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Moctu and the Mammoth People:: An Ice Age Story of Love, Life, and Survival
Moctu and the Mammoth People is a compelling, well-researched story of a strong, young, dark-skinned Cro-Magnon boy who must fight his rival for leadership of his tribe and the right to mate the beautiful Nuri. Additionally, Moctu has confrontations with the “Pale Ones”, a fierce group of Neanderthals also called the People Eaters, as the two cultures interact in Paleolithic Italy 45,000 years ago.
Besides having dangerous encounters with mammoths, wolves, and saber-tooth tigers, Moctu has to deal with his older rival, Jabil, who fights and undermines him at every opportunity. After Jabil murders several elders who go against him, he deftly shifts blame onto the Pale Ones. He takes over as the tribe’s leader and makes Moctu’s life miserable.
On a hunting trip, Moctu is captured and enslaved by the Pale Ones. While with them, Moctu is shocked to discover that, although these primitive people know little about spear-throwers or making clothes, they can make fire, and he learns the skill. He meets the blond and fair-skinned Effie and over time, he recognizes that his hate for the Pale Ones was misplaced. Realizing that Nuri by now has been mated to Jabil, Moctu falls in love with Effie and has a child. But when he uncovers evidence that Jabil murdered his tribesmen, Moctu knows he must return home and mount a challenge. In the interim, Nuri has had to deal with emotional and physical adversities including coming of age and being mated to a man she despises. When Moctu returns, can he overcome Jabil? How will Nuri react? The interspecies conflict may also get Moctu or Effie killed.
Besides having dangerous encounters with mammoths, wolves, and saber-tooth tigers, Moctu has to deal with his older rival, Jabil, who fights and undermines him at every opportunity. After Jabil murders several elders who go against him, he deftly shifts blame onto the Pale Ones. He takes over as the tribe’s leader and makes Moctu’s life miserable.
On a hunting trip, Moctu is captured and enslaved by the Pale Ones. While with them, Moctu is shocked to discover that, although these primitive people know little about spear-throwers or making clothes, they can make fire, and he learns the skill. He meets the blond and fair-skinned Effie and over time, he recognizes that his hate for the Pale Ones was misplaced. Realizing that Nuri by now has been mated to Jabil, Moctu falls in love with Effie and has a child. But when he uncovers evidence that Jabil murdered his tribesmen, Moctu knows he must return home and mount a challenge. In the interim, Nuri has had to deal with emotional and physical adversities including coming of age and being mated to a man she despises. When Moctu returns, can he overcome Jabil? How will Nuri react? The interspecies conflict may also get Moctu or Effie killed.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2019
49 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 3, 2019
I actually finished this book a couple of days ago and, had I rated it then, I would have given it only 3 stars.
While I enjoyed the story, I found the storytelling rather repetitive (within itself) and seemingly aimed at an unsophisticated audience.
To be fair, I'd read Jean Auel's Earth Children series decades ago. So the encounter between Neanderthal man and Cro Magnon man was a scenario with which I was already familiar. And, I prefer Auel's storytelling.
But, since finishing Moctu I found myself missing the characters and wishing the story had gone on; so, based on that I upgraded the rating to 4 stars.
I really do emphatically recommend Jean Auel's _Clan of the Cave Bear_ and its sequels to anyone who enjoyed Moctu!
While I enjoyed the story, I found the storytelling rather repetitive (within itself) and seemingly aimed at an unsophisticated audience.
To be fair, I'd read Jean Auel's Earth Children series decades ago. So the encounter between Neanderthal man and Cro Magnon man was a scenario with which I was already familiar. And, I prefer Auel's storytelling.
But, since finishing Moctu I found myself missing the characters and wishing the story had gone on; so, based on that I upgraded the rating to 4 stars.
I really do emphatically recommend Jean Auel's _Clan of the Cave Bear_ and its sequels to anyone who enjoyed Moctu!
November 23, 2019
Disclosure: I received an advanced readers copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program.
A Story of Life in Paleolithic Italy
I couldn't wait to read this book. I recently read 'The Wolf in the Whale' & was looking forward to a similar story. Plus, I figured this would be something like 'Clan of the Cave Bear' which I also happen to love. Instead when I started to read this I was utterly disappointed. It came across as juvenile in the writing style & not particularly interesting. I almost decided to DNF (Did Not Finish) it & move on to another book. I went on Goodreads to see what others had to say & noticed that many said how it got better & how they enjoyed the story. Not glowing 5 star reviews, but still, folks did seem to like it. I decided to keep reading. Ironically, it was just about immediately from that point that it started to get much more interesting.
The content is for adults (there is murder & rape), yet the writing feels like it's written for older children. The story was engaging & I actually found myself caring for many of the characters fates & hoping for the demise of others. This is no 'The Wolf in the Whale' nor is it 'Clan of the Cave Bear' caliber, but it is still entertaining in its own right.
Overall, an enjoyable read, but not one I'm likely to revisit.
A Story of Life in Paleolithic Italy
I couldn't wait to read this book. I recently read 'The Wolf in the Whale' & was looking forward to a similar story. Plus, I figured this would be something like 'Clan of the Cave Bear' which I also happen to love. Instead when I started to read this I was utterly disappointed. It came across as juvenile in the writing style & not particularly interesting. I almost decided to DNF (Did Not Finish) it & move on to another book. I went on Goodreads to see what others had to say & noticed that many said how it got better & how they enjoyed the story. Not glowing 5 star reviews, but still, folks did seem to like it. I decided to keep reading. Ironically, it was just about immediately from that point that it started to get much more interesting.
The content is for adults (there is murder & rape), yet the writing feels like it's written for older children. The story was engaging & I actually found myself caring for many of the characters fates & hoping for the demise of others. This is no 'The Wolf in the Whale' nor is it 'Clan of the Cave Bear' caliber, but it is still entertaining in its own right.
Overall, an enjoyable read, but not one I'm likely to revisit.
January 28, 2019
Moctu is a young Early Modern Human (EMH) of the Nerea tribe who comes into contact with the Mammoth people, a Neanderthal tribe. According to research (and the book is thoroughly researched) Neanderthals and EMH overlapped for approximately 5000 years roughly 45,000 to 40,000 years ago. The author’s note at the beginning of the book provides the prehistorical setting as archaeologists understand it from their studies. But the story is fictional, and what a story it is! Love, lust, jealousy, early medicine, hunting, alliances, schemes, it’s all there and more. I found it to be gripping, I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen to Moctu and the others.
August 29, 2019
This is a very well written and easy to read story. It seems that the author took their time and researched the ice age as best as anyone can prior to writing this book. I found the story intriguing and fascinating becoming completely absorbed by it. The characters are so well described and have great depth to them, I found my self becoming invested in the journey that some of the characters were on through this book. This is a page-turner and a brilliant read.
August 17, 2022
Surprise! This is a great book! It takes you on a deep dive into prehistoric life and possible scenarios. Politics, con men, evil, disease, hunger, and legacy are just a few of the aspects discovered in the life of these 2 tribes. They also discover that prejudice can be wrongly directed! and that unity can help the whole community thrive! What a great twist!
December 3, 2022
4+
I actually listened to the audiobook version and enjoyed it. The writing is adequate and the prehistoric detail matches what is known about contact between modern humans and our Neanderthal cousins. Of course the plot details are fictional and there is much we can never verify about this part of our history. I find the subject fascinating.
I actually listened to the audiobook version and enjoyed it. The writing is adequate and the prehistoric detail matches what is known about contact between modern humans and our Neanderthal cousins. Of course the plot details are fictional and there is much we can never verify about this part of our history. I find the subject fascinating.
October 24, 2019
I wish I had more stars. One of the two best books I've read in a long time. Even if is isn't your usual cup of tea, please give it a try. Two? The other is The Book of the Unnamed Midwife. See my review - which is another "too few stars to give" one.
October 3, 2020
A Very Excellent Read
While I was sitting on the edge of my virtual seat, waiting for the next exciting even in Moctu's life to unfold, the book had ended. I certainly hope there is sequel in the works; but until then I'll read over excellent stories by this gifted author.
While I was sitting on the edge of my virtual seat, waiting for the next exciting even in Moctu's life to unfold, the book had ended. I certainly hope there is sequel in the works; but until then I'll read over excellent stories by this gifted author.
November 4, 2019
Engaging page turner for anyone who likes to imagine how it was being a human ancestor 40,000 years ago.
August 9, 2021
I enjoy prehistoric fiction. I enjoyed this story and was sad to come to the end of the book. I hope there will be another book, someday.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews