Saturday, February 8

Book Review: The Call of the Wild by Jack London


Author: Jack London
The Call of the Wild
Title: The Call of the Wild
Genre: Classics, Fiction, Adventure, YA
Format: ebook
Pages: 172 
Published: 1903
Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon freebie)



Based on London's experiences as a gold prospector in the Canadian wilderness and his ideas about nature and the struggle for existence, The Call of the Wild is a tale about unbreakable spirit and the fight for survival in the frozen Alaskan Klondike.



I guess this is becoming a movie this month so it sparked my interest to read the book. I feel like I read this back in the day. Not sure...or maybe I just had read excerpts.. 

The story follows Buck who had the life of luxury with his human family. One day he is dognapped by someone who needed the money. Buck is sold and finds his way in the wilderness pulling sleds for gold prospectors. He becomes progressively feral in the harsh environment, where he is forced to fight to survive and dominate other dogs and his new world. 

This had me in tears a few times. Poor Buck! Poor other dogs! Heck I even felt bad for John (who was the only human I actually liked in the end). Humans suck!!! These poor dogs. Yes, they were proud of themselves and liked pulling the sled. But there is a limit. I was happy the moment Buck got away. 

HOW is this a kid's book? Lots of violence and death. Maybe I'm more sensitive to it because it is about dogs, but ugh my heart. Poor things treated like slaves for the greed of men. There ARE a couple versions of this book floating around...so maybe kids read the edited version. The version I read was pretty graphic in some points. I know as a kid I would've cried as much as I did at certain aspects. Especially the part with the ice. Damn fools! *shakes fist*

This was really, really good and it really captured my attention. The author, as usual, has a way with his writing that captures you. I was totally hooked from page one and got this done in two sittings (damn work getting the way of my reading life). 

I loved the messages of perseverance in this. Lovely! 

Honestly, I doubt I'll watch the movie anytime soon, because after watching the trailer the story seems SOOOOOOOOOOO different. And I feel it takes away from Buck and his journey to becoming one with the wild.

In the end, I highly recommend this. There is some darkness, but there is hope and the end will get ya! It is quick and will get you right at the heart. 5 stars. 






4 comments:

Blodeuedd said...

I might have read it, I an't remember

Carole Rae said...

It's short-ish so I for recommend.

Sophia Rose said...

I read it in junior high lit and bawled my eyes out. I saw a movie adaption of it done in the eighties with Ethan Hawk and barely recognized the story. My husband wants to see the Harrison Ford version so we'll probably go.

Carole Rae said...

You'll have to let me know how it goes! I am soooo on the fence.