Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M Auel: This novel of awesome beauty and power is a moving saga about people, relationships, and the boundaries of love. Through Jean M. Auel’s magnificent storytelling we are taken back to the dawn of modern humans, and with a girl named Ayla we are swept up in the harsh and beautiful Ice Age world they shared with the ones who called themselves the Clan of the Cave Bear.
A natural disaster leaves the young girl wandering alone in an unfamiliar and dangerous land until she is found by a woman of the Clan, people very different from her own kind. To them, blond, blue-eyed Ayla looks peculiar and ugly--she is one of the Others, those who have moved into their ancient homeland; but Iza cannot leave the girl to die and takes her with them. Iza and Creb, the old Mog-ur, grow to love her, and as Ayla learns the ways of the Clan and Iza’s way of healing, most come to accept her. But the brutal and proud youth who is destined to become their next leader sees her differences as a threat to his authority. He develops a deep and abiding hatred for the strange girl of the Others who lives in their midst, and is determined to get his revenge. [Credit: Amazon.com]
Review by Mary S
This book ran hot and cold for me. The author did an incredible job in her research and the level of detail she went into creating this story. Reading about Ayla's journey with the Clan was very interesting. I particularly enjoyed Ayla's efforts to acclimate to the ways of her Clan, and the differences we saw from both ends. It made me think of the nature vs nurture debate. Despite the teachings given to her and how the norms & customs were drummed into her head, she kept reverting back to her own natural instincts and thought processes. And ever one to love a strong heroine, I enjoyed the way Ayla overcame so many obstacles through most of the book.
Unfortunately, as the story progressed, the characters started to become a little one dimensional for me. Super Ayla started to lose my interest because of the way she always, always succeeded. And Barbarian Broud was far too cruel with little vulnerability to make my sympathize with his worries over his status over the Clan. Like his father often times thought throughout the book, he lacked a rationality and calmness befitting a leader. It weakened his agenda against Ayla; making him appear to be a spoiled, petulant brat than a genuine leader looking to preserve the livelihood of his own people.
However, I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. I'm not a huge history buff, but it left me wondering where the story paralleled in history and wanting to know more about the anthropology of the people described in the story.
I give the book 3.5 stars!
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