Jean M. Auel Message Board
Sam posts on 6/6/2011 4:09:13 PM
After waiting for so long for this final book "The Land of Painted Caves" to come out, I could scarcely make my way through it. Full of repetition and a really poor story line. I have read all the previous books over and over, and am just so disappointed with this ending that I could cry. There was so much that could have happened in the story of Ayla and Jondalar, but what a bad ending to a wonderful story. So sad.
Tui posts on 6/5/2011 8:17:05 AM
I have just completed reading the Painted Caves and I am sorely disappointed over the quality of the story. I can handle Jonde having an affair and Ayla's reaction to it. I can even tolerate barely the, boredom of reading about the caves and the persistent habit the author has of recounting over and over parts the story that has been written in the previous books. It was the inconsitencies in the story that irked me. I was beginning to wonder if Ms Auel had actually written this book herself! I was hugely disappointed
Blueberry posts on 6/4/2011 9:04:45 AM
There is a recently(?)-created Ice Age Institute near where I live. An acquaintance of mine attended a session there. Jean Auel's name was mentioned and that she has been in ill health. THAT may explain why Book Six is such a bust.
Mark posts on 6/3/2011 10:06:45 PM
Painted Caves was a major disappointment. My favorite part was where Ayla mentions getting bored of looking at caves. Man I was sure tired of reading about them. I am betting that Jean Auel was tired of writing about them. So sad for the story to end this way.
Donna posts on 6/1/2011 11:17:44 PM
I agree so much with you Amber. I was so caught up in the series that I read them all again to prepare for book six and could'nt wait to read it. I was so angry at the direction JA went with Ayla and Jondalar that I also wished I would'nt have read it. Why could'nt she have allowed Jondalar and Jonayla to stay with Ayla in the cave while she was studying the stars? That would have kept the family together and the affair would never have happened! Also, I was expecting Ayla to teach Jonayla all she knew to prepare her for the world at that time, instead she was made out to be a bad mother! I am soooo disappointed.
Amber posts on 5/31/2011 9:54:31 PM
I just finished Land of Painted Caves. I am so dissappointed I could just cry! Based on the rest of the series, the things that happen in this book could never happen. First, Jondalar would never be able to hide an affair from the Ayla that we know. Second, his love for Ayla in the other books is so strong that he would never have an affair in the first place. And the Ayla that we know would never allow someone like Laramar to touch her, and she would never do anything so petty as to share pleasures just to make Jondalar jealous. I had to force myself to finish this book because it was so off the wall from where we left off with Shelters of Stone. This one completely ruined my feelings for my favorite couple and I wish I could go back and not read it.
Karen posts on 5/30/2011 10:43:22 PM
I have just finished reading 'the land of painted caves' and until I found this site I too didn't know there was any controversy surrounding the author but having been a fan of these books for such a long time and have re read them many times I truly believe that Jean did not write this last book. I was soooo disappointed in it. One thing that leapt out at me was the way in which so many things kept getting repeated. Also the sentence structure and the general lack of enthusiasm that comes through her other books. Very sad and very disappointed
Blueberry posts on 5/30/2011 9:45:44 AM
C A F, please look up Marija Gimbutas! She is the one, I think, who developed the theory that there were matriarchal societies in the pre-history of our species based on the little stone and ivory carved figurines of mature, fertile women found in almost all the Eurasian archeological sites of that time. I'm sure Jean Auel knows of her work and based the society of Shelters, of the Zelandonii, on her ideas.
quinny posts on 5/29/2011 10:04:36 PM
why did i get an automatic email saying that the moderator posted on this site? Since this site found it necessary to notify me that the moderator posted, I feel it necessary to comment that a moderator should proof read his or her message before posting.
Tammy posts on 5/29/2011 7:02:34 PM
C A F - I am not sure where JMA got her research but there is a long history of Matriarchial Societies among the Native American population. Many East Coast Native Cultures are - I am Penobscot and Eastern Cherokee, so I speak from experience.
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