The Valley of Horses

By Jean M. Auel

The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel, is book two of the Earth’s Children series. This book begins with Ayla wondering the wilderness, looking for her own people. Alone and ostracized from the Clan, Ayla decides to journey North until she stumbles across a cave in a garden valley. Discovering the absolute value and many conveniences in the valley of horses, Ayla settles in at the valley for a colossal cave adventure.

The Longest Journey

Meanwhile, some new characters arise. At the same time that Ayla is finding her cave, two young men from the Zelandonii tribe, decide to go on the incredible Journey. This incredible Journey entails that they walk the length of the Great Mother River to find the end. After many wild adventures and a tragic loss, the brothers end up finding themselves in danger not far from Ayla’s valley.

The Love of a Healing Touch

Ayla, who is out riding when the young men are in danger hears a scream and goes to their aid. She rescue’s Jondalar, the older brother, and takes him back to her cave in the garden valley. There she uses her healing herbs to nurse Jondalar back to health and physical fitness. Hindered by the inexperience of youth, cultural values and prejudices, Ayla and Jondalar clash against each other. However, with the blossom of their crazy love, they discover what they had longed for all along.

For the Tropic of Freedom Books Finders Keepers:
The challenges that Ayla faces in The Valley of Horses, makes me think about the nature of strength. There are 2 types of strength.

The strength of the survivor.
The strength of the warrior.

The strength of the survivor may be strength, but it’s a sad kind of strength. To be a survivor means that the person considers themself a victim. Whether it be a victim of circumstance, abuse, tragedy, etc. The trouble with survivors, is just that, they survive. That’s all!!!

The strength of a warrior comes from a totally different place within us. We all have it, but very few truly access it. The strength of a warrior is true strength. A warrior will see their trials as challenges. A warrior is always striving to become more of who they really are.

A Survivor and Warrior can find themselves in the same situation that is really bad. The survivor will get through it, they will survive, and when they come to the other side they will say ‘I survived.’ The warrior will look at their situation, and at first they may despair, but eventually they will make the choice not just to survive but to live. They will see their situation as a challenge and they will rise to the occasion. The main difference between the two is the approach.

Which strength does Ayla demonstrate throughout this book?
How does she demonstrate this strength?

Are you satisfied with just surviving through your life, or are you ready to choose to live?
What does this book have to teach about the strength of a warrior, that can assist you to find yours?

The choices we make determines the path we take.

From Amazon

For the South African Finders

Click on the Icon below to purchase this book from Kalahari.net

Return to The Fiction Factory


Return from The Valley of Horses
to Tropic of Freedom Books Home

Copyright 2009-2012 Tropic of Freedom

SBI!