Customer Reviews

Shelters of Stone (Earths Children 5)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I was so desperate to buy this book when it first appeared. I didn't like "Plains...", I found it quite repetitive and without a real catching plot so I have all my hopes put in this one.
What a disappointment!
The dialogues between Ayla and the different zelandoni are not only repetitive but are also the same dialogues we get tired of in "Plains...". Ayla and Jondalar explain over and over again about why the horses don't run away in front of people, why the wolf doesn't attack people, how did they discover the "fire stones", etc.
About the plot? Just when it starts to get interesting (the possibility for Ayla to become Zelandoni), the end! As to keep us waiting for the 6th.
It's such a shame that a saga that started so amazingly with "Clan..." has to end this way.

I have really enjoyed each of Jean Auel's books, including The Shelters of Stone. She does an incredible amount of research before writing each book, so that each one reads like an historical novel. I can hardly wait for her next book to come out.

have enjoyed all of ms auel's current books and can hardly wait for the next one. have recommended this series to many

I appreciate all the amazing research that has gone into this series of books and how they bring to light that there was more than one species of hominid living on earth in the early days. I am very pleased that these books are not only entertaining (many such discussions are so dry they are BORING) but that they bring to everyman that once Homo Sapiens Sapiens appeared on earth they are us-not just like us but US. Ayla gets to be a bit monotonous as superwoman except that Auel makes her somewhat psychic. I did get bored with the endless descriptions of sex-you do your things and we'll do ours and let's not compare notes. Sex isn't a competition however it was an integral part of the story in some places, otherwise ... I was also pleased that these books show early humans as intelligent. I just wish she'd get her next book to the publisher. Get it in gear girl!

Great book on a very interesting subject. I enjoyed the specific descriptions about the way of life
in the caveman days and the interactions between the people living in that time.

Spoiler Alert! Nothing happens...

So MUCH descriptive detail and so LITTLE story. Almost as bad as the first half of Plains of Passage.

I actually felt cheated by the utter lack of conflict in this story. There was nothing to overcome, no real plot, no mounting stress that could eventually lead to a climax and denouement...unless you count all the awkwardly descriptive sex scenes. How many times do I have to read about Jondalar's "long member" filling up Ayla's "deep well"?... Seriously.

All the potential villains that we met in the first few chapters just sort of fade into the background as the story advances with only scattered, feeble cameos made thereafter. I found myself literally getting angry by the lack of a storyline. Like your sitting there reading and thinking something HAS to happen pretty soon. I'd even find myself hoping she could show someone the damn firestones again just to be spared any more details about the surrounding flora and fauna. I get it, the giant deers had big antlers and therefore couldn't go into the forest, let's move on...I don't need to be reminded of these facts over and over again. And then just as you think something good is about to happens, there's more caveman porn, or worse, you have to read the poem of the Mother for the fifteenth time. You will become an expert at skimming if you read this book.

I could go on and on about how disappointing this book was. If it were non-fiction I'd be much more forgiving but there's no possible way that we could actually know 90% of the details Auel gives us just from the fossil record. So why do I want to spend so much time reading details about caveman culture that are more than likely just an imagined possibility? I appreciate the research, but this is supposed to be a story not a documentary.

This is supposidly the last book in this series by Mrs. Auel. I appretiated being able to purchase it at a significant savings rather than having to get it from the library and returning it. I usually have to wait until books are used to purchase nowadays. I loooove being able to get it new at a terrific price.

My dad turned me onto these books. You get so pulled into the story line. Cannot wait for the last one. Already have it on pre paid. Thanks DAD!!

Just a great book, Jeans writing is exquisite. Reading her stories is like teleporting back in time. If you haven't read the first four books in the earth's childrens series I highly recommend you do. You will fall in love with ayla and jondalar and the story of there lives. GREAT GREAT GREAT book.

This one is addicting! I hadn't read the series in years and Auel does a good enough job giving periodic flashbacks that it all came back together. Although I don't remember so many anthropolical asides in the other books it is still very good but those I feel take away from being in the moment of the story. It reminds the reader that you are in the now and the story is in the then. I can't wait to find out where Ayla ends up next!