Reviews

The Call of the Wild By Jack London by Jack London

annaliseh's review against another edition

1.0

never forgiving my english teacher for making me read this!!

jencunn2024's review against another edition

4.0

This is the first time I’ve listened and it wasn’t bad but I think I prefer reading Jack London. Still love this story and I think naive read it maybe a dozen times or so before this. Can’t wait to go see the film now and maybe refresh on some more Jack London as well.

alyssapierce's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring fast-paced

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

4.5

sallyamackenzie's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

3.25

We don’t deserve dogs.

alienbrainwave's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

acertaineh's review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

galois's review against another edition

adventurous reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Some might read it as a story about shirking civilization and returning to primitivism, but I read it as a rebuke of capitalism and a progression towards socialism.
Buck represents a proletarian, and humans represent capitalists. Each of Buck’s owners demonstrate a different fault that can arise from a capitalist organization of a business. John Thornton, the most benevolent owner, represents social democracy, the best form of capitalism; yet even this is flawed, as it can be overtaken/destroyed by another capitalist organization. The only solution is for Buck to create his own economic organization: socialism.
Buck’s system shirks capital and is resistant to encroachment by the bourgeoisie. Unlike Buck’s previous systems of oppression which could be overturned by a sufficiently large sum of cash, the *only* way to tame Buck and his new system is by overwhelmingly violent means.
And I want to reiterate, “The Call of the Wild” is an incredibly gripping story in & of itself, but my experience is only improved by the enjoyment of interpreting it in this way. Highly recommend!

ogoz's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

croctears's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

readwithharry's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

I finished this in about 4 hours - and I sobbed when I finished it. I hadn't expected such a short novel to pack such a punch, but it totally did. London's writing left me with a new respect for nature, and for the far north wilderness and the creatures that survive it. It's the literary equivalent of watching a David Attenborough documentary.