Official Review: The Call of the Wild by Jack London

[Mallory Porshnev]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The Call of the Wild by Jack London tells the story of Buck, a loveable dog that is the son of a St. Bernard and a shepherd. Buck starts out living a peaceful, happy life with a nice family on a ranch in California. All of that changes when he is sold into service. Buck finds himself making his way up to Alaska and passing through a series of owner's hands. He becomes trained as a sled dog and soon learns the harsh reality of life in the Yukon. Buck has to learn to work, to survive, and to fit in with his fellow sled dogs. All the while, he struggles with two sides of himself as he hears the call of something primordial beckoning him into the forest. 

This is a great short story. It is truly a touching read. The book is told through Buck's perspective, so the reader is able to understand what he is feeling as he goes through these struggles and changes. The story is also full of a cast of characters both human and canine. Through Buck's eyes, the reader is able to learn about both friend and foe and experience Buck's thoughts in handling these relationships. 

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was very well-written. I didn't find any editing errors at all. I was able to get caught up in the story as there are a lot of emotional moments. The description of the harsh winter and the rough lifestyle of these working dogs painted a clear picture for me and helped me to empathize with Buck and his sad story. 

My favorite part of this book was the character development of Buck. It was fascinating to see how he handled his ever-changing situation. His ability to adapt to his various hardships was inspiring to read. While his character is a dog, he has many human characteristics and emotions that were conveyed in a beautiful and poetic way. The graphic violence was my least favorite part of this book. While scenes were written tastefully, there were still quite a few instances of abuse or fighting that were difficult to read due to their gruesome nature. 

I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. I feel like I really got to know Buck and to grow with him. I cared about his story and was cheering him on throughout the novel. Very young readers might use caution when reading due to the instances of violence. However, I would definitely recommend this book to dog lovers and fans of nature and adventure tales. I think it is appropriate for a variety of ages as I think the relationships and the messages conveyed are relatable for all.

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The Call of the Wild
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[Wycliffe32]

Having watched the movie on the same, the book sounds nice from your great review. Worth reading

[Ada Ling]

This sounds a beautiful story. Great review!

[Ify_Reviewer]

A very comprehensive review. The book promises to be an interesting read. Good job.

[Olgamiell]

It sounds like a book that is worth reading. I've heard about the author before, but I didn't know this particular story. Thank you for the thorough review.

[Silpi B]

The very title of the book pulls me in. The review makes me want to read the book all the more. It sounds empathetic, emotional, and must prove to be a great read.

[Aisha Yakub]

This has to be an emotional read. Thanks for your review

[Stevenmusk]

Interesting tittle. The book seems interesting. Thanks for the review

[Ohna Martin]

I have this book in my collection. It is a truly good book, this review does it justice. I have to agree that Buck's character development in this book is good. It is a touching story.

[Joshua Sawders]

Yeehaw! This review of "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London makes it sound like a rippin' good read! With a heartfelt storyline and captivating character development, it's sure to tug at the heartstrings of dog lovers and adventure enthusiasts alike. Just a word of caution for them young ones, the book does contain some graphic violence. So if you're up for a wild ride in the Yukon, saddle up and give this book a go! Unforgettable characters, felt like old friends.