donna_t's review
adventurous
dark
3.0
"To build a fire"
London masterfully crafted a sense of inevitability of the occuring tragedy. You know the man is dead from the start, and slowly, slowly with each step he advances towards that fate. There are brief moments of hope when it seems like he can still be saved, but in the end he is doomed. Only the dog survives as a witness to his struggle.
The story showcases how the cold is not so much hostile as it is indifferent to us. That's its own special brand of horror.
Spoiler
London masterfully crafted a sense of inevitability of the occuring tragedy. You know the man is dead from the start, and slowly, slowly with each step he advances towards that fate. There are brief moments of hope when it seems like he can still be saved, but in the end he is doomed. Only the dog survives as a witness to his struggle.
The story showcases how the cold is not so much hostile as it is indifferent to us. That's its own special brand of horror.
selmbry's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Alcoholism and Racial slurs
louie10's review against another edition
4.0
I hadn't read these since I was in fourth or fifth grade (possibly abridged versions?), but given the effect they had on me at the time (inspiring a life-long love of reading) I thought them worth revisiting, and I was right! The brutality of the untamed wilderness and its effect on both man and animal are still powerful; still inspire in me a love for both the outdoors, dogs, and--of course--reading.
More...