Reviews

The Call of the Wild (Classic Starts Series) by Jack London, Oliver Ho

olya_hakob's review against another edition

This short tale captures the journey of a dog transitioning from domesticated life to the unforgiving wilderness, where survival reigns supreme. We witness Buck’s adaptation to the "law of club and fang," toughening him against the Nordic climate and the harsh realities of the wild. The story reveals greedy people risking their and the dog’s lives because they don't know what they're doing, but it also highlights a special connection between humans and animals. The exploration of the "call of the wild" theme is compelling: we see how societal norms and priorities can shift in challenging conditions, exposing the darker facets of the involved creatures. Some of the concepts were outdated, like the author's understanding of evolution, leading to some confusion regarding take-home messages. Overall, the language was simple yet vivid and I could connect to the characters and imagine the landscapes.

ingread27's review against another edition

5.0

It’s not often that a book has me clutching at my heart and covering my eyes as I listen to it. For Jack London to generate sympathy and emotion in a book from the viewpoint of a dog is incredible. As a dog lover, it was really hard to listen to at times, and yet I could not pull myself away. A feast for the senses, and gloriously written, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

smusie's review against another edition

3.0

Nice doggie turns primordial ur-wolf. Classic, of course--but a bit heavy on the ancestral memory stuff. I prefer London's short story "Brown Wolf." Same themes, but more understated, and told from the human point of view.

P.S. Why is Goodreads asking me if there is a strong male character in this book? There's a "what is this?" button but it's not working. Is there some shortage I don't know about?

lilliankeys's review against another edition

5.0

This is a great book to read with kids. I read it for my 7th graders and they loved it.

lisakerd's review against another edition

1.0

If you love dogs, probably don’t read this book.

rlaybourn730's review against another edition

adventurous challenging inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

jeanstromberg's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

runic_randomness's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

newcombe74's review against another edition

adventurous dark relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

rhmunch512's review against another edition

4.0

liked it a lot more than i thought i would, the beginning was good, middle was great, ending wasn't as good. i would recommend it though, one of my favorite summer reading assignments!