The Clan of the Cave Bears - Jean M. Auel

[goodreads]

Title: The Clan of the Cave Bears Author: Jean M. Auel Genre: Historical fiction Rating: 9/10, Audiobook ~22hrs # pages: 542 Date read: April 2008, July 222

When her parents are killed by an earthquake, 5-year-old Ayla wanders through the forest completely alone. Cold, hungry, and badly injured by a cave lion, the little girl is as good as gone until she is discovered by a group who call themselves the Clan of the Cave Bear. This clan, left homeless by the same disaster, have little interest in the helpless girl who comes from the tribe they refer to as the "Others." Only their medicine woman sees in Ayla a fellow human, worthy of care. She painstakingly nurses her back to health--a decision that will forever alter the physical and emotional structure of the clan. Although this story takes place roughly 35,000 years ago, its cast of characters could easily slide into any modern tale. The members of the Neanderthal clan, ruled by traditions and taboos, find themselves challenged by this outsider, who represents the physically modern Cro-Magnons. And as Ayla begins to grow and mature, her natural tendencies emerge, putting her in the middle of a brutal and dangerous power struggle.


As far as I remember, "The Clan of the Cave Bears" was the first long 'grown-up' book I read (I was 14 or 15), and for that reason alone it'll always have a special meaning to me. Even though I have now read enough to see its flaws, I still think it's an excellent book and the descriptions of the clan's every day life are fascinating... even if I do want to take Broud and hit him very hard with something. The ending still bothers me, but more because of the unfairness of it than anything else. And at least this time I know what happens next.

Reread 2022: Just as good as always, and I listened to it at every opportunity I got. Still wish Brun had seen through Broud earlier :-/