V is for Valley of Horses #AtoZChallenge

A few years ago I was given a (very large) book called The Clan of the Cave Bear. At first glance I probably grimaced (I wasn't particularly fond of books that could almost outweigh War and Peace - okay, okay so maybe I'm exaggerating... just a little bit) and so I shoved it to the back of my over-stuffed book case. After my friend's later asked me if I'd read it yet, I blushed and came up with some excuse. 'But you must read it... you'll not be able to put it down.'
After a little more coaxing and convincing, I picked it up and delved in. OMG... it was AMAZING. For such a big book, I soon found I'd finished it. The whole entire ginormous paperback. Gasping for more, I headed to the local charity book shop and whooped for joy when I found the sequel - The Valley of Horses.
Hard to put down, this is one of those series that leaves you desperately wanting Hollywood to make the movie. 'Oh but they did', I was told. 'Back in 1986 with Daryl Hannah'. Apparently it bombed. Such a shame. Hollywood... it's time for a grand re-make!

The Clan of the Cave Bear

A natural disaster leaves the young girl wandering alone in an unfamiliar and dangerous land until she is found by a woman of the Clan, people very different from her own kind. To them, blond, blue-eyed Ayla looks peculiar and ugly--she is one of the Others, those who have moved into their ancient homeland; but Iza cannot leave the girl to die and takes her with them. Iza and Creb, the old Mog-ur, grow to love her, and as Ayla learns the ways of the Clan and Iza’s way of healing, most come to accept her. But the brutal and proud youth who is destined to become their next leader sees her differences as a threat to his authority. He develops a deep and abiding hatred for the strange girl of the Others who lives in their midst, and is determined to get his revenge.

The Valley of Horses

Cruelly cast out by the new leader of the ancient Clan that adopted her as a child, Ayla leaves those she loves behind and travels alone through a stark, open land filled with dangerous animals but few people, searching for the Others, tall and fair like herself. The short summer gives her little time to look, and when she finds a sheltered valley with a herd of hardy steppe horses, she decides to stay and prepare for the long glacial winter ahead. Living with the Clan has taught Ayla many skills but not real hunting. She finally knows she can survive when she traps a horse, which gives her meat and a warm pelt for the winter, but fate has bestowed a greater gift, an orphaned foal with whom she develops a unique kinship.
One winter extends to more; she discovers a way to make fire more quickly and a wounded cave lion cub joins her unusual family, but her beloved animals don’t fulfill her restless need for human companionship. Then she hears the sound of a man screaming in pain. She saves tall, handsome Jondalar, who brings her a language to speak and an awakening of love and desire, but Ayla is torn between her fear of leaving her valley and her hope of living with her own kind.

A Reader's POV: Lizzie Griffiths

Welcome to our new interview which focuses on the reader's point of view, for a change! Today, we've got blonde bombshell, Lizzie Giffiths here for a chat...

Do you remember when you first started reading (without the help of your folks!)?
I read from a young age due to my mum religiously reading to me every night. My grandma would also make up little stories before bed time, which got me hooked on story telling. I think I was around five when I would happily sit and read in bed.

What was your favourite book as a child?
Enid Blyton's 'Magic Faraway Tree' and 'Mallory Towers' which my mum read as a child too! She passed it down to me.

What is your favourite genre? What is it about this genre that appeals to you so much?
I loved magical tales as a child but as I matured I fell in love with romance/drama - any story that focuses on relationships between family, friends and lovers. I am a huge fan of the classics too - Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, Rebecca, Little Women. Through these classics I can learn more about times from the past and you realise how everything is relative to the present day, even though they were written hundreds of years ago.

What's your favourite book that made it to the big screen?
Tough one! Probably Rebecca, Hitchcock was faithful to Daphne Du Maurier's mood and setting of the story, and he created the sense of vulnerability that surrounds Mrs Du Winter.

Name the last three books you read. Did you enjoy them?
Rebecca (re-read), a biography on Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Coddington's autobiography (Vogue fashion director/ex model). I love to re-read favourite books, I get more from them each time. I also love to discover more about heroines of mine through biographies/auto biographies. Elizabeth Taylor's life was extraordinary and Grace Coddington is very inspiring. She was a beautiful model who was injured in a car accident - instead of leaving the fashion world, she used her experiences as a model to create some truly stunning fashion spreads for American Vogue, which I believe are works of art!

Who is your favourite author(s)?
Daphne Du Maurier, Thomas Hardy and Suzy Turner!
;)

What book couldn't you live without?
Probably have to be Rebecca!

Name one female author you think deserves to be better known.
Suzy Turner!

lol

Do you judge a book by it's cover?
In the first instance yes, but I tend to read the first few paragraphs and by the third I know if I want to continue!

How do you choose your next book?
It depends what I'm in the mood for! My next book on my list is all about the woman's role in Roman times, an area of history I want to learn more about.

What kind of book would you like to read that you haven't seen yet? For example, a dystopian chick lit or sci-fi romantic drama?
I would like to read a less predictable chick lit... one with an ending that will shock rather than warm the heart!

What irritates you when reading a book?
Lazy use of paragraphs.

Where is your favourite place to read?
In bed or on the beach.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An author! I eventually became a published journalist, yet to finish my first novel! One day...

In the movie of your life, who would play you?

Screenshot from the awesome movie, Roxanne

Darryl Hannah in her younger years.

Speed Round...Top drink to make you tipsy? Margarita!
Shopaholic or shopadon't? Total shopaholic
Sky high heels or closer to the ground? Closer to the ground, I'm 5'9.
E.L. James or Jilly Cooper? Depends on my mood, Jilly when on holiday, EL James during the working week!
Cry baby or tough cookie? Cry baby.

I am Lizzie and I currently live in Birmingham, England. I work in social media and marketing for a beautiful and unique wedding and conference venue, Fazeley Studios. It's an inspiring place to work - architecturally stunning with a combination of period and modern design and is home to creative businesses too.
I graduated in journalism and got my first job out of university in Portugal where I worked as a news reporter and features writer. I still have a real passion for writing and my current mission is to make more time for writing, which I find difficult when working full time, having been in front of a computer all day!
I have recently lost a lot of weight, through sensible lifestyle changes rather than a faddy diet. I plan to start a blog to chronicle my journey in getting healthier and changing my lifestyle for good. Watch this space!
I am a proud auntie to Erin and George, and love nothing more than being surrounded by family and friends but also love to indulge in downtime on my own.
Find Lizzie on Twitter
Fazeley Studios Website