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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Fast paced, thinking (and talking) animals, decent writing, and scenes that make a reader cringe, this quick read is full of delight. Perhaps it is due to when this book was written, but I found the transitions in the story itself a bit clunky, which impacted by enjoyment. Perhaps this was just me. I really did like this book overall.
If you like dogs and action, then give this book a read for sure. Even if Narnia isn't your jam, this book likely has fruit bearing in it for you as well.
If you like dogs and action, then give this book a read for sure. Even if Narnia isn't your jam, this book likely has fruit bearing in it for you as well.
medium-paced
sad
Red this book when I was 13 years old. One of my all time favs! The movie might break me though.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
I thought I had read this book as a middle schooler, but I definitely did not. I am also surprised that this book is so commonly taught because there is a spectacular amount of violence in the story.
This book reminded me of Black Beauty because it discusses the inhumane working conditions for working animals. There's a mixture of cruel, incompetent, competent but on a deadline, and pet owners here. The book definitely makes the argument that when a dog is well-treated and taken care of under knowledgeable ownership that dogs can accomplish a lot more work efficiently and without it shortening the dog's life. I wonder if this book had as much impact on sled dogs working as Black Beauty had on treatment of horses.
This book reminded me of Black Beauty because it discusses the inhumane working conditions for working animals. There's a mixture of cruel, incompetent, competent but on a deadline, and pet owners here. The book definitely makes the argument that when a dog is well-treated and taken care of under knowledgeable ownership that dogs can accomplish a lot more work efficiently and without it shortening the dog's life. I wonder if this book had as much impact on sled dogs working as Black Beauty had on treatment of horses.
fast-paced
Somehow, unlike everyone else, I never had to read The Call of the Wild in elementary school. The book follows Buck, a St. Bernard and Border Collie mix, who goes from a comfortable life in sunny California to the treacherous, frigid climes of the far north, where he's made to serve as a sled dog.
Buck adapts swiftly to the change, and, although it's harsh, he develops a sense of belonging in the bitter, wild environment to which he's come. His behavior becomes less moral, and is instead governed by cold necessity, and the unscrupulous rules of survival. In short, Buck excels in his new life, as he is transferred from one master to another.
I am deeply grateful that I didn't have to read this as a child. Honestly, it nearly bored me silly these last few days. If I was still young and impressionable about literature, I would have been depressed to think that this was the best the classics had to offer.
Why? First, it's poorly written. I know it's over one hundred years old, but the syntax is PAINFUL. I haven't encountered such awkward phrasing in contemporary novels. Example:
"And women there are who become sad when the word goes over the fire of how the evil spirit came to select that valley for an abiding-place." Ugh.
Or, "The tent they had discarded at Dyea in order to travel light."
Or even, "Buck was knocked backward and the lash laid upon him again and again, while Spitz soundly punished the many times offending Pike."
Yep. Kids are forced to read this. I know, I'm nit-picking, but there are better books.
The theme itself, of a buried, innate desire for creatures to return to a primal past, does not translate well into our modern thinking. London was writing when people believed in a collective consciousness, and there are too many sappy-seeming moments in the novel when Buck discovers some new talent out of his ancient memory, or when he stares off into the distance, imagining himself beside a hairy man who squats beside a fire when he's not swinging through the trees (this is when Buck is "remembering" man's ancestors, and yes, his memory really includes the acrobatic ape-man). To me, such heavy reliance on the collective psyche for plot movement reads almost like a fantasy book: The story's primary points feel too far-fetched for me to accept them as real-world scenarios, which is what I believe London had in mind.
There were some glowing moments, including the descriptions of the horrible conditions in north, and the tough men who endured such misery, and also including Buck's relationship with John Thornton. I do think it's time to consider some stronger books for elementary school reading, however.
Buck adapts swiftly to the change, and, although it's harsh, he develops a sense of belonging in the bitter, wild environment to which he's come. His behavior becomes less moral, and is instead governed by cold necessity, and the unscrupulous rules of survival. In short, Buck excels in his new life, as he is transferred from one master to another.
I am deeply grateful that I didn't have to read this as a child. Honestly, it nearly bored me silly these last few days. If I was still young and impressionable about literature, I would have been depressed to think that this was the best the classics had to offer.
Why? First, it's poorly written. I know it's over one hundred years old, but the syntax is PAINFUL. I haven't encountered such awkward phrasing in contemporary novels. Example:
"And women there are who become sad when the word goes over the fire of how the evil spirit came to select that valley for an abiding-place." Ugh.
Or, "The tent they had discarded at Dyea in order to travel light."
Or even, "Buck was knocked backward and the lash laid upon him again and again, while Spitz soundly punished the many times offending Pike."
Yep. Kids are forced to read this. I know, I'm nit-picking, but there are better books.
The theme itself, of a buried, innate desire for creatures to return to a primal past, does not translate well into our modern thinking. London was writing when people believed in a collective consciousness, and there are too many sappy-seeming moments in the novel when Buck discovers some new talent out of his ancient memory, or when he stares off into the distance, imagining himself beside a hairy man who squats beside a fire when he's not swinging through the trees (this is when Buck is "remembering" man's ancestors, and yes, his memory really includes the acrobatic ape-man). To me, such heavy reliance on the collective psyche for plot movement reads almost like a fantasy book: The story's primary points feel too far-fetched for me to accept them as real-world scenarios, which is what I believe London had in mind.
There were some glowing moments, including the descriptions of the horrible conditions in north, and the tough men who endured such misery, and also including Buck's relationship with John Thornton. I do think it's time to consider some stronger books for elementary school reading, however.
3.5 stars.
Dog people, don't hate me! Be assured, this lower rating is NOT due to literary displeasure, bad plotting, dog hatred, etc. In fact I found this book to be really beautifully written, fast-paced, and surprisingly allegorical. The Audible version was on super sale, so it seemed an apt story to enjoy while getting some laundry done on an appropriately frigid afternoon. Nevertheless, it turns out I am too much of a cat person for this tale to have struck any kind of profound chord within me. I didn't particularly enjoy it, but I did appreciate it. And let's be honest, something would have to be terribly wrong with me to not have found that ending really satisfying. Go Buck!
Dog people, don't hate me! Be assured, this lower rating is NOT due to literary displeasure, bad plotting, dog hatred, etc. In fact I found this book to be really beautifully written, fast-paced, and surprisingly allegorical. The Audible version was on super sale, so it seemed an apt story to enjoy while getting some laundry done on an appropriately frigid afternoon. Nevertheless, it turns out I am too much of a cat person for this tale to have struck any kind of profound chord within me. I didn't particularly enjoy it, but I did appreciate it. And let's be honest, something would have to be terribly wrong with me to not have found that ending really satisfying. Go Buck!