The Shelters of Stone

Earth's Children, Book 5

By: Jean M. Auel

Narrated by: Sandra Burr

After their epic journey across Europe, Ayla and Jondalar have reached his home, the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, the old stone-age settlement in the region known today as southwest France. Jondalar's family greet him warmly, but they are initially wary of the beautiful young woman he has brought back, with her strange accent and her tame wolf and horses.

Ayla has much to learn from the Zelandonii and much to teach them. She is intrigued by their clothes, their crafts, and their home, and wants to learn their customs and the ways that they live, so that she will fit in. She is delighted when she meets Zelandoni, the spiritual leader of the people, a fellow healer with whom she can share medicinal skills and knowledge. The Zelandonii are surprised to learn she was found and raised by the Clan, the ones that they call flatheads and think of as animals, and are skeptical when she tells them they are people.

After the rigors and dangers that have characterized her extraordinary life so far, Ayla yearns for peace and tranquility, to be Jondalar's mate, and to have children. But her unique spiritual gifts cannot be ignored, and even as she gives birth to her eagerly-awaited child, she is coming to accept that she has a greater role to play in the destiny of the Zelandonii.

Listen to more in the Earth's Children series.©2004 Jean M. Auel (P)2004 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

Critic reviews

"Burr is adept at reading the detailed descriptions of Cro-Magnon artifacts without losing our interest and at creating varied portrayals of the many characters. A fine performance of a long-awaited book." ( AudioFile)

Part V of a great read

I read the first book in this series shortly after it first came out and was captivated by the story and the setting. Auel had an excellent idea for a story and did a bang up job of telling it. The next four books in this series I grabbed as soon as they were released. When these books became available as audio books on cassette I bought them and listened to them again and again over the years. Now I have the entire series again through Audible. Good investment in money and great investment in time. Personally I think Sandra Burr does a good job with the series. My only complaint is that it has been 31 years since the first book in the series came out and Auel said at that time it would be a six book series. For anyone that's interested book 6 'Land of Painted Caves' will finally be released in book stores on March 29, 2011. I hope Audible makes it available then as well I've been waiting on for 31 years. Actually the five books of this series that have already been published read more like one exceptionally long book. I know a lot of people don???t care for the detail that Auel goes into but I like it. Now I just wonder where Auel will take the series in the last book.

Russian Ayla???

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Hmmm... not so much... good story but irritating that Ayla suddenly has a Russian accent in this book. I get that she is a foreigner in this book, but she has been a foreigner in all the books and Sandra Burr didn't feel the need to give her a ridiculous accent in the other books. I've just started listening and it is driving me nuts!!!

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Sandra Burr?

I like Sandra, but the accent change for Ayla is horrible.

Any additional comments?

I first read this book over 10 years ago and loved it. I have been listening to the series at work and the accent in this one is very distracting.

an odd change

I have allways loved these books and have very much enjoyed Sandra Burrs narations of them, one small issue though. she changed the accent she narrated Ayla in in this book. I liked the accent but it was odd being the fifth book. she didn't use the accent in the first four books.

LUV THIS SERIES

Wonderful story. I stumbled across this series when audible was offering a special on the first book in a select set of series. Thought I would give it a try since I had seen and loved the movie Clan Of The Cave Bear. Firstly ... I was surprised to find that it was a series. I fell in love with the "real Alya"! No comparison between the movie and the sieries. I immediately HAD TO HAVE all 5 books. So much was changed and even more was left out that I am still amazed. Well written and while the reader is on shaky ground with the first book ... she improves dramitaclly as she continues the series, finds her footing with it, and develops and makes distinct each character by book 5 ... adding to the charm of this wonderful story. So much so that I can not imagine anyone else reading it. I can't wait for the 6th book. Thank you audible for re-opening my love of the Clan and my interest in pre-history. Well worth listning to!

Suddenly Ayla has an accent

very odd to change a characters accent so many books into a series..but otherwise I love the theories

not long enough

I have so enjoyed this series I keep replaying chapters over and over just to linger in the story as long as I can

I read these in high school and loved them. now

now in my 30s I love them more! I feel like I am a part of the story and that I'm more than an outsider looking in :)

still love it

I love this series and until this book I loved the narrator!! For whatever reason, for this book, she face Ayla an accent (sounds kinda Russian?) and there are sound effects for when she says Whinny's name instead of just saying she neighs. other than that I love the narrator!

I LOVE THIS SERIES OF BOOKS! ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND!

Would you listen to The Shelters of Stone again? Why?

I LOVE ALL OF JEAN M. AUEL BOOKS! I DON'T WANT THE SERIES TO END!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Shelters of Stone?

AYLA AND JONDALYN MEETING!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

AYLAS'S STRENGTH

Any additional comments?

I DON'T REMEMBER IN THE FIRST 2 BOOKS (PLEASURES OF MAKING LOVE!) ONCE AYLA MEETS JONDALYN I WAS TURNED OFF BY ALL THE DISCREET LOVE MAKING! I RATED THE SERIES A 5! BECAUSE, I LOVE THE STORY! I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED ON 3RD OR 4TH BOOK THEY HAVE AYLA WITH A THICK ACCENT! I MISS THE ORIGINAL AYLA WHOEVER NARRATED THE FIRST COUPLE BOOKS! THESE BOOKS I HAVE READ AND LISTENED 2 HAS BEEN 2X'S! I EVEN HAVE SOME OF THE BOOKS! BUT WITH AUDIBLE, I WOULD MUCH RATHER LISTEN! I HOPE AFTER THE SET OF SERIES OF 6 BOOKS END!! PLEASE WRITE MORE BOOKS TO GO WITH SERIES!! I AM ON MY 6TH BOOK AND I ALREADY FEEL SO SAD TO HAVE LISTENED TO THEM ALL! I LOVE THE CHARACTERS! AYLA IS SO UPLIFTING IN ALL THESE BOOKS! WRITE MORE FOR THIS SERIES, BUT LEAVE ALL INTIMATE SEXUAL DETAILS OUT AND BRING BACK AYLA'S ORIGINAL VOICE AS IN FIRST CPL BOOK! THANK YOU! I RECOMMEND THE WHOLE SERIES! SUPERB! I TREASURE MY COMPLETE SERIES!

i love this series! very well read!

a great series of books and extremely well read. very exciting book. i cant wait to start number 6 now.