Banned Books Week 2008: Clan of the Cave Bear

[lindenmeadow]

It's too bad that the film adaptation of this book was so lousy. It would be great if some gifted writers/directors would give it another try.

[kanakaken]

It would make more sense to ban the Bible than a book by Ms Auel. Her books clearly show that violence is not acceptable within a regulated society. Because the Bible is a "holy book", and all that is written within is sanctioned by God, it's not banned. It has lying rape murder genocide theft pedophilia and incest, all sanctioned by god, which of course tells us, that it is all OK. Sexual freedom in ancient societies always was & still is a necessity for the continuance of the clan.

[MistyOjaiGirl]

I have to agree with greenteeks, she's in a public place reading the rape scene out of Clan of the Cave Bear just because it was banned someplace? It makes me sad for people that have to live or grow up in a place where bans would be placed on a a book of such magnitude like Clan of the Cave Bear, but somehow reading the rape scene aloud to anyone that will listen doesn't help the situation. I wouldn't recommend or read this book to very little kids~ only 13 and up.

[mzdarklight1]

I am shocked this is a banned book. I read it as a teen (14ish). I am 36 now. I just recently re-read the book series as it has always been a favorite. I love the way the world of that time is brought alive and the detailed way doing various activities to survive are described so that I feel I could nearly do them myself. The violence of the rape/rapes wasn't the part of the book that stuck with me. It's such a small but likely accurate part of a much larger story. Censorship at it's finest.

[greenteeks]

LMAO what the hell is this? Is she reading the reason why this book was randomly banned somewhere in idiotic America? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA~ Hilarious.

I don't think I get it.

[calebcakes]

Yes, this story made a lasting impression on me,too. I would read the story to my son, editing out the sex part (he's 12) because that is not the focus of the books in my view. The rape scenes by Broud are brutal but as I remember the people of the Clan themselves did not respect him as a leader - even Ayla knew he was abusing her out of hatred/jealousy of her abilities even though he had the "right" to do what he did to her. As a "good" Clan woman she was had to be submissive to survive.

[bjorntooski]

The sexul passages in the first book are brutal rape scenes and can be interperted no other way. They define what is WRONG with agressive sex. It is not sex at all . It is Violence plain and simple.The second book explores the passion and pleasure of sex in a more civilized society. THe clan of the cave bear describesthe Clan as intelegent beings that had not yet evolved , had not become civil... and remember what happened to the Clan.. THEY BECAME EXTINCT..

[SheepDog707]

@bjorntooski there was only one scene which made me cringe and it was the one she spoke of. No where else in the book was there anything to find appalling, In my honest opinion for the time period she was writing about it could have been much worse. Brutal? Absolutely not, to them it was natural. The woman did not fight or even think of it as anything horrible, only Ayla who was different found it disturbing.

[bjorntooski]

I read all the books . My wife encouraged it . Like scenes in the color purple these passages shed light on this brutal form intimidation and of rape.

it sholud and must never be tollerated. this is more than beauty and the beast, it is truly just the beast and to ban this book takes that light away.

these books focus on the strong and independent woman .. be sides .. Read the book and see what happenes to Broud. the bad guy gets his in the end .

[calebcakes]

WOW! I had no idea Clan of the Cave Bear is a banned book! I first read it while in college when I was about 19 when it was newly published. I read the 2 later sequels as well. There certainly is a lot of spirituality and sexuality which at the time I was reading it I felt mature enough to handle. I remember the books and story MOSTLY for the information about human survival during those times. I am re-readiing now. I would not let my 12 year old son read them now because of explicit sex.

[bjorntooski]

@calebcakes

please read these with your son . impress on him that that behavour is wrong and not sex but Violence.

show him women and equal to men sometimes better. These books changed my life. I named my first daughter Donayla.. Ayla for the main character ...Hunter /Healer ....Donni .. the goddess figure DonAyla

[LivingHistorySchool]

Great book!

[candygir7]

sad reality of women's oppression by men. you can't ignore it exists. what is society doing about it? not much.

[Treemeadow]

An interesting read and watch- but far too anti-male in some aspects (I'm staunchly equal opportunist).

[Jeorney]

I wanted to read this book, but put off by movies sickening feminism.  Unfortunately the book is much the same, although, apparently, better crafted.

[justsailingalong]

Why ban the book? Do we want our children to think we live in a perfect world. We live in a world of pain, lust, sex, violence and if reading about it can help understand that what's wrong with it?

[candygir7]

@justsailingalong the main reason to ban the book was it teaches religion. words like "the same spirit" "she is a spirit" etc. and that women can be smarter and more capable than men, it is not what those in power want our young to learn.

[justsailingalong]

@candygir7 every group of people have talked about "spirits" so what's the big deal as for showing women can be smarter then men I see it as being realistic some women can be smarter then some men and some men smarter than some women, big deal and I also think the series honors women and their ability to give birth and be mothers. What is wrong with that??

[candygir7]

@justsailingalong I agree with you. and that proves my point exactly; that the schools in USA do not want people to be taught that sexism is wrong. they don't want to discuss this issue and neither do they want to discuss spirit. what USA is teaching the young is atheism and that humans have no spirit. that is what the UN is also pushing and they already have the satanic bible printed and ready to distribute to the school children.

[candygir7]

@justsailingalong also, honey, they don't want the children to be taught what sadism is and that some people get pleasure from hitting or harming other people. because then they would understand what all the things the government is doing in oppressing the citizens and going to war to harm and kill others is all about satisfying the sadistic needs of sick people.

[mudbloodkiller]

fuck her!!! the earth children series is amazing!!! ive just finished valley of the horses and it was amazing!! i maen!! ths is so stupid!!! grow up will you!!!

[NemodeV]

XDD If they banned it for the passage she read...

I think evolution did not reach her...

[desertlioness91]

Honestly, high schools believe that they are so superior in banning books. I quite enjoy this series and am avidly awaiting the next installment. Sex is a staple of life, and evolution is just one of the ideas of how life has come this far. People honestly need to cut the immature crap and get over it. When you open a book, you should also open your mind.

[candygir7]

@desertlioness91 they bad books like this and then you all have to see what kind of junk and horror like books they allow; like the series of scary books filled with satanism and teaching really wrong things to the young; those the libraries and schools are filled with.

[ginamariedibella]

Book is not banned. It is available in any bookstore.

[candygir7]

@ginamariedibella not in schools and children's section.

[BW022]

Perhaps the poster might wish to include where this was banned and by who?

She is appearently in Irvine in the US? So... presumably you can buy it in book stores, on Amazon, etc.?

Perhaps your cause to oppose the banning of the book might be helped by saying where it was banned from and by who?

[TheSurlyVixen]

This book is what introduced me to my interest in world history. Jean Auel's research for this book and all the others is so admirable! To ban this book is crazy...but hey, we live in the U.S. and they have that right, as we have the right to voice our opinions!

[romeoiona]

oh my gosh, I love this series and I don't understand why they're banning it!! IF it's because of the rape, then that's just plain stupid because these things happen in real life and Jean M. Auel is just pointing this out. Gosh, I wish people would appreciate this book more for what it is and the moral.

[DisaroChan]

Why the hell would someone ban the book!?! I don't get it! It's really good by the way.

[itsjessica1984]

man i hope its not banned in canada ive read this series a few times and while the part is read is hard not to get mad it was an awsome read. im going to look for these to buy again

[springchickn]

Who would ban this book?  Madness!! I loved this book!

[loyalfalconflutist]

WHY DID SHE CHOOSE THIS PASSAGE!!????? oh... wait... she stopped before that part... o...k....

[levannah60]

When did the book become banned???

[thecuzao]

que triste eu gosto desse livro

[hul5078]

It was banned from high school reading because it suggests evolution.

[ffirestarr]

Get over it; its a fictional story about cavemen!!!; or cavewomen; oh yeah I guess its cavepeople right? If you try hard enough you can find sex and violence in almost anything.Obviously no understanding of context. So why would this lady WANT to waste her time reading "bad books"? Go do something productive.

[loyalfalconflutist]

I agree... but I've read this book, and actually, it's not that bad.

[lindenmeadow]

I've read the book and didn't find it distasteful. I don't think the author was trying to be nasty or pornographic but was rather shooting for very gritty realism. After all, these were supposed to be cavemen (and not the kind in a Geico commercial). They were not only primitive but also suppsed to have been a few pegs down on the evolutionary ladder. Granted, the author surely took dramatic liberties, but that's to be expected in any historical fiction.

[jendarjen]

@lindenmeadow - i agree- and the scene she read as a depiction of rape. I find bodice rippers where the victim is enjoying it to be far more distasteful.

[lindenmeadow]

@jendarjen My thoughts exactly. The story dealt with the heroine's severe emotional hardships after being raped. The scene obviously wasn't meant to titillate readers. Rather, I'd say it was exploring social/psychological issues in a very blunt way.

[louispigott4]

good thing its not banned in uk.

[BlackFlame62]

Wow...its banned? at lest I have the first book and my gran gran has the whole series i can just read her books :)

[eastwoodone]

this book was banned!? when and why?

[magick205]

My question is why was the book banned in the first place? It's an excellent series even if takes some liberties with we know about paleoanthropology and human genetics. Was it because of the sexuality or the violence? Suprise! Life is like that.

[petexii]

Unfortunately, a lot of people are dumb :(

[magick205]

Yeah. I'm very much reminded of a favorite quote:"Only two things are infinite -- the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not so sure about the Universe." Albert Einstein, Scientific Advisor to the Darwin Awards.

[gesika66]

I didnt want to listen, cuz I havent gotten to that part yet, but what is this video about? Is that book being banned?

[romeoiona]

yes, apparently and I really don't know why.

[Tejinu]

I also read this book. Amazing is all i can say.

[Tejinu]

I've no sound on my computer at the moment, could somebody please tell me what section of the book this is? Thank you.

[KZtheMAX]

I remember this part

[cwoodups]

Clan Woman Must Obey . Jondalar Dumb dumb dumb. Even he said so.

[lostpup5]

Though this passage shouldn't be any reason to ban this incredible book, it's good that the ALA is speaking out and promoting no longer banning book. Banning books restricts a person's knowledge, choices, and ability to reason for themselves what is right and wrong.