The Land of Painted Caves (Earth's Children, Bk 6)
Author:
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Hardcover
Helpful Score: 1
First of all, I must say that this book is very different from the rest of the series. The first five books chronicle Ayla (and eventually Jondalar's) journey from the Clan of the Cave Bear to the Zelandonii. The story revolves around Ayla and Jondalar's trials and tribulations on this journey across the entire continent. The Shelter of Stones (book 5) ends with them finally arriving where Jondalar's people reside. They had some spectacular adventures along the way involving many different tribes, cultures, animals, etc. where they were almost always welcomed and eventually asked to remain. This shows that they are a very likable couple with many talents to share.
Unfortunately, we go from this wonderfully detailed experience to the rather boring live at the cove of the Zelanonii. Ayla has always been interested in healing and spirituality so her being an acolyte to the Zelandoni (the great spiritual leader) is no surprise. However, her training is beyond boring. She is required to visit all the sacred (painted) caves in the Zelandonii territory. This requires lengthy travel between caves across the lands. The meeting of other tribes and their Zelandonii requires a repetition of Ayla's history and various stories as well as formal introductions. This is the most boring aspect of the book except for the actual visiting of caves which after the first or second was unbearable. You can only ooh and aah over a painting of a cave bear or mammoth so many times before you want to scream.
It wasn't until Part 3 of the story (I listened to the audiobook so I'm not positive pagewise but I think around 450 of 757), when the traveling was done and they finally returned to the shelter of stones that the book focused singularly on Ayla and Jondalar. The last third of the book saved the rating from being a 2 (or less). I know that if I had been actually reading this book, I most certainly would have given up on it within the first 50 pages or so but as this is the conclusion to the Earth's Children series, I needed to know the ending to Ayla and Jondalar's story.
Unfortunately, we go from this wonderfully detailed experience to the rather boring live at the cove of the Zelanonii. Ayla has always been interested in healing and spirituality so her being an acolyte to the Zelandoni (the great spiritual leader) is no surprise. However, her training is beyond boring. She is required to visit all the sacred (painted) caves in the Zelandonii territory. This requires lengthy travel between caves across the lands. The meeting of other tribes and their Zelandonii requires a repetition of Ayla's history and various stories as well as formal introductions. This is the most boring aspect of the book except for the actual visiting of caves which after the first or second was unbearable. You can only ooh and aah over a painting of a cave bear or mammoth so many times before you want to scream.
It wasn't until Part 3 of the story (I listened to the audiobook so I'm not positive pagewise but I think around 450 of 757), when the traveling was done and they finally returned to the shelter of stones that the book focused singularly on Ayla and Jondalar. The last third of the book saved the rating from being a 2 (or less). I know that if I had been actually reading this book, I most certainly would have given up on it within the first 50 pages or so but as this is the conclusion to the Earth's Children series, I needed to know the ending to Ayla and Jondalar's story.
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