hopeful
audrey_e at Book 4242 THE VALLEY OF HORSES Jean M. Auel (USA, 1982)
This is the second installment in the Earth's Children series.
Ayla's journey to survive and find her own kind begins, but on the way she meets a horse that will change her life.
Let me tell you right away, I do not think that this second novel is as good as the first.
First of all, while I was once more very impressed by Auel's knowledge, I found that Ayla was on her own for too long, which means the narrative was a bit slow and repetitive for most of the novel. Secondly, The Valley of Horses turned into a romance novel towards the end. I knew in advance that the Earth's Children was famous for its detailed sex scenes, but I did not expect them to be so cheesy. In other words, they made me feel like they were written by someone who never had sex, just like any other sex scene in a romance novel.
This is too bad because the survival aspects, as well as the religious ones, are really well put together. I will purchase the third installment despite everything, as this remained an entertaining experience, but I really wish Auel did not write like a sex-starved teenager since she is incredibly knowledgeable.
3/5
This is the second installment in the Earth's Children series.
Ayla's journey to survive and find her own kind begins, but on the way she meets a horse that will change her life.
Let me tell you right away, I do not think that this second novel is as good as the first.
First of all, while I was once more very impressed by Auel's knowledge, I found that Ayla was on her own for too long, which means the narrative was a bit slow and repetitive for most of the novel. Secondly, The Valley of Horses turned into a romance novel towards the end. I knew in advance that the Earth's Children was famous for its detailed sex scenes, but I did not expect them to be so cheesy. In other words, they made me feel like they were written by someone who never had sex, just like any other sex scene in a romance novel.
This is too bad because the survival aspects, as well as the religious ones, are really well put together. I will purchase the third installment despite everything, as this remained an entertaining experience, but I really wish Auel did not write like a sex-starved teenager since she is incredibly knowledgeable.
3/5
