The Plains of Passage

Earth's Children, Book 4

By: Jean M. Auel

Narrated by: Sandra Burr

Length: 32 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

In The Plains of Passage, orphaned Ayla and wandering Jondalar search for a place on Earth they can call home

Ayla and Jondalar set out on horseback across the windswept grasslands of Ice Age Europe. To the hunter gatherers of their world - who have never seen tame animals - Ayla and Jondalar appear enigmatic and frightening.

The mystery surrounding the woman, who speaks with a strange accent and talks to animals with their own sounds, is heightened by her control of a large, menacing wolf. The tall, yellow-haired man who rides by her side is also held in awe, not only for the magnificent stallion he commands, but for his skill as an artificer of stone tools, and for the new weapon he devises that makes hunting less perilous.

In the course of their cross-continental odyssey, Ayla and Jondalar encounter both savage enemies and brave friends. Together they learn that the vast and unkown world can be difficult and dangerous, but breathtakingly beautiful and enlightening as well.

Listen to more in the Earth's Children series.

©2004 Jean M. Auel (P)2004 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"The long-awaited fourth installment of the Earth's Children series is as warm and inviting as its campfire milieu." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Pure entertainment at its sublime, wholly exhilarating, best." ( Los Angeles Times)
"Thrilling....This magical book is rich in details of all kinds....but it it the depth of the characters' emotional lives....that gives the novel such a stranglehold." ( Cosmopolitan)

Fascinating adventures!

My favorite book of the series so far! Such a great story line! Exciting and thrilling

Part IV 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. I will admit that this book does get a little slow at times, but not bad.

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

I can't get enough!

This book, like the rest, takes you on a journey and leaves off at a brilliantly tantalizing place in the story that hooks you. From one to next, the story is masterfully woven together. Plains of Passage is the darkest books so far. This seems commensurate, with the difficulties of a journey as long and perilous as the one Ayla and Jondalar have embarked upon.

Great story

Would you listen to The Plains of Passage again? Why?

Yes, Nice to know more about 25000 years ago

What other book might you compare The Plains of Passage to and why?

The other books of the series

Which scene was your favorite?

Don't have one favorite

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

No

Any additional comments?

No

Exceptional series.

a book and series in a category of its own. always a pleasure to read/hear these books. start from the beginning. :-)

The best one in the series.

It is the most enjoyable and best researched book in the series. Auel is masterful!

Had me on the edge of my seat

lots of drama and caveman sex in this one. I really enjoyed the vivid imagery and description, and I cant wait to see what happens next.

Very good story.

Narrator was excellent... I am listening to the series. These go back to 1990, but it does not change the fact that it is a great series of entertainment.

In love with the Earth's children series.

I love these books. I have been through them 3x starting in the 1980's. My only complaint is the narrating of these awsome reads. I am scared to move on to the fifth book as I have heard the narrating gets even worse. I didn't think that would be possible but in spite of the bad reviews, I am going to forge ahead because I just traveled thru the Plains of Passage and I can't stop now.