discussion groupguide
By Jean auel
aBOuT THIS GuIDe
Welcome to the reading group guide for
The Land of Painted Caves
. Readers of all ages can share theexperience of entering anew into Ayla’s marvelous world in these pages, and we encourage groups toembrace this novel, share their experience of reading it, and challenge each other with their thoughts.These questions are intended to guide your discussion; each reading group will bring its own perspective toit. Share your group’s reaction by posting responses at Jean M. Auel’s website (www.jeanauel.com) or visitingFacebook and exploring the world of the Earth’s Children® with a vast international reading group.Please note: In order to provide reading groups with the most informed and thought-provoking questions possible, it is necessary to revealimportant aspects of the plot of this novelas well as the ending. If you have not nished reading
The Land of Painted Caves
, we respectfully suggest that you may want to wait before reviewing this guide.1. How did you nd Jean Auel’s Earth’s Children
®
Series? How long have youbeen reading the series? Have you shared the experience of reading thesebooks with other people in your life?2. The author’s research is acclaimed by experts, and she takes great pains toget the details correct. What does this authenticity contribute to
The Land of Painted Caves
? Do you feel that you have learned facts and aspects aboutancient cultures you might not have otherwise known?3. If you could ask Jean Auel anything, what would you ask her? If you have readthe entire six-novel series, what questions do you feel were answered in thisbook? What questions do you still have?4. How has Ayla’s tendency to think as a medicine woman shaped who she hasbecome? What does her devotion to helping others who are hurt or ill say about her, and how does it affect how she is perceived in her home cave andalong her travels?5. The Sacred Cave is based on real caves and drawings. What does the ancientart tell us about the people who made it? What is the value of these caves to ustoday? In the novel, some who visit the caves are moved to participate; whatdo you think causes that impulse?6. Ayla is a constant source of change and innovation for which she is bothrewarded and punished. What difculties does she face because of hertendency to challenge the status quo? What is the difference between Ayla,a woman, initiating change, versus a man introducing it? Do you think peopletoday adapt differently to change?7. When Balderan had to be punished for his crimes, did you agree with thedecision of the Zelandonia (see chapter 25)? Ayla’s feelings about beingdirectly involved are mixed, but the intended punishment was not carriedout; what did you think about the mob’s reaction? Has justice evolved?8. Sex is an important part of social interaction in
The Land of Painted Caves
and the earlier books in Auel’s Earth’s Children® series. How are our society’sthoughts about sex different or the same as the Zelandonii’s?9. How does the tension between Ayla’s role as a wife and mother and hertraining to become one of the Zelandonia impact the events of the novel?Does this struggle resonate with you today? How? Why?10. One of the themes in this book is jealousy. Jondalar confronts the mostextreme jealousy of his life when Ayla turns to someone else, and Aylaexperiences jealousy for the rst time. What were some causes and resultsof jealousy between the characters in this novel? Why do the Zelandoniicondemn jealousy and work so hard to eradicate it?11. Ayla has had to deal with immense losses in her life, and a great sacrice isrequired during her calling. What did you feel about her loss? What is theconnection between losing her baby and learning the end of the Mother’ssong?12. What makes Ayla risk concocting the root brew she learned to make in
The Clan of the Cave Bear
again? What did she discover by using the roots totravel to the spirit world? Do you think her decision was inevitable?13. How has Ayla’s and Jondalar’s relationship changed since they rst met?How has it stayed the same? Does this reect the rhythm of a modernrelationship? If so, how, and if not, why? What remains their greatestchallenge as a couple?14. What are some of the implications of Ayla’s revelation that men and womenare equally involved in creating children (distinct from the Neanderthalsociety’s belief that the individual’s totems vie for dominance and theCro-Magnon society’s belief that the Mother chooses the man’s spirit to mixwith the woman’s spirit when She blesses a woman)?15. At the end of
The Land of Painted Caves
, author Jean M. Auel hasilluminated many aspects of her characters’ stories, begun thirty yearsago in The Clan of the Cave Bear. What most surprised you? What mostsatised? And do dedicated readers still have any questions?16. Jean M. Auel has stated that when she ends this series, she will miss Aylaacharacter who she claims to know better than some of her friends. Otherthan Ayla, which character featured in
The Land of Painted Caves
will youmiss most, or which character remains most clearly etched in your mind?
A Crown Publishers Hardcover and eBook.Available wherever books are sold.
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The Land of Painted Caves by Jean Auel - Reader's Guide
The reader's guide to the highly anticipated sixth book of Jean Auel's Earth's Children® series, THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES, is the culmination fans have been waiting for. Continuing the story of Ayla and Jondalar, Auel…
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