The Clan of the Cave Bear

Earth's Children, Book 1

By: Jean M. Auel

Narrated by: Sandra Burr

Length: 22 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

This novel of awesome beauty and power is a moving saga about people, relationships, and the boundaries of love.

Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read

Through Jean M. Auel’s magnificent storytelling we are taken back to the dawn of modern humans, and with a girl named Ayla we are swept up in the harsh and beautiful Ice Age world they shared with the ones who called themselves The Clan of the Cave Bear. A natural disaster leaves the young girl wandering alone in an unfamiliar and dangerous land until she is found by a woman of the Clan, people very different from her own kind.

To them, blond, blue-eyed Ayla looks peculiar and ugly - she is one of the Others, those who have moved into their ancient homeland; but Iza cannot leave the girl to die and takes her with them. Iza and Creb, the old Mog-ur, grow to love her, and as Ayla learns the ways of the Clan and Iza’s way of healing, most come to accept her. But the brutal and proud youth who is destined to become their next leader sees her differences as a threat to his authority. He develops a deep and abiding hatred for the strange girl of the Others who lives in their midst, and is determined to get his revenge.

Listen to more in the Earth's Children series.

©1980 by Jean M. Auel. (P)1986 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Imaginative, exciting." (The New York Times Book Review)

"Jean Auel has performed a minor miracle." (San Francisco Chronicle)

So good!

What made the experience of listening to The Clan of the Cave Bear the most enjoyable?

The narrator is able to describe the setting of the book in an interesting & compelling way

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Clan of the Cave Bear?

The month Ayla spent alone in her cave after being banished the first time

Have you listened to any of Sandra Burr’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've listened to The Valley of Horses and the Mammoth Hunters, she is superb in all

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was upset for Ayla and the difficulties she had with Broud

Any additional comments?

DON'T WATCH THE MOVIE! The book is awesome.

An Excellent Book

I read this book many years ago. Listening to it is even better. I recommend it to others.

Amazing re-enactment of this story

I’ve read the books many times before but I am loosing my eyesight and was thrilled to find the books on audible to listen to and enjoy once more.

Timeless!

Love this book! Loved it when I was a kid and 1st read it. Hearing it read brought a whole new life to it!

Such an amazing absorbing story!

This story is even more engaging as an audible book. But I am glad I read the paperback several times over the years to keep everyone and everything straight.

All time favorite book

This is, and always has been my favorite book. I had to drive 20 hours this weekend and listening to Clan of the Cave Bear got me through the drive with ease. If you have an interest in history, and also love a great fiction adventure book, this listen will more than satisfy you. On to the next book in the series!

loved it

I didn't enjoy the performer but she grew on me like a fine mold. the story is fantastic, I can't wait to read more in the series!

Revisiting an Old Favorite

I love this book from the bottom of my heart. I've read it a few years ago and I always like to pick it up and read it. It makes you feel for all the characters within it and paints a beautiful picture to the world. Not a huge fan of the narrator but they did a moderately good job of making the characters have distinguishing voices during the dialogue. Would be interesting if they changed the narrator to a male to see what they would do for some of the voices, or eveb give the job to a voice actor who likes to experiment.

As good as I'd heard.1 of the best books 2 own!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Clan of the Cave Bear to be better than the print version?

Better!

What did you like best about this story?

The imagery, and the imagination of how early man thought, and survived.

What does Sandra Burr bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Sandra's fine distinction of how Ayla and the other charactors speak, as well as when they think out loud to themselves, her punctuation, and her rhythem. She did a fine job, and want to read the next.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Forget the first!!! The Darryl Hannah movie was crap! They sold it to producers, and weren't committed to make it like the book, like so many others.. the book was better!

Any additional comments?

I was a boy growing up and my family were reading the books, and I simply passed it over, it wasn't an interest at the time.. now that all that time passed, I remember how my Mom was talking to friends and smile, because it really was a good read.. She's passed on for 15 years, but it brought back memories that were locked away.

Love Ayla!

I read Clan of the Cave Bear years ago when it came out! it was so much fun to relive Ayla's first stories on Audible! #Audible20 ReviewSweepstakesEntry