Clan of the Cave Bear - Book Review

I have been wanting to read this book. And don't hate me for this, but I struggled with this book. How did you enjoy it?

Where else to find me?

Outro song by Future James:

Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
0:48 Plot
1:36 Likes
3:43 Dislikes
6:55 Spoilers
10:07 Conclusion

[labben]

I love this review, because you so clearly describe why you didn't like the book, which makes it easy for other readers to judge for themselves whether it's for them or not. I've read it and liked it, though it's been a long time and I haven't yet continued the series. I love novels that gives me a vivid setting, that takes me far into the mind of the characters, and especially novels that set out to explore an area, a culture, a people, something I don't know much about. Drama and action can sometimes get in the way of that kind of exploration. This made me remember this novel and want to continue on with the series. As far as I remember, the writing wasn't bad, but not anything special, but I think it was the characters and exploration of a world so far removed from mine, that I liked. I often like quiet books where not that much happens 😅

[katywuste]

I think you missed the whole point of this book. It’s about conflict between the old and the new. Ayla was a new breed of human adopted by an older version who were at the verge of extinction as their frontal brains hadn’t developed and therefore they weren’t equipped to take on new ideas and they relied on memories so became stagnant. Ayla desperately tried to conform to their ways but her brain and personality didn’t allow her to adapt.
The bits that annoyed me were the fact that early on it states Creb was mauled by a bear that took his arm and eye and then later it says he was born deformed!!! Also Ayla was used for the men to relieve themselves on the mammoth hunt before she reached puberty so wasn’t a virgin when Broud raped her yet she was portrayed as being a virgin. These points aside I thought the first 2 books were well written and described herbal remedies and daily living really well. I agree with you on the subject of Broud who was a man child and was aware that mentally and emotionally Ayla was streets ahead of him and he hated her because he knew deep down that she was the future of mankind and his kind would die out. He also hated the fact that he couldn’t dominate her

[debbiemcghee]

I was listening to your review on this book. I love this book and most of the series. I think that there was a resolution. Ayla is given the death curse but she doesn't let Broud defeat her spirit.

[johnvelas]

how is Ayla defeating Broud and going off on her own not a victory

[lathankilbrand]

Imagine if you suddenly lost everything/one and were transplanted to a different culture. The book plays on this theme throughout and I found I enjoyed the struggles of Ayla adapting to the clan and the clan adapting to her, to an extent anyway. My biggest criticism was the handling of Broud as he is over the top in his hatred of Ayla and considering the temper he showed multiple times in her regard, I find it a hard sell that he'd be able to control it for the amount of time it took to become leader. Broud's attitude seemed in conflict with the general attitude of the clan and I doubt that Brun would have made him leader, though he was his son. Brun was thoughtful and questioned turning over leadership to Broud more than once. The interactions between Creb and Ayla were heartwarming and when they struggled, the reader wants a resolution which means the reader has bought in. The ending seemed appropriate in my eyes and the author prepares you for it beforehand... Ayla's musings about leaving, her considerations of Durc. All in all, I'd rate the book a 3 as well, but a more positive 3 perhaps lol. While the narrations of the landscape and herbs were good, they were lengthy at times. I'd also agree, the book has several peaks and valleys, but that probably resembles real life for the majority of us. Oh and if this were a stand alone book, I'm fairly certain the ending would be different, but when you view in terms of a series, Ayla encumbered with a son would have been challenging.

[taraodonovan]

The Earth's Children series is one of my go-to comfort book series for exactly the reasons you dislike the Cave Bear!
I find books with a single crescendo/decrescendo too predictable so I like the more staccato rhythm of the Clan of the Cabe Bear and the rest of the series.
It's not a perfect series and the rest of the series is guilty of some serious repetition (Ayla's "accent", anyone?) but overall, it's a series I love.

I fully agree with you about how despicable Broud is.

Pronunciations as per series narrator, Rowena Cooper:
Ayla = aye-la
Broud = brow-d
Mogur = mog-oor
Iza = eets-za
Durc = doo-urk

There is another narrator but I prefer Cooper's narration. When I read the physical books now, I have her pronunciations in my head.

[Yesica]

These are the kinds of reviews that are helpful, where the person tells you WHY they liked or didn't like a book, instead of just saying, "I loved it / I hated it", and there's no explanation of why. I've seen this book my whole life in stores/libraries, but have never read it. I think I would have the same frustrations as you did with it.

[Somewhere-In-AZ]

I was 12 when I read it, stole my mom’s book. So I wasn’t mature enough to understand all of it. But I still remember the basics. That to grow beyond limitations, you sometimes need to leave. Being smart is what sets you apart.

[wardzilla]

The sequels have a tendency to over explain how people back then live and have too many flashbacks. At first, with book 2, it isn't that bad, but it gets worse with each sequel, to the point where book 6 isn't worth reading

[katrinabrown]

I usually dnf books if it takes me a long time to finish them 😂 great review! (I've never heard of this series 🤣) I hope no one hates you for it!

[theresahejnal]

I loved this series but totally understand your dislikes.. for me Jean Auel goes on and on with details of landscapes that are just super boring. I skim those parts lol 🤫😆😆
I do think it was an appropriate ending even though it was heart wrenching. She won when Broud acknowledged her and he will always know it. She couldn’t take her son with her because one mistake could have left him alone in the wilderness. Her journey of self survival and rediscovery of her culture was very interesting for me. I hope you enjoy your next book more, happy reading 🙂

[linahill]

OMG, I absolutely loved this book, adored it, have read it so many times! I will say, it is the best in the series, the other 3 are rather weak in comparison. I have also watched the movie 4-5 times. And I named my most beloved beautiful and brave female cocker spaniel (may she rest in peace) Ayla. The name, I believe, is pronounced with a long A - as evidenced by the movie. Thank you for the review, it has reminded me of the story and now I'm going to look for my books and read them again.

[scarlettterry]

There's 6 books
I wonder how far into the second book you made
The way the author writes that one is the chapters go back and forth between Ayla and Jondalar I don't want to give too much away but it's sort of becomes a romance novel
It's the main plot of the second half of the second book and the third book then it becomes secondary in the others

I do like the books I don't like everything about all the books and I found myself frustrated with the lack of communication at times but I really enjoyed the world building that went into it and all the "firsts" that were accredited to Ayla

I understand what you mean by the lack of resolution but I feel like the series as a whole is just really meant as a "slice of life" story if you don't always have that feeling of resolution in life

And I really didn't like when Ayla had to Durc either but I did agree with her if she took him with her and something bad happened he'd be by himself
Besides with him saying I think he would be able to become the "vice leader" one day because he is like best friends with Broud's son and his son will be leader one day and they always choose their best friends as "vice leader"(idk)
And it's stated in the book if the leader is a crappy they'll stop following him I think the clan would eventually get tired of Broud's crap and go back to following Burn and his "vice leader" until the grandson is old enough to do it

[bslatimer]

I loved this book. The follow up Valley of the Horses was also really good but I remember the subsequent novels devolving into romance novels. That was uncomfortable to me as a teenager. I understand that romance/sex is part of life but it was a bit heavy handed in this series.

The ending to CoCB is a little frustrating but a lot is resolved in VotH and even further as you read on. I found Ayla’s constant self-improvement and her ability to endure such harsh life and remain resolute, inspirational. What loss and defeat she constantly endures yet continues on and becomes even stronger. I love Ayla and I love the way Jean Auel creates her characters and the humanity she brings to the Neanderthal people in this book. Despite their vast differences from Homo sapiens, she makes them human. She makes you care about them.

[AJ_Dunn]

Huh. I've been really curious about this book. I've heard it's good. I remember the film when I was little.

[NoreenHuber-ezle]

I love these books!! I've read them so many times. I love that although it's mostly fantasy it's very real it doesn't have a stupid Hollywood storyline its very much like i picture real life would be which is what i love about the book.

[justsomeguy]

Hard to expect a resolution in the first book of a series. However I think I was a botanist after reading them all.

[MrRandomYouTuber]

I’ve heard of this movie and the book as well, I’ve seen the trailers for the film and it goes look fascinating

[jacquesgertzen]

Loved all the books in the series and hated the movie cause it did not do the books justice in my opinion. It is definitely not for everyone. i enjoyed the research that went into how things were done, being a survival expert myself I could appreciate the challenge that pre-history peoples faced everyday to survive. I must confess that at some stage the story plot was a bit strange for me but still i could enjoy the story. great review, everyone should comment truthfully their experience, and you did, well done. Thanx

[michaelalfonso]

Book is fantastic so far don’t know what she’s getting at but I can understand