The Plains of Passage (Earth's Children, Book Four) by Jean M. Auel
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Book Reviews of The Plains of Passage (Earth's Children, Book Four)
Book Review: The Plains of Passage
Summary: 4 Stars
The Plains of Passage is the fourth book in Auel's wonderful Earth's Children series. Unlike the others, I don't recommend that this one be read as a stand-alone. There is just too much background information and the series should be read in order. For those unfamiliar with the series (and this could be a possible spoiler) it revolves around Ayla, a little girl who was orphaned and raised by a clan of Neanderthals who took her in, taught her their ways and their sign language. When she is forced to leave the Clan and her son behind, she makes her way to a remote valley where she makes unlikely friends in the animals there and eventually, a tall handsome man who is on a journey from the West, Jondalar, discovers her there. They fall in love and make a small trip where they meet the Mamutoi people and they gain not only friends, but family as well in the meeting. However, Jondalar is anxious to return home and he and Ayla start back on a journey to the lands of the Zelandonii far to the west.
This book is about that journey. It starts shortly after they leave the summer gathering of the Mamutoi and start heading west to get back to the Great Mother River who they will follow all the way to the end in the West. Along the way they encounter several different types of people, some good and some bad, and learn their ways and make new friends. With them are Ayla's two horses and the wolf cub she has raised from a pup which causes both fear and admiration from the people along the way. Not all are so impressed however and it is up to Ayla to rescue Jondalar when he is captured and their future seems uncertain as to whether they will make it back to Jondalar's home.
The characters in this book are more rushed than they have been in the previous books. Ayla and Jondalar are a little too perfect and it makes them unbelievable and doesn't promote connectedness in their characters. The other people in the book are only mentioned briefly as they are on a journey that takes them away from everyone quickly and therefore don't have the richness that is seen in the Mamutoi tribe or Ayla's clan in the previous books.
The writing is very descriptive and while that's normally a plus in Auel's book, here it makes the reading very tedious. Since they are on a journey they pass through many lands and vegetation and Auel takes the time to describe ALL of it. But, on a better note, she actually has other people invent things instead of Ayla and Jondalar for once and this makes the book a little more believable than some instances in the previous three. Readers should be warned that there are several explicit sex scenes in this book (and the others) and Auel leaves nothing to the imagination in them. Some people may like this, others may not.
While its not my favorite book in the series and arguably not as good as the first three, I still enjoyed this continuation of Ayla and Jondalar's story. I would rate it about 3 1/2 stars as its not bad, but definitely not up to par with Auel's normal work.
Book 1: The Clan of the Cave Bear
Book 2: The Valley of Horses
Book 3: The Mammoth Hunters
The Plains of Passage
Copyright 1990
757 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2011
Book Review: The Plains of Passage
Summary: 4 Stars
The Plains of Passage is the fourth novel in the Earth's Children series and continues the story of Ayla and Jondalar.
They are leaving the Mamutoi whom they have spent the winter with, and along with their horses and wolf, they are starting the long journey back to the Zelandonii...and the journey is long...about 850 pages long.
They cross many, many rivers, think of many, many ways to carry items on horseback, and have lots and lots of repetitive sex.
I enjoyed the description of the animals, scenery, and plants throughout the book but found it just too drawn out and repetitive. Each group they meet has the same reaction to the horses, wolf, thread puller, spear thrower, etc. and some of this could definitely have been shortened. I also didn't much care if they made it across the rivers after the third or fourth one.
Despite these things, this is still a wonderful novel and series. These were among the first adult novels I ever read and now am enjoying them again 15 years later. Jean Auel takes us back to a world that most of us don't think about very often and the challenges people would have faced in those early years.
I have never read the Shelters of Stone and am looking forward to reading it next.
Book Review: Mostly okay
Summary: 4 Stars
I enjoyed this book for the most part. Until Jondalar got captured by the "Wolf Women". Then I was embarrassed for the author. I thought that part was lifted from a really bad B-movie from the 1950's. But I would still recommend this book.Book Review: Delivered what was expected!!
Summary: 4 Stars
The product(book) was exactly what I expected ! In good shape and was as described by the sender on the product page!!!Book Review: 3.5 Stars . . . Of Fire, Hunting, and Healing
Summary: 3 Stars
I still remember discovered "The Clan of the Cave Bear" while in high school. It was so fresh, so different, and I savored every page. Ayla remains one of my all-time favorite fictional characters because of her humility, curiosity, and perseverance. With the announcement of the series' conclusion this year, in book six, "The Land of Painted Caves," I decided it was time to get caught up.
"The Plains of Passage" picks up where "The Mammoth Hunters" left off. Ayla and Jondalar have parted with their friends and loved ones at the base of the towering glacier walls, and now they are headed west toward Jondalar's original tribal people in the region of modern-day France. They are accompanied by Ayla's horses and Wolf as they trek upstream, following the Donau River through Romania, Hungary, Austria, and so on. I've traveled in Europe and eastern Europe, and found this not only intriguing but impressive in detail and research. Yes, some readers may get bored with it, but Auel's commitment to getting these things right only adds to the richness and believability of this monumental series. The mammoth-mating scenes were strange--but also strangely beautiful and evocative. I felt like a time-traveler, transported to scenarios one could never imagine encountering in the past few millennia.
During their trip, Ayla continues to grow in her knowledge and confidence, particularly with medical skills, and Jondalar begins to let go of his prejudices and accept Ayla with all her uniqueness. They meet new and old friends. They encounter enemies, deal with male/female conflicts on a large scale, enjoy hot springs, and, of course, each other. (Auel's attention to her lovemaking scenes makes these books unsuitable for certain age groups.) In the course of their journeys, this intrepid and enterprising pair continue spreading the knowledge of fire, hunting, healing, of herbs and of sewing. Truly, we get a feel for the progression of humanity through the arc of the Earth's Children stories.
I have one more book to go to be ready for the finale, and though I've heard so-so responses to that fifth book, it's a necessary step in this overall passage. For those willing to savor the plants, foods, and scenery, Auel has created one of the most memorable series of our age.