I do not feel too bad about the length of time it took me to get back you after reading this book. I waited a long time for it to be published so I could read it. Jean Auel's latest book in the Earth's Children series, THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES , (Crown, 978-0-517-58051-6) finally came out.
Many years ago, I met her when she spoke at a Public Library Association Meeting in Portland. Oregon. She was a fantastic speaker and hearing her talk about her meticulous and thorough research she did for her books was worth the price of admission. This book was the one she was talking about researching at that time. I know it was more than a decade ago, because I retired 7 years ago. Her readers are patient as well as loyal. This book, all 757 pages of it, was worth the wait. Although, at times, I would have been content to have seen it published as two book. simply because of the heft.
This book continues the story Ayla, whose life has been central to all of the stories. In this tale she and her mate Jondalar have a young baby, Jonayla. The band of people are on their way to the summer meeting. This begins this saga that will cover several years in the lives of Ayla, her family, her group and various other
Caves throughout the area. throughout the book the persona of Ayla grows into the woman that has been foreshadowed throughout the series. No matter where she lives, Ayla stands out as unique.
even when young she had an affinity for animals. She has always had a oneness with nature and she is extremely intelligent and quick witted. Although her early life was spent among those who used gestures and signs more than language, she was able to learn language easily with her next family.
she has also been able to teach others the ability to sign. She met Jondalar when he was out on a kind of rite of passage or quest and it is to her credit that she was able to leave that family with
Jondalar and cause no ill will. Ayla has risen in rank with her new clan as well. She has become well known as a healer and is serving the Earth Mother as a Zelandoni and as the assistant, if you will, to the highest ranking Zelandoni, the One Who Was First. Because of her position she has to do a fair amount of traveling among the various caves and this provides the reader with the opportunity to see, in the mind's eye, the cave writing and art that has been found and preserved as it may have looked when fresh. It also provides a vehicle to learn the dynamics that existed among the clans themselves as well as between neighboring clans. The politics if survival has important then as well. Exploring the religion of the time provides insights into origins of many beliefs. Some tenets may still exist in a different guise.
The dynamics of living was as fraught with squabbles and jealousies as well then. Promiscuity and drunkenness and child neglect occurred as did crime as well as punishment.
Ayla was the victim of jealousy and hate because she was different in her speech since she was a foreigner by previous clan affiliation, She also appeared to have strange powers because she rode horses and tamed a wolf for a pet and companion. She was also favored by the Zelandoni.
This book is about the journey to and from the caves, discovering their meanings, the maturing of Ayla from a new mother and acolyte of the Mother into to the leading Zelandoni and the mother of a precocious young daughter. It is about the way the lives of the people are affected by their surrounding as well as other forces of change. It shows how they learn new things and new ways to adapt as they meet different events and peoples.We learn as Ayla learns the ways of the Zelandoni. Ayla changes from an adventurous and sometimes impetuous warrior hunter woman into a more introspective, mature healer, mediator, teacher, and adult.
And along the way we are treated to a glorious historical read, a love story, an adventure tale, and a travelogue that includes many fantastic caves and sites
When the book ends, Ayla is well on her way to being the One Who Was First. She has gone through tests, quests, and trials and has emerged ready to tackle her new life - and that may be literally as well as figuratively. Jondalar has also matured after a bit of losing his way and is well on his way to understanding the new order of things, And Jonayla? She will be one to watch.
The way the book ends? I don't think it actually does. Ayla is on the brink of a new chapter of her life. I hope that chapter makes in onto another book b Jean Auel. (Only do not make me wait too long this time. I am not as young as Ayla.)
As alway, the book is highly readable as well as chock full of well used research. I do not know what our ancestors were really like, but Jean Auel has certainly made me more aware of the possibilities that existed for them. I would suggest, that if you have never read the previous books in the series, you read them now. and if you had already read them? You might wis hto reread them and get a whole new perspect ive on once upon a time. I know books such as these send me on quests for other books to read about these places and these times.
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