What. A load. Of manure. 75% plotless descriptions and repetitions followed by 25% pure angst and wallowing in same. Oh and did I mention the repetitions? I know all of Ayla's names and ties by heart, the Mother's Song did not improve with extensive familiarity and YES, Ayla speaks with an accent. I get it and I do remember the reader telling me about it five hundred times before. I wondered while listening to this if Auel had actually reached an age where she had forgotten what she had already written, or if the series had simply sold so well over the years that by now she could get away with any drivel she wanted.