1 of 13

Write now Article Tools

This book, The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel is an adventure back into prehistoric time. Reading this story, I found myself traveling in time back some 35,000 years.

The main character Ayla is introduced as a five year old girl who experiences a devastating separation from her family caused by a cataclysmic earthquake. Lost and alone, she experiences fear, hunger, thirst, heat, cold, darkness, and pain. She survives a brutal attack from a cave lion that nearly ends her life.

Her naked, filthy, wounded, starving and exhausted body is discovered by a group of less evolved humans who end up adopting her. These cave dwellers who call themselves the Clan of the Cave Bear wrestle with their Animal Totem Spirits and each other over this strange new addition to their Clan.

She is befriended by Iza, the medicine woman who saved her life and nursed her back to health. Iza becomes an adoptive mother to the orphaned girl. She dwells at the fire of Creb, the Great Mog-ur magician whom she loves and respects and would do anything to please.

Living in this ancient Eden with these people so different from her, Ayla puts her best effort into learning the language and gestures and adapt to the ways and traditions that will help her fit in and belong. She was part of natures new experiment. The infusing of her kind with the ones who were not like her.

Ayla struggles with her own internal battle of adapting to the instinctive traditions of these people. People who can be compared to animals that are able to survive because they have inherited traits or memories. Like a bird who knows to fly south for the winter.

But Ayla is from the "Others". She is not like the people of the Clan. She looks different and she has many different character attributes that set her apart. These differences cause doubt and fear among the people of the Clan.

Ayla commits a forbidden taboo when she cannot avoid the temptation to pick up a weapon and flagrantly violate one of the most sacred laws of the Clan. Women are strictly prohibited from even touching weapons. With her skill and prowess using a sling, Ayla is the woman who hunts.

But is Ayla good luck or bad luck? Many good things have happened since she joined them.It was she that led the Clan to find their new home, the dwelling place of Ursus, the Great Cave Bear. The most revered Totem of all the Spirits.

The clan is torn over what to think of this strange girl who has brought so much change to a group that is steeped in tradition. Ayla is torn over whether to believe that life is guided by the will of Totem Spirits, or whether destiny is controlled more by what we do.

Ayla had a special kind of intestinal fortitude that gave her the strength to overcome her internal struggles as well as the physical demands of day to day life. It's the special voice inside yourself that tells you that you know you can do it.

Beyond that, Ayla had human needs. Loneliness was one of her biggest challenges. Though she was surrounded by people, they were not like her.

Her battles with her nemesis Broud were a gut wrenching part of the book to endure. I could feel her pain. I wanted to help. Yet amid all the terrible pain he inflicted upon her, she never lost her zest for life. The girl was filled with compassion. That is what I loved most about Ayla. Most anyone would give up and be so badly jaded toward the world, but Ayla still could love, she still could trust.

A beautiful story, with a great ending that I cannot give away. I think this is a great book to read. One of my favorites.

Learn more about this author, Michael Mccormick.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Book reviews: Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel?
We want to hear your view. Write now!