“But underneath the river is the same, just as it always was.”
The Last Neanderthal by Claire Cameron is a story in two times. 40,000 years ago the last family of Neanderthals is roaming the Earth—travelling to the annual meeting place in an attempt to find a mate for the oldest daughter Girl, who is just coming of age when the story starts. But when things do not necessarily go to plan Girl and her family’s foundling, Runt must work harder than ever before. In modern times Rosamund Gale is an archaeologist excavating newly discovered Neanderthals remains while juggling the responsibilities of impending motherhood.
I will be the first one to say I did not know what a Neanderthal was before reading this book. I had heard the term thrown around but it was often meant as an insult. So while I did not really know about Neanderthals going in, I have also come out of it with everything completely changed. This book definitely challenged pieces of my worldview in ways I did not expect.
I think the best thing about this book is actually the focus on women motherhood, and feminism. It sometimes shocks me how much I read about male protagonists, and works from male authors. Neither of these things is bad, but it is a refreshing change to read about three dimensional, flawed female protagonists. Of course, I connected more with Rosamund Gale, simply because it was the sort of society I am used to—it’s what I recognize and encounter in my life, though the specific circumstances are different, of course. That said, the similarities between the two protagonists, both in their personalities as well as their respective circumstances are eerie mirrors. There are unexpected similarities for sure!
The similarities, I think, actually play into the idea Neanderthals are not too different from modern humans. This idea definitely changed my perspective, because the only thoughts I had about Neanderthals were related to the term being used as an insult to imply someone was stupid (essentially).
It is also important to note some of the differences. Well, one in particular really. The voice shift between Girl’s perspective and Rosamund’s is definitely stark. It was almost as if there were two authors, but at the same time the two perspectives worked incredibly well together. Claire Cameron definitely walked the line with multiple perspectives. This is one of my pain points in a book, and it can make me lose interest in the story, not understand where I am at in reading the story, et cetera.
Going into this book I did not know what to expect. But what I got? I got a well-balanced novel, one where I literally did not want to go to sleep one night because I just wanted to stay awake a little longer to keep reading. I got two different styles of writing that, while they definitely contrasted in significant ways, blended well to create a cohesive story. This book definitely challenged some of my views on what it means to be a human being—just like the teasers for the book said.
I am thoroughly pleased with The Last Neanderthal. I felt like, in some instances, I wanted to be an archaeologist. I felt like I was reading about powerful women. I was reminded of Indiana Jones at times, though that may have just been the archaeology connection. Regardless, I highly recommend The Last Neanderthal to just about anyone. If you do read it, tell me what you think! What/who do you really think Rosamund was uncovering? Do you think Runt is a modern human or a small Neanderthal? Would you do the same as Rosamund if you were pregnant and in a profession like hers? Let me know about all your thoughts!
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Title: The Last Neanderthal
Author: Claire Cameron
Publisher: Doubleday Canada (Penguin Random House)
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