Helpful Score: 2
This was an amazing book, although some of the plot is just a little to convenient. (Such as Zolena conveniently having become obese and her and Ayla being buddies) I still love the story for the historical value and am constantly amazed by the authors creativity in trying to recreate what life was like for these people. I am looking forward to the conclusion of this series. Especially since the end of the book ended rather abruptly!
Chuck P. (1998SVT) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 224 more book reviews
Another in the Clan of the Cave Bear series. Ayla and Jondalar, along withe their animal friends Wolf, Whinney, and Racer, have completed their epic journey across Europe and are greeted by Jondalar's people, the Zelandonii. These people of the Ninth Cave fascinate Ayla, and in their femal spiritual leader---who initiated Jondalar into the Gift of Pleasure--- she meets a fellow healer with whom to share her knowledge and skills.
Excellent continuation in this series.
I enjoyed the time in Jondalar's village.
A bit disappointing! As the 5th book in this series, this book seemed to be the most repetitive and predictable. But for anyone interested in the Earth's Children series, it is a must-read since there promises to be a 6th book (someday)!
Darla (bookdeejay) -
A new life, new people to try to understand. A calling to answer, medicine woman, for she is a healer and will always be and she has taken more than one trip into the spirit world. But will she be a wife and a mother as she so desperately desires? Will the father of her child ever believe as she does that he is the physical father of her child, not just the father of her choosing.
Good story, not my favorite in the series, interesting, and enjoyable.
Debra L. (countrylane) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 81 more book reviews
Final book in Jean Auel's EARTH'S CHILDREN series. This is a series that if you read the first book, you will read them all. The author is meticulous in her research of prehistoric times. A very highly acclaimed series. Fascinating and entertaining. I loved Ayla, her horses and her wolf. Each book stands alone as an independent novel, but the series is an epic tale! In my opinion, only Ann Rice and Diana Gabaldon have ever come close with a series of books that are so engrossing.
Barbara B. (barb12557) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 5 more book reviews
great series
excellent in a series of stone age couple
Takes awhile to get into it (it quite long), but ends up being pretty interesting. Set in prehistoric times.
Perhaps not as innovative as Clan of the Cave Bear, but the 5th book in the lifwe of Ayla. If you've read the others, this one has more character development than the previous books.
Might as well read it.
Might as well read it.
Very detailed descriptions put you right in the picture created by Auel. The images are artfully constructed and the characters well developed.
Gary S. (Willman) - , reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 61 more book reviews
the last (at least latest ) in the saga that began with "Clan of the Cave Bear"
Janette E. (luvbooks) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 126 more book reviews
Imaginative and exciting!!
Kathy W. (WolfeK) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 48 more book reviews
Loved all the series
Angela M. (madtex) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 40 more book reviews
The continuation of a great series which started with The Clan of the Cave Bear. Ayla and Jondalar's adventures continue.
she is a very good author
Helen K. (Billie-K) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 459 more book reviews
Yet another in the neverending saga of Ayla...
Love this series
Imagine what North America was like in the stone age. This is a creative and engaging book, part of the series of the Earth's Children.
Carol C. (cnmor) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 93 more book reviews
I read it on vacation savoring every page.
Sheryl O. (Everett-Reader) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 216 more book reviews
Not as good as the first books in the series. This one is more of a stone age romance novel in my opinion.
Jean Auel's fifth novel about Ayla, the Cro-Magnon cavewoman raised by Neanderthals, is the biggest comeback bestseller in Amazon.com history. In The Shelters of Stone, Ayla meets the Zelandonii tribe of Jondalar, the Cro-Magnon hunk she rescued from Baby, her pet lion. Ayla is pregnant. How will Jondalar's mom react? Or his bitchy jilted fiancée? Ayla wows her future in-laws by striking fire from flint and taming a wild wolf. But most regard her Neanderthal adoptive Clan as subhuman "flatheads." Clan larynxes can't quite manage language, and Ayla must convince the Zelandonii that Clan sign language isn't just arm-flapping. Zelandonii and Clan are skirmishing, and those who interbreed are deemed "abominations." What would Jondalar's tribe think if they knew Ayla had to abandon her half-breed son in Clan country? The plot is slow to unfold, because Auel's first goal is to pack the tale with period Pleistocene detail, provocative speculation, and bits of romance, sex, tribal politics, soap opera, and homicidal wooly rhino-hunting adventure. It's an enveloping fact-based fantasy, a genre-crossing time trip to the Ice Age. --
Jean Auel's fifth novel about Ayla, the Cro-Magnon cavewoman raised by Neanderthals, is the biggest comeback bestseller in Amazon.com history. In The Shelters of Stone, Ayla meets the Zelandonii tribe of Jondalar, the Cro-Magnon hunk she rescued from Baby, her pet lion. Ayla is pregnant. How will Jondalar's mom react? Or his bitchy jilted fiancée? Ayla wows her future in-laws by striking fire from flint and taming a wild wolf. But most regard her Neanderthal adoptive Clan as subhuman "flatheads." Clan larynxes can't quite manage language, and Ayla must convince the Zelandonii that Clan sign language isn't just arm-flapping. Zelandonii and Clan are skirmishing, and those who interbreed are deemed "abominations." What would Jondalar's tribe think if they knew Ayla had to abandon her half-breed son in Clan country? The plot is slow to unfold, because Auel's first goal is to pack the tale with period Pleistocene detail, provocative speculation, and bits of romance, sex, tribal politics, soap opera, and homicidal wooly rhino-hunting adventure. It's an enveloping fact-based fantasy, a genre-crossing time trip to the Ice Age. --
Anne S. (Nytetyger) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 21 more book reviews
Jean Auel FINALLY gets out of the gutter and writes as she did in 'Clan of the Cave Bear' -- this is a really GOOD read.
Holly B. (Eowyn) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 22 more book reviews
This is the weakest book to date in the Earth's Children series. Since there are several hundred characters, Ayla's story is repeated over and over and over. In addition to being repetitive, that many characters don't allow for much story or character development, even in these long books, especially when she crams in technical, societal, and herbal lore. It was predictable, as well.
One of the disturbing things, to me anyway, was the change in spelling of Willamar's name. (I went back and checked -- in the other books, his name is spelled Willomar.) It also looks like Auel is running out of names, as the last character introduced in the book has the worst one in the series.
One of the disturbing things, to me anyway, was the change in spelling of Willamar's name. (I went back and checked -- in the other books, his name is spelled Willomar.) It also looks like Auel is running out of names, as the last character introduced in the book has the worst one in the series.
This is one of my favorite books, I reread the whole series about every three years or so. When I first read book #1 there was no series, I have read the series every time a new book was published. They are so vivid and real that they are like a wonderful movie in my mind.
Patricia S. (patsto) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 33 more book reviews
Jean Auel's fifth novel about Ayla, the Cro-Magnon cavewoman raised by Neanderthals, is the biggest comeback bestseller in Amazon.com history. In The Shelters of Stone, Ayla meets the Zelandonii tribe of Jondalar, the Cro-Magnon hunk she rescued from Baby, her pet lion. Ayla is pregnant. How will Jondalar's mom react? Or his bitchy jilted fiancée? Ayla wows her future in-laws by striking fire from flint and taming a wild wolf. But most regard her Neanderthal adoptive Clan as subhuman "flatheads." Clan larynxes can't quite manage language, and Ayla must convince the Zelandonii that Clan sign language isn't just arm-flapping. Zelandonii and Clan are skirmishing, and those who interbreed are deemed "abominations." What would Jondalar's tribe think if they knew Ayla had to abandon her half-breed son in Clan country? Auel's first goal is to pack the tale with period Pleistocene detail, provocative speculation, and bits of romance, sex, tribal politics, soap opera, and homicidal wooly rhino-hunting adventure. It's an enveloping fact-based fantasy, a genre-crossing time trip to the Ice Age.
The Clan of the Cave bear continues - it's great!
Barbara C. (kewl) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 469 more book reviews
Jean Auel is at her very best in this superbly rendered creation of a prehistoric society. A triumphant continuation of the Earth's Chioldren saga--a sweeping story of love and danger, complete with all the wonderful detail--based on meticulous research--that makes Auel's novels unique.
Another excellent book by Jean Auel! I love this series.
Melanie H. (Melsy626) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 74 more book reviews
5th in the acclaimed Earth's Children series
Ayla and Jondalar, along with their animal friends Wolf, Whinney, and Racer, have completed their epic journey across Europe and are greeted by Jondalar's people, the Zelandonii. These people of the Ninth Cave fascinate Ayla, and in their female spiritual leader...who initiated Jondalar into the Gift of Pleasure...she meets a fellow healer with whom to share her knowledge and skills.
But as Ayla and Jondalar prepare for their formal mating at the Summer Meeting, there are difficulties. Not all the Zelandonii are welcoming. Some fear Ayla's unfamiliar ways and her relationshiop with the Clan, openly opposing her mating with Jondalar. Now Ayla must call on her wisdom and instincts to find her way in this complicated society, to prepare fo the birth of her child, and to decide whether she will accept new challenges and play a significant role in the destiny of the Zelandonii.
Ayla and Jondalar, along with their animal friends Wolf, Whinney, and Racer, have completed their epic journey across Europe and are greeted by Jondalar's people, the Zelandonii. These people of the Ninth Cave fascinate Ayla, and in their female spiritual leader...who initiated Jondalar into the Gift of Pleasure...she meets a fellow healer with whom to share her knowledge and skills.
But as Ayla and Jondalar prepare for their formal mating at the Summer Meeting, there are difficulties. Not all the Zelandonii are welcoming. Some fear Ayla's unfamiliar ways and her relationshiop with the Clan, openly opposing her mating with Jondalar. Now Ayla must call on her wisdom and instincts to find her way in this complicated society, to prepare fo the birth of her child, and to decide whether she will accept new challenges and play a significant role in the destiny of the Zelandonii.
Durene R. (Berit913) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 373 more book reviews
Fifth in the acclaimed Earth's Children series.
Ayla and Jondalar, along with their animal friends Wolf, Whinney, and Racer, have completed their epic journey across Europe and are greeted by Jondalar's people, the Zelandonii. These people of the Ninth Cave fascinate Ayla, and in their female spiritual leader-who initiated Jondalar into the Gift of Pleasure-she meets a fellow healer with whom to share her knowledge and skills.
But as Ayla and Jondalar prepare for their formal mating at the Summer Meeting, there are difficulties. Not all the Zelandonii are welcoming. Some fear Ayla's unfamiliar ways and her relationship with the Clan, openly opposing her mating with Jondalar. Now Ayla must call on all her wisdom and instincts to find her way in this complicated society, to prepare for the birth of her child, and to decide whether she will accept new challenges and play a significant role in the destiny of the Zelandonii.
Ayla and Jondalar, along with their animal friends Wolf, Whinney, and Racer, have completed their epic journey across Europe and are greeted by Jondalar's people, the Zelandonii. These people of the Ninth Cave fascinate Ayla, and in their female spiritual leader-who initiated Jondalar into the Gift of Pleasure-she meets a fellow healer with whom to share her knowledge and skills.
But as Ayla and Jondalar prepare for their formal mating at the Summer Meeting, there are difficulties. Not all the Zelandonii are welcoming. Some fear Ayla's unfamiliar ways and her relationship with the Clan, openly opposing her mating with Jondalar. Now Ayla must call on all her wisdom and instincts to find her way in this complicated society, to prepare for the birth of her child, and to decide whether she will accept new challenges and play a significant role in the destiny of the Zelandonii.
Melody N. (twistedgrl31) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 3 more book reviews
If you've loved Ayla as much as I have, you will love this last novel in the Earth's Children series.
Joyce W. (joyceanne) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 47 more book reviews
A continuation of the Earths Children saga that began with the Clan of the Cave Bear. t's been 12 years since Jean Auel ended THE PLAINS OF PASSAGE with Ayla's meeting with the family of her true love Jondalar! The Earth's Children series might be described as historical chick books, but they, and THE SHELTERS OF STONE, are ultimately so much more than that. Auel's research of that which is known about our ancestors remains exhaustive, and it is an absolute delight to watch her weave the fruits of this research into a cohesive story about what might indeed have been. Where a lesser writer might have lost character development under the weight of facts and events, Auel's protagonists are sharp and true and, most importantly, believable. The people and events depicted in THE SHELTERS OF STONE resonate long after each passage is read.
Clan of the Cave Bear was a ground-breaking, exciting novel. The following two books I found reasonably decent follow-ups, but the series has since become more and more tedious to read. There is still one book that is supposed to come after this one to tie up all the loose ends, I only hope that it can return to at least some of the magic of the earlier ones. Auel just seems to be going through the motions at this point, and the characters have little development, and so much is constantly repeated that we already know that it just becomes frustrating to read. If you're a fan of the series, of course you'll need to pick it up and see what happens. But unlike early books in Earth's Children, this is not one I would be inclined to read over and over and enjoy multiple times.
Sherrie P. (Yoda) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 8 more book reviews
Ayla and Jondalar finally come to the land of the Zelandonii where they must be formally joined and await the birth of their child. Not all welcome Ayla and oppose the joining of her and Jondalar. There is also another path she must decide wether or not to choose. A choice that has to do with her healing abilities. How will the story end for Ayla?
Good. Nice continuation to the series. Descriptive.
Katcha S. (Katcha) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 25 more book reviews
The tale of Ayla continues, albeit more 'soap opera' than the first of this series. I will probably only the 6th (and final?) book in this series just to see where the author takes Alya. For sure she will be a part of Clan/Others encounters and perhaps better intra-relations between them. I am getting abit bored with the Alya, super woman, all the while remaining polite and reserved etc etc etc. If Alya was really using her noodle she would have gotten a pottery operation going by now. Perhaps that is the next tale and where she makes friends with Marona by turning Marona's talents into that skill? Again, very soap-ie but might as well find out how it 'ends'. (Hope its not a yawn!)
Sue J. (zebrastrypes) reviewed The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, Book 5) on + 58 more book reviews
Perfect conditon.
