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)

Best Book

I love this book! From the moment it starts you don't want to stop listening I recommend this book to anyone.

Increased Appreciation

3d time I've experienced this book. The first two were readings, and this, of course, is audible. The book just keeps getting better!

loved it

it's a shame only one movie was made.
I love how she wrote in the theories of early man into her stories

A doctors view

I get swamped with details but compensate by listening at a faster speed. Educational fun

Beautiful

My only regret is I don't know what to read after this book.
Thank you!

HATE HATE HATE the new Ayla voice

Any additional comments?

I read the first three books avidly when they first came out years ago. When audible had the entire series on sale, I bought it all and have been listening to them back to back. That's why it's so jarring that Ayla now sounds like a gypsy or a Russian spy. Apparently someone (higher up than the narrator, I assume) decided she needed to sound more different. And I'm only on Chapter 3.

For one thing, as I said, it's a huge continuity shock. For another thing, if this poor woman is speaking the first language she ever learned, why on earth would she have an accent? The difficulties with certain sounds that are a carryover from her Clan days have been described in all the previous books. That's different from an accent.

It's so bad, I grit my teeth every time I anticipate any speech from our heroine. It's so bad, I'm seriously considering finishing the last two books by reading rather than listening.

Get rid of the accent!

What did you love best about The Shelters of Stone?

The continuing story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jondalar, identifying with the hero.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Ayla's accent was terribly distracting.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

Any additional comments?

Repeating, Ayla's accent was terribly distracting.

Love love love

Love the whole series. I would recommend it to all. was kept on the edge of my seat

Great story, great story telling !

I love that Ayla has an accent in this book, I just wish she'd had it the whole time! I'm very much looking forward to starting the next book!

Absolutely in love!

The best series I have read. I thank Jean Auel for every moment she has put in for the studies and the writing of this masterpiece! looking forward to the Painted Caves but also sad to know it will be the last of her series.