
I felt like I'd been shown a new world. Or hundreds of new worlds. The librarian was rushed off her feet and couldn't stay to give me a recommendation, so I did the most logical thing that I could think of and I started with the first shelf and moved my way around. One of the first books I picked up that sounded interesting was The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel. I really loved the idea of a little girl wandering around and being adopted by Neanderthals. In fact, I just loved the idea of reading a book about Neanderthals! I'd never heard of anything like it and I was so curious about it right from the start.
I saw that there were sequels to The Clan of the Cave Bear, and I picked them up as well. They were all quite chunky books and I did love the idea of being swept away into a really epic and long series of books. Reading was all I did back then and I was never put off by such massive books.
I found a quiet corner and I started to read. And right away I fell in love with the Earth's Children series. The books are so full of detail - the flora and fauna, the ways of life, medicine and healing, hunting. I was completely captivated by Ayla's voice and the Clan! I remember devouring the first book within a day or so and tackling the rest in the series soon after. For a very long time, I so wanted to be Ayla. I thought she was brave and intelligent and creative. She went through so much and still had such life about her.

It wasn't until the news of the final book in the Earth's Children series was announced that I actually remembered my massive-girl crush on Ayla! I'm very, very excited to read of what happens to Ayla in this last book, The Land of Painted Caves. The book is published today and I'm waiting with bated breath to get my hands on a copy!
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To celebrate the publication of the long-awaited finale to the Earth's Children series by Jean Auel, Land of Painted Caves published 29 March, I have a whopping 10 copies of The Clan of the Cave Bear to giveaway to you now. 10 copies! I really hope that other people come to love this series as much as I did! :)
It's being sent by Holler, so I'm going to ask that this by UK only. Sorry to my international readers.
You don't have to be a follower to enter though that would always be appreciated! Just fill in the form below. Remember, only people with UK postal addresses please.

Although Jean Auel obviously takes certain liberties with the actions and motivations of all our ancestors, her extensive research into the Ice Age does shine through--especially in the detailed knowledge of plants and natural remedies used by the medicine woman and passed down to Ayla. Mostly, though, this first in the series of five is a wonderful story of survival. Ayla's personal evolution is a compelling and relevant tale.
The last time I visited my dad before he passed, he bought me a copy of The Clan of the Cave Bear and told me to read it and he would send me the next books once I was done with it. I struggled through it, but did enjoy reading Ayla's story.. I have yet to read the others in the series..
ReplyDeleteI recognise the authors name from when I've been browsing in various bookshops but never picked up any of her books. It does sound very interesting and full of adventure. I'll have to look into the series :)
ReplyDeleteShe sounds tough. I couldn't imagine growing up in the neanderthal period. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI won't enter as I already have it. I still need to read it though. Keep hearing such good things about this series!
ReplyDeleteI looooove Ayla. I the vally of horses when i was about 11 or 12 and i loved it. i was waiting impatiently for this book and now i have it and can't read it cause i have so much to do and i really really wanna read it right now. off i go
ReplyDeleteBecca - Really, I've heard other people say they've struggled with the story but I was captivated from the very first page! I think the first book is my favourite because of the time Ayla spends with the Clan, but I found the rest of the series to be fascinating as well, if perhaps a little too sexual in places!
ReplyDeleteTLO - I hope you do :) They are favourites in my house!
Kulsuma - Oh, it wasn't quite a review, just a few thoughts on reading the first book, but I do love it and the entire series quite a lot :)
Viv - It's quite a chunky book, I don't think that I could read such massive books as easily these days, but as a teenager I really thought nothing of it!
Sasa - Aww. I hope you find some time soon :)