This was truly excellent!

I had no anticipation that a book centered around cavemen clans could be so rife with drama and politics!

There were certain sections that truly tugged at my heartstrings, while others made me furious. And yet, despite the difficult situations that were sometimes hard to endure, they also made perfect sense within the context of the story.

After reaching the conclusion of this particular installment, I am absolutely determined to continue with the series. It was really that good!

It's amazing how the author was able to create such a vivid and engaging world, filled with complex characters and their intricate relationships. The details of the cavemen's lives, their struggles, and their triumphs were all brought to life in a way that made me feel as if I was right there with them.

I can't wait to see what adventures and challenges await in the next book of the series.

Pues a mí esta serie en su día me gustó bastante. Creo que la autora está bastante bien documentada en temas prehistóricos. Ella ha realizado una investigación exhaustiva para presentar una visión detallada y precisa de aquel período. Además, trata de forma creíble el tema de la posible convivencia e interacción entre Sapiens y Neandertales. Muestra cómo estos dos grupos humanos podrían haber compartido el territorio, interactuado en términos sociales y culturales, y hasta haberse cruzado genéticamente. Esta perspectiva abre nuevas puertas para entender la evolución humana y la compleja historia de nuestra especie. La serie no solo es interesante y entretenida, sino que también nos brinda una oportunidad de aprender más sobre nuestro pasado y de reflexionar sobre nuestro futuro.

I truly adored this book to such an extent that I even obtained a copy for myself. However, after perusing it for the first time, I felt a sense of deception. Given that 150 individuals had shelved this as "romance", I commenced reading it with the anticipation, you know, of a love story. I presumed that Broud would be her love interest since he was a principal character, and I surmised that he and Ayla would have an enemies-to-lovers plotline or something of the sort. He treated her extremely poorly (that's an understatement), but I overlooked it because I assumed he would have to plead for her forgiveness (hero-groveling is a particular weakness of mine). I reached the second to last page (this book contains 512 pages, so I had been waiting for a considerable amount of time), eagerly anticipating the moment when Broud realizes his love for Ayla (they do say that hate is similar to love, don't they?), and then what does he do? He attempts to kill her.

Seriously, people, I am aware that the remainder of this series centers around romance, but this book does not. Therefore, please refrain from shelving it as such! It is highly misleading.

First review of the year! This book is truly very interesting and entertaining. While I'm not entirely sure about its accuracy, I do feel like I've learned a great deal. After all, who really knows exactly what Neanderthals were like? But I'm certain that this book is well-researched and includes all the knowledge that was available in the 1980s.

The main flaw of "The Clan of the Cave Bear" is its predictability. Ayla, a modern human left orphaned by an earthquake, is on the verge of death when she is adopted by a Neanderthal clan, the Clan of the Cave Bear. She's really lucky because the woman who adopts her, Iza, is the head medicine woman of the top clan in the area. It's like being adopted by royalty, even though the clan has no actual royalty as such. The clan is VERY status oriented. Iza is the sister of the clan leader and the clan magician, and they believe Ayla is lucky from the beginning. However, just because Ayla got a good start doesn't mean she has an easy time. After all, she is considered ugly with her tall stature, blonde hair, and light eyes. Yeah, ugly is relative! Worse still, she gains an enemy in the leader's son, Broud, who is a real small-minded male. There's a feminist undercurrent to this that I really enjoyed and thought has aged well after 40 years. Ayla grows up and learns to be a medicine woman herself. She performs a ceremony at the clan gathering that happens every 7 years, which was my favorite part of the book. She even has a baby who is half modern human and half Neanderthal. Her son, Dirk, maybe the future of the human race. I have seen a Nova special proposing interbreeding as the answer to what happened to the Neanderthals. I'm still not sure about that, but the theory reflects modern sensibilities. Unfortunately, Broud becomes leader and casts Ayla out of the clan at the end, setting up the next book!

Overall, I found the writing entertaining but not overly compelling. I want to read all 6 books in the series, but I'm not in a hurry. So, I think I'll make it last and read one a year based on the season.

**"The Clan of the Cave Bear" - An Intriguing Proposal with a Fondness for Paleolithic Customs**

Genre: Novel (which cannot be called "historical" for obvious reasons).

What it tells us: At an indeterminate moment in the Upper Paleolithic, a Cro-Magnon girl is left alone in the world after a violent earthquake. A group of Neanderthals, who have also been affected by the seismic event, find the girl on the verge of death and the shaman of the clan decides to take care of the creature, whom they will eventually come to know as Ayla. First installment of the "Children of the Earth" series.

If you want to know more about this book, without spoilers, visit: http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

This story offers a fascinating glimpse into the Paleolithic era. The idea of a Cro-Magnon girl being adopted by a Neanderthal clan is both unique and captivating. It allows readers to explore the differences and similarities between these two early human groups. The setting of a post-earthquake world adds an element of danger and uncertainty, making the story even more engaging. Through Ayla's experiences, we can learn about the customs, beliefs, and survival skills of the Paleolithic people. Overall, "The Clan of the Cave Bear" is a must-read for anyone interested in ancient history or a good adventure story.

Emotional, interesting, and it left a deep impact that won't soon be forgotten.

My dear sweet mother ♡ suggested that I read this series. I'm so glad she did!

The stories in this series are filled with such vivid characters and exciting plots.

Each book takes me on a different adventure, making me feel a whole range of emotions.

I find myself completely immersed in the world that the author has created.

It's like I'm right there with the characters, experiencing everything they do.

The writing is so engaging that I can't put the books down.

I'm always eager to see what happens next.

Now that I've finished this book, I'm on to the next one.

Took me to a whole different era and I absolutely loved it.

It was like stepping into a time machine and experiencing a world that was so different from the present. The details and the atmosphere created by the author were just amazing.

Now I see why this was my Mama's favorite series. She must have had a special connection with the stories and the characters. It makes me feel closer to her as I read these books.

I wanted to read it again before she passed, and now that I'm reading them, I'm reminded of all the wonderful memories we shared.

It's a bittersweet experience, but I'm grateful to have these books to hold onto. They will always be a part of my Mama and a part of me.

I can't wait to see what else this series has in store for me.

This book holds a special place in my stack of all-time favorite stories. It is an impressive blend of fiction and anthropology, especially considering it was written in 1980, long before the convenience of the internet. The depth of research Auel conducted, relying solely on public libraries, is evident in the immersive world she created.

This novel is a survival story that follows Ayla, a young Homo sapiens girl who is orphaned and taken in by a Neanderthal clan. I first discovered this series on a shelf in my parent's library at the age of 12 and was instantly hooked. I found Ayla’s journey incredibly empowering. Despite being only 12 herself, she accomplished so much. Over the years, I’ve re-read this story several times and found more to love with each read.

Some of the language and terminology used in the book may feel dated in 2025, but there’s no denying the parental love that flows from the pages. As Creb looked at the peaceful, trusting face of the strange girl in his lap, he felt a deep love flowering in his soul for her. He couldn’t have loved her more if she were his own.

While this book isn’t remotely in the same genre as 50 Shades, it had a similar cultural moment. Every older woman I knew at the time was reading this series. Auel’s speculative take on the interaction between Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens holds up surprisingly well, even with our current understanding of their coexistence. Genetic evidence confirms that interbreeding occurred, as modern humans carry around 1 - 2% Neanderthal DNA.

However, it's important to note the trigger warnings. There is death (both human and animal) and rituals involving animal sacrifice. There is also SA/violence, child abuse, neglect, injury, and physical violence. Additionally, the Neanderthal society in this story is heavily patriarchal.

Re-read in July 2020. It is still a 5-star read. This series will never grow old.

I first read this years ago. Although there is absolutely no romance at all, not even a hero (that comes in the next book.... Jondalar, calm my beating heart!), sometimes the story is so good that romance doesn't have to be a feature, and this is one of those cases.

I adored this book, and I still do after multiple re-reads. It is a truly amazing, captivating, and fascinating series that will remain at the very top of my all-time favorites list.

Not even 10 stars is sufficient for this book. It is a literary masterpiece that transports readers to a different world, filled with adventure, mystery, and unforgettable characters. The author's writing is so vivid and detailed that you can almost feel as if you are there with the protagonist, experiencing everything she does. This series is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story, regardless of whether they are a fan of romance or not.

The thing that truly strikes me about her work is the remarkable fact that each time there is a novel discovery regarding how paleolithic people lived, it aligns perfectly with her stories.

Back when she wrote it, certain things she said were regarded as rather silly. For instance, the idea of Neanderthals possessing instruments and living together with homo sapiens sapiens. However, time and again, these very concepts have been proven to be true.

She presents captivating ideas about cognition, culture, and the development of societies. In my opinion, the first two books are her absolute best.

Even the remaining ones remain interesting, provided you can tolerate the constant repetition, the soft core porn, and the fact that Ayla seems to discover everything except cold fusion.

"Clan of the Cave Bear" is an incredibly courageous story. The author dedicated a significant amount of time to researching by spending time with some of the world's most renowned paleontologists. It is evident that she truly knows her subject matter inside out!

This was my second read-through of the book. The first time I read it was almost 30 years ago.

I could still recall most of the story, but I had overlooked the subtlety within it and how vivid and three-dimensional all of the characters were.

Previously, I had only managed to reach book 4 in the series. So this time around, I am really looking forward to completing the entire series.

I am eager to explore the remaining books and discover the hidden details and developments that I might have missed before.

It will be an exciting journey to immerse myself in this fictional world once again and see how the story unfolds from start to finish.

I anticipate that this new reading experience will bring me a deeper understanding and appreciation of the author's craftsmanship and the overall beauty of the series.

I read this and the next two installments in the series during my high school days in the 1980s. It was an absolute indulgence that I didn't feel the least bit guilty about. I was completely captivated by the world that Auel had masterfully crafted. The scene at the end had a profound impact on me. A frustrated Ayla, using the sign language of the Clan, tried to communicate with those who were oblivious to their intelligence and the beauty of their language. They didn't even realize that the Clan had a language at all. That powerful scene and the emotions it evoked have remained with me for 36 years. It's a testament to the lasting power of Auel's storytelling. Even after all this time, I can still vividly recall the details of that moment and the sense of connection it gave me to the characters and their world.