Savage, compelling, manipulative, simple, poetic...These adjectives all apply, but they do not save the book from its negative traits. Jack London was a natural storyteller, but he was also a racist and a sexist. I thought it was my imagination at first, but after some research I realize that those accusations are common. I mention this fact because it distracted me from the story.

The imagery is rich, the spirituality moving, and by the end, I was completely enthralled by Buck's adventures. It's just a bumpy ride along the way.