Clan of the Cave Bear, Discussion of the books past & future - Page 2

[*MamaJen*]

There was an article in the NYT today about humans mating with neanderthals:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/07/sc...anderthal.html

[AFWife]

I'm in the middle of "The Mammoth Hunters" and had a few thoughts...

Yes, Jondalar is annoying in this one. I mean, your girlfriend is gorgeous and then you get mad when guys are attracted to her? DH loves it when I get attention because it's a "yep, she's beautiful and she's MINE" sort of thing.

That being said...

Ranec is creepy to me. I mean, it's one thing to flirt (like some of the other men do) but his comments/behavior are outright sexual and not appropriate ESPECIALLY considering that she is obviously with someone. "Honor the Mother" and all...but is there no honor among the men? He gives me shivers when he talks to Ayla at her welcoming ceremony. (His comment about thinking of her when he feels the furs on his bare skin? Ick)

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Yeah Ranec has a major case of obsession not only with Ayla but with objects of art. He actually sees Ayla as an object of art I truly think his love for her isnt like you would think of love in the traditional sense but in the sense that he wants to "own" her and add her to his collection.

I can understand Jon's point of view in taking Ayla home and having all he has known and loved rejecting him again. He is the type of guy that has a hard time with not fitting in. For him it means everything to do so.

TMH is interesting in that it talks about other people besides the main characters but for me it isnt close to be a fav. of mine.

[AFWife]

Yeah, it's not one of the better books IMO.

It also upsets me that Ranec blatantly takes advantage of Ayla when she's drunk. DH is military and during all of their sexual assault briefings it's made VERY clear that a person cannot properly consent to sex after drinking. It's considered rape in most cases...so yeah.

I can see the Jon and Ayla "not sure how to approach" conundrum. Lines get crossed really easily. I do wonder why Mamut never stepped in and explained to Jon what Ayla was really thinking (or encouraged her to do the same) because he LIVED with The Clan so he kind of gets it.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I often wondered the same thing but I am thinking that Mamut felt that it was important that they learn things the way they did for it to really matter. Like in the spiritual sense.

I find it really hard to believe that Mamut no matter how old forgot the time he lived with the Clan though.

My favorite parts in TMH are:

1. When Ayla rides Baby that was kickin'
2. The mammoth hunt
3. The birth of the premi baby (I often wonder how premi she was maybe 30-32 weeks sounds about right maybe 34)
4. When Ayla finds Wolf

I cant think of any other highlights that jump out at me right now.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

I often wondered the same thing but I am thinking that Mamut felt that it was important that they learn things the way they did for it to really matter. Like in the spiritual sense.

I find it really hard to believe that Mamut no matter how old forgot the time he lived with the Clan though.

My favorite parts in TMH are:

1. When Ayla rides Baby that was kickin'
2. The mammoth hunt
3. The birth of the premi baby (I often wonder how premi she was maybe 30-32 weeks sounds about right maybe 34)
4. When Ayla finds Wolf

I cant think of any other highlights that jump out at me right now.

It says that the baby was about a moon cycle too early...that's 6 weeks right? So about 32 weeks.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Yep your right I forgot that it did say that about the timing. I havnt read the physical books in years now. I have them all on CD and listen to them nightly. I just finished TMH this past week end yet again POP is playing now.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

Yep your right I forgot that it did say that about the timing. I havnt read the physical books in years now. I have them all on CD and listen to them nightly. I just finished TMH this past week end yet again POP is playing now.

That was another one that felt dragged a bit...I find myself skipping most of the travel talk and only REALLY reading the bits where they find other people.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

For me POP is my second fav. but your right it does go into exhausting detail about the surroundings. The first time I read it I enjoyed it the second time a little less and now eh who cares about grass

POP does have more action scenes which are really nice. Especially with the flash flood and the S'Armoni (sorry about the spelling to lazy to get up right now and look in the books for the proper spelling)

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

I often wondered the same thing but I am thinking that Mamut felt that it was important that they learn things the way they did for it to really matter. Like in the spiritual sense.

I find it really hard to believe that Mamut no matter how old forgot the time he lived with the Clan though.

My favorite parts in TMH are:

1. When Ayla rides Baby that was kickin'
2. The mammoth hunt
3. The birth of the premi baby (I often wonder how premi she was maybe 30-32 weeks sounds about right maybe 34)
4. When Ayla finds Wolf

I cant think of any other highlights that jump out at me right now.

I also enjoyed the scene with the musicians at the Summer Meeting. It wasn't a huge scene, but it really stuck in my memory.

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

For me POP is my second fav. but your right it does go into exhausting detail about the surroundings. The first time I read it I enjoyed it the second time a little less and now eh who cares about grass

This. This. This.
However, I'd honestly rather read about the grass than the sex scenes. I think Auel goes overboard on those, anyway, and it's especially noticeable in PoP.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

This. This. This.
However, I'd honestly rather read about the grass than the sex scenes. I think Auel goes overboard on those, anyway, and it's especially noticeable in PoP.

I agree. It was, uh, interesting to read when I was 16...but now sex isn't taboo anymore and I'm like "Seriously? I'm reading porn..." I've skipped each one in each book. I don't see the need. It doesn't REALLY contribute to the story. "They made love" or whatever works just fine, thank you.

[Theoretica]

Ladies....

On May 27, 2010, it was announced that the sixth and final book in the series, The Land of Painted Caves, will be published March 29, 2011[11].

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Yep I have another thread talking about the new release

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by AFWife

I'm in the middle of "The Mammoth Hunters" and had a few thoughts...

Yes, Jondalar is annoying in this one. I mean, your girlfriend is gorgeous and then you get mad when guys are attracted to her? DH loves it when I get attention because it's a "yep, she's beautiful and she's MINE" sort of thing.

That being said...

Ranec is creepy to me. I mean, it's one thing to flirt (like some of the other men do) but his comments/behavior are outright sexual and not appropriate ESPECIALLY considering that she is obviously with someone. "Honor the Mother" and all...but is there no honor among the men? He gives me shivers when he talks to Ayla at her welcoming ceremony. (His comment about thinking of her when he feels the furs on his bare skin? Ick)

I meant to comment on this yesterday.

Ayla is a really, really remarkable woman. However, she has really crappy taste in men, imo. She seems to be way into the "intense" type, where "intense" translates as "obsessive, stalkerish and self-absorbed". I wouldn't take either of those guys on a silver platter...exept maybe for a brief romp in the furs...

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride

I meant to comment on this yesterday.

Ayla is a really, really remarkable woman. However, she has really crappy taste in men, imo. She seems to be way into the "intense" type, where "intense" translates as "obsessive, stalkerish and self-absorbed". I wouldn't take either of those guys on a silver platter...exept maybe for a brief romp in the furs...

IMO going with Jon was not a good move. The first guy of the Others that you've EVER met and you attach yourself totally to him? I know it's supposed to be "destiny" and whatnot...but seriously, if she were a friend of mine and he pulled that kind of behavior I'd tell her to run (not walk) and not look back.

[Red Pajama]

This series is my "dirty little secret". I've read it three(?) times, but would be mortified if anyone knew I was reading it. I enjoy the historical fiction, the physical descriptions of ancient landscapes, her descriptions of culture. I have to breeze through the "pleasures", but it's not so much the pleasures that makes this my secret read. It's more the comic book heroine quality of Ayla. I'd be just as embarrassed to be caught reading a wonder woman comic.

[Storm Bride]

No need for it to be a secret pleasure, because the only people who know that Ayla is a Superwoman character are other people who read the books.

The "pleasures" get tedious. Ayla's a little overdone, but Auel at least offsets it a little (not so much in SoS) with her diffidence and naivete. The relationship dynamics are the part that make me feel mildlly embarrassed to be reading it. "Oh, it wasn't rape on the glacier, because she wanted it, even though he didn't know she wanted it, and thought she didn't" and "I love her so much that I have to drag her across a whole continent, even though I know she's had many upheavals in her life, and risk her life, because I want to go home" and...blech.

[AFWife]

While reading POP I found myself thinking, "Hmm...isn't it convenient that nothing ever happens to AYLA where she needs a knowledgeable healer?"

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

That is a good point. Have you read SOS yet? If not avoid the spoiler

Warning :: Spoiler Ahead! Highlight to read message!

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Ayla does need help with the birth her her dd in that one and Zelandoii takes care of her not exactly a serious thing but she still needed her

---

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

That is a good point. Have you read SOS yet? If not avoid the spoiler

Warning :: Spoiler Ahead! Highlight to read message!

---

Ayla does need help with the birth her her dd in that one and Zelandoii takes care of her not exactly a serious thing but she still needed her

---

Psh, I've read it at least twice!

I remember that. With that one, again, it's a "well, it's convenient that they never needed anyone until someone was there."

I also think it reads like a TV series...Like, when DH first watched Dexter he commented, "Isn't it coincidental that these serial killers end up in a town with a serial killer that kills them? AND he works for the police?" The main characters are always where the action is at the moment.