The Call of the Wild (Reader's Library Classics)

The Call of the Wild by Jack London is better today than it was when I was younger. I’ve read it several times over the years but this is the first time listening to an audio of it. I listened to the version narrated by Roger Dressler and quite enjoyed it, as I listened in one sitting. One of the things I love about this story is that our narrator in the story is Buck, a Saint Bernard/shepard mix, I believe it gives us a unique perspective and insight into his world that we otherwise wouldn’t see if the story was told from a human perspective. I would recommend this as it is a classic however, just know there is animal cruelty.

I read this book as a child when it was suggested to me by not only my family, but by my school. I’m not certain how old I was, but I’m certain that I wasn’t out of grade school. Of course, this was a different time when we found different priorities and I suppose my reading level was more important than my not finding the book I was reading to be full of sadness. Doesn’t most children love dogs and find animal abuse horrifying? I know that I certainly did, but once you start a book like this there’s no quitting it. So anyone who has not read this book and thinks it’s a good adventure book to give to a small child, I suggest you read it first. I was a tough kid, it was okay, just not what I expected as a child hoping for adventure.It is a good book though, good enough for me to want to put it in my reviews and even skim it again. The story is set during the Klondike gold rush when a big and beautiful pet is stolen from a ranch in California to be used as a sled dog.Buck’s life changes overnight from being pampered to being beaten by humans and bullied by other dogs. The temperature drops practically overnight, and Buck must learn to adapt to living in freezing conditions and snow with no shelter and very little food. He learns the pecking order fast, and learns that he doesn’t want to be submissive.When they reach their destination the dogs are starved and further abused, but Buck is fortunate and is saved by a kind man that he forms a new bond with. That was one of my favorite parts of the book.This is still a classic and good for young adults, but not for children imo.

For a book of the time it is a quick, easy read. It is a sad story much alike black beauty. This book can be brutal and gruesome, much as one would expect of a book about the Alaskan frontier. An interesting story that likely had truths from the lives of many dogs that led a hard life beside men into the frontier. Shorter than I thought it would be but is neither good nor bad, but when trying to make your way through classics this is a nice easier read between many of the mentally draining works on the list.

Great read- bought for my 8th grader's class to read. It is a wonderful book.

Though this book was required reading when I was in high school, I have just reread it and find it to be absolutely brutal

A story of leadership, the struggle to stay there and the joy of freedom from restraints of the daily regime. Wlf

The Call of the Wild, by Jack LondonBuck was born into a pampered life of civilization. He was raised in the south with a big family; 3 generations worth. But unfortunately, one of the men who worked on the farm was a gambler, and like most gamblers, he often lost; had mouths to feed and debts to pay. So one night, that man decided to kidnap Buck and sell him to another man for a few bills--I say "kidnap", but that word is not quite appropriate: Buck is not a child, but a dog, and because gold has been found in Alaska, large dogs like him are bringing a premium price in Alaska.Immediately upon arrival at his destination, Buck is beaten into submission by a club-wielding man in a red sweater. This is his first introduction to the law of the wild; with might comes law.Not long after he has been purchased to join a dog-sled team, a fight breaks out between the team leader and a different new dog named Curly. The fight ends with Curly's death. This is his second introduction to the law of the wild; mercy is a weakness.Because of his natural tendencies towards pride, he himself gets into a lot of fights with the team leader. However, he is much to cunning to bring it to an immediate stand-up battle; instead, he reinforces the other dogs' tendencies towards anarchy, bringing down the efficiency of the pack overall. This irritates the team leader to no end.Finally, they have it out, and Buck emerges triumphant; the old team leader is never heard from again. Buck takes his earned place (by virtue of his might) as the new team leader, and immediately brings the other dogs back into line. Their efficiency becomes so great that they set a new record on a run.The rest of the story continues on, and Buck slowly slips further and further away from civilization; following the call of the wild, he eventually joins with a pack of wolves.As a favorite quote of mine proclaims, "beneath the veneer of civility, we're all children of Cain." Nowhere (to my knowledge) is this thought further explored than in this book. It is both a great story, and an interesting look at just how easily it would be for civilization to fall away. Really, excluding all of our neat gadgets, not much has changed: all of our vaunted rules and mores exist merely because we're much too afraid to venture out alone at night.Memorable Quote:Faithfulness and devotion, things born of fire and roof, were his; yet he retained his wildness and wiliness. He was a thing of the wild, come in from the wild to sit by John Thornton's fire.For more reviews like this, please check out my profile!

This is one of my favorite novels of all time, and I wanted to put a copy in our town's Little Free Library. I ordered this edition, and to my dismay it had a really weird layout. It was formatted more like a magazine than a book, but hopefully, someone will read and enjoy it.