly, but that doesn't really matter. She has woven an intricate story line around the available research from that time period and produced an entertaining saga to escape into.

I presume that writing this book was perhaps more difficult than the first three books since it involved a long journey through a wild prehistoric environment. But the author has carried it out in grand fashion. In addition to being a stand-alone novel, it is also a bridge in the Earth's Children series between the wandering couple in The Mammoth Hunters to the end of the journey by the arrival at Jondalar's home, the Ninth Cave of the Zelondonii.

I may not be an English professor, but I have read enough (300 plus books in the last four to five years) to know a good book when I read one (or listen to the audio book in this case). I enjoyed this book immensely as part of the continuing saga of Ayla and Jondalar. And I look forward to listening to the fifth book, The Shelters of Stone, which I have just started. As far as the the store reviews, 130 out of 259 were five star rated or 50 percent - now that should say something!

If you are a prospective reader looking for input, I would encourage you to try this book and make up your own mind about it. Don't be unduly swayed by my glowing endorsement or that of the naysayers. Do your own thing, form your own opinion, and enjoy a great story during the process.

This book is by FAR the least likable of the series. I was really impressed by the first, Clan of the Cave Bear, with it's strong story, deep and believable characters, and accurate descriptions of caveperson lifestyles. Valley of the Horses was enjoyable because of the survival strategies Ayla contrives, along with the animals she befriends. I did, however, skip nearly ALL of the chapters having to do with Jondalar--they were just too boring. The story really blossomed when the two eventually met. Mammoth Hunters was the second best, next to the first book, again with deep, well rounded characters and a very good and well paced story line. The character of Ranec added a delicious twist. I could have, however, (and this is true of all but the first book to which this does not apply) done with a bit less detail of their intimate Pleasures. I'm no prude, some of it is interesting, but at this point, well into the Plains, I'm no longer interested in the details of their lovemaking. I'd prefer just a warm phrase suggesting their activities. Also, no kidding, the action starts in this book somewhere around page 310. And I'm a patient reader, I'll read the landscape descriptions, the botanical notes, the details of flora and fauna, but I got B-O-R-E-D. Skim the first 300 pages, and then it starts to get interesting. A whole lot of tedious summaries, questioning thoughts of characters, and repetitive dialog still exist, but if you're patient, you can pull a good story out of it all. This book seemed like Ms. Auel was out of fresh ideas for the moment, but under obligation to publish.... Oh well, we can hope the new book is more satisfying, and that the author credits her readers with having read the previous four installations, leaving out all the summaries and repetitions.

Having read the previous three novels, I was disappointed when I read this one many years ago. It is a very tedious, redundant book with remarkably similar encounters with various tribes along the way.

The good: Auel provides rich scenery (sometimes too rich) for the reader and I like the way that she works artifacts into her novels. In my anthropology, art history and ancient history from college, I was often thrilled to find a "venus" statue that she had described or a mammoth bone dwelling. The tediousness of the book even works for it in a way since you have a huge sense of relief at the end, much as Jondalar and Ayla would have felt, FINALLY!!! There was also a lot of potential with this novel. For characters, I liked S'armuna, Epadoa, Dolando and Joplaya simply because all of them had a chip on their shoulders for one reason or another.

Unfortunately, Auel did not take advantage of it. The conflicts are mild and predictable. There is more telling than showing. Wolf, who is hardly a year old, responds to Ayla with almost perfect obedience. The characters for the most part are eminently suited to their positions. With the exception of Attaroa, there are no leaders who are incompetent or who make mistakes or do anything bad. Ayla in the first three novels made cultural mistakes, got angry and spoke without thinking, and didn't always do things the right way. Now, she always does what is right and Jondalar is there to support her. Her personality has gone.

Also, I find it very incredible that all of these cultures are so similar in their religious beliefs. Auel has put a lot of effort into the Sharamudoi and Mamutoi culture, but hasn't given them any spiritual independence. All worship The Mother, all have First Rites, all accept women leaders in some form or another, it is very incredulous to believe that these people were so similar

I, too, want another book in the series, but please get it right this time. The Clan was a classic. The Valley was good, though it did introduce the idea that this one girl would go on to invent everything of ancient man. As a metaphor for all paleolithic mankind, I can accept that. But the Mammoth Hunters and Plains had constant repetition of past information. I mean, how many versions of Ayla and Jondalar having sex do we need. By now they're an old married couple, just say they did it and get on with the story. Jean still tells a great story, but really the interesting parts were fewer and further between. I sense that a nice bonus for writing was waved in front of her and the rest of the series was rushed to publication. Hopefully, she's taking her time on the next one(s) and will really give us something worth waiting for.

I couldn't put my reader down. My world stopped until I finished this version of the series. Auel is a great writer. I like the added knowledge of customs and how life was like. I have back packed quit a bit on my life and understand a long journey. This was remarkable.

I really enjoyed this continuation of Ayla and Jondular's continuing adventure back to his home. Their journey is the most dangerous and daring yet-away from the welcoming hearths of the Mammoth Hunters and into the unknown. Their odyssey spans a beautiful but sparsely populated and treacherous continent, the windswept grasslands of Ice Age Europe, casting the pair among strangers. Some will be intrigued by Ayla and Jondalar, with their many innovative skills, including the taming of wild horses and a wolf; others will avoid them, threatened by what they cannot understand. By Ayla with no memory of her own people, and Jondalar, with a hunger to return to his, are impelled by their own deep drives to continue their trek across the spectacular heart of an unmapped world to find a place that they can both call home.
The book is very descriptive in many places, but I became engrossed in all of it, finding it hard to put down.

Hmm, what did I like about this book? When Ayla and Jondalar met new groups of people because then at least you were introduced to new characters and there was a bit of life in the book and a break from the pages upon pages of descriptions of the landscape, how big Jondalar's manhood is, and how mammoths have sex. I also liked when Ayla and Jondalar met up with some Clan people and helped them out and Jondalar got to see a bit more of how they are real people.

Overall though this book dragged on and on and if I wasn't already reading the series I wouldn't have bothered to continue to the end of this book.

The Plains of Passage is the fourth novel in the Earth's Children series and continues the story of Ayla and Jondalar.

They are leaving the Mamutoi whom they have spent the winter with, and along with their horses and wolf, they are starting the long journey back to the Zelandonii...and the journey is long...about 850 pages long.

They cross many, many rivers, think of many, many ways to carry items on horseback, and have lots and lots of repetitive sex.

I enjoyed the description of the animals, scenery, and plants throughout the book but found it just too drawn out and repetitive. Each group they meet has the same reaction to the horses, wolf, thread puller, spear thrower, etc. and some of this could definitely have been shortened. I also didn't much care if they made it across the rivers after the third or fourth one.

Despite these things, this is still a wonderful novel and series. These were among the first adult novels I ever read and now am enjoying them again 15 years later. Jean Auel takes us back to a world that most of us don't think about very often and the challenges people would have faced in those early years.

I have never read the Shelters of Stone and am looking forward to reading it next.

Sad to say this book of the series left me a little unfulfiled. While there are parts that are as gripping as anything the Auel has written I think it could have been shortened by at least one to two hundred pages with tighter editing.
While the background detail to this age is very interesting, when it goes on for page after page it can become tedious (especially as some of the descriptive passages seem to be repeated several times). The book also suffers from a slight bit of repitition in the plot content. A number of situations seem to be resolved in much the same way.
The final annoyance for me is that after 950 pages (in my edition) which move very slowly at times, the first meeting of Jondolar and Ayla with some of his home tribe is then rushed by in about 20 pages and the novel abruptly ends. While I was exepcting this it was still irritating in that I felt slightly unrewarded for my perseverance in keeping with the novel.
Some of the situations are extremely tense and the book had some twists that kept me going but ultimately this was not as good as the previous books in the series.
Given that it is now 10 years since this book was written it would seems unlikely that we are going to get any more (which does add to my frustration). I would consider reading another in the series if it was published, because I do like the characters. Also given that the novel would not be dominated by a long journey I think it might have more character interaction and less descriptive passages, which would be to the benefit of a new book.

Wow!...These other reviews are a bit harsh. Although many of their criticisms are valid, they are incredibly exadurated. This book did sometimes vear into overly long descriptive tangents and have a few repetetive sex scenes. However, as someone who is interested in prehistoric archaeology, I must say that this book and the other four in the series were a joy to read. I can't wait for the next one!... What is remarkable about the Plains of Passage is the development of the themes that underlie the series. Auel manages to inorporate lots of ideas about prehistoric people that push me to question why our society holds our ancient ancestors in such low regard. People frequently assume that because there is no definitive evidence for an advanced prehistoic culture that one must not have existed. In reality, there could have been many dark ages where knowledge was lost in the past...the advanced building techniques used to construct the ancient Egyptian pyramids point to a more advanced prehistory and losses of knowledge rather than theories about atlantis. Anyway, if Auel can inspire me to think so indepthly about these things while reviewing the flora and fauna of the upper paleolithic, creating unique cultural structures, developing the romance between Ayla and Jondalar, and telling a good story I am impressed. It is also interesting to hear someone's theories about the way things were made and done in the past. This book is especially fun for archaeology majors on summer vacation!!

Ayla follows Jondalar across Europe to reach his home in Jean Auel's 4th title of Earth's Children, THE PLAINS OF PASSAGE.
The horses and Wolf present problems and open doors for the young couple as they challenge to dead of winter to cross the glacier before the advent of spring brings melting, cracking, and floods to the landscape.
Ayla's skills as a healer forge bonds with people she knows she will never met again. These friendships strengthen her longing to find a home of her own--a place where she belongs.
A good read from an execptional story teller.
Nash Black, author of SANDPRINTS OF DEATH.

This book is the 4th in a series written about Ayla, a cro-magnon raised by a neanderthal tribe. While the 1st book, Clan of the Cave Bear, was an enjoyable read (I recommend it), each new installment in the series has become progressively and exponentially more disappointing. I personally found myself extremely disappointed and dismally upset by the very moral missionary type escapades of the main characters of this book, Ayla and Jondalar. The book had a very "You are wrong, we are morally superior, and you should be thankful we arrived at your cave for the sole purpouse of your theological edification" feel to it. The sex drives of the main characters were also much to strong to even approach realism, sadly debasing what could have been an excellent story line/concept for the series to the level of semi-pornographic, trashy, Hustler-type pulp fiction. I highly recommend the 1st book in the series, but don't bother spending your money on the Plains of Passage.

I am a seventeen year old with a lust for prehistory. I can't get enough. I love details of plants, animals and the culture of the humans and there clans. I really like Jondalare. He understands Ayla so much it's almost frightening. He is warm are caring. He is patient with Ayla and her questions about the world around her. He is like a lover and a father all in one. If you read and concentrate hard enough, you can see every man who has ever lived in this guy. It's exellent how Auel portays this. I am looking forward to her fifth novel. I have been waiting patiantly for about a year now, and still I can't find this book. Is there actually one out there or am I just dreaming? Anyway, I liked the book and look forward to the next one.

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.

Holy cow! I've read books with fillers, but this one was ridiculous. I really enjoyed the first book in the Jean M. Auel series, Clan of the cave bears; this book was gripping, had wonderful character development, and the story had great momentum. The only flaw I can point out is that it is very historically incorrect regarding the Ice age, however, one needs to consider this is fiction and leave it at that. Take the first book for entertainment purposes only, not a history lesson.

The subsequent novels after Clan of the cave bears, in my opinion, have just gotten worse and worse. The Plains of passage was almost painful to read. In a nutshell, the book is about Ayla, the heroine from the previous novels, and her main squeeze, Jondalar. They are traveling to Jondalar's home, which is very far away. On their journey, the book describes pretty much every plant and animal they ever see. Between all the plant and animal descriptions, you get detailed descriptions of the various times they have sex. Then between that you get various recaps of the happenings of the previous books. So essentially there is no plot whatsoever in this book; it's just caveman porn, and a horticulture lesson. It was a waist of my time and I'm not even going to bother with any of her other books.

Compared to the previous three, this book was miserable. While I did not adore books two and three like I did _Clan of the Cave Bear_, they were still great reads I very much enjoyed.
However, this books was slow fails at being anything other then a massive book describing nothing but a plotless journey by Ayla and Jondalar. There are a few interesting episodes, but they takea long time to get to and are about a 100 pages apart-- and they're depressingly familiar from previous books in the series. Each sex scene has been done ten times before, each time Ayla and Jondalar are seperated, they run through the exact same dismal feelings and thought processes (for those who've read Goodkind's Sword of Truth, I was having Richard and Kahlan flashbacks), and the reactions of other cavemen to the Ayla-Goddess are tediously the same every time they run upon a new clan, forcing us to go through an identical first meeting scene every hundred pages or so. The journey could have been summed up much quicker, rather then having us follow along for almost 900 pages as the ice age heroes stroll across prehistoric Europe for a few months.

The book takes us on a journey so realistic, that when Ayla is cold, I grab a blanket for warmth...when she fixes Jondular's tea, I get some hot herbal tea. She cooks a bird in the ground, and I can smell the delicious aroma. Jean Auel takes you there! But I am tired of re-hashing so much of her "past" (more with each book), that it becomes so boring in parts. If anyone wants to know details of the past, they should read the first books. Perhaps it would not take her so long to write new books, if she didn't have to re-write so much of the former books. I found myself getting angry whenever too much of the past was brought up (again and again and again). Will I read the last book? YOU BET!

I am re-reading the series prior to the publication of the final book. Perhaps, if I had not been reading these books one after the other, I would not have been as bothered by the endless repetition of events from previous books; but back to back, it was more than tedious. I did discover one serious problem with the Kindle while reading this book -- one cannot through it across the room in frustration after endless references to the coldest place on earth that the glacier is growing for the last time, only to be exceeded by endless repetitive sex scenes. Most romance novels don't devote as much time to any single sex encounter or have as many in a book. How did they have time to do anything else? The plot of this book could have been told in about a hundred pages rather than some 700.

I am going to read the next book and buy the finale of the series. I am hoping she actually writes a new story soon.

I have loved this series completely. Auel's gifted writing style takes us places the ordinary imagination can't go unprompted. Reading about Ayla's adventures and discoveries has sparked my interest in so many things, including medicinal prairie herbs and wondering how to reveal my own totem. I wish Creb had an email address so I could ask for help!
I thoroughly enjoy the way Auel develops her characters. After reading all four of the books in this series, I am convinced that no better love story exists than that of Ayla and Jondalar!
Please, Ms. Auel. We've been waiting nine long years to hear about Ayla's acceptance by the Zelandonii. And does Durc ever find his mother? Please! Finish the series!

I thought it was just because I'm much older now than I was when the previous books in the series came out that I was not as thrilled with Plains of Passage. But after reading numerous other reviews, I see that may not be the case. Much of what I feel about this book has been expressed in other reviews. It was way too descriptive and spent much too much time in the caves exploring cave paintings. I got a bit tired of Ayla being so "perfect" a human being most of the time. There was so much repetition, too. I devoured the other books and remembered quite a bit of the story. I didn't need to be reminded over and over again what had transpired. This book was just too long and wordy.

Re-read the series recently for the umpteenth time. Sent a note of encouragement to Jean in May hinting that the next book would be a great Christmas present for all of us. Her assistant wrote back saying Jean is currently in seculsion, the book is taking longer than expected and don't expect to see it in the stores in the near future. Everytime I have written to her (3 times) I have received a personal response, not just a form letter, from her assistant Delores M. Rooney. This note left me with the idea that maybe the manuscript was closer to being completed because she mentioned it will still take several months for the publisher to process. We can only hope and keep our fingers crossed. Maybe for the new millenium (2001)?

Plains of Passage is not only an adventure story, but also a fascinating journey. Not only so for the characters who are on a great trek across Ice Age Europe, but also for the reader. We have followed Ayla, the main character, through three previous books. It seems impossible that Auel can add any more detail to the plethora of research she has done for her previous books, but again we are introduced to so much more about pre-historic Europe in this chapter of Ayla's life. There are many more tribes of people that we meet, and many more discoveries are made. I loved this book and recommend it and the whole series to any interested readers. This is an outstanding read from a truly gifted author.

I have read the entire Earth's Children series eight times and I never cease to be amazed each time I read it. Auel's description of prehistoric life and the adventures of Ayla take my breath away. Never in my whole life have I read anything that captured my attention and my soul as these books have. In my opinion, they have never, and will never, be equaled. I encourage everyone who has not had the privelege of reading this series to promptly run out and buy it. You will not be sorry. My only regret is that the fifth book has not been released yet, but when it is, you can bet I'm going to be first in line to buy it.

Sad to say this book of the series left me a little unfulfiled. While there are parts that are as gripping as anything the Auel has written I think it could have been shortened by at least one to two hundred pages with tighter editing.
While the background detail to this age is very interesting, when it goes on for page after page it can become tedious (especially as some of the descriptive passages seem to be repeated several times). The book also suffers from a slight bit of repitition in the plot content. A number of situations seem to be resolved in much the same way.
The final annoyance for me is that after 950 pages (in my edition) which move very slowly at times, the first meeting of Jondolar and Ayla with some of his home tribe is then rushed by in about 20 pages and the novel abruptly ends. While I was exepcting this it was still irritating in that I felt slightly unrewarded for my perseverance in keeping with the novel.
Some of the situations are extremely tense and the book had some twists that kept me going but ultimately this was not as good as the previous books in the series.
Given that it is now 10 years since this book was written it would seems unlikely that we are going to get any more (which does add to my frustration). I would consider reading another in the series if it was published, because I do like the characters. Also given that the novel would not be dominated by a long journey I think it might have more character interaction and less descriptive passages, which would be to the benefit of a new book.

Wow!...These other reviews are a bit harsh. Although many of their criticisms are valid, they are incredibly exadurated. This book did sometimes vear into overly long descriptive tangents and have a few repetetive sex scenes. However, as someone who is interested in prehistoric archaeology, I must say that this book and the other four in the series were a joy to read. I can't wait for the next one!... What is remarkable about the Plains of Passage is the development of the themes that underlie the series. Auel manages to inorporate lots of ideas about prehistoric people that push me to question why our society holds our ancient ancestors in such low regard. People frequently assume that because there is no definitive evidence for an advanced prehistoic culture that one must not have existed. In reality, there could have been many dark ages where knowledge was lost in the past...the advanced building techniques used to construct the ancient Egyptian pyramids point to a more advanced prehistory and losses of knowledge rather than theories about atlantis. Anyway, if Auel can inspire me to think so indepthly about these things while reviewing the flora and fauna of the upper paleolithic, creating unique cultural structures, developing the romance between Ayla and Jondalar, and telling a good story I am impressed. It is also interesting to hear someone's theories about the way things were made and done in the past. This book is especially fun for archaeology majors on summer vacation!!

Ayla follows Jondalar across Europe to reach his home in Jean Auel's 4th title of Earth's Children, THE PLAINS OF PASSAGE.
The horses and Wolf present problems and open doors for the young couple as they challenge to dead of winter to cross the glacier before the advent of spring brings melting, cracking, and floods to the landscape.
Ayla's skills as a healer forge bonds with people she knows she will never met again. These friendships strengthen her longing to find a home of her own--a place where she belongs.
A good read from an execptional story teller.
Nash Black, author of SANDPRINTS OF DEATH.

This book is the 4th in a series written about Ayla, a cro-magnon raised by a neanderthal tribe. While the 1st book, Clan of the Cave Bear, was an enjoyable read (I recommend it), each new installment in the series has become progressively and exponentially more disappointing. I personally found myself extremely disappointed and dismally upset by the very moral missionary type escapades of the main characters of this book, Ayla and Jondalar. The book had a very "You are wrong, we are morally superior, and you should be thankful we arrived at your cave for the sole purpouse of your theological edification" feel to it. The sex drives of the main characters were also much to strong to even approach realism, sadly debasing what could have been an excellent story line/concept for the series to the level of semi-pornographic, trashy, Hustler-type pulp fiction. I highly recommend the 1st book in the series, but don't bother spending your money on the Plains of Passage.

I am a seventeen year old with a lust for prehistory. I can't get enough. I love details of plants, animals and the culture of the humans and there clans. I really like Jondalare. He understands Ayla so much it's almost frightening. He is warm are caring. He is patient with Ayla and her questions about the world around her. He is like a lover and a father all in one. If you read and concentrate hard enough, you can see every man who has ever lived in this guy. It's exellent how Auel portays this. I am looking forward to her fifth novel. I have been waiting patiantly for about a year now, and still I can't find this book. Is there actually one out there or am I just dreaming? Anyway, I liked the book and look forward to the next one.

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.

Holy cow! I've read books with fillers, but this one was ridiculous. I really enjoyed the first book in the Jean M. Auel series, Clan of the cave bears; this book was gripping, had wonderful character development, and the story had great momentum. The only flaw I can point out is that it is very historically incorrect regarding the Ice age, however, one needs to consider this is fiction and leave it at that. Take the first book for entertainment purposes only, not a history lesson.

The subsequent novels after Clan of the cave bears, in my opinion, have just gotten worse and worse. The Plains of passage was almost painful to read. In a nutshell, the book is about Ayla, the heroine from the previous novels, and her main squeeze, Jondalar. They are traveling to Jondalar's home, which is very far away. On their journey, the book describes pretty much every plant and animal they ever see. Between all the plant and animal descriptions, you get detailed descriptions of the various times they have sex. Then between that you get various recaps of the happenings of the previous books. So essentially there is no plot whatsoever in this book; it's just caveman porn, and a horticulture lesson. It was a waist of my time and I'm not even going to bother with any of her other books.

Compared to the previous three, this book was miserable. While I did not adore books two and three like I did _Clan of the Cave Bear_, they were still great reads I very much enjoyed.
However, this books was slow fails at being anything other then a massive book describing nothing but a plotless journey by Ayla and Jondalar. There are a few interesting episodes, but they takea long time to get to and are about a 100 pages apart-- and they're depressingly familiar from previous books in the series. Each sex scene has been done ten times before, each time Ayla and Jondalar are seperated, they run through the exact same dismal feelings and thought processes (for those who've read Goodkind's Sword of Truth, I was having Richard and Kahlan flashbacks), and the reactions of other cavemen to the Ayla-Goddess are tediously the same every time they run upon a new clan, forcing us to go through an identical first meeting scene every hundred pages or so. The journey could have been summed up much quicker, rather then having us follow along for almost 900 pages as the ice age heroes stroll across prehistoric Europe for a few months.

The book takes us on a journey so realistic, that when Ayla is cold, I grab a blanket for warmth...when she fixes Jondular's tea, I get some hot herbal tea. She cooks a bird in the ground, and I can smell the delicious aroma. Jean Auel takes you there! But I am tired of re-hashing so much of her "past" (more with each book), that it becomes so boring in parts. If anyone wants to know details of the past, they should read the first books. Perhaps it would not take her so long to write new books, if she didn't have to re-write so much of the former books. I found myself getting angry whenever too much of the past was brought up (again and again and again). Will I read the last book? YOU BET!

I am re-reading the series prior to the publication of the final book. Perhaps, if I had not been reading these books one after the other, I would not have been as bothered by the endless repetition of events from previous books; but back to back, it was more than tedious. I did discover one serious problem with the Kindle while reading this book -- one cannot through it across the room in frustration after endless references to the coldest place on earth that the glacier is growing for the last time, only to be exceeded by endless repetitive sex scenes. Most romance novels don't devote as much time to any single sex encounter or have as many in a book. How did they have time to do anything else? The plot of this book could have been told in about a hundred pages rather than some 700.

I am going to read the next book and buy the finale of the series. I am hoping she actually writes a new story soon.

I have loved this series completely. Auel's gifted writing style takes us places the ordinary imagination can't go unprompted. Reading about Ayla's adventures and discoveries has sparked my interest in so many things, including medicinal prairie herbs and wondering how to reveal my own totem. I wish Creb had an email address so I could ask for help!
I thoroughly enjoy the way Auel develops her characters. After reading all four of the books in this series, I am convinced that no better love story exists than that of Ayla and Jondalar!
Please, Ms. Auel. We've been waiting nine long years to hear about Ayla's acceptance by the Zelandonii. And does Durc ever find his mother? Please! Finish the series!

I thought it was just because I'm much older now than I was when the previous books in the series came out that I was not as thrilled with Plains of Passage. But after reading numerous other reviews, I see that may not be the case. Much of what I feel about this book has been expressed in other reviews. It was way too descriptive and spent much too much time in the caves exploring cave paintings. I got a bit tired of Ayla being so "perfect" a human being most of the time. There was so much repetition, too. I devoured the other books and remembered quite a bit of the story. I didn't need to be reminded over and over again what had transpired. This book was just too long and wordy.

Re-read the series recently for the umpteenth time. Sent a note of encouragement to Jean in May hinting that the next book would be a great Christmas present for all of us. Her assistant wrote back saying Jean is currently in seculsion, the book is taking longer than expected and don't expect to see it in the stores in the near future. Everytime I have written to her (3 times) I have received a personal response, not just a form letter, from her assistant Delores M. Rooney. This note left me with the idea that maybe the manuscript was closer to being completed because she mentioned it will still take several months for the publisher to process. We can only hope and keep our fingers crossed. Maybe for the new millenium (2001)?

Plains of Passage is not only an adventure story, but also a fascinating journey. Not only so for the characters who are on a great trek across Ice Age Europe, but also for the reader. We have followed Ayla, the main character, through three previous books. It seems impossible that Auel can add any more detail to the plethora of research she has done for her previous books, but again we are introduced to so much more about pre-historic Europe in this chapter of Ayla's life. There are many more tribes of people that we meet, and many more discoveries are made. I loved this book and recommend it and the whole series to any interested readers. This is an outstanding read from a truly gifted author.

I have read the entire Earth's Children series eight times and I never cease to be amazed each time I read it. Auel's description of prehistoric life and the adventures of Ayla take my breath away. Never in my whole life have I read anything that captured my attention and my soul as these books have. In my opinion, they have never, and will never, be equaled. I encourage everyone who has not had the privelege of reading this series to promptly run out and buy it. You will not be sorry. My only regret is that the fifth book has not been released yet, but when it is, you can bet I'm going to be first in line to buy it.

I've owned the Earth's Children series in paperback for years. My 22-year-old son picked up Clan of the Cave Bear while he was home over spring break. I got the e-reader version of this and other books so we can read them simultaneously and then talk about them. It's a great way to connect with your kids -- younger or adult. This installment of Earth's Children is just as good as the others. My son and I have only one complaint: the focus on local flora and fauna can get a little tedious. All in all though, an excellent read.

There is much geology and botany in this book with its minute details of flora and fauna. The forward movement of the plot is not as exciting and the characters seem to be repeating acts and dialogue from earlier books, but then, naturally, they would be for we are following them through a fourth book. We must take a more patient view and enjoy the stronger elements of this account that is spending more time on descriptive narration and less on action and dialogue. Comfortable, informative read!
Evelyn Horan - teacher/counselor/author
Jeannie, A Texas Frontier Girl Books One - Three

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.

This story is as good as the others. Auel has me hooked on her enticing adventure stories. That being said, Jean Auel is at best a Harlequin author. Her overly repetitive writing style which includes event, tool, leather, clothing, weapon and sex descriptions is enough to make me pull my hair out (if I have to read how "having 'Pleasures' with Jondalar isn't like when Broud did it" one more time, I'm literally going to puke.)

But worse in this particular book is the landscape and vegetation descriptions.....they go waaaayyyyyyyyy beyond tedious. Just because an author does more historical research for a book certainly doesn't mean the reader wants the information. The draw of historical fiction is usually the author weaving fascinating factual events in with fictitious characters or vise-versa. The problem with archeological/anthropological and botanical historical fiction is that what is verifiable just isn't very captivating unless you happen to have a penchant for those subjects. Let's face it Jean, your fan base reads these books for fun and entertainment and if we happen to learn something about the history of the earth in the process....great. But it's the characters and story that draw us in not the details of your research.

I highly recommend skimming the pages of this book that have no quotation marks. You'll enjoy it a lot more.

Oh man...
What a lump of coal....
I guess I realize now why I had never heard about the latter 2 additions to the Earths Children series until I started running a bookstore and came face to face with them...
This effort is so boringly written it made me wish I was a guy who could not finish something that I start, but I cant... So I struggled through and now it is done, but if anyone out there is trying to decide - save yourself the time, and just take a few sleeping pills instead...

Jean Auel has done extensive research on Cro-Magnon Man and it shows in the latest Clan of the Cave Bear Novel. She spends a great deal of energy describing the everyday life of the Cro-Magnon. Taken seriously, the novel can become hard to believe, but taken as a metaphor, Ayla and Jondalar's domestication of the horse and dog (wolf), their invention of the spear thrower and the sewing needle is a little easier to believe. I do recommend starting from the beginning (Clan of the Cave Bear) if you want to follow Jondalar and Ayla's lives from the beginning. Auel writes a very captivating tale

I cannot be wordy about this. Jean is, so I won't be. 800 pages of wandering across Europe with very little happening. It is really as though she did not have an editor to tell her... cut half of this out. I have enjoyed the books for the story line and fresh and unusual topic, but in this book... she totally turned me off. Forget this one and go on to the next book. I hope it is better... It cannot be worse.

This 800 page tome is book 4 of the Earth's Children series that I'm reading this summer, and I was delighted yet again to be reading it on my nook and giving my wrists a break. This has to be my least fave book of the series so far. The so-called traveling book, there is much repetition and lots and lots of pages on the flora that could have used some editing. On the plus side, I did learn more about Mammoth sex! I have 2 more books in the series and will get to them after I've had a bit of a breather.

Yaawwnn...

Unlike the previous three books, this one was far too easy for me to put down and I all but had to force myself to read it at times. The story of the seemingly endless travelling was a boring as the actual trip may have been, and I found myself too often thinking those terrible words, "Are we there yet?" The relentless descriptions of terrain and wildlife equates to the dryest technical manual, and even the enumerable sexual encounters seemed redundant and boring.

The incessant boredom was, fortunately, punctuated by brief, interesting periods of character interaction in which the rich complexities of human relationships managed to offer at least some salvation. Unfortunately they also contributed to an increasing lack of realism. The characters seem less and less like remarkable people who lived in the harshest of times, and more like fantastical gods of enviable beauty. Ayla, the perfect woman of perfect beauty and character, could obviously only be had by Jondaler, the perfect man. Nobody could ever live up to their caliber, and everyone else in the world is woefully inadequate by comparison.

The author also become rather preachy in this novel - advising the reader of the consequences of our abuse of the great mother earth. This is supposed to be an epic work of fiction, not a training manual for Greenpeace.

Overall this book was redundant, boring, and horribly lacking in structure. If about half of the material had been cut it might have been a good story.

It seems as though everyone would like Ms. Auel's fifth book to come out. Well, count me in! All the books up to this point have been a fabulous read. Ayla and Jondalar's year long journey is definitely not something that can be glossed over, and Jean Auel has done an admirable job of making their trip as interesting as possible. The bits of info on the flora and fauna was also fascinating and added more flavor and realism to the tale. However, the sex scenes detract from the overall picture, and it seems that they've been added just to attract that particular audience.

This is the fourth novel in Jean Auel's Earth's Children series and to be honest, it's probably the weakest of the four. The fault lies not just in the overly long explanations of the plants and animals of the day or the bland sex scenes (That has been addressed in other reviews so I won't bore you with it here). No, the real fault lies in the nature of the storyline itself. Ayla and Jondalar spend nearly the whole book travelling, which means they don't have time to form relationships with the myriad other characters in the novel. This is a real shame, the book lacks focus as a result and Auel wasted a chance for some really interesting character development. It might have been better really if Plains of Passage had been spread over two books, with less travelling and more character interaction. Also, I feel that Ayla has lost a lot of her motivation. She's no longer the strong and independent young woman that she was in Clan of the Cave Bear or even Valley of Horses. Now she seems content to trail around after Jondalar as he makes one dangerous mistake after another. The only time she really shines through is during a confrontation with a man-hating tribe along the way when she has to fend for herself. I only hope that Auel's long awaited fifth book will be better.

http://www.the store.com/gp/product/B00466HQ0G/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_img

This book gives me the feeling that Auel didn't have enough story to fill out the number of words she contracted for, so she inserts sex scenes everywhere she can think of. Really, they get highly boring after a while. Most of her readers are adults who have had their own sexual experience, and don't need graphic details on every third page. This book could have been much better if it were about two thirds of its actual length.

Ms. Auel's research and attention to detail bring the story of Ayla vividly alive. I have enjoyed all four installments, and have read..., and read..., and read..., and read ..., The Plains of Passage the last few years. Will Ayla and Whinney be "expecting" forever? Will we never know the meaning of the image at the top of the cave entrance in her dream? So many questions to be answered. PLEASE, Ms. Auel, barring any dire impediments, your readers beg you for the fifth installment. We Ayla and Jondalar junkies need another fix!

That's right. This book has endless and boring descriptions of Ayla's journey to Jondalar's home. It becomes repetitive at times. The character of Jondalar becomes even more hideous than before since he wants to get home as soon as possible which means he gets annoyed with Ayla's only friends. He wants to get rid of Woolf and even Winnie at some point. Besides he is throwing Ayla into an uncertain future.

How can you like a book when you hate one of the "heroes" of the story?

The evil women ruled tribe was way over the top. I seriously doubt something like that actually existed and if it did, it was a shame they didn't kill Jondalar.

the only interesting thing about his book is when they meet with this couple of blonde neanderthals. I think Ayla is better off with them than with Jondalar. I will buy the fith book, let's see if 12 years of research made it better than this one...

Thankfully after finishing the Mammoth Hunters, I didn't have to wait a year before finding the fourth installment. I was a seventh grader when I read, and quickly finished The Plains Of Passage. The reason: I couldn't put it down!!
Like always, Jean M. Auel has put out a great amount of effort to write an interesting and entirely compelling novel.
Ayla and Jondalar are now on their way to Jondalar's home. It's a long journey, filled with many dangers, and people who will either befriend them or hate and fear them because of Ayla's horses Whinney and Racer (though Jondalar rides him mostly)and her wolf simply named, Wolf.
My least favorite character was the leader of the S'Armuni tribe (prehistoric the store women). I was so glad of how that turned out. I was also glad that the Clan received a part in the story as well. Ayla was a wonderful heroine.

I first read Clan of the Cave Bear in middle school. I'm in college now and it is still my favorite. This series has captured me and will never let me go. I have read and reread all of the series. It's a wonderful mix of adventure, romance, and very informative of prehistoric times. Because of these books I am continually interested in prehistoric times. Ayla is a woman of strength, power, and wisdom looking for the simple things in life. I absolutely love her! Jean, were is the fifth??? I've been waiting years for it!

I loved this book soooo much! My favorite one was Valley Of Horses, but this was my second favorite. A friend of mine read them before I did and she said they were great, she had just finished them (She read them in fourth grade! Wow! ) And I just finished in October. I also got extra credit from my teachers for reading a long book :) It wasn't hard, but it was long. I started all my friends reading it, and we have little disscusions at the lunch table. I think I'm a crazed fan. When's she comiing out with her next book?

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.

When I was first told that these were going to be books I would enjoy and love by my 7th grade English teacher, I wasn't so sure. But when I finally read them, I was blown out of the water. I read all four of the books in less than two months. They change your whole perspective on the way thins are now. I think that the next two books(I hope maybe more) will be as equally fabulous. The books tell of people that seem realy and the stories seem real. I hope we see more of these!

Jean Auel has done it again...written the same book for the fourth time.

I know books in a series usually begin with exposition detailing key developments from the preceding episodes, but come on. I KNOW how Ayla controls her horse with subtle body movements, I KNOW that shamans "speak with a shadow on the tongue", that Ayla believes babies come from a mans essence, and how she raised horses, wolves and lions. Yeah, yeah, you were marked by the cave lion, never knew your own people, and are terrified by earthquakes. We KNOW. So sorry you had a bad trip with Creb, Ayla, but do we need to hear about it every damn time you meet a new mog ur or mamutoi?

In fact I am 1/2 way through the book with little more than incidents repeated (often verbatim) from all the previous books. Ayla and Jondular are the party guests who just keep telling the same anecdotes over and over. The story might be interesting the 1st time but it gets old really fast.

I remember thinking that this book, especially in comparison with the first three books in the series, reads more like a travelogue than a novel. The interactions between the characters, particularly Ayla and Jondalar, are missing much of the tension that moved the stories along. This book really just follows the two of them as they travel back to Jondalar's tribe, and describes the people they meet along the way.

First off, for all of you anxiously awaiting the next segment of the Earth's Children series, it was reported in the 1/14/01 issue of "Parade" that Jean Auel is: A) not dead and B) extremely close to finishing the long-awaited fifth book. Supposedly, she's done so much research that she reassures readers that the fifth and sixth books will come out extremely close to each other. No release date yet, but I have a feeling the new book may be out in time for Christmas.
With that said, one can certainly hope the next book is better than "The Plains Of Passage." I, too, have been an avid reader of the series since "Clan Of The Cave Bear," but I wasn't thrilled with this book. Yes, the nature scenes are repetitive; yes, Ayla and Jondalar are like prehistoric Super Friends; yes, even the sex palls after a while. Auel's biggest sin in my mind, however, is that she makes the characters' words WAY too modern. I sincerely doubt that Cro-Magnons used words like "bifacially" and "extraordinary," and those anachronisms throw all of her meticulous research to the winds. These books were once described as "prehistorical romance," and that description's not too far off the mark. But I have no doubt I'll be buying the fifth book when it comes out . . .

I saw that in a lot of the online reviews, people were very anxiously awaiting the sequel to "The Plains of Passage," but I heard, some years ago after inquiring about the sequel myself, that Ms. Auel passed away while in the middle of the next book in the series. The person who gave me this information also told me that Ms. Auel had a daughter who was planning to continue the book herself. Whether this is true or not, I have no idea, but it has been some years since I was told this and I have not heard anything since. I do hope that if it is true, Ms. Auel's daughter will in fact complete the next book. Of course, it won't be the same - she couldn't know what was in her mother's mind for Ayla, Jondalar, Durc, the baby and the Zelandonii, but it's been years and I really want to get some sense of completion on that story - especially about Durc. It's killing me! Anyway, I'm just passing along what I know, just to let you all know. Okay, now that I have a forum to get this idea out there, I just want to get some perspective on an idea that I've been thinking about for a few years now - if any of you have read "Sing To Me Of Dreams," by Kathryn Lynn Davis, let me know if you have also noticed any bizarrely similar parallels between the stories of Ayla and Jondalar vs. Saylah and Julian (besides the name thing). It's been weirding me out for years! And as a student in a well-respected college, I VERY rarely use the phrase "weirding me out," so let me know if you see anything, if you have read these books.

Any writer who does a tremendous amount of research-especially in the prehistoric era-and can put all those facts together and come up with a truly believable story with truly believable characters is in my opinion, brilliant! I bought her first three books at a library sale because I had seen the movie "The Clan of the Cave Bear" and I was wondering if the book was the same as the movie. Silly me, it was NOT! The book was much better and so was book #2, and #3, and #4! I have to admit though, the explanations and/or descriptions of the plants, tools, landscape, and the pleasures Ayla and Jondalar shared, were a bit lengthy and sometimes redundant but by the same token I learned a lot about how people lived and survived during the prehistoric era. I love Ayla! She is strong, smart, and very perceptive and I think Jondalar is the perfect man for her! They may appear to be the sole saviors of the world to some people but to me they were Angels sent by the Great Mother to help all of these people. Did you notice how they touched everyone in a positive way and how they were glad to share their knowledge and experience with anyone who asked? I felt so wonderful everytime they helped someone. Jean's books made me laugh and cry and feel lust in my heart. Now that I've read all four books, I'm going into withdrawal!! I need to read your fifth book, Jean! I am dying to know if Jondalar's mom is going to like Ayla and if Ayla will have a boy or a girl. I want to know what Whinney will have too. I love Ayla's two horses and her wolf, I could acutally feel the strong bond she had with her animals. I could almost taste Creb's favorite dish, Ptarmigan. The way Jean described Ayla making it made my mouth water! I do hope Jean comes out with her next book very, very soon. I'm standing in line with the rest of your fans, Jean! Please don't keep us waiting too long! Long live Ayla and Jondalar!

If you want to read a book about how female anatomy looks like pink/silkly/flowerly petals for 400 pages (along with how the Auel thinks the word "node" is apparently an attractive way to reference the [...]) please do buy this book.

You get a bonus 800 pages describing mammoth sex, plants and dirt formations.

The remaining thousand pages of this hideously long failure all deal with superwoman Ayla's ability to do everything perfectly. [...].

I only got through this book by skimming past entire chapters, which, I rarely do.

I have read Auel's 4 Earth's Children Books several times and like many others eagerly await any others that are to come. To date these remain my favorite books and I encourage all that may think of purchasing them to take the plunge. Although together the set looks daunting, the reading enjoyment is throughly worth it! Having first read these books as a young teenager reading them again as a young adult proves no less rewarding. Keep up the good work Auel.

I HAVE READ ALL THE BOOKS IN THE EARTH CHILDREN'S SERIES. I ALSO DID A RESEARCH REPORT ON THEM IN COLLEGE. JEAN AUEL TOOK A LOT OF TIME TO RESEARCH THAT ERA. THERE WERE MANY THINGS BASED ON FACTS VERIFIED BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS AND OTHER HISTORIANS. THE TOOL MAKING, CLOTHING, HOUSING, WEAPONS, ETC... I HAVE BEEN PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT BOOK, THERE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE 6 BOOKS IN THE SERIES. JEAN HAS A WONDERFUL IMAGINATION FOR THE FEELINGS AND ACTIONS OF THE CHARACTERS.

I enjoyed the first two books a lot but then I started noticing the repetition in the third book. Auel feels the need to completely retell the entire story in every book so the repetition gets worse with each book. Starting with the third book I got the feeling that the author decided to use graphic sex scenes to sell more books. I don't think I will read the fifth book.

A very good read. Ayla and Jondular have a long journey and meet many obstacles along the way. The story keeps moving so you're taken with them. You laugh, cry, and explore with them as they get closer to their destination. I've read all four books years ago, and am enjoying them on the second go around. I look forward to any more in the series. Ms. Auel is a great author and I highly recommend this series to all who love a good story.

I loved the first three books, but the fourth book felt like a betrayal. To get my attention and interest and then offload a bunch of crap was a mean trick. If I want to read about animals and plants I certainly won't select a novel; Ms. Auel has a great deal of knowledge about this era, but I felt she was just showing off--and leaving her heroine in the dust.

I was ready to love Jondalar, but in book three he was revealed as a whiner, a coward and a heartbreaker. Then in book four he's a hero again? I don't buy it.

The story of Ayla held great promise, but I can't finish book four and I won't buy another.

I knew it was going to be repetetive, because I'd read 1,2,3 and 5. Certain phrases just kept popping up, for example," What would I do without you?" says Jondalar. And don't forget the ever-present frown lines for good measure.
The authors description of the Ice Age animals were amazing though, especially the mammoths.
The storyline was just too...well, i suppose romantic. Don't get me wrong, I love romance books, but I expected an adventure. Not to say that a Journey across a continent isn't an adventure, but there were so many aspects of the novel that were too Mills &Boon. There were plenty of opportunities for Jondalar to prove his manliness and possessiveness, lots of petty fights- but of course they make up, kiss, have wild sex with, once again, Jondalar proving his manliness.
After a while, the whole thing with Jondalar being beautiful, Ayla being gorgeous and kind and loving, it just gets too boring. Is anyone else sick if Aylas ptarmigan?

Like most of the people that have written the previous reviews, I read all of Auel's books. And, where was this going? I found myself forgeting whole sections of the book because it was so BORING! I have to admit that many of the other ones were pretty drawn out as well, but atleast they kept you reading. This is a book I would recommend not to buy. But, honestly, if Auel wrote another one I would probably read it. So, Auel, make them better, will ya!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS SERIES!! I HAVE REREAD THEM MANY TIMES. BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS! I AM NEW TO THE COMPUTOR THING SO WHEN I PULLED UP THE REVIEWS I WAS SHOCKED TO KNOW THERE ARE MORE JEAN AUEL JUNKIES OUT THERE. I AM NO LONGER ALONE!! LIKE EVERYONE ELSE I AM ANXIOUS TO KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY. DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW TO FIND OUT WHEN THE 5TH IN THE SERIES COMES OUT? I MEAN HOW MUCH LONGER DO WE HAVE TO WAIT? JONDALAR AND AYLA HAVE SO MUCH AHEAD OF THEM. I CAN'T WAIT ANY MORE. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFO ON THIS??? PLEASE HELP ME FIND SOME ANSWERS!!!

I've enjoyed the first three books to varying degrees, but one trend I've noticed is that each volume is 100 pages longer than the last. That extra 100 pages being burned on narrative descriptions of the landscape and Jondalar sticking his wooly mammoth in Ayla's cave bear, almost to the point that it reads like a prehistoric Harlequin romance at times.

This volume is particularly tedious as it follows a journey already taken by Jondalar back in Valley of the Horses. The crawling narratives are broken up by periodic encounters with other civilizations we've seen before where the following always happens in order:

1) They recognize Jondalar, but are apprehensive of Ayla and her command of the horses and wolf.

2) Ayla provides some medical assistance to a physically or psychologically wounded member of the camp.

3) The camp is dazzled by demonstrations of their technological advances (iron pyrite, thread puller, spear thrower).

4) Wolf befriends the children of the camp.

5) Ayla and Jondalar get an offer to take up permanent residence at the camp.

6) Ayla and Jondalar exchange gifts and leave.

The only interesting encounter is the one that doesn't follow suit. The S'Armunai, which is something of an the storeian society where the women have taken control and enslaved the men. They manage to capture Jondalar and keep him in caged and hungry until their leader, former battered-spouse Attaroa, decides it's time to torture him to death for being a man. Fittingly, Ayla rescues Jondalar and they kill the evil double-crossing Attaroa...then broker a peace agreement between the men and the women by the end of the chapter. If only Bush were this efficient at "fixing" foreign governments!

The book seems repetitive and pointless, except to remind us how much the Mother favors Jondalar and Ayla, and to paint the landscape of the prehistoric world with thousands and thousands of words. I'm holding out hope that Shelters of Stone will redeem the series...but unfortunately Ayla's going to have a baby. Anyone who grew up watching 80's sitcoms knows that that's the precise moment when the shark is jumped.

I read the first of this series when it first came out, I have been caught by it's honesty, sence of adventure and humanity since then.
We see the dawning of the Human race and in it, the people of today reflected in the actions of the people of the stories, and we see how just one thought, statement, action or intevention can make a difference.
This series is one where I wait for the next adventure, the next window into another world, wait as if my life depends on it sometimes. I do not see an end to it until Ayla's great, great, great, great, grandchildren remember her life around a campfire at her funeral, another Haduma and more.
Not the best of the series, but as has been said, better than the rest by far. In it's story, and feeling for life, it's covering of human issues that will never truly go away, bigotry, hatred, weaknes, honour, love, and the whole host of human conditions.
All of us have been Ayla at sometime in our life, and all of us have been each of the other characters also. We see ourselves reflected, and changed.
I think we become better people for reading these books.

I was slightly dissapointed in the amount of time spent on the scenery, but on the whole this book was execllent! I read the author's acknowlegement at the end of the book and she indicated there were to be six books!?! What's the deal? Are there five or six? Can't wait for the next one. If anyone has any idea when it will be out, please let me know. I am a sailor and the only thing that keeps me sane are my books.

I love this series, I can not put it down. I understand why people have a critical view however the way the story is told overall makes you want to be there. I dont mind the parts that perhaps could have been written better or differently. It just makes the series more interesting.

The frustration I have with this book (and also with the fifth book in the series) is that, after reading the Clan of the Cave Bear, I know the talent of which this author is capable. We do not, unfortunately, see much of that talent in this book.
Readers do not appreciate being treated as though they lack intelligence, and the extreme repetition found in this book (and in the fifth book) sends the reader the message that she is just too stupid to remember what went on before.
So much of the book became tedious and boring. Even the [love] scenes were repetitive. You could sum it all up by saying that Jondalar is quite a lover. Jondalar has a really big .... manhood. Ayla is as vunerable as a virgin, yet deep enough to take in all of Jondalar, which Jondalar really digs.
Readers feel cheated because the first book was so very, very good. But now it seems that all we are getting for our loyalty and anticipation is a lazy, repetitive effort.

I beleive this particular book has left me hanging more than the other three! Clan of the cave bear was absolutly heart wrenching. The valley of horses proved the strength of Ayla and her obvious talent with Baby and Whinney, and as a medicine woman with Jondalar. Mammoth Hunters and Plains of passage showed the strength of her love for Jondalar. I can't wait to see her baby. Hurry with that next book!!!

10% plot, 10% repetitive sex scenes, and 80% excruciatingly detailed descriptions of landscapes.

I recommend skipping straight from the end of The Mammoth Hunters (Book 3) to Shelters of Stone (Book 5). Given the author's propensity to repeatedly summarize anything that happened in previous novels that might be relevant to the current novel's plot, you won't get lost by skipping this bore.

I've read all the four books of the Children's Earth series: The Clan of the Cave Bear, The Valley of Horses, The Mammooth Hunters, and this one; let me tell you something: all got five stars. But...I've been waiting for 3 years, maybe more for the sequel. Where's the 5th book? For all I know there's more about Ayla and friends, at least two more books..., come on! Don't let us this way, we want more!!

Ayla and Jondalar ride the plains in search of Jondalar's people; Ayla encounters many new sights, along with her faithful wolf and horse; she and Jondalar discover each other in fairly explicit love scenes, so be prepared. The journey begins to get tiresome in the middle as not much happens from day to day. Events pick up as they find the tribe and Ayla tries to find her place among these people. Auel's usual excellent writing and research are evident. Book could have been shorter for a better story but you will want to read it and move on to #5The Plains of Passage (Earth's Children #4)

I have read all 4 books so many times I have lost count and my harcover editions are beginning to look tired. In the summer of 1995 I wrote to the publisher asking them to forward a letter to Jean, (anyone else notice each book seemed to come out 5 years after the preceeding one?) they did and she responded. She said she was working on the next book in the series. In 1997 I wrote directly to Jean in Oregon. I received a response dated March 4, 1998, from her assistant Delores Rooney, saying, Jean is currently in seclusion working on book 5 of the 6 in the series, and that she does read all correspondence. Last summer I sent her an "anxiously waiting" card of encouragement. I guess it is time to try the direct approach again. Every bookstore I check says they think the next one will be out by the holidays - they just don't say what year. I sure hope it is soon - it's been a lot longer than 5 years this time.

Being a fan of action and dialogue, whenever Ayla and Jondalar interacted with various peoples, I was intrigued. However, while I did enjoy reading this book, I found the countless descriptions of landscapes, vegetation, and the like tiresome. I'm also not wild about the book's length, but overall, this is a good read which'll keep you entertained and interested in Ayla and her adventures.

Someone wrote that this romance between two prehistoric people is similar to our own time.Well that is so true.From the get go,Ayla has been abused and she finally finds love and kindness in a man who knows what it is all about.So it is fiction,so it is not correct in some of its details,so what,it is a story that is refreshing and realestic and makes a very good read.Each of her previous books are seperate stories of the same,or diffrent chapters of the same book.Many Authors write this way,Wilbur Smith is an example of this.But Where is No.5.Love this but please dont stop now Ms.Auel

I have absolutely fallen in love with the Earth's Children books. Jean Auel is a masterful story teller. She clearly has done a tremendous amount of research for these books, which adds to the enjoyment. Not only are we getting a fascinating story, but we a learning about man's evolving culture, nature, old world geography, natural healing and many other wonderful things. However, "Plains of Passage" was not quite as good as the first three books. The story line in this book seemed to be a bit repetitive. I also found myself skipping over large parts of the books because too much time was spent on describing the landscape or lifestyles of the animals around at that time. This book could easily have been half as long as it is. I have already started on "Shelters of Stone", which so far seems to show much promise of making up for the less exciting "Plains of Passage".

Truthfully, I loved Clan of the Cave Bear and Valley of the Horses in this series. Each was exciting and informative without being tedious as Mammoth Hunters and Plains of Passage have become.

Mz Auel's descriptions have become so awful I cross my eyes and turn the page as quickly as possible. Mammoth Hunters was frustrating as Ayla and Jondolar (which we know will end up together anyways) have stupid insignificant arguments that cause them to break up and send Ayla into the arms of Ranec. I know this misunderstanding thing is a standard plot device to get things moving but really, is this suffering really neccessary for the reader?

Then Jondolar and Ayla get back together and go on this long painful Journey in Plains of Passage. The most interesting part is when they find any signs of other humans. Other than that it's all plants and animals and boring sex. I have never in my life skipped through love scenes but every sexual event in this book is repeated over and over until I never want to hear the words "well", "dip", and "manhood" in a sentence ever again. I'm not even halfway through and I'm ready to throw it in the trash. Good thing it was a present.

I will buy however many books Auel has left in her. I've accepted that the writing will never match the first three books and the plot will never match the first book. I'm still grateful that Ayla exists and will enjoy seeing where Auel wants to take her.

That being said, there are large parts of Plains of Passage that are just cringe-inducing. I really can't read the Joplaya section, as it is just bad plot, bad writing, and bad characterization. Just bad. The S'Arumunai section is only slightly better. Fortunately, there are a few short pieces in this book (the Sharamudai section, the Losadunai section, and the Clan Encounter) that are actually quite good. Most of the book, though, is just filler. Mildly interesting, but not enjoyable.

The Great Goddess
SOME people have gone gaga over the witches and warlocks of J.K. Rowling's seven-part Harry Potter mania. And some have equally gone crazy over the elves and hobbits of the non-existent "existentialist" Middle Earth in J.R.R. Tolkien's three-part Lord of the Rings fad. But dear, I choose to be neither, as I would rather go for the real-life Homo sapiens and extinct Neanderthals in the long forgotten world of Jean Auel's six-part Earth's Children classic.
As it is, Earth's Children is realist, justifiable, worldly, down-to-earth. For earthy reasons, I will tell you why. So here's why ... .
From the eye-opening Clan of the Cave Bear to the serene Valley of Horses, from the thought-provoking Mammoth Hunters to the uplifting Plains of Passage, readers are immersed into the world of a young girl as she is transformed into a teenage mother and high-spirited woman -- her heart, her mind, her values, her fears, her triumphs. Losing her family after an earthquake, blond-haired and bluish-gray-eyed Ayla is raised by creatures of the land far different from her. They call themselves the Clan, but the white men call them "flatheads" -- or worse, "animals."
In the Earth's Children series, Ayla is more than just a three-dimensional heroine as we sense her every struggle and will to live and survive in a cruel world peopled with crueler humans, mostly people of her own kind, whom the Neanderthals call "the Others."
Skillfully, author Jean Auel has molded Ayla into a four-(or even five-)dimensional character we can see, hear, smell, feel -- and even taste! The people whom Ayla has inspired and whose lives she touched along the way are all inclined to believe that she is the Mother of the Earth herself. But come to think of it, Jean Auel herself -- the Omniscient Writer and Researcher, the Pleistocene Pre-historian and Chronicler -- could just be the Great Earth Mother of the last 25,000 years.
This is no Middle Earth or Hogwarts fake. Neanderthal bones found at the Shanidar Cave north of Turkey are evidence enough that Auel's "flatheads" did exist. They're not orcs or hobbits, much less elves or witches. They may not be anatomically modern men but they are intelligent breathing beings who make tools and gaze on stars and, perhaps, communicate through sign language.
Jean Auel has humanized and personified what could have been an abstract or even boring topic in history -- or pre-history, for that matter. Like the fire in a subterranean hearth, Auel has warmed up what could have been an aloof and cold topic as the Ice Age and the glacial epoch. Tell me. Who would be bored at the sight of big ice walls and white snow fields, or red loess soil and dry arid plains? Who would be bored at the sound of woolly mammoths and giant cave lions, at the odor of vicious hyenas and gigantic cave bears, at the touch of domesticated horses and docile wolves -- at the flavor of warm human contact and affection amidst the fury of the Pleistocene Era?
Who would not be mesmerized at the crystal clear waters of the rampaging Great Mother River (the present-day Danube), which runs all the way to the Beran Sea (the modern-day Black Sea) in the early days of the vast European continent? Who would not savor the taste of fresh caviar, the eggs from the bosom of 10-foot-long beluga sturgeons which were once abundant and now extremely scarce for being the most expensive and sought-after food in the entire universe?
The only thing missing in Earth's Children is the saber-toothed tiger, although there was a brief mention of this dirk-toothed feline. And if Michael Crichton's dinosaurs in Jurassic Park and Lost World were comical enough in the film versions, wait until right-minded people in Hollywood breathe life into the chase for fantastic bisons and huge mammoths, into the hunt for white arctic foxes and pesky little wolverines.
As a skillful and classy craftswoman in her own genre, Auel has perfected a work of art as fine as the blade of an expert Zelandonii toolmaker and flint knapper, as sheer as the chiseled tusks of a master Mamutoi ivory carver. In fact, the entire Earth's Children series are more than just a "survival manual" and an "environmentalist's handbook," as some critics view them. Any book in the series would be worthy anytime of a shelf space just beside the Holy Bible, considered as the greatest work of all time.
As for Auel, well, She's just heaven-sent. A great Goddess.
MITCH R. CONFESOR
Associate Editor
Mindanao TIMES
Davao City, Philippines
CANDLEBOX column
February 3, 2003
"Children of the Earth"

i loved this book! i have loved every book in this series, after i got addicted to Clan of the Cave Bear! that is my favorite book ever!!!! i can't wait until the fifth one is released, please, FINISH IT SOON!!!
i thought that Clan of the Cave Bear was the best though, but i highly reccomend this to everyone. although a bit sexual, the entire book was excellent!

In her continuing fascinating - and sometimes brilliant - exposition of Man's development, Jean Auel does not disappoint.
The frontispiece map is helpful, but needs to be supplemented with a topographic map of Europe for a full appreciation of the massive geographical and geological research that went into this book. Those interested in Ice Age zoology and/or healing plant lore will also find much here. The author's effort to make each book of the "Earth's Children" series stand alone leads to some neccessary flashbacks and rehashing, but she does it well. On the down side, there are too many overly-explicit and repetitive sex scenes - enough already! That said, this is a worthwhile and very readable addition to the series.

Ms. Auel's editor should be reprimanded for so much repetition. Plains of Passage was at least a 50% rehash of the first 3 books. I would like a next volume in the series--there were lots of threads to resolve. But this time without the repetition from the earlier books including the 2-3pp long descriptions of climatic conditions, and the 2-3 pp long scenes of what amounts to soft-core porn.

I am only 16 but I totally loved this book, along with the other three. My mom wanted me to read more so she bought me The Clan Of The Cave Bear to make me read. Once I read the first page, I didn't even need my mom to tell me to read, I totally wanted to. It caught me and now whenever I read I always read these books. I love them so much that I would recomend them to all of my friends. My friends think I am nuts spending so much time reading, but with these books, I couldn't give a rat's butt what they think because I simply adore the series. Ever since I finished reading The Plains Of Passage, I have been eagerly awaiting the next one. It has taken her about 8 years to write the next book, it's a good thing I only started reading her books this year because I would NOT be able to wait 8 years for the next in the series. I am sorry for the people who have had to. Ayla's struggles, adventures and her strength to overcome makes her my personal hero. COME OUT WITH THE NEXT BOOK ALREADY!! I CAN'T WAIT MUCH LONGER!!

I liked clan of the Cave Bear, ok, so I was 12 when I read it, but I thought it was ok. By the the time this book came around I was soo bored. I don't care what happens to Ayla or any of the other pathetic characters in this overblown Paleolithic Mills and Boon and I won't bother to read any further... It's worse than Melanie Rawn, if you can believe that.

I felt that this was the best book of the 4, so far. Here is the story of Ayla and Jondalar traveling for a year to Jondalar's people, the Zelandonii. The author takes you by the hand and discribes the sights, the people, the scents, the tastes, and even what people are thinking and feeling. All of this in great detail. The author has painted the detail of every scene with her words. You will have no choice. You will see it in your mind's eye almost as if you was there. You will feel Jondalar's excitement in going home, and feel Ayla's dread of what she thinks she will find there. When she recognizes the cave, you will feel her joy too.
Not only are these books rich in detail, but they convey strong emotions to the reader. I laughed when the characters did, and also felt sorrow when they did.
The author refers to this being a six book series. When the next book comes out, I will also be waiting in line for it.

I've read and re-read these books since they were first written. Ms. Auel was a wonderful story teller...unfortunately her last book was an enormous disappointment - but don't let that keep you from reading this delightful series.

I truely love the Earth Children series, and have re -read the books several times. The adventures of Ayla and Jondalar have been inspiring to say the least. Jean - if you read this - just know that we all are so anxious to have book 5 out because the first books are so compelling to read. We get it all - romance, history, adventure, and mystery!

I am re-reading the Clan of the Cave Bear series for the forth time and still can't put them down ( I'm up to The Mammoth Hunters). I find them interesting and well written stories and am amazed at the amount of reasearch that must have gone into each book. I look forward to the next book in the series and will certainly be reading tham all again.

After reading the three previous books, Clan of the Cave Bear, Valley of Horses, and the Mammoth Hunters, I was really looking forward to Ayla and Jondalar heading to his home territory. But the book seemed to drag and I was tired of the repeat saving of people. Finally after three fourth of the way through the book they are back on track, then it fades again until the last few chapters finally come through and it is over. I am tired of waiting for Ms. Auel to come to terms with the publisher. She should have honored the contract she had signed with the first book, or should have a better attorney to advise her in case the book was the hit that it became. However, she signed and should at least honored her promise to the publisher, and to the many fans that came to love her Ayla. Now I am not so sure I will purchase another book by this author.

My sister first handed me clan of the cave bear when I was 13.I have read & reread the series more times than I can count.Every few months I check to see if the next ones have been published. All I can say is stop torturing us & deliver the new books.I hope Jean is in good health & is writing.Please don't make us wait much longer!!!!

Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children Series is one of the most enlightening and informational series that I have ever read. Her fully developed charactors and intimate insights coupled with vivid descriptions and seemingly unlimited information of an ancient world make for reading that can't be put down. I had started with The Valley of Horses, not knowing it was a series, and before I found the rest of the books I had read The Valley of Horses 4 times. Every time I read one of the books I learn something that I didn't before; it is like reading a new book each time!
At the end of Plains of Passage, it made reference to Auel writing a fifth book in the series. I was wondering if this was true, and if it is, has it materialized yet? If someone could give me the information on this I would be greatly appreciative! Please email me at: [email protected]

I read all of the books in this series in One month's time because they were so GREAT! They are the kind of books that you can't put cown and you find yourself wishing you lived in the time of the Ice Age. Though Plains had a few repetitve parts, it was still a fantastic book. It is filled with so many wonderful adventures, and they chracters are so rich with life, you feel that they're real. I can truthfully say that these are the best books I have ever read. I cannot describe to you how much I LOVE them and I am literally "dying" for book five and six. I have read from her son Kendall that they will soon be out for everyones wonderful reading pleasure.. I'm sure all of us fans can hardly wait to see how Ayla fairs with Jondalar at the Zelondonii! Book Five is MUCH ANTICIPATED! READ THIS SERIES AND I GARUNTEE THAT YOU WILL LOVE IT.

Un resúmen:
El clan del oso cabernario: EXCELENTE, INSPIRADOR.
El valle de los caballos: BUENA SECUELA, RECOMENDABLE.
Los cazadores del mamut: SOLO PARA FANS.
El libro de los viajes ("Plains"): REPETITIVO, LENTO Y ABURRIDO EN DOS TERCERAS PARTES (LA'ÚLTIMA PARTE, COMO EN "cazadores", PARA FANS).
....LA ESPERANZA...."The Shelter of stone"...donde los que admiramos a Ayla, esperamos reencontrarnos con ella...

#4 in series, Plains of Passage was not quite as captivating as the first three, but still great. Yeah, there's a little too much rehash and description in this one, but once you get hooked on this series it doesn't matter.I recommend reading the first three before starting this one, but non-bookworms too intimidated to try can pick up the story in this one. I saw the movie(what a joke!) when I was 12(now26!)and started the series then. It's still the top of my list of favorites, and I've been wearing them out reading them about twice every year waiting for the next one! The exceptional descriptions make you wish you were there and the plot is spellbinding,even with the rehash and excessive description in #4.Keep up the great work, Jean, but please hurry! Where oh where is #5??!!!!!

I love this series with a passion! I have never read anything that has so captivated my imagination! During the time I was devouring the four books, I didn't let myself get more than six hours of sleep a day! Although she does tend to ramble in her descriptions, I don't take it against her because they are written so well. And just think of the research that went into it! It's a monument to modern paleontology! I'm surprised at the few negative reviews: these people clearly didn't GET it. This series has heart, mind and soul, and where is the next one? I can't wait to see Jondalar in that white leather and ermine tunic Ayla made for him!

Auel takes painstaking efforts to describe all of the trials, tribulations, and people that Ayla and Jondalar meet on their long journey from the Mamutoi summer meeting to the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii,and yet when they finally meet the Lanzadonii and then make their final trek to the Zelandonii, the story just completely falls apart. The strange dreams Ayla has been having all along apparently mean that she is meant to have a home there with Jondalar, but I just didn't feel it. I have felt so many emotions throughout these books, and at the end of this one, which I was so looking forward to, I felt nothing. It was so disappointing. I hope the 5th and final book has a more satisfying ending.

The people of the earth series is a great possible real rendition of how our ancestors may have lived. The detail and depth of knowledge show how much research was done before the writing. The flow of text is flawless and the plot is exciting.

Parts of this book are a bit repetitive and not so gripping as the 1st 3. But still a very good read. I have just finished reading all 4 books in the series for about the 4th time! I thought there was going to be more. The end of the edition I have states that Jean M. Auel is currently researching material for the 5th book. Has it been published yet?

I love this entire series, but The Plains of Passage was too much a description of every minute detail of the plain's flora and fauna, and not enough story. I think it should have been added to the end of the Mammoth hunters instead. It seems like Ms. Auel was contracted to do five books and so she is doing five, even though there is really only enough story to do four. Perhaps her intention was to make us feel the year's worth of Journey like Jondalar and Ayla did. I also wish we could buy these in a volume where the story just continues and we don't have to read blurbs here and there describing what we already know from the previous books. If you're reading them all at once, all in a row, these bits of "information" really interfere with the story's continuity

This is one of the most spell-binding series of historical novels I've read, mainly because it relates so easily to current interests and trends. While based in the Ice Age, its explanation of herbal healing, learning about one's talents and inner self and how to relate to others, and the need to push oneself out of your "comfort zone" to learn and grow are all topics that are as important to life now as they were 25,000 years ago. After having traveled to eastern Europe on business and learning about herbal remedies as part of my job, I found this story to be intellectually stimulating, as well emotionally healing in this day of hurry-hurry. I'm now having Ayla withdrawal -- I miss her like a close friend and can't wait for the 5th book to be published! Please, Jean Auel, it's been 8 years since "The Plains of Passage," - just do it!

I must say that I found this book to be a major disappointment in the continuation of the Earth's Children saga. The Clan of the Cave Bear began it as a good read, but by the time this book arrived there were many things which left a great deal to be desired- largely, the immensely two dimensional (if not one dimensional) portrayal of the main characters. Their thoughts, words, and actions- down to the last furrow of an eyebrow- became so predictable that they leave one wonder why they are reading the book (since there's no suspense, no mystery, no depth, nothing unexpected or unknown left to wait for since we already know what will happen, why bother?). This book, instead of existing as a true, flowing novel is really just a series of short escapades- Ayla and Jondalar save the uneducated masses over and over again appears to be the common theme- with a few travel and sex scenes thrown in for good measure, so much so as to leave the reader to wonder with Ayla's interest in plant life why is the author wasting so many trees? In general, this book really has just lost the essence of what began with the Clan of the Cave Bear and it doesn't nearly live up to it's potential.

I've read Auel's first four books twice now, and I have her fifth one, but I don't have time to read it.
Anyway, I love these books so much, I used to stay up till one in the morning unable to put the book down. I know so much more about plants and animals now, and I would like to live in the wild someday. I would always wish that I could be Ayla, and I want to learn how to use a sling, but that's pretty impossible now.
This book is very repeptative at times, but it doesn't deter from it too much. It's for those who have a good imagination, and want to seperate themselves from the lameness of this world. If you haven't read these books yet, don't read them if your a major realist. It's just someone's imagination of what it could have been like a long time ago, in a fictional sense.

I am new to this series by Jean Auel, although I am familiar with the first book,( I cheated and saw the movie). Having jumped into the middle of the series at the valley of the horses and continuing on from there, I found the plains of passage to be some what redundant after each encounter with a new camp. Although I new that the two main characters would finally make it to the heroes home camp, I still found myself sitting on the edge at their different encounters. I do hope that the next book is out SOON and that it will be the last in this series. My heart cant take much more of this. After reading these books, my own interest in hunting, tanning, botony and food preservation has been re-newed. Thanks Ms. Auel, but hurry with the next one.

My bestfriend in highschool told me to read Clan of the Cave Bear. Now seven years out of highschool I finally read all four books. The were awesome. I want to know what happens next. I was amazed at how much I learned about the Ice Ages just from reading these great books. I just hope soon I can read the fifth book.

I'm a true Jean M. Auel fan. I recommend this book, and the entire Earth's Children series to any one that enjoy's sagas, well-researched history, romance and adventure.
***Parents warning*** There are some instances of intimate relations that may not be appropriate for your teen or pre-teen. I suggest parents read first and judge whether it is suitable for their child.

I loved all 4 of these books!!! I have been waiting 12 years for the 5th book to come out and have in the mean-time reread them over and over, collected first addition copies and created an online discussion group to talk about them, the Summer Meetings that other fans are starting in different regions, and other book related aspects of life, including cooking like the characters in the books!!!
I recomend for EVERYONE to read them, expesially young women! I read them at the age of 13 and Ayla gives a great example of what a strong independant woman is!!

I have read this book and previus three books which
belong to this serie (in finnish). I loved them. The
people in the book feel real and the prehistorical
environments, inventions and manners are really fascinating.
All the books are worth reading. And I'm waiting for the
next book!

I have read all of Jane's books and enjoyed each of them tremendously. I hated for them book to end. I am waiting anxiously for her next book. Does anyone know when that might be?? I heard that she was sick - does anyone know? I would and already have recommended her books to my friends and acquaintances.

I enjoyed the first three books, even though I was slightly frustrated by the amount of time spent on describing the landscape. This book is practically nothing BUT landscape. I like the characters and enjoyed the storyline (when it was there), but I really couldn't care less about how the glacier came to be or how many different types of trees grow next to the river. There were pages at a time when not a single word was spoken; it was all description. This book would be much better if it was about 200 pages shorter. I wish someone had warned me that this book reads like an Earth Science textbook.

The Plains of Passage has a good storyline, but it is extremely annoying when she goes into page after page of descriptions of wildlife and plants that Ayla is going through. The first three books were full of drama, and kept me wondering what was going to happen, while this one keeps me wondering when is Something going to happen. The only highlights of this book are when she meets people (rarely). Another problem i found with this book is the sex scenes. They are repetitive and happen often. While i do like my book to have a little bit of sex in it, i don't like the repetive scenes that appear constantly throughout the book. I'm hoping that the next book will have more action in it and less description.

This is the first book I read in the series. It somehow hooked me. What I love most is the way things were describe in details eg. the herbs Ayla prepared, the cookings, etc. Besides this, it also describe on the prehistoric life not to mention the animals life cycle. It is a great book.

i loved this book but it took so long describing what is happening to the earth (eg.seasons/enviroment)that it lost me some times! probaly not as good as the other books but just as beliveable.
can't wait untill the other editions come out!
but will they be as good? i sure hope so!

To me it seemed almost repetitive with each tribe they got to. It started getting boring and there's too much talk about the scenery. This story didn't have much of an ending. The book shows how Ayla adjusts to each tribe except Jondalar's. If there is a number 5 I'd probably get it only to see what comes next.

Auel takes information she has about prehistoric times and delivers it, again and again, ad infinitum, whether it is relevant to the story and characters or not. Much of the information had already been provided in previous books of this series. Read the other three, but not this one.

Plaines of Passage is a worthy read and an insight into the struggle and ultimate pleasures of life. Have you ever wanted to be able to take a time mashine and experience the past? Well this is it. The reality of the story-telling is so vivid that one feels to be part of the prehistoric past. Eventhough the Plains of Passage has a rating of 9, I give my favorite book a 10 which is still the Mamoth Hunters with its vast and complex characters. For an overall rating of the whole 4 Earth Children series I have to give a rating of 10++. Best thing to hit the market. Please inform me when book 5 will appear since I am eagerly awaiting this. Jean, great work. Keep it up.

Whew! I just read 20+ reviews and I am glad to see that so many other people love Auel's books as much as I do. But I'm even gladder to know that others feel as maniacal about the 5th book as I do. It's just unbelieveable how long it is taking. While we wait, at least there are a few other series to get lost in. I suggest Robert Jordan, Katharine Kerr, and Charles de Lint. I am looking for more prehistoric novels, but there aren't very many, and none of them are as well detailed as Auel's. However She Who Remebers, and Mother Earth, Father Sky are very enjoyable. Anyway, Hang in there everybody, THE FIFTH BOOK HAS TO COME OUT EVENTUALLY!!!!!!!.....right?

The Plains of Passage: Earth's Children Series
Love this Series, I had lost track of some of the new ones, so have been real excited to get to read all of them. Iam ordering another one of these as this one was not in the best of shape but I could read all of it. I now have a book with no cover and want them to look nice in my bookcase.

I just finished reading it and I thought it was one of the best books I've ever read. I love her writing style the way she uses alot of descriptions with the scenary. It's almost like you're traveling with them on their journey. That was the first book by her that I've read. I thought it might be boring and a let down but I couldn't have been more wrong. I thought it was AWESOME!! I usually read romance novels but was getting bored with them so I switched. When I bought it I didn't expect any romance at all because of the title and the summary on the back. I was pleasantly surprised that it had a love story as part of the storyline. It wasn't too much romance to be over-powering but just enough so you won't want to put it down. I just did order more of her books. I hope they are just as good. But they would have to be. She is truely gifted. :D I also liked that her novels are a lot longer than the average novel because I can read an average sized one in about a week. I've had this one for almost a month or more before I finished it. Buy it I think you'll be surprised like I was.

I've read these books so many times too, I'm a real junkie. For anyone who is interested in info about book 5 and the series in general, there are some great web sites out there dedicated solely to Jean M. Auel. earthschildren.com will lead you to other great links.

I'm a new fan of the Ayla's magical word (from Italy). I've readed in a one month all 4 books! Now I'm waiting for the next book,the night are so long,I can't sleep! We (all readers) wont know the next story, Jean please, only You can help us.(Sorry for my english.)

I, ALONG WITH COUNTLESS OTHER READERS HAVE READ THIS SERIES OF BOOKS OVER AND OVER AND OVER - JEAN, WHEN OH WHEN WILL YOU PUT OUT THE NEXT BOOK(S)?? SOON, I HOPE! THIS SERIES IS CAPTIVATING AND MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE ACTUALLY THERE. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

I started reading Jean M. Auel's books in grade school, and loved them. My favorite so far is Mammoth Hunters, because I liked all the characters in it. I have been impatiently waiting for book #5; what a cliffhanger to leave us on in Plains of Passage! I have not heard what is causing the delay, but my own theory is that since much of the research Ms. Auel does is centered in Czechoslovakia, the war must have interrupted it, and perhaps she is having difficulty getting permission to travel into what is now several countries. Has anyone heard when the next book will be out?

I LOVED ALL THE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES, BUT FOUND THIS ONE RATHER LONG-WINDED. THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AYLA AND THE ANIMALS IS THE PART I ENJOYED THE MOST, ESPECIALLY HER FUNNY DESCRIPTIONS OF WOLF, WHICH I FOUND HEARTWARMING. FOLLOWING AYLA AND JONDALAR'S ADVENTURES HAS BECOME A PART OF MY LIFE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO DISCOVER THAT THE FIFTH BOOK HASN'T COME OUT YET. I'LL CERTAINLY BUY IT WHEN IT DOES. UNTIL THEN, I'LL ALWAYS ADMIRE AYLA'S CHARACTER AND COMPASSION. SHE IS A TRUE HEROINE.

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).

This book is what I consider a "Handbook" for men on how to treat a woman. Although written from the pre-historic period, there are somethings that are timeless. This book and it's portrayal of a relationship between people in love is dead-on. Especially in light of the female being as strong as Ayla is in this series. With today being what it is in terms of our society and the role(s) of women - basically men could learn alot from this book, in my opinion.

This is a timeless classic. The Plains of Passage continues Ayla and Jondalar's journey to his home. It kept me breathless and I couldn't stop reading! I loved all four books and I am eagerly waiting for #5!!(Which I still don't know the title of.)

I have enjoied all four of the Earth's Children Series, and while The Plains of Passage at times laged a bit, the characters I have come to love are at it again! Auel has done an excelent job of describing the scenes and creating intrigue...

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.

I loved this one as much as the first 4. The big question is "Where is #5?" I've been waiting for this one longer than I waited for#4 in Stephen King's Dark Tower series and that seemed like forever. Come on, Jean, have a heart!

All the Earths Children books are exceptional. I to am wondering when the next chapter will appear. I am currently re-reading them for about the third time, ( I can't get enough of them ). Please if any one knows let me know thanks.

I loved all four of the Earth Children books by Jean M. Auel.Does anyone know if the author Jean M. Auel is still living and if she is writing the 5th book (and probably the final in the series) I heard that the author had died...how can we not know the final chapter in Ayla and Jondalar's romance??? Could someone contact author Linda Lay Shuler of "Voice of the Eagle" about possibly completing Jean Auel's excellent series??? Could someone email me with information at [email protected]. Thanks for your help.

This book just dragged on and on. Even the sex scenes were repetitive and monotonous. I felt really cheated when the book ended just as it looked like it could get interesting again. I am wondering if the next book will ever be written, as long as it's been since this one.

This book is yet another example of Auel's amazing, in-depth writing. She captures the Human element and you don't want to put the book down. No only is the book a great adventure it's also a wonderful way to learn about our planet 66 million years ago (even though it's fiction).

Unfortunately, I have to agree with a lot of the other reviewers of this book. It's tedious and repetitious (especially of the events in book 3). I appreciate Jean Auel's detail on plants and animals, and like a good adventure story like anyone, but she recover sthe same ground too much. Also, I thought book 2 had a lot of sex scenes, but this book reads like a Harlequin romance novel! Yes, we get it, the characters have a lot of time on their hands and no TV to be entertained. I seriously think the book could have trimmed a couple hundred pages and would work much better. I am curious what Auel will write for book 6 and when it will be released.

I have loved this series from the start, but while the last book was a little boring for me, this book really takes the boredom up a notch and fills in scenes which should be action with sex. There's very little to recommend this book, aside from the fact that it's the next in the series, and now I'm wondering if I will pick up her future books. I also felt the characters were too modern, thinking in ways that only modern people think in due to technology, which obviously didn't exist back then.

Give this one a pass, unless you are desperate to continue the series.

This was excellent reading and the details made you feel you were there with Ayla and Jondalar.Now that they have finally made it home ,and finally made contact with his people ,I am waiting to find out if Ayla is accepted.

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.

Overall, I really like Jean Auel's series, but I just didn't think her heart was in this fourth book. It basically consisted of 800 pages of plant lore with a few sex scenes scattered throughout. When there actually was plot narrative, I really felt like the author was trying to rush through it so she could get back to plants and sex. Hopefully her fifth book will have the same quality and depth as her first three, rather than a mere continuation of a prehistoric botany lesson.

What a pefect set of books to read on a lazy weekend . I read them once a year and get caught up in the adventure everytime .Can't wait for the next one.I hope she dosen't make us wait to much longer .

After finishing the book, I opened my eyes and had to find out I was still living in the year 1995. I honestly thought I had left the present. What a pitty men cannot travel into the past. What a beautiful, enthralling story. I was captivated from the beginning to the end. I really want to know what happens next to Ayla and Jondalar. Some time ago I heard that Mrs Auel was very ill. Is this true? Does anybody know if she is still alive and writing. I really hope so. This world is not ready yet to go on without Mrs Auel.

The first book of the series was brilliant, full of power and imagination -it's quite impossible not to get hooked. Unfortunately all the following volumes decrease in quality and I finished Plains of Passage just for the sake of completeness. If the next book doesn't improve significantly the whole story might some day just be remebered as a fairly cheap "sex-amongst-the-cavemen-saga", which happened to have a good start.

I love this book series! I have read the series over and over again. I love her details and description of, well, everything. She sometimes goes overboard with some descriptions of flora and fauna, but with these books it seems right. I started reading her books when I was 13 and eagerly anticipate each one. I never want the saga of Ayla to end.

I love all the books in this series. However I must point out that I also found the repitition found in this volume somewhat irritating. The love sceanes were monotonous and the content was too repetitive. However the story-line (when something new did happen) was good. I am eager for the next. How long are you going to keep me wait Jean? If anyone knows when e-mail me at [email protected]

Beautiful story. Descriptions terrific. Lovely love story. Sex too explicit. Easy to turn the pages to give
the characters some privacy. Animals so interesting. Hard to put the book down. Now have the complete set of Earth's children and reading all over again.Looking forward to more sets of books like this. Have complete set of Harry Potter books that I have read over and over again. Would like more of this kind of book.I am 92 and disabled so have nothing much to do except read.

I think I am safe in saying that this is one of the best series ever written. No other books have ever drawn me in to the characters or the environment such as these. I venture to say that I became emotionally attached! I have read all of Linda Lay Shuler's books and all of Sue Harrison's. They are good, but fall short compared to Jean. If you know of any other great series, let me know!

I don't mean just this one book, I'm talking about the whole Earth's Children series. It's been almost 8 years since Jean M. Auel last published something in this series. Everyone whose hooked wanted to know when her next book will be out. I know she likes to do research for her books, but sometimes it just seems like the public can't wait forever for Alya's saga to finally come to a close.

this is still as catching as the others, only gives more insight on how we must have all come about. The research done here is incredible. I only am getting sad cause it takes so dang long for number 5 to come out. M.E.A., PLEASE hurry...

This is the fourth book in what I feel to be the best series of books ever. I never get tired off reading the Earth's Children series, the story stays with you for always. All four books were brilliant BUT I am constantly scanning the book shops for the fifth and final book. PLEASE Jean publish your final book as I am dying to continue Ayla's story.

"The Plains of Passage" has been read twice plus I am now listening to an Audiotape. I have read every book in the series. Hands down, Ms Auel is a marvelous story teller. Her research is impeccably woven into the storyline which brings the whole series alive and her characters believable. Am anxiously awaiting her next book. Up until these books, my favorite book was Margaret Mitchell's "Gone With the Wind."

Thank goodness this wasn't the first book in the series! Other reviewers are correct: Auel spends too much time describing flora and fauna. I just skipped over these parts until I saw a character's name or quotation marks. The tedious descriptions do not add anything to the storyline.

Although difficult to compose a story such as this, Auel didn't do too bad, although there are some pretty far out characters along the way, a bit unbelievable. Some bits dragged while they hiked over endless plains and glaciers. Worth reading once, and then again just before you pick up Shelters of Stone (if you do) so you can remember where they left off.

This is the book we've waited for. The "Plains of Passage" take us on a wild and dangerous journey with Ayla and Jondalar, across an unknown world when mankind was just at it's beginning. A story told so convincingly, it will stir your own "memories," you'll stand a little bit taller as you realise the story of Ayla could be the story of each of us.

I''m just wondering wy the Mammoth Hunters and The PLains of Passage aren't currently available on eBook and when they will be again? Does anyone know? It doesn't make much sense to only have 2/3 of the series available of reading on the Kindle...