White Fang

Dec 29, 2011

Moira rated it

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Je strašně málo knih, které ve mně dokáží probudit divoké emoce, které mě nejen nahlas rozesmějí, ale také rozpláčou a doženou k úzkosti. Znáte Bílého tesáka? Znáte jeho příběh? Nemyslím si, že je mnoho lidí, kteří by jej neznali. Já sama na jeho příběhu vyrůstala. A přesto, přestože jsem to četla už šestkrát, stále jsem z toho příběhu znovu a znovu nadšená, stále se dokážu smát stejně jako plakat. Stále je to příběh, který v mém srdíčku zachovává zvláštní místečko.

Bílý tesák je reál...moreJe strašně málo knih, které ve mně dokáží probudit divoké emoce, které mě nejen nahlas rozesmějí, ale také rozpláčou a doženou k úzkosti. Znáte Bílého tesáka? Znáte jeho příběh? Nemyslím si, že je mnoho lidí, kteří by jej neznali. Já sama na jeho příběhu vyrůstala. A přesto, přestože jsem to četla už šestkrát, stále jsem z toho příběhu znovu a znovu nadšená, stále se dokážu smát stejně jako plakat. Stále je to příběh, který v mém srdíčku zachovává zvláštní místečko.

Bílý tesák je reálný příběh, naprosto skutečný. Většinou nemám ráda příběhy z reálného prostředí, protože se nedokážu doopravdy začíst. Ale Bílý tesák... to je jednoduše úplně jiná kategorie.

London dokázal napsat příběh, který vás strhne. Napsal příběh křížence vlka a psa, popsal jeho život a vystavil ho tolika okolnostem a zážitkům, až je to neuvěřitelné. Ten pes, Bílý tesák, nám ukazuje špatnou stránku lidské společnosti stejně jako tu dobrou. Ano, děj se odehrává o dvě století dříve. Avšak problémy, které London popisuje, jsou bohužel stále aktuální. I když ne tak zřejmé. Přestože je Bílý tesák jen pes, mnohdy se chová s udivující inteligencí, ne nepodobné člověčí. Mnohdy se chová stokrát lépe, než ten člověk.

Netuším, na jakých základech London tento příběh psal. Nevím, z jakých zdrojů, kromě svých vlastních zkušeností, vycházel. Ale... ani se mi nad věrohodností nechce přemýšlet. Nechci vědět, zda se psi a vlci tak opravdu chovají. Netuším, zda se indiáni na severu opravdu takto chovali. Záleží mi totiž jen na tom, co se děje Bílému tesákovi. Opravdu záleží. Já jsem si ho totiž doslova zamilovala.

Postupem příběhu se zdá, že se celá atmosféra knihy zatemňuje, že vyplouvá na povrch to nejhorší, co můžeme čekat. A přestože je to přesně věc, kterou na knihách miluji, protože právě v ty chvíle autoři ze sebe vydávají vše... byla jsem zděšená. Když jsem četla, co se děje Bílému tesákovi... nechtělo se mi. Nechtělo se mi číst, co vše si ještě musí vytrpět. A proto je kniha tak dobrá. Jelikož se mnou opravdu zamávala.

Knihu doporučuju každému, kdo se nebojí přečíst si nejen veselou knížku, kde si hlavní hrdinka nezlomí ani nehet (nebo v tom horším případě si ten nehet zlomí), ale všem, kteří milují strhující příběhy a nevadí jim zvířecí společník v hlavní roli. A samozřejmě je neurazí i nějaký ten slušný příběh. :)(less)

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Apr 17, 2009

Kit rated it

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book was very depressing. It tells about how a puppy wolf who is 1/4th dog comes to be owned by humans. He is beaten into submission by his owner and by the other dogs in the pack, but because he is so intelligent he learns to fight back with the dogs and becomes a threat. His next owner tricks is first owner to sell him for whisky, and his new owner uses him as a fighting dog. He is either always in a cage or lokced up with a chain. He becomes a vicious fighter and hates everyone and every...more

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Dec 09, 2008

Discoverylover rated it

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Shelves: books-read-2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 11, 2009

Jade rated it

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not to treat animals,earth humans or anything
with disrespect. We are all equal.
Animals and pets don't choose thier owners, we
choose them.
Animals don't know if thier owner is mean, nice, neglctive, they get good owners out of luck.

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Feb 07, 2011

Lindsay rated it

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Shelves: audiobooks, librivox

Excellent! I liked it more the further into it I got!

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Jan 23, 2009

Nathan rated it

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Perhaps the best characterization I've ever seen of a London fan is in the first few pages of "Into the Wild": "crackpots from the lower forty-eight who come north to live out ill-considered Jack London fantasies." Reading London makes you want to go to Alaska - plain and simple.
"White Fang" goes against London's typical "nature vs. nurture" model (set forth in "To Build a Fire" and "The Call of the Wild"), and instead puts redem...more

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Dec 07, 2008

Liam rated it

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The book White Fang was about a wolf dog. It is broken into sections. It’s starts off with the unborn dog’s family and their pursuit of two men transporting a body across the Great North West. The two character where short lived and unimportant in the rest of the story. The next section was about White Fang growing up during a famine (famines occurred many time in this books). Then White Fang’s mother is reunited with her old Indian owner’s brother. White Fang is now left with his mom i...moreThe book White Fang was about a wolf dog. It is broken into sections. It’s starts off with the unborn dog’s family and their pursuit of two men transporting a body across the Great North West. The two character where short lived and unimportant in the rest of the story. The next section was about White Fang growing up during a famine (famines occurred many time in this books). Then White Fang’s mother is reunited with her old Indian owner’s brother. White Fang is now left with his mom in a Indian camp until they both get traded on separate occasions. White Fang however, is sold at the price not in bills but bottles. He is then used as a fighting dog and very successful until his last fight with an English bulldog that leaves his close to dead. In this moment of near death the fight is broken up White Fang’s new owner. Here White Fang falls in love with his new owner (not at first though). Then he is taken to California where he lives the rest of his day’s in peace, well oh most. Scott’s (his owner) father is a judge and is saved from a criminal he put away.
This book uses adventure and ignorance to it advantage. Like any good fiction book it makes it’s readers believe every last word. I’m just realizing the un-likeliness of this book. A dog going from the wild to, to an Indian camp, to a fighting arena, and finally to a loving home. A wolf has never been able to be domesticated over the age of 13 days, let alone go to a sub-urban home after years of wilderness and fighting. The fact that Scott was a successful gold miner in the Klondike Gold Rush which was known to kill many more people then make rich. But Mr. London does such a nice job making the reader over look these facts.
Jack London’s White Fang is a book that is nothing short of marvelous. This was a mandatory read for me when I was in the 6th grade. This was a refreshing book to read. I didn’t expect much out of this book when I read the back of the book. It seemed to me to be a desperate grab for attention from one of Oakland’s homeless (Jack London). It’s idea seemed to be one of a Disney movie. I recall making jokes about the book and purposely skipping the first few chapters. However, for some reason I picked up the book and read. It was nothing like Disney movie. I found it extremely easy to visualize as I read the book. This was one of the greatest book I have read. I would recommended it to any who is sick of a cheesy non-realistic book or any one who has lost faith in reading.(less)

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Jan 24, 2012

Vanessa Ortiz rated it

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Shelves: best-books-ever

White Fang By Vanessa Ortiz

I was first introduced to this book by my nerdy friend the librarian, she would love shoving books in my face, always recommending what she called "The best, of the best." I found the cover interesting, and the back of the book was very catchy, but little did I know I was about to open up the door to the worlds' most adventures, back-chilling, and heart warming world yet. :)

This book took me from the cold world of the Esk...more White Fang By Vanessa Ortiz

I was first introduced to this book by my nerdy friend the librarian, she would love shoving books in my face, always recommending what she called "The best, of the best." I found the cover interesting, and the back of the book was very catchy, but little did I know I was about to open up the door to the worlds' most adventures, back-chilling, and heart warming world yet. :)

This book took me from the cold world of the Eskimos, to the warm city lights of California. The story follows a young wolf pup, White Fang, through out his life. He faces many hardships, while finding the strength to survive. Born in a den, where he looses all his siblings, he slowly begins to understand the meaning of life. As a pup, he learned to hide behind the protection of his mothers wild sharp teeth, but little did he know, his mothers teeth, were tamed only to the hands of humans. Being a wolf pup, he faced much torcher, like the discrimination of the Eskimos for one, and even worse, being the outcast of the dog-pack. Force to live a solemn life of an exile, he begins to form his harsh but efficient reality.

As White Fang, develops into a full grown adult wolf, he also develops with a very harsh, independent and cold characteristic. But later on he unfolds a hidden loyalty, to Scott, his new kind owner, who teaches him about human warmth, and the kindness that can be carried in the hands of a gentle man.

Reading this book, made me want to become somewhat like him. I felt as though I wanted to be as strong and fierce as him, but to be honest going through a past like that I don't think i would have been able to trust in humans just like he did. Something I really liked about this book was the sensory language. London used a ton of descriptive sentences that made me feel as though i was really there and he actually made me feel as if I were White Fang. I could smell and hear the things he heard and I can feel the things he felt. He did a great job with that. I would really like to even write as good as he did, someday.

In the book, there is a scene where White Fang is put in a cage and is provoked into killing another dog. Although he was not aware of this at first, he was used as a "pit fighter" or in other words, used to entertain people by fighting his rival to death. I can smell the iron and salt in the blood, I can hear the humiliating laughs of the men provoking me, I can feel my four paws on the wet cold concrete floor,
I can see, the blood sprouting in all directions and the menacing smiles, and lastly I can taste the fur that has been washed to make sure no poison has been used to make sure this fight ends in a foul play, and then slowly but surely the taste of blood is washed away by the slimy, warm pulsating blood oozing out.

As for the books theme, this book has a ton, it just depends on the reader to pick out his favorite. For example,"Out of this pack-persecution he learned two important things: how to take care of himself in a mass-fight against him; and how, on a single dog, to inflict the greatest amount of damage in the briefest space of time." or "The aim of life was meat. Life itself was meat. Life lived on life. There were the eaters and the eaten. The law was: EAT OR BE EATEN. He did not formulate the law in clear, set terms and moralize about it. He did not even think the law; he merely lived the law without thinking about it at all." and finally, "His bondage had softened him. Irresponsibility had weakened him." yes, while there are many i think the most important one here, is to move forward, because no matter how horrid and painful your past is, as long as you have the motivation within yourself a brighter future awaits.

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Dec 30, 2011

Stefani rated it

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Shelves: classic, native-american-culture, arctic

Jack London books are not for the uninitiated into the world of non-superfluous writing about man's infinite struggle with nature. Several months earlier, I made a vain attempt to read "Call of the Wild," but was unable to get beyond the first few pages of tedious prose that seemed to only worsen with each turn of the page.

Despite my initial bad experience, I took a road trip to Canada earlier this week and felt that reading Jack London in preparation would be entirely aprop...moreJack London books are not for the uninitiated into the world of non-superfluous writing about man's infinite struggle with nature. Several months earlier, I made a vain attempt to read "Call of the Wild," but was unable to get beyond the first few pages of tedious prose that seemed to only worsen with each turn of the page.

Despite my initial bad experience, I took a road trip to Canada earlier this week and felt that reading Jack London in preparation would be entirely apropos for my Northlands destination, lest I should encounter any roving wolf packs or wild lynxes in the wilds of Montreal.

The stark and brutally cold landscape of Canada in the early 1900s is an "eat or be eaten" environment that defines White Fang's upbringing as a wolf-dog hybrid. From the moment of his birth, he is made aware that the harshness and unforgiving nature of the wild only rewards those that are strong and uncompromising. He is stronger, quicker and a better fighter than other dogs, causing him to be feared by others and outcast from the pack. His self-sufficency allows him survival but puts him at odds with both human kind and the assured safety of a wolf pack. Interesting metaphor for society in general.

Upon his encounter with a group of Native Americans that want to tame him, internal conflict ensues with White Fang battling his instincts as a wolf against his will to submit from his small percentage of dog heritage. Through these chapters, the story is written from the perspective of White Fang and how he views man as "gods" to be respected and submitted to.

Probably most poignant for dog lovers and those in awe of their servitude to man, White Fang is able to overcome any wild tendencies he might have with the help of a patient and loving owner, eventually traveling to live as a pet to the man who tamed him. Later on, he saves the family from grave danger causing me to think that London instilled White Fang with superhero like qualities that no ordinary dog could live up to.

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Dec 04, 2011

Sebastien rated it

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Recommends it for: Toute personne aimant la nature

Recommended to Sebastien by: Québec et Loisirs

Shelves: movie-novel

Premier roman que j'ai commencé et lu en entier. On avait un projet scolaire de lire des romans en classe, mais le 3/4 du temps je prennait n'importe quoi, je passais des page et finalement je ne finissait jamais mes livres. Je ne pensais jamais commencer à lire des romans quand finalement j'ai vu le film croc blanc par Walt Disney et ma mère qui faisait partie de Québec et Loisir, m'a alors proposé de faire venir le livre.

À ça réception je trouvais le livre épais mais de toute façon...more

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Oct 02, 2011

Cheryl rated it

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This is the first book I read on my brand new Kobo Touch.
It’s an amazing book, highly addictive. I just couldn’t put it down. Jack London writes with detail and emotion!
The story’s about a wolf named White Fang and its life through the hands of many masters. This is one of those books that transports you to another place and time while you’re reading it - a real time machine. And since it’s always told from the wolf’s point of view, sometimes it made me remember the National Geogra...more

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Jul 05, 2011

Stephanie rated it

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Shelves: classic

This review originally appeared at <a href="http://www.readinasinglesitting.com/2011/07/05/book-review-white-fang-by-jack-london/>www.readinasinglesitting.com</a>

When I was in Grade 6, my teacher decided to embark on a classics reading campaign, and White Fang was one of the choices on offer. Being your typical twelve-year-old, I gravitated straight towards the book with the dog on the cover, but was asked instead to read (a heavily abridged edition of) The Count of Mo...moreThis review originally appeared at <a href="http://www.readinasinglesitting.com/2011/07/05/book-review-white-fang-by-jack-london/>www.readinasinglesitting.com</a>

When I was in Grade 6, my teacher decided to embark on a classics reading campaign, and White Fang was one of the choices on offer. Being your typical twelve-year-old, I gravitated straight towards the book with the dog on the cover, but was asked instead to read (a heavily abridged edition of) The Count of Monte Christo. It’s only now, a good twelve or so years later (no giggling at that “or so”, please), that I’ve finally got around to Jack London at last. Unfortunately, I think this is one of those novels that I might have appreciated more as a starry-eyed, anthropomorphism-loving pre-teen.

Perhaps the most famous of London’s considerable body of work, White Fang tells the story of the life-long belittlement and abuse of the part-wolf, part-dog animal of the same name before tracing the animal’s eventual redemption at the hand of a loving master. It’s a surprisingly brutal tale in parts, with a pervasive sense of horror that’s hard to shake, but this is contrasted with a series of almost mawkishly quixotic scenes involving White Fang’s socialisation into a world of gentility and civilisation.

For me, the novel started off with immense promise, with an eerie account of two travellers in Alaska being incessantly stalked and preyed upon by a pack of desperate, slavering wolves. It’s a chilling depiction of the forces of nature versus civilisation and of the consequences of forcing ourselves upon the natural world, and the sheer horror evoked by the situation is testament to London’s skill as a writer. There’s a sense of the inexorable tread of death about it (and having done my fair share of camping I must say that I’m glad that the only large predators in my country are made up). But the novel takes a bit of a hairpin turn from there, and despite myself I found my interest waning.

The second section of the book takes us through the circumstances surrounding the birth of White Fang, and his subsequent adoption by a group of Native Americans, an experienced characterised by constant punitive discipline, to which White Fang gradually becomes accustomed, learning to fear and respect the “gods” who are his masters. But all of this seems rosy in comparison with what awaits White Fang: a thoroughly awful stint as a fighting dog against whom just about every creature found in North America is pitted. The whole nature vs civilisation thing that has been a rather salient theme throughout White Fang’s interaction with human society is highlighted when, though having achieved victory against all manner of wild animals, White Fang meets his match in a bulldog, an animal bred and socialised to ignore its natural instincts in favour of human norms.

However, although White Fang is destined for further socialisation, his experience is markedly different. The inscrutable Weedon Scott voices his objections to White Fang’s mistreatment, and takes him under his wing. And to be honest, this is the part of the book that lost me. White Fang is adopted rather than being purchased, as he was by his previous owner, and thus becomes an individual rather than a mere thing or commodity. Moreover, his new situation allows him to eschew the crude trappings of his wild past in order to reap the benefits of being a civilised, socialised creature. Not only is this a problematic notion, but this moral is so explicitly, saccharinely rendered that it’s hard to swallow. Somewhat creepily to my secular, egalitarian mind, Scott is positioned as a sort of force for good, and White Fang almost as his disciple, and not only do we end up with redemptive overtones, but those of racial/social assimilation.

On a simply mechanical level, White Fang at this point in the book become…well, effectively, a hairy human. We’re given a rather thorough analysis of White Fang, his mental state, and his actions, and it all feels a little oddly appended. I think I could have stomached this had the novel been less pointedly positioned as an allegory, or had the allegorial elements been there but not the strained anthropomorphism, but as it is it’s hard to read this without returning time and time again to the moral being expounded.

While as a novel White Fang doesn’t quite work for me, I’m curious to read London’s The Call of the Wild, which I’ve heard described at the opposite of White Fang–perhaps the two when read side by side offer the reader something a little more balanced and satisfying.(less)

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Apr 07, 2011

Benjamin Laborde rated it

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White Fang by Jack London is about a dog named white fang. As a young wolf he was captured by an native american and soon learned not to mess with other dogs bigger than him. as he grows bigger and stronger he starts winning fights against the other dogs. When he and his owner leave to a trading village across the river he is taken be a man and forced to fight other dogs. this goes on for a very long time until one day while he is about to lose a fight another man comes in and rescues him from t...more

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Feb 28, 2011

Loneh rated it

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I read White Fang during my middle school years-- it wasn't mandatory to read it nor was I hinted on reading it (I later heard teachers actually assign this book during middle school), but I read it for personal satisfaction. I love animals in general, and by the time I had an obsession with felines and wolves. So I looked at its cover (so much for never judge a book by its cover huh?) and fell in love with it; plus its a classic, so why not try it?

Just in the beginning I got immersed ...moreI read White Fang during my middle school years-- it wasn't mandatory to read it nor was I hinted on reading it (I later heard teachers actually assign this book during middle school), but I read it for personal satisfaction. I love animals in general, and by the time I had an obsession with felines and wolves. So I looked at its cover (so much for never judge a book by its cover huh?) and fell in love with it; plus its a classic, so why not try it?

Just in the beginning I got immersed on the book, eyes quickly scanning each line to keep up with the fast paced events. I could feel the anxiety of the characters, and could almost swear to be freezing as they were in mid-winter Alaskan forest. I love suspense and fast paced books, so the start of the book was already captivating-- unlike many books that start very slowly and are a pain to read.

But the beginning is just a prologue to what is to happen when White Fang is born-- it is a clever way to give the main character's background. The book is then divided in three major parts, the reins of the humans over the canine protagonist, that of the intermediate between freedom and restrictions, the terror and injustice, and love and tamed.

Besides the plot, what I find really entertaining about the book is the degree of descriptions, that make the reader appreciate the setting through what the character observes, senses and smells. It is also interesting to note that it gives insight through the wolf-dog's eyes, without being unrealistic. White Fang can't talk, and doesn't think, he acts on instinct-- he is still an animal, but the reader may see the many events through his eyes. It is the reader that evaluates this events, which may be interpreted as moral issues, but to which White Fang is oblivious to and just acts in the manner of 'cause and effect.'

Many students major critique to the book is that they find the descriptive nature of it extremely boring, but to me it is one of the charms of the book, and ultimately, it is that book that helped me develop my narrative style. Still through time this book remains, I daresay, my favorite.(less)

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Feb 11, 2011

Manatee rated it

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This was a skillfully written book that follows the evolution of a Canid from a wolf to a tame dog. The opening scenes of two gold prospectors being stalked by a fierce and wily wolf-pack are especially gripping and written with intensity and verve.

The plot is fantastic and the characters of the wolf/dogs perfectly drawn. I disagree that the dogs come off as men in fur-clothing. If taken in the spirit that it was written, it is almost a perfect book. Still,if the book is seen throu...more

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Feb 03, 2011

Eniko rated it

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I liked this book a lot. It wasn't a crazy, can't-put-it-down kind of story, but it was very interesting nonetheless. I was surprised by the number of different experiences and transitions White Fang went through. I also liked the ending. It wasn't the tear-jerker I was afraid of having to read at the end. No heroic death, no sappy melodrama. The story just ended, leaving the reader to understand (assume) that there would be no more transitions in White Fang's life. The book left him in a good e...more

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Nov 23, 2010

Tony rated it

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Book Review #2
This is the second book in the book The Call Of The Wild and White Fang. This book is White Fang by Jack London. Just like his other book, the call of the wild, this book was really good too. It talks about a half wolf, half dog living in a two worlds where he doesnt belong in either. He is half wolf and half dog. Because he is half wolf, the dogs hate him and never accept him even though he is half dog. They attack him and ignore him. Even the leader doesnt accept him. Becaus...more

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Jun 24, 2010

Lindsay rated it

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I love books with animals as main characters, and this is definitely a great one. White Fang is part dog, part wolf, and the book covers the periods of great change in his young life as he leaves the wilderness he was born into and enters the dominion of man. It is divided into five parts, the first of which establishes the harshness of the cold northern setting, and introduces White Fang's mother. Part two covers White Fang's birth and discovery of the world around him in his young puppyhood, a...more

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May 09, 2010

Margaryta rated it

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Shelves: chapter-books, classics

Knowing how much I loved books I decided to pick this one up, especially because one of my old teachers had been telling me about how great Jack London's work's are. I had begun to read it, and found it one of my favourite classics of all time.

I don't think I should go into all the details of this book because there are just too many good things about it, but I want to mention a few things about the book that may have been brought up by other people or if anyone in the future wants t...more

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Dec 16, 2011

Patrick Karamazov rated it

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Obviously this is an interesting counter-point to The Call of the Wild. But while The Call of the Wild was focused, meditative, and clear, White Fang is disjointed, thematically fragmented, and uneven. I think London was a little more ambitious with White Fang, but it ends up not nearly as neat and focused. I think the narrative got away from London a little bit.

This is not to say that the writing is not top-notch. The opening chapters are some of the best writing in English. Th...moreObviously this is an interesting counter-point to The Call of the Wild. But while The Call of the Wild was focused, meditative, and clear, White Fang is disjointed, thematically fragmented, and uneven. I think London was a little more ambitious with White Fang, but it ends up not nearly as neat and focused. I think the narrative got away from London a little bit.

This is not to say that the writing is not top-notch. The opening chapters are some of the best writing in English. The tale of the wolf pack hunting down the two travelers was taut, compelling, and exciting. Interestingly these first chapters take the view of the humans. This is very effective in building mystery, suspense, foreboding. And it's an interesting departure from The Call of the Wild. But after that incident the narrative action abruptly switches to the view of the wolves. The reader is left wondering why so much time was spent on the humans if they were not to play any significant role in the story.

The wolves' point of view also yields many great narrative scenes. White Fang's early days and exploration of the white wall and the world are executed well by London. But looking back, the reader wonders why so much time was given to these scenes. Interesting as they are, they don't build character, foreshadow future events, or even align with major themes in the book.

The times spent with the Indians continues from the wolves' point of view, and little time is spent examining things from Gray Beaver or any other humans' points of views. Unlike the opening chapters, the reader feels no connection or empathy with the humans. When White Fang moves on to Beauty Smith the reader gets a small insight into Beauty's world, though it is far from sentimental. When White Fang is saved by Wheedon the reader begins to see the humans' side again. In the final scenes the reader gets an extended and gratuitous description of an escaped murderer.

If anything, many of these scenes feel like short-stories unto themselves. Though the book is called White Fang, there is too much in the book that is not about White Fang at all. While the role of humans was defined and explored in The Call of the Wild, in White Fang the role of humans changes depending on the whim of the narrative action and what works for the author. When London needs dramatic empathy he uses the human point of view, when he wants to show brutality he switches to wolves' point of view, when he wants a happy ending he switches back to humans. In a sense it's lazy writing at the expense of the structure and theme of the book.

But of course, I cried at the end.(less)

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Nov 12, 2011

Anastasia rated it

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Shelves: classici

Okay, non me lo aspettavo.

Per impulso ho sempre visto Zanna Bianca come uno di quei libri che non fanno per me. Non è una sensazione ben definita, è la stessa sensazione che si può avere quando in libreria ci allontaniamo da un libro per il semplice fatto che non ci attira. Così, a istinto.
Sarà stato per il fatto che è Jack London, sarà stato per il fatto che è in casa mia e io voglio leggere tutto il leggibile nel mio poco tempo, la curiosità è subentrata e ho lasciato perdere l...moreOkay, non me lo aspettavo.

Per impulso ho sempre visto Zanna Bianca come uno di quei libri che non fanno per me. Non è una sensazione ben definita, è la stessa sensazione che si può avere quando in libreria ci allontaniamo da un libro per il semplice fatto che non ci attira. Così, a istinto.
Sarà stato per il fatto che è Jack London, sarà stato per il fatto che è in casa mia e io voglio leggere tutto il leggibile nel mio poco tempo, la curiosità è subentrata e ho lasciato perdere l'istinto.
Ho deciso che leggerò altro di Jack London. Devo assolutamente.
Forse sono ancora un po' stordita dalla sorpresa e non ci vedo tanto bene, ma questo libro si merita il mio affettuoso cinque.
Batti cinque allora, lupaccione!
Niente, volevo prendermi alla lettera.
Lasciamo perdere il fatto che io ero convinta che Zanna Bianca fosse un nativo americano.
E' imbarazzante. Forse quanto i tempi andati in cui ero fermamente convinta che Phil Collins fosse un prestigiatore.
Ero piccola, che volete.
In ogni caso: che carino questo libro, oddio. In una recensione avevo letto che una delle qualità di Jack London era proprio la perfezione con cui si era calato nella mente di un lupo. Non è affatto facile, sono d'accordo. Durante la lettura mi sembrava quasi di essere nel mezzo, incosciamente anche io vedevo gli uomini dal basso, qualcosa di superiore con cui bisogna cercare di trovare un compresso, di andare d'accordo. Poi a volte tornavo lucida per qualche secondo e osservavo Zanna Bianca come la osserverebbe un uomo, e poi di nuovo scivolavo nel punto di vista del lupo. Insomma, un bel balletto.
Ciò che mi è piaciuto di più è la naturalezza con cui Jack London raccontava gli eventi, senza cercare di caricare nulla, senza cercare intenzionalmente di commuovere i propri lettori, era come uno scorrere. Zanna Bianca che deve prendersi le sue legnate per aver ferito il padrone, Zanna Bianca che senza particolari indugi o riservatezze impara l'amara lezione, Zanna Bianca che impara a conoscere l'odio, ignorado l'amore. Niente di tutto questo è raccontato con particolare dramma, è tutto..naturale. Non c'è aggettivo più azzeccato. Scorre. Proprio come dovrebbe scorrere, in un certo senso, sotto il punto di vista di un animale. Eppure è commovente.
Lo dico perché capita, in film, poi nei libri non saprei dire, ne ho letti pochissimi concentrati sugli animali, che l'intento sia proprio commuovere lo spettatore con scene strappalacrime fra padrone (rigorosamente un giovincello con carenze d'affetto) e cane. Invece Zanna Bianca rispetta e rispecchia la realtà. Tutto qua.
Impossibile non affezionarsi a Zanna Bianca e non compiangerlo. Ed è proprio come dice Jack - siamo stati amici nella vita precedente, sapete com'è -, se un animale viene trattato aspramente per anni, poi sarà impossibile che questo cambi completamente, rimarranno sempre tracce diffidenti e feroci in lui (non siamo portati a scordare). Così Zanna Bianca nel momento dell'amore è goffo e a tratti non sa proprio come esprimere il proprio affetto, non può andare oltre ad una certa soglia, semplicemente perché l'impronta della violenza ormai è troppo radicata per essere cancellata.
E questo si può applicare anche all'uomo, dopotutto siamo animali anche noi, solo che siamo più evoluti (non tutti, eh). E' scieeentificamente provato che la maggior parte dei serial killer ha avuto un'infanzia a dir poco terribile, e naturalmente si comporta di conseguenza.
E naturalmente tutto questo c'entra senza ombra di dubbio con il discorso.
Eh, il maltrattemento sugli animali. C'è chi lo sa raccontare nel modo giusto, e il mio amico Jack - ci siamo già dati appuntamento alla prossima rincarnazione - è perfetto per questo ruolo. (less)

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Oct 25, 2011

03TannerG rated it

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Two guys are in Northern Canada. They have a sled and some dogs. One night there dog is lured out of the camp by a she-wolf (Kiche). This happens several times and they lose almost all the their dogs. The story then focuses on the She-Wolf. The She-Wolf splits up with the pack and goes with a wolf named one eye. The she wolf has a litter of puppies and they all die except for one, which is White Fang. White Fang runs into an Indian tribe. the men laugh at him. White Fang's mom shows up and the I...moreTwo guys are in Northern Canada. They have a sled and some dogs. One night there dog is lured out of the camp by a she-wolf (Kiche). This happens several times and they lose almost all the their dogs. The story then focuses on the She-Wolf. The She-Wolf splits up with the pack and goes with a wolf named one eye. The she wolf has a litter of puppies and they all die except for one, which is White Fang. White Fang runs into an Indian tribe. the men laugh at him. White Fang's mom shows up and the Indians recognize her and tie her up. They sell Kiche to another Indian. White Fang stays with Gray Beaver. The dogs in the village hurt White Fang, so he grows mean and cunning. Gray Beaver goes to Fort Yukon to trade. While he is there Beauty Smith wants to buy White Fang. Gray Beaver says no. Beauty Smith tricks Gray Beaver by gibing him to much whiskey. Gray Beaver sells White Fang. Beauty Smith is very mean to White Fang, and makes White Fang fight other dogs. One day he is put in a ring with a bull dog named Cherokee. Cherokee latches onto White Fang's neck. White Fang is about to die when Weedon Scott stops the fight and buys White Fang from Beauty Smith. Scott eventually tames White Fang and takes him back to California with him. White Fang is scared by all the new noises and sights. White Fang finally learns to love his new master and family. Then one night a criminal that was unjustly sentenced by Judge Scott breaks out of prison and would have killed the Scott family if it weren't for White fang. White Fang survives the deadly criminal attack and all is well. White Fang has puppies with collie and lives happily ever after. I liked that White Fang held on through the story. Two quotes I liked are: "The next instant White Fang was on his feet, but that instant Cherokees's teeth closed on this throat." Page 234. and "The snow was flying more thickly, and White Fang whimpering softly to himself as he stumbled and limped along, came upon a fresh trail in the snow." One theme of the book is, if you hand on, then you will be rewarded in the end. I would recommend this book to people who like quality stories that are about wolves and the wild. I think this book is different from other books because I have never read a book about wolves until I read this book.(less)

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Oct 09, 2011

Brandon Crain rated it

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Imagine being beaten tormented and mistreated for years and then forced to fight. This was White Fang's life. Jack London wrote this book because he had many jobs and life experiences he wanted to share. He tried digging for gold, but ended up taking a liking to writing. He had also grown up in a place where dogs were very necessary and that is where he got the theme. White Fang was a dog that hates it when humans touch his head, or anything touches his body for that matter. This book taught me ...moreImagine being beaten tormented and mistreated for years and then forced to fight. This was White Fang's life. Jack London wrote this book because he had many jobs and life experiences he wanted to share. He tried digging for gold, but ended up taking a liking to writing. He had also grown up in a place where dogs were very necessary and that is where he got the theme. White Fang was a dog that hates it when humans touch his head, or anything touches his body for that matter. This book taught me that dogs should be treated with respect and can be alarmed by the slightest things. I also learned if treated wrong, dogs can be extremely vicious.

White Fang was born from a she-wolf named Keche and his father One-Eye. As a pup life was fun, but as he grew older he found the existence of people and was mesmerized. He and his mother lived with a group of Indians, but never forgot their wild heritage. Some trickery happened upon White Fangs journey and he ended up with an evil abusive master, who pits him up against dogs, wolves, and lynxes just to make a quick buck. During the fight of his life, two men rescued him and took him under their observation. White Fang didn't know what to think, and didn't know how to act in the face of these new masters. You must read the book if you want to know what happens next.

This book is very well written, thought out, and planned, which is why I loved this book so much. Jack London truly shows that he can write amazing stories and make it seem like you are in the action. I honestly couldn’t change this book if I had to because this book is so wonderful. I stayed up late to read it! White Fang came about due to Jack London’s early adulthood. As a young man, he was around big wolf dogs a lot. To understand this book, you need to realize that the beginning of the book doesn’t really correspond with the rest of the story. So if you find it a bit dull don’t worry it starts to get so awesome.

This book is trying to tell society that if you treat someone like an animal and beat them and hurt their self esteem they will be like a wild animal seeping hatred and the need for revenge out of its very skin cells. The book White Fang is trying to tell society not to give up on people that have had a bad childhood, or life, give them a second chance. The book says that “the clay” of someone’s being can be molded one way, but can be just as easily remolded to fit the way you decide. Some wicked people enjoy destroying people’s lives (or dog’s lives) just for profit, or their own personal game. White Fang goes through so many changes. He learns to distrust everyone, until he meets “the master”.

This is one of the greatest books I have read in a long time. The author kept the plot moving so well that there was never a dull moment. As you read you bite your nails at every twist and turn and you never know what to expect! The only reason someone shouldn't read this book would be if they have a problem hearing or reading about death. In this book, many dogs die. This book is great because it shows the struggle that humans go through today, they just want a sense of belonging. To sum it up READ WHITE FANG!

Brandon Crain
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Oct 13, 2011

Robert rated it

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White Fang Critique
By Robert Walker
Imagine lying under the stars in a circle of light created by your dimming fire, and being surrounded by pairs of dark eyes. Jack London was one of the greatest writers of his time but came from a poor family. The main character White Fang was a gray wolf that would become a great leader. The theme is that the weak perish to the strongest and that a dog or wolf can be man’s best friend. I recommend this book to all people who like adventure and can ge...moreWhite Fang Critique
By Robert Walker
Imagine lying under the stars in a circle of light created by your dimming fire, and being surrounded by pairs of dark eyes. Jack London was one of the greatest writers of his time but came from a poor family. The main character White Fang was a gray wolf that would become a great leader. The theme is that the weak perish to the strongest and that a dog or wolf can be man’s best friend. I recommend this book to all people who like adventure and can get past the boring parts in the book.
The plot starts when two undertakers named Bill and Henry. These two are transporting a dead man who the wild crushed. Later Henry is only survivor thanks to the she wolf who wandered into Henry’s camp and killed all of the dogs. After the she wolf left with her pack the pack split up. The she then finds a cave and gives birth to several cubs. Only one survived his name was White Fang.
Jack London wrote this book because of what was going on during the gold rush in Alaska. Dear reader you should know before you read this book that it does have some very bloody and gory parts. In my opinion what made the book good were the bloody parts. What could have made it better was to have less boring parts and more action. I still think the book deserves four stars.
In White Fang the theme isn't a very simple one. It's a great deep meaning in my opinion. The theme is that as a child you learn things such as emotions and feelings like pain. Well White Fang learned that he hated humans or man-beasts as he called them. After several years of living with them he learned to love them. I think that Jack London wrote this book to tell the people of his time how bad they were treating one and other.
For me this book was very slow and hard to read. I recommend this book to people who love to read great books with great themes. White Fang did have some great suspenseful parts in it. I warn future readers though there are some very descriptive parts. Also this book should only be read by 13 and up.
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May 02, 2010

Rose rated it

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Shelves: classics

I took this book as metaphor as to what happens with nature versus nurture.

White Fang is a half-wolf, half-dog born in the wild. He learns all the harsh realities and survival through his mother's teachings. All the instincts of the wolf is alive in him until he comes under the hand of man. He finds that the dog portion of him longs to be with man and ruled by him and it's better to beaten and under man than to deal with the loneliness of the wild. Later, White Fang falls under t...moreI took this book as metaphor as to what happens with nature versus nurture.

White Fang is a half-wolf, half-dog born in the wild. He learns all the harsh realities and survival through his mother's teachings. All the instincts of the wolf is alive in him until he comes under the hand of man. He finds that the dog portion of him longs to be with man and ruled by him and it's better to beaten and under man than to deal with the loneliness of the wild. Later, White Fang falls under the hands of a more cruel and brutal master who teaches White Fang only pain, suffering, hatred and how to use those emotions for dog fighting. This master was also treated poorly since the day he was born. He ugly both on the outside and the inside. Having been ridiculed he too is a product of his environment. One day, White Fang is rescued by a sympathic man who through patience and love, White Fang learns through all the acts of kindness bestow upon him what love truely is and becomes devoted to this master.

My thoughts regarding this story was that White Fang represented humans and how through cruely we our selves, society, have a hand in some of the darker sides of man. To take someone and incarerate and forget them versus attempts at understanding and nuturing,we may have different outcomes. To take a thief and putting him with harden criminals, the thief then becomes the murderer. Giving kindness and understanding and time, perhaps we can create another kind of response.

White Fang suffered no kind words from his first master, Gray Beaver.

"Had Gray Beaver possessed the plummet of affection and love, he might have sounded the deeps of White Fang's nature adn brought up to the surface all manner of kindly qualities. But these things had not been so. The clay of White Fang had been moulded untel he became what he was, morose and lonely, unloving and ferocious, the enemy of all his kind".

Another example under the hands of Beauty Smith:

"They were his environment, these men, and they were moulding the clay of him into a more ferocious thing than had been intended by Nature"

As White Fang lived only in a cage (jail) under Beauty Smith, his rage became only worse:

"He was regarded as the most fearful of the wild beasts, and this was borne in to him through the bars of the cage. Every word, every cautious action, on the part of the men, impressed upon him his own terrible ferocity. It was so much added fuel to the flame of his fierceness".

To have a kind of society we all wished to live in, we must nuture the kindness of those less fortunate and born into more difficult circumstances. Love does conquer all for the most part.
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Oct 03, 2009

Consuelo rated it

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Antes de que yo aprendiera a leer, mi padre nos leia a mi y a mi hermana un monton de libros. Bueno, en verdad solo eran El Principito (MUY de papá), Rubén Darío (aburridooo...aunque obvio que me gustaban las princesas), Oscar Wilde (para templar el carácter), Rebelión en la granja (freak) y chan, Colmillo Blanco. Por alguna razón, que aún no comprendo, siempre empezaba desde la parte en que Colmillo Blanco es un perro de pelea, que es la parte mas terrible (tenia muchas ganas de que el lobo se ...more

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Jan 03, 2012

Mario rated it

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Since we had an option to read any book of our liking, I wanted something adventurous. When I want to read something adventurous, I always go straight to Gary Paulsen(my favorite author). I felt like it was a good idea to change things up a bit and try a different author. Jack London's writing was very similar to Gary's. They both added that "show not tell" type of suspense that I love, and their way of describing the setting was very identical.They're writing styles are very closely ...more

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Jun 06, 2011

Philip rated it

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This book was pretty good. It's told in 3rd person narrative from the point of view of a wolf/dog, which makes it somewhat different. I think Jack London did an interesting job narrating how a dog might view something of significantly higher intelligence, as White Fang did while interacting with humans, which was much of the story. It made me think of Planet of the Apes (which I never saw) and other stories where humans are held by either a more intelligent or more powerful species, but I was th...moreThis book was pretty good. It's told in 3rd person narrative from the point of view of a wolf/dog, which makes it somewhat different. I think Jack London did an interesting job narrating how a dog might view something of significantly higher intelligence, as White Fang did while interacting with humans, which was much of the story. It made me think of Planet of the Apes (which I never saw) and other stories where humans are held by either a more intelligent or more powerful species, but I was thinking that in these stories the humans always end up being slaves and not pets. This made me think about how a human could be a pet; I think that the owner would need to be significantly advanced enough that they can do things a human can never comprehend. Which is hard to imagine since - well, because I can't comprehend what I'm trying to think about - just about anything a more advanced species might be able to do that humans can't is really a type of technology which is bounded by the laws of physics so humans would ultimately be able to understand it given instruction/time. So I really can't think of anyway that a species can keep a human as a pet.

Ridiculous stray thoughts aside, there were a few very odd things that happened in this book. First, and least significant, when Gray Beaver (the Indian who is White Fang's first owner) first finds White Fang, he looks at the wolf and comments on his white fangs, thus decides to call him that. Does this actually happen? I mean, how stupid. Why isn't the vast majority of dogs/wolves called White Fang, then? Then, through the subsequent owner changes, the name sticks, even though, say, going from Beauty to Weeden, there really isn't much reason why the latter would know that's the wolf's name when he buys it. Unless I missed something. But I have a tendency to stay away from any plot points in my reviews, so I'll just leave that there.

For some reason, as I read this novel, I frequently thought about character development. White Fang does change in this book. A lot. Sometimes rather ridiculously a lot. Then again, I tend to avoid dogs, so perhaps it's not so strange. More than that, though, Jack London likes pointing out exactly how White Fang is progressing through the story and exactly what triggered such changes, etc. There really isn't much subtlety in showing how White Fang developed. Which made me think as I read the novel that it isn't so much character development as it is the environment changing the character. Which is essentially the same thing, just semantics, but it seems like in most stories there is some sort of input/control that a character can have over how he/she changes over the story. In this story, it seems like it's saying that any wolf/dog in this situation would be more or less exactly this way.

So, I guess one thing I can say for the story is that it is very straight-forward. Overall, it seems to give dogs way to much credit. But of course I would say that.(less)

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Jan 01, 2011

Nandan Dubey rated it

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Shelves: animal, dog, wolf

Full of some really nice quotes. A perspective of OUR WORLD from animal viewpoint. How they view the world and most importantly humans. Human treatment toward animal and it's reflection in animal behavior thinking. The story is about a wolfdog which was born wild but tamed later by eskimo/hunting people and finally bought in city. Throughout it's lifespan it had gone through all possible kind of situation got all kind of treatment. Lived his life in guidance of all kind of owners. Although most ...more

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Jul 23, 2011

Kurt rated it

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My expectations of this book were low going in. I liked Call of the Wild, but I wasn't all that interested in the story of the domestication of a wolf. I knew that this is one of the classic American novels that everyone should read, and the weather had just gotten snowy, and I was about to start doggy-sitting for a German Shepherd, though, so it seemed like a good time to pick this one up. And I loved it.

The book has five distinct parts, each with a different focus/perspective, althou...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Mrs. Fabsik's LA/SS: White Fang	2	2	Jan 19, 2012 02:49pm
Accuracy?	14	86	Nov 05, 2011 11:05am
Akins Hollis Engl...: Good Reads oct. 28, 2011	1	1	Oct 28, 2011 12:11pm

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