What readers think of The Shelters of Stone, plus links to write your own review.

Loved the first 2, but they've gone downhill steeply ever since. Thought with 12 years to write this last one there could've been more to the story, but 75% of the book was regurgitating the first 4, at times the same recollections over and over. The vast majority of readers of this book would have read the series and don't need the constant rehash. I'm not sure anyone else would either. It comes across as filler to make up for the lack of substance in the rest of the story.

As for the rest of the story, it seemed like a constant stream of names & characters, most of whom never appear again, without building and certainly without completing a storyline with any of them.

As the books progress, this ancient society seems to be turning more & more into a feminist utopia, with the majority of the leadership positions held by women, she owns the house, men are eager to support a woman and children that aren't his, ... Where once these books appealed to both sexes, they are now the equivalent of your standard chick flick.

Think I'll pass on the next one.

Repitious? You bet! Long-winded? Uh huh! Did I like it? You betcha. Alot of people will write that there was nothing new in this book, and that the character development was weak. I can't argue with them. For me, however, this was a welcome break. It was nice to catch up with all of the wonderful gifts that Ayla and Jondalar were able to bring to his family. It was nice to have the focus on them settling into an established "clan" that you knew would be a permanent home. Now that all of this is done, I can't wait for the next book, which should be called, " Ayla, The First, The Last, My Everything". Jean Auel's best work. Not a chance. By the way, I just started reading it again.

This book is boring !!!

I was a little disappointed with this volume of Jean Auel's wonderful epic series. There is little action and suspense. Most of the new characters are shallowly portrayed, and, at times, childishly simplistic. Also, Auel's detailed descriptions of the environment are a bit more tedious in this volume.

HOWEVER... That being said, fans of the series know the established characters so well, that they will slog through this book just like I did because they just have to. The four previous books in the series have made us care so much about Ayla, Jondalar and their animal friends that they are like family. And you will always love your family, even when they are not at their best.