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While reading this I realized I'd read it in my early teens, but I barely remembered it. This was actually probably the book where I learned the word coitus. Who needs sex ed. when you've already read most of it in books?
Anyway, I certainly know a few things bothered me this time around. Elizabeth Marshall Thomas definitely writes somewhat unbelievable events and disjointed actions by characters to clearly further the plot. That being said, this is actually still worth the read. Just be warned that you may find yourself skimming a page or two to get back to the story line you're actually interested in.
List of things that bothered me (and yes, I have to spoil all over the place):
• The main character Yanan dies, becomes a spirit, and you learn this really early on. So the only reason to keep reading is to figure out how she dies I guess.• Spirits can turn into animals. Thomas makes us read unnecessary side plot sections of the spirits as animals. Skim skim skim.• Yanan knows basically nothing about sex. Seriously nothing. You don't grow up hunting or being around animals without figuring out a little birds and the bees. WHY would no adult ever explain menstruation, pregnancy, or birth to a girl who is expected to eventually experience it? If you want the next generation to survive you teach them everything you can. When a girl gets married you take her aside and explain everything if she hasn't already seen it first hand from watching the adults.• Yanan is pregnant and no one older figures it out. I find it almost impossible to believe that people can live in a lodge in close proximity depending on each other for survival without being all up in the minutia of each other's lives almost constantly. When someone starts puking everyone else would pay attention. People would notice someone else being exhausted and sick. You'd have to be blind and deaf to not notice someone acting differently, especially in winter when you're in close proximity even more. And I bet unobservant people died a lot faster 20,000 years ago.• Combining the last two points here. Childbirth is horribly dangerous. Explain and help prepare a first time mother for it. Then maybe Yanan wouldn't have thought it was a good idea to go off to give birth alone. Why not take advantage of the knowledge of older women who have done this before? Oh, because they might make fun of her. Yeah... right. Sure.
While reading this I realized I'd read it in my early teens, but I barely remembered it. This was actually probably the book where I learned the word coitus. Who needs sex ed. when you've already read most of it in books?
Anyway, I certainly know a few things bothered me this time around. Elizabeth Marshall Thomas definitely writes somewhat unbelievable events and disjointed actions by characters to clearly further the plot. That being said, this is actually still worth the read. Just be warned that you may find yourself skimming a page or two to get back to the story line you're actually interested in.
List of things that bothered me (and yes, I have to spoil all over the place):
• The main character Yanan dies, becomes a spirit, and you learn this really early on. So the only reason to keep reading is to figure out how she dies I guess.• Spirits can turn into animals. Thomas makes us read unnecessary side plot sections of the spirits as animals. Skim skim skim.• Yanan knows basically nothing about sex. Seriously nothing. You don't grow up hunting or being around animals without figuring out a little birds and the bees. WHY would no adult ever explain menstruation, pregnancy, or birth to a girl who is expected to eventually experience it? If you want the next generation to survive you teach them everything you can. When a girl gets married you take her aside and explain everything if she hasn't already seen it first hand from watching the adults.• Yanan is pregnant and no one older figures it out. I find it almost impossible to believe that people can live in a lodge in close proximity depending on each other for survival without being all up in the minutia of each other's lives almost constantly. When someone starts puking everyone else would pay attention. People would notice someone else being exhausted and sick. You'd have to be blind and deaf to not notice someone acting differently, especially in winter when you're in close proximity even more. And I bet unobservant people died a lot faster 20,000 years ago.• Combining the last two points here. Childbirth is horribly dangerous. Explain and help prepare a first time mother for it. Then maybe Yanan wouldn't have thought it was a good idea to go off to give birth alone. Why not take advantage of the knowledge of older women who have done this before? Oh, because they might make fun of her. Yeah... right. Sure.