From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

The Call of the Wild

Jack London

Start date: August 15, 2016

Finish date: September 14, 2016

Discussion: "Let us Chat a Moment!"

Discussion leader: Lars Martin

Why we're reading this: FWC Group Read chosen by Discussion Leader Lars Martin

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What Members Thought

Jan 23, 2015 Sara rated it really liked it

Shelves: animals, american, nature

I read The Call of the Wild when I was quite young and remembered it by a general impression rather than any exact detail. The details are stunning, and prove to be evidence that London had experienced the cold, the isolation and the dogs first hand. It is a remarkably moving tale about the loyalty and wildness of the dog. Buck is so wonderfully described that he becomes real for you immediately. I cringed at the mistreatment and the overwork; marveled at the inexplicable trust and love he is st I read The Call of the Wild when I was quite young and remembered it by a general impression rather than any exact detail. The details are stunning, and prove to be evidence that London had experienced the cold, the isolation and the dogs first hand. It is a remarkably moving tale about the loyalty and wildness of the dog. Buck is so wonderfully described that he becomes real for you immediately. I cringed at the mistreatment and the overwork; marveled at the inexplicable trust and love he is still able to offer; and felt the echoing call that beacons to his ancient roots and his wild nature.

He was sounding the deeps of his nature, and of the parts of his nature that were deeper than he, going back into the womb of Time. He was mastered by the sheer surging of life, the tidal wave of being, the perfect joy of each separate muscle, joint, and sinew in that it was everything that was not death, that it was aglow and rampant, expressing itself in movement, flying exultantly under the stars and over the face of dead matter that did not move.

At times this is not a pleasant book to read. The dogs are mistreated by man, and then they are also vicious to one another. It is realistic and it is survival of the determined and strong, but it is a sad part of the canine nature and one that might not exist in a kinder environment but is essential in Alaska during the gold rush.

Jack London understands nature, even her cruel side, and his works always make me feel I am in a wilderness full of majesty and beauty and perhaps one step away from losing my life. The argument can be made that this is where the canines belong and this is the life we have stolen from them by pulling them in to sleep by our fires. There is a freedom here that seems worth the price.

Buck was wildly glad. He knew he was at last answering the call, running by the side of his wood brother toward the place from where the call surely came. Old memories were coming upon him fast, and he was stirring to them as of old he stirred to the realities of which they were the shadows. He had done this thing before, somewhere in that other and dimly remembered world, and he was doing it again, now, running free in the open, the unpacked earth underfoot, the wide sky overhead.
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Mar 21, 2017 Jen from Quebec :0) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reading-challenge-books, aty-challenge, classics-i-ve-read, books-i-ve-been-putting-off, disney-challenge

Much more brutal and harsh than I thought it would be! For some reason, I had it in my head that this was more of a children's tale- but no, it is NOT! ...more

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Oct 24, 2013 Sarah rated it it was ok

Did the audio version, lots of driving this month, and was stunned and shocked by the amount of violence and gore in this book. Jugular veins were spurting regularly. I guess I always thought of this as a kids book - though knowing a bit about Jack London's life, I should have known better. The story of Buck, a beautiful large strong dog who is raised with kindness, but then falls into bad hands. Eventually he is rescued by another good human, but when that man dies, Buck takes his place with th ...more

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