The Call of the Wild

The Call of the Wild, by Jack London

I am surprised how long I lasted without reading this book or anything by Jack London. I was told that this book is a rite of passage for boyhood; it looks like I am a little late. This was definitely an interesting novel considering that I was not to eager to read a book whose main character was a dog.

Buck was kidnapped from his comfortable home in sunny California to be sold and transported up into the frigid Artic Canada where dogs were needed to work the ever-popular Gold Rush. After a grueling train ride, and an even more violent training session with “the man in the red sweater,” Buck was transformed into a dog whose spirit could not be broken. This novel portrays Buck’s growing assent to popularity in Canada as well as his journey from domestic to wilderness. He pulls sleds for many different men and learns how to grow in the ranks until finally becoming the lead sled dog. But one group of owners is too stupid and mean and for the first time Buck refuses to pull the sled and is almost beaten to death. He is saved when John Thornton removes him from the horrible owners, which works out well because both John and Buck witness their awful fate. Finally, Buck has found a man he can love and hopes that this one will not leave him like all the others. His growing dedication to Thornton adds to the legend of Buck after defensive attacks, rescues and feats of strength make him a well-known name. Slowly Buck comes closer and closer to the wild side the more he is exposed to the natural arctic world. This is the remarkable story of a dog born into luxury and how he becomes the leader of a wolf pack.

I was not sure how much I would like this book once I found out it was about a dog. I was not sure what to expect. I was thinking it would be something akin to Disney’s animated 101 Dalmatians but it is much closer to the Glenn Close version of the film. The story is told in third person so you never fully get inside Buck’s head. Instead, you learn about Buck through his actions and through the dialogue of the human characters that come in and out of his life. I never felt like I was reading a silly story about an animal, I liked the presentation London offered. The story was told well and had a great plot with constant action that kept the adventure going.

This action and adventure story is perfect for younger readers who want to be proven wrong that books are boring. This book is definitely not boring. It holds an amount of action and violence to remain heart pounding, while still remaining appropriate for all ages. And don’t let the fact that the main character is a dog stop you from reading this book as it almost did me. You will still be invested and rooting for a character you can relate to, even if you don’t have four legs and are covered in fur.

“Read, read, read.”
- William Faulkner