I have just started reading this series again, with the first book in the series "Clan of the Cave Bear"

For anyone who hasn't read these books : Ayla, aged 5 (one of the Others) is orphaned in an earthquake. The Clan (Neanderthals) find and raise her, and she is trained to be a medicine woman. This is the story of Ayla trying to overcome the cultural and physical differences between the two types of human, and trying to fit in with the Clan.

I find the majority of the story to be riveting. One can really get involved in Ayla's confusion, but when Auel switches perspective from Ayla to one of the Clan, her writing becomes simplistic (which is obviously her trying to convey the naivety of the Neanderthals) which is slightly annoying.

I also find the long, rambling chapters about the local countryside and the animal habits very tedious and there is too much emphasis on these sections for the story to flow well. It doesn't detract from enjoyment though - I just skip these sections altogether.