Mammutjægerne 1

Earth's Children #3 part 1/2

by Jean M. Auel

Mammutjægerne af Jean M. Auel er tredje bind i den poupulære serie, Jordens børn, der handler om pigen Ayla i istiden.

I dette tredje bind møder vi igen Ayla og Jondalar. De to har netop forladt Hestenes Dal og møder snart andre mennesker, mammutjægerne. Ayla og mammutjægerne bliver gensidigt fascineret af hinanden og ønsker at lære af hinandens færdigheder. Bogen følger disse mennesker gennem hverdag såvel som fest, gennem ulykke og kærlighed, som man kan forestille sig det må have udfoldet sig for mænd og kvinder i istiden.

Med de to tidligere bing i serien er Jean M. Auel blevet verdenskendt og i Danmark er hendes bøger ligeledes meget populære.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Historical Fantasy

372 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Jean Marie Auel is an American writer who wrote the Earth's Children books, a series of novels set in prehistoric Europe that explores human activities during this time, and touches on the interactions of Cro-Magnon people with Neanderthals. Her books have sold more than 45 million copies worldwide.

Reviews

[Sílvia Mourão · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apesar do balanço final ser positivo, houve uma altura em que já não podia ler mais nada sobre o talento, as capacidades, a beleza, a habilidade, o carisma, a sabedoria, etc.....da Ayla. Também acho que a personagem de Ranec merecia mais atenção, pensei que ia "dar mais luta" a Jondalar. Parece-me que ele pouco faz para "prender" a Ayla, por lutar por ela. Além disso, algumas vezes achei que o livro se centrava demais nos desejos sexuais do triângulo amoroso Jondalar/Ayla/Ranec. Apesar de se falar em amor há sempre alguma tensão sexual subjacente a estas personagens.
Tal como vinha acontecendo no "Vale dos Cavalos", este livro também tem alguns erros ortográficos e chega a ter uma frase ou outra que não tem qualquer sentido (talvez erro de tradução).
Mas como gosto de "happy ends" gostei que Ayla acabasse por ir embora com Jondalar.

[Jennifer Redstreake-Geary · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with all the other books, this one is long and detailed to the bitter end. I didn't like this one as much, I have to say... It was AMAZINGLY painfully so much like a damn soap opera that I had to put it down so many times and just say, "Gimme a break!!!" I wanted to reach inside this book and slap some heads. Seriously, it was worse than Days of our Lives, but in the friggin' ice age. I have a few more to read... they better not be like this one.

[Vânia Moreira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Confesso que não tinha grandes expectativas para estes próximos volumes e a autora acabou por me conseguir surpreender!
Neste terceiro volume Ayla e Jondalar encontram outros seres humanos que lhes dão acolhimento. Como não podia deixar de ser, todos adoraram Ayla e ficam espantados com a sua beleza, inteligência, coragem, etc., etc. Já me irritava um bocadinho este perfeccionismo da Ayla que faz tudo bem e não tem noção das suas qualidades... Um clichézinho...
Contudo, vamos acompanhar o triângulo amoroso de Ayla, Jondalar e uma outra personagem. Achei demasiado o foco que a autora coloca nas descrições sexuais e avancei bastante nessas partes; creio não acrescentar nada à narrativa e foi "too much". Além disso, irritou-me um bocado uma parte que na nossa sociedade se pode considerar "traição", mas será necessário lembrarmo-nos de que esta narrativa se passa na Pré-História e as suas concepções de relações e "acasalamento" são diferentes das actuais. Por outro lado, acabamos por descobrir que este facto tinha uma "justificação".
Enquanto estas disputas amorosas ocorrem, vemos Ayla a ser muito bem inserida nesta comunidade e a sua vontade de se integrar num grupo que tão bem a acolheu. Diferentemente dos Clã (Neandertais) e até mesmo da tribo de Jondalar, conseguimos apercebermo-nos do quão esta comunidade depende dos mamutes para a sua sobrevivência, sendo este animal fulcral para o seu quotidiano. As menções históricas são bastante interessantes pois ficamos a conhecer vários aspectos, desde como eram feitos os seus abrigos, armas, a forma de caçar e até aspectos espirituais e artísticos.
Acabei por devorar este livro e passei para o outro volume de uma assentada!

[Hillary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aylia first encounter with "the others"

[Mafy · Rating 5 out of 5]

quando acabei tive uma reação igual a uma criança de 10 anos a dizer que não pode comer um gelado (queria ler logo o seguinte mas tinha que ir dormir porque tinha faculdade no dia seguinte)

[Daryl Leyesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is my totem? What symbol guides me in this world? What is my spiritual anchor? This novel evoked a review of my identity, spirituality, and direction (although the book mentioned destiny, i opt to use direction as this is more related with choice) from a different light.

I cried many times as I read the book. I was so absorbed with the tensions, scattered like cookie crumbs in every chapter of the book. I devoured each crumb like a grieving lone wolf. I've never seen a wolf, but the book introduced me to one. A lone wolf is a lone wolf because it made a choice to leave its pack, pushed by circumstances especially by being different from the rest. I pictured its struggle to survive, devouring fresh or rotten meat, hungry for company. Yet the book suggested so subtly that belonging to a pack or to a people makes one to hunger for solitude too, especially if the person has already enjoyed a moment of freedom and loneliness combined.

I cried partly because my mood matched the spirit of the book, especially the saga on love – love for a mate, love for a son, love for a daughter, love for the Mother.

Love for the Mother was the most obvious. I was tempted to think that instead of 'the mammoth hunters' this novel should have been entitled 'the mother lovers.' But it may not sound right in our present tendency to mix subtleties with innuendos. This book illustrated how some early tribes worshiped the Mother – the mother earth, whose spirit resides in everything that is created, especially in their great provider- the mammoths. With such belief, it was not surprising that the book emphasized how mothers and women in general were revered. The concept of a bride price was a symbol of importance not only to the bride but for the entire hearth (family). I am reminded of our own local indigenous practices of setting a dowry for the bride; one tribal group I've talked to said that dowry is a symbolic gift meant to establish the worth (i.e. recognition for) of the woman. Unfortunately, as the capitalist system and culture advanced, such price or dowry has reduced women as commodities, robbing them of their true value.

The book also emphasized how communication, in whatever form of language – in signs or verbal, developed as second nature to an evolving community. Yet, didn't Marilyn French once wrote – "In the beginning was the Mother. The word came an age later." I am very much amused by this passage for several reasons….but oops that will require a separate review of her book, Beyond Power.

I'm happy to have read The Mammoth Hunters and to have cried with it. Like the main character, Ayla of the Lion Camp of the Mamutoi, daughter of the Mammoth Hearth and protected by the Cave Lion, my instinct now is to drop on the ground, bow my head and wait for someone to tap my shoulder, and i shall stand up, propelled by an ancient spirit, and tell you I am Ayel of the Leyesa Camp of the Batangueños, Awel to my Lola's Hearth, protected by Kapeng Barako. Hehe, by now you may have noticed how absorbed I was with the book, you can't blame me though, I even think that the author's name and how my lola addresses me - Awel - is nothing less than auspicious.

[Ruth E. R. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only the first book in this series is worth reading. Much of it was inappropriate, but I overlooked it because evil was portrayed as such. Also because it was a worthwhile story. Clinging to the storyline as it continued in Book 2 (Valley of Horses), I merely endured and hope the plot would get beyond sexual intercourse methods of civilized folks. (FYI, if you and/or your new spouse are looking for a good sex manual, I highly recommend Valley of Horses.)

IMHO, the entire series belongs to the category of female pornography. Having read the first two, I make note of the fact that I know abuse victims attracted to these books. In other words, what they found in the story was familiar to them, rather than being a portrayal of appropriate behavior. I do believe in the power of story to perpetuate lies, but also to bring healing. This series is certainly of the former category. Also, I have met other readers of this series who share my exact opinion: only the first book has any merit.

[Kitty Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have found that Jean Auel has been instrumental in helping me to appreciate the pre-history that pre dated our Native American tribes. In fact this book takes place, I believe, on the European continent. His fiction based on archaeological findings is presented in such a way that you never know you are learning something very important. All of Jean's books are that way and I value every one. I have tried to read every one of Jean's books and have come away with a better knowledge of history and pre history than I ever learned in school with little or no pain of boredom whatsoever. I only wish to emulate Jean's excellent style in my own books. Kitty Sutton

[Meredith · Rating 1 out of 5]

HOW could this be the same author that wrote such a mesmerizing page turner the first time around?!? I was in awe and completely enveloped in Ayla's world with the first book. I shouldn't be so appalled because #2 was such a terrible flop, but really...book #3 was a complete waste of 700 pages and more importantly, my time. This book could have been told in 50 pages or less..NOTHING happened. I'm so mad about how terrible this book was because there' are 3 more to go! I will not be wasting any more time on this series and am really in shock by how excellent the first was, to how far the series has plummeted.

[Fawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Alya's story and this chapter of her life was filled with so much love and many great characters. the detail the author went into about the land and technique used for all aspects of living were very informative but at times seems almost tedious. I find way of living and concepts to be fascinating and look forward to reading more of Alya's journey.

[Olga Ryparová · Rating 5 out of 5]

Má nejoblíbenější sága z dětství, četla jsem ji celkově 2x.

[Collins]

I read the life of a woman with great talent,enduarance and patience.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Series!! Well Written!!

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is the last Auel book I finished - they started to get porny and pointless...too bad, too. I enjoyed devouring the first two.

[Liz Novak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always forget about the stupid love triangle in this one. It's painful and nauseating.

[Christie Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okaaay..

[Johnathan Ungricht]

Good story I need to read the rest of it.

[BarbaraW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivid description and lost in love make this a captivating read. I actually read the whole book-didn't listen to the tapes.

[Connie M.]

Great read have read the whole series and will read again