Review / 347understand one another and to communicate. Ayla knows only the nonverbal communication
skills of the Neanderthals; Jondalar never masters the subtle variations of her “primitive” lan-
guage. Their biggest obstacle is Jondalar’s unwillingness to accept Ayla’s only filial attachment,
the Neanderthals, as anything other than subhuman, animal-like flatheads.
Even without the fascinating characters who struggle with their social and cultural differences,
the book provides superb reading. The scientific research evident in the book gives curious
readers an insight into a world they would never take the time to study in biology, botany,
anthropology, and archaeology books. Woven into a highly readable novel, however, the
medicinal plants, woolly mammoths, cave lions, wild horses, glaciers, flint qualities, food prepa-
ration, hunting techniques, clothing construction, even sanitation habits of prehistoric tribes
make for startling new perspectives on human evolution. While the fictionalized portions blend
harmoniously with the obviously thorough scientific investigation, the result is pleasantly mind-
stretching.
With a beautiful heroine and a strikingly handsome hero set in the midst of an unspoiled envi-
ronment, Auel could have lapsed into a Garden of Eden paradise. But all does not go well;
difficulties inherent in the uncivilized, lonely arena of Valley provide gripping episodes, a few
tears, and satisfying joy. Only a few unlikely coincidences mar the otherwise delightful novel.
That a young woman can stop a lion’s attack in midair, even if she “knows” the lion, seems less
than believable. That a young woman who happened to ride farther than usual also happened
to arrive just as the lion was about to attack also seems preposterous. Because these incidents
make up a major pivotal point in the plot, they present a significant weakness. With the remain-
der of the epic-like novel so carefully plotted and so logical in its possibilities, these incidents
seem all the more unlikely.
For its insight into a world that preceded modern man, The Valley of the Horses offers an imag-
inative approach to how man—or, in this case, woman—came to think about riding a horse,
how she may have learned to make fire with stones, how she may have learned to make medi-
cine, how she may have learned to hunt animals that were too large or too fast to kill with a
sling or a spear. That strange animals roamed the earth 25,000 years ago is no secret, but to
see them roaming the grasslands, to watch their habits, to learn how prehistoric people relied
on them for both food and protection—that is an eye-opener. Thanks to Auel, readers now have
a delightful opportunity to learn about another world through the eyes of two arresting Cro-
Magnon characters.ANALYSIS of THE SAMPLE REVIEW
The review lets the writer express his opinion, supported by details. Note these spe-
cific characteristics:
- The opening paragraph places the book into perspective, establishing it as
part of a series and summarizing its plot without giving too much away. In
introducing the main characters, the author gives a brief description of their
difficulties but rightfully omits any reference to the outcome of their struggles.