Book Review: Mammoth Hunters

This book is book 3 of a series that I think is called Clan of the Cave Bears. It doesn't say so on the book.

I've been reading this rather slowly. Since this is a book of fiction, that means that I'm not that into it. But I'm not totally bored either. I just noticed that someone had listed the series as among their favorite books in their profile. My sist-IL always said how much she enjoyed it and that I need to read it. They were among the books my parents left. I know I picked up the first book in the series several times and just couldn't get interested.

This book, starts with Ayla and Jondalar traveling and meeting up with a group of people who they end up staying with, the Mamutoi. The place this band is staying in is a sort of man-made cave, built with dirt and Mammoth bones. Ayla has rescued Jondalar from death after the attack of mountain lion and nursed him back to health (in the 2nd book of the series). They are lovers.

I've basically been skimming past the love scenes. I don't need the aggravation! But I do find the relationship she has with Jondalar somewhat interesting. They have a hard time understanding each other. And since I'm still midway in the book I don't know how it all works out yet. That is is the main tension of this book. Ayla was left an orphan by an earthquake as a child, taken in by a group of people of an earlier sort (the Clan), and then ostracized... somehow she has learned how to take care of herself and live alone. Now she is surprised that the new group of people actually accept her. But Jondalar wants to leave and return to his own people, a year's journey away.

The way she has with animals, her strength and courage in living alone. Perhaps these are the qualities that make her story most interesting.

There are some spiritual dimensions that remind me of perhaps American Indians or other tribal peoples. There is a sort of medicine man, an old man, who communicates with the spirit world, and Ayla is said to have the same abilities, and he wants to teach her. She is knowledgeable about herbs and healing, a talent that often seems to be linked with religious practices.