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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I last read this book as a sophomore in high school (approximately ten years ago - oh my!). At the time I read it in high school, I remember really enjoying it (my previous rating on Goodreads was 4 stars). I also remember that I was in the minority among my class mates with that opinion. Now rereading it years later I am able to better understand why it wasn't a widely liked book.
In The Call of the Wild, London shows us Buck's journey from civilized California to the rough and tumble wilds of Alaska. Buck is transported from his world of ease and control to a world of work and hardship. A world where he moves between masters until he is finally free to join the wild back of the wolves. In the copy I read a preface which included biographical information about London which I found enlightening. London's connection with animals and his experiences with animal abuse definitely provide a foundation for the bleak tones and violent descriptions of abuse Buck experiences during his journey.
As a whole, Call of the Wild definitely highlights darker aspects of humanity. It does no glamorize the gold rush or romanticize mans relationship with animals. There are instances throughout London's writings where prejudice and problematic issues appear. As 21st century readers it can be easy to dismiss the value of a story because of these points. I think it can be argued that we actually receive more value from the story because of our modern view points than even London could have ever intended at the time of his writing.
There's a lot to be pondered by this story. Man's lust for material possessions and wealth. Selfish-ness. Buck's journey - is it an evolution or de-evolution. Grappling with the problematic issues, and addressing the darkest aspects of humanity. On its own I think it is to short to really delve into this issues, but when combined with historical background, theological and philosophical understanding, and human conversation there can be much gleaned from these short pages.
In The Call of the Wild, London shows us Buck's journey from civilized California to the rough and tumble wilds of Alaska. Buck is transported from his world of ease and control to a world of work and hardship. A world where he moves between masters until he is finally free to join the wild back of the wolves. In the copy I read a preface which included biographical information about London which I found enlightening. London's connection with animals and his experiences with animal abuse definitely provide a foundation for the bleak tones and violent descriptions of abuse Buck experiences during his journey.
As a whole, Call of the Wild definitely highlights darker aspects of humanity. It does no glamorize the gold rush or romanticize mans relationship with animals. There are instances throughout London's writings where prejudice and problematic issues appear. As 21st century readers it can be easy to dismiss the value of a story because of these points. I think it can be argued that we actually receive more value from the story because of our modern view points than even London could have ever intended at the time of his writing.
There's a lot to be pondered by this story. Man's lust for material possessions and wealth. Selfish-ness. Buck's journey - is it an evolution or de-evolution. Grappling with the problematic issues, and addressing the darkest aspects of humanity. On its own I think it is to short to really delve into this issues, but when combined with historical background, theological and philosophical understanding, and human conversation there can be much gleaned from these short pages.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Well-written, engaging, and horrific description of the life of Buck (a dog stolen and enslaved as a sled dog) in Buck's POV. Many descriptions of animal abuse.
Some classics don't quite stand the test of time. The dialogue comes off as stilted, psychological depth is lacking, and it's just not plain fun to read anymore. Nothing of the sort occurs with The Call of the Wild. This is a lean and mean novel about a dog named Buck who is kidnapped and made to be a sled dog and discovers his primal nature in the process.
London shows both the mercilessness of both man and the wilderness. He manages to sketch out secondary characters without making them cliches and gives the dogs a cogent personality. Never a sentimentalist, London is merciless as Buck learns to succumb to the laws of man, and then the laws of nature.
Even though The Call of the Wild has depth and a philosophical point of view, like the stories or Robert Louis Stevenson, it is first and foremost and adventure tale, so we barrel down the Alaskan tundra with Buck and his fellow sled dogs, facing all sorts of dangers and internal uprisings.
Buck, as a canine character, actually grows and learns to the difference between respecting a man for the kind of man he is and respecting the authority a man wields but not the man himself.
It's a quick read but a great one and a perfect introduction to literature for the younger set
London shows both the mercilessness of both man and the wilderness. He manages to sketch out secondary characters without making them cliches and gives the dogs a cogent personality. Never a sentimentalist, London is merciless as Buck learns to succumb to the laws of man, and then the laws of nature.
Even though The Call of the Wild has depth and a philosophical point of view, like the stories or Robert Louis Stevenson, it is first and foremost and adventure tale, so we barrel down the Alaskan tundra with Buck and his fellow sled dogs, facing all sorts of dangers and internal uprisings.
Buck, as a canine character, actually grows and learns to the difference between respecting a man for the kind of man he is and respecting the authority a man wields but not the man himself.
It's a quick read but a great one and a perfect introduction to literature for the younger set
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"He sings a song of the younger world, which is the song of the pack." The "K" in Alaska stands for "Buck".
Themes in this story that are beautifully displayed:
· experiencing things for the first time; beginnings
· animal narrator
· animal bonds
· the so-called law of the jungle
· the hero's journey (as explained by Campbell); from underdog to Rain King
Other books I've read which bear a resemblance to Buck's story:
– John Steinbeck's The Pearl: the power of songs/calls, fable
– Kipling's The Jungle Book: law of the jungle, the power of the pack
– Saul Bellow's Henderson the Rain King: hero trials
– Palahniuk's Fight Club: collective consciousness, leadership, the turn of the extension of man
Here is my two cents (through quotes) of what might have caught Chris McCandless' attention when reading London's book:
What he escaped from:
- "No fair play. Once down, that was the end of you."
- "The toil of the traces seemed the supreme expression of their being, and all that they lived for and the only thing in which they took delight."
What he craved:
– "There is an ecstasy that marks the summit of life, and beyond which life cannot rise. And such is the paradox of living, this ecstasy comes when one is most alive, and it comes as a complete forgetfulness that one is alive. . . . He was sounding the deeps of his nature, and of the parts of his nature that were deeper than he, going back into the womb of Time."
– "Why such as they should adventure the North is part of the mystery of things that passes understanding." (Here McCandless probably wanted to find out what it was that the North held)
– "He was unafraid of the wild. With a handful of salt and a rifle he could plunge into the wilderness and fare wherever he pleased and as long as he pleased, being in no haste."
– "He became a thing of the wild."
Lastly, the palindrome dog/god is ever so relevant here. And the very existence of this only makes the unity of effect in this story more powerful and meaningful.
Themes in this story that are beautifully displayed:
· experiencing things for the first time; beginnings
· animal narrator
· animal bonds
· the so-called law of the jungle
· the hero's journey (as explained by Campbell); from underdog to Rain King
Other books I've read which bear a resemblance to Buck's story:
– John Steinbeck's The Pearl: the power of songs/calls, fable
– Kipling's The Jungle Book: law of the jungle, the power of the pack
– Saul Bellow's Henderson the Rain King: hero trials
– Palahniuk's Fight Club: collective consciousness, leadership, the turn of the extension of man
Here is my two cents (through quotes) of what might have caught Chris McCandless' attention when reading London's book:
What he escaped from:
- "No fair play. Once down, that was the end of you."
- "The toil of the traces seemed the supreme expression of their being, and all that they lived for and the only thing in which they took delight."
What he craved:
– "There is an ecstasy that marks the summit of life, and beyond which life cannot rise. And such is the paradox of living, this ecstasy comes when one is most alive, and it comes as a complete forgetfulness that one is alive. . . . He was sounding the deeps of his nature, and of the parts of his nature that were deeper than he, going back into the womb of Time."
– "Why such as they should adventure the North is part of the mystery of things that passes understanding." (Here McCandless probably wanted to find out what it was that the North held)
– "He was unafraid of the wild. With a handful of salt and a rifle he could plunge into the wilderness and fare wherever he pleased and as long as he pleased, being in no haste."
– "He became a thing of the wild."
Lastly, the palindrome dog/god is ever so relevant here. And the very existence of this only makes the unity of effect in this story more powerful and meaningful.
I love this book so much, for so many reasons. As a child, I used to open this book to the scene where Buck pulls a thousand pounds for John and read it over and over again. Simply wonderful
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This was required reading this year for my LA class, and it was honestly WAY better than I expected. I also wouldn't have picked it up if it wasn't required reading, so I thank my LA teacher for making me read this classic. It makes me want to read White Fang. Also, I kinda want to see the movie adaption that is being made this year (and not just 'cause it has Harrison Ford in it).