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lelodo13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
A very difficult read, so much of the book was describing severe animal abuse and cruelty. The very few pages where Buck gets peace do not balance out the difficulty of the book. The book ending wasn't very satisfying sure, he is answering the "call of the wild," but it just fell flat
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Death
joanabotelhogomes's review against another edition
4.0
I found this read harder than I expected. Animal cruelty and pain somehow always feels worse than any kind we inflict upon each other as humans. I don’t remember the last time I cried reading a book and I cried at least twice reading this, that’s how much Buck’s story touched me. His relationship with John Thornton was particularly beautiful but his “call of the wild” felt right as well. I didn’t love how it came to fruition but I enjoyed the ending of the story.
abhishekjain's review against another edition
4.0
The story is gripping. Be ready to have adrenaline rush through your veins when you visualize Buck as you read. It is sad, brutally satisfying and primal.
I recommend this book.
I recommend this book.
thaurisil's review against another edition
4.0
Buck, a dog living a comfortable if pampered life in Judge Miller’s household, is sold by one of the servants during the Klondike gold rush. He learns the law of club and fang – the supremacy of the animal that fights best, and the dominance of man over all. Tenacious and hardworking, he fights his way to become the leader of a pack of dogs working in the mail service to the Arctic under Perrault and Francois. The pack is sold one day to Charles, Hal and Mercedes, who are in the Yukon for the thrill of it without knowing what they have gotten themselves into. The inexperienced triplet end up starving the dogs and killing all of them, including themselves. Buck, the sole survivor, is rescued by John Thornton. This is a hardy, down-to-earth man, who shows Buck love for the first time in his life. Buck responds with utmost loyalty. Yet in this time he starts hearing the call of the wild, and begins making more frequent and longer adventures into the wild where he meets wolves and even kills a moose. When Thornton is killed, Buck returns to his primal roots and gains dominance as the leader of the wolf pack.
Jack London was himself caught up in the gold rush to the Klondike river, and returned with no gold. One of the few men of adventure skilled in writing stories, his stories about the wild demonstrate a vividness that those who have never roughed it out or experienced the worst climates can ever portray accurately. The Call of the Wild is a sort of coming-of-age story, but not in the way we are accustomed to. Buck matures not the way a human being would, but the way a dog who has grown up in civilisation matures to adopt the primordial wildness that characterised its ancestors of old. The values of a wild dog are different from those of a household dog, not to mention mankind. Buck is fine not because he is polite or loyal or charming, but because he has pride, spirit and courage. He learns the discipline of the law of club and fang well, yet he truly matures when he kills the men who killed Thornton, thus achieving ultimate dominance.
Yet this book is not merely about savagery and disinhibition. There are several heartwarming moments in the book. Dave’s death, for example, was heartbreaking. A dog who loved to toil, he worked to his death, preferring to break his body than to break his pride. Yet he eventually could not keep up due to ill-health, and had to be put down. Then there is the love between Thornton and Buck, the love that keeps Buck returning to Thornton time and again, saving his life a few times, despite the irresistible, unexplainable impulse that calls Buck to return to his natural roots. This is the last tie between Buck and man, the tie that resembles the loyalty that tame dogs are commonly characterised by, the tie that, when broken, finally allows Buck freedom.
Jack London was himself caught up in the gold rush to the Klondike river, and returned with no gold. One of the few men of adventure skilled in writing stories, his stories about the wild demonstrate a vividness that those who have never roughed it out or experienced the worst climates can ever portray accurately. The Call of the Wild is a sort of coming-of-age story, but not in the way we are accustomed to. Buck matures not the way a human being would, but the way a dog who has grown up in civilisation matures to adopt the primordial wildness that characterised its ancestors of old. The values of a wild dog are different from those of a household dog, not to mention mankind. Buck is fine not because he is polite or loyal or charming, but because he has pride, spirit and courage. He learns the discipline of the law of club and fang well, yet he truly matures when he kills the men who killed Thornton, thus achieving ultimate dominance.
Yet this book is not merely about savagery and disinhibition. There are several heartwarming moments in the book. Dave’s death, for example, was heartbreaking. A dog who loved to toil, he worked to his death, preferring to break his body than to break his pride. Yet he eventually could not keep up due to ill-health, and had to be put down. Then there is the love between Thornton and Buck, the love that keeps Buck returning to Thornton time and again, saving his life a few times, despite the irresistible, unexplainable impulse that calls Buck to return to his natural roots. This is the last tie between Buck and man, the tie that resembles the loyalty that tame dogs are commonly characterised by, the tie that, when broken, finally allows Buck freedom.
weaverthegodling's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-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? It's complicated
2.75
crafryk8e's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Pros:
-It was told through the point of view of the dog. But without turning the dog into a human by making it talk or act out of the norm of an animal
- this book pulled at your heart and made you question your understanding of dogs
- immediately hugged my dog when it was over.
Cons:
- Some of Buck’s dreams about the caveman seemed odd. Since the wild is what was calling him…not being owned by another human. Maybe I just misinterpreted that though.
I did not expect to get sucked into this book the way that I did. It’s completely outside my normal reading.
But I really enjoyed it.
-It was told through the point of view of the dog. But without turning the dog into a human by making it talk or act out of the norm of an animal
- this book pulled at your heart and made you question your understanding of dogs
- immediately hugged my dog when it was over.
Cons:
- Some of Buck’s dreams about the caveman seemed odd. Since the wild is what was calling him…not being owned by another human. Maybe I just misinterpreted that though.
I did not expect to get sucked into this book the way that I did. It’s completely outside my normal reading.
But I really enjoyed it.
pia_hejgaard's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0