The Call of the Wild and Selected Stories

by Jack London

Book Overview

Robust tales of perilous adventure and animal cunning Includes Diable: A Dog, An Odyssey of the North, To the Man on the Trail, To Build a Fire, and Love of Life Out of the white wilderness, out of the Far North, Jack London, one of America's most popular authors, drew the inspiration for the novel and five short stories included here. Swiftly paced and vividly written, they capture the main theme of London's work: man's instinctive reversion to primitive...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451531345
• ISBN13: 9780451531346
• Release Date: August 2009
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 4.2" x 6.6"
• Age Range: 10 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 8

Customer Reviews

Not the best book... a bit confusing

This book wasn’t the best nor was it the worst. When reading this book you notice the importance in reading “ Call of the Wild”. This book takes place in the Yukon region of Alaska. Buck starts off as a comforting house dog, but when sold he has to think whether to accept the Call or stay the comforting dog. You should read this book because it shows the reader the consequences and hardships you get based on the decisions you make. Despite the fact that some people may say this book isn’t action packed and interesting at times, this book represents hardships everyone may face. I wasn’t crazy about the book, but I did enjoy seeing Buck’s transformation.

amazing

on point

The Call of the Wild was not the most interesting book I have ever read

Call of the Wild was not the most interesting book i have ever read, but the book had astonishing existing information, and included lessons that were learned throughout the story. Buck, the dog, was a loved and, well cared for dog at first, but everything changes when he is lured away to the frosty, and frigid Yukon territory by very barbarous, and ruthless men. Where he is sold to join a group of dog sledders, that undergo a series of problematic challenges. This extreme change in Buck’s life takes him through a whirlwind of challenges, and a troubling journey that the Saint Bernard uses further in the future as guidance. This novel excels to provide readers with a better understanding of the catastrophe, that was during the Gold Rush era. Even though some may argue that this book has much to offer to interest, and draw readers deeper with plenty of suspense. I feel this book could include more action to keep it’s readers hooked, and wanting more. While i wasn’t fascinated by The Call of the Wild, it was a great story to portray a survival journey.

was boring not my favorite

I would not advise the novel Call of the Wild. The plot was lackadaisical and moved at a leisurely pace. If you are fond of that kind of writing, then this novel is for you. Buck, the protagonist was an adopted, joyus, peaceful dog. Buck was bargained to join a dog sled team in the intense, bitter Yukon territory. Buck had to gain knowledge of survival skills in the treacherous cruelties of the winter wilderness. This storyline is in a period of the Gold Rush era. Even though some may conclude that this story is an excellent book for all generations and for more to come, I believe the opposite. My impression of Call of the Wild was dull and tiresome. The novel was definitely not the most outstanding.

I would not suggest this for young children

I wouldn’t advise this novel for a younger audience, because of the way dogs are treated and it may be hard for the younger children to stay connected with the novel. The saint bernard, Buck had a fancy, and welcoming home in California, but it sadly the extravagant lifestyle come to an abrupt ending when he is lured by a selfish man and he sold Buck for money. Buck is escorted to the rugged Yukon region where he is used as a sled dog. At the time the novel is written there was a gold rush is the U.S.A and people were desperate for gold. He was passed to many owners throughout the novel and some of them were very brutal. Buck had to learn to adapt in the extremely harsh weather. The novel does show the abusion of dogs and i don’t think it would be very good for young readers.They might think that it is acceptable to physically or mentally abuse dogs or it might hurt their feelings if they have a pet. Even though people might say that it is sluggish and dull, it is sophisticated to see how Buck has grown from this spoiled house dogs to this huge, muscular, intelligent beast. Call of the Wild isn't the best novel for young readers because it is difficult to understand and stay connected and the way dogs are brutalize in the book may not be the best content for young readers and probably won’t be satisfied. While it had a great storyline, and theme I think it would be too troublesome for young audience .

Overall it was a good book

Call of the Wild was an extremely interesting book I would recommend to people of all ages. The story begins with Buck, a huge beastly dog. He starts out in a wonderful cozy home with kids to play with and a very loving and caring family. Then suddenly Buck gets kidnapped by the gardener and sold to become a sled dog. Buck is forced to adapt very quickly so that he can survive. Adapting to survive this harsh life of a sled dog and scavenging for food he manages to become the leader of his sled team. He faces many hardships while being a sled dog and has to fight through them for survival. Buck is later sold to a very brutal family where John Thorton another important character saves him from death. John takes care of and feeds the poor dog. Buck gets very attached to his new master. Buck gets senses that he should go out into the wild with the wild dogs he sees now and then. When his call to the wild comes, Buck is forced to decide between running freely through the wild or staying with John. Will he lose his final strings to humanity or will they strengthen keeping Buck with John. It was a great novel but it has some very sad parts and could use a little more action throughout the it because the story line can get a little boring and dull at times. The Text wasn’t my all time favorite but overall it was a interesting and had an amazing story line about a dogs harsh life.

its pretty well but could have some work

This book is something you should read as it may be short but shows a new light in a totally different species eyes. This story is in the eyes of a dog named Buck, a beautiful name I must say. We see, listen and even imagine bucks journey of the new lands as the call of the wild calls him. Instincts of one animal show highly in this story as its all new to him. We Watch his character grows through many scenes as he grows on instincts of the wild. Showing bravery, strength, and leader like. It's nice to really read something that's not focused on just humans manly on something else since we are humans and we understand many things about us. There is action like death and intense animal abuse but hey it's not too brutal in a way. Though it could be confusing to some people since it all over the place and you gotta know some things before you read the actual story. I kind of wish there was more information and a little more creativity. I gotta say the book is very amusing to those people who are very stressed since its small and barely has crazy action, also has some noticeable foreshadowing. I say it worked for me since I'm basically a stressed ticking bomb. Another shocking antics that my brain has is the fact I can't read long chapter books since my focus happens to be fleeting, Now I must say get this book and read it when you want some refreshing stories about dogs in war zones that are very short and slightly informational.

I didn't really like this book

Two Stars Call of the Wild Book Review Call of the Wild was not one of my favorite books that I’ve read. In my opinion, this novel it took to long to get to the action and this novel didn’t capture my attention early enough. Buck was an enormous beastly dog he was the primary character of this novel. During Buck's journey he faced a lot of adversity from being a adored house pet to being a sled dog and living in the harsh wilderness. He starts his journey as a well-loved and an admired pet, but that life ends when the gold rush starts. Buck gets sold as sled dog and gets transported to the rugged Yukon Territory. Throughout his journey, Buck experiences cruelty and kindness while trying to survive under extremely frigid temperatures. I would not recommend this novel because it has a slow-moving plot and I like the novels I read to progress faster and to have more action. This novel did not keep me entertained. Even though some may say this book is a classic to be read for generations, I feel that the novel needed more action, faster-moving plot, and more interaction between characters to be a classic. This novel was not the greatest novels I have ever read. I’m not wild about this, but that is just my opinion.

It could use some work.

The Call of the Wild is definitely not one of my favorite books and it could use a little work. Buck starts out living comfortable but soon thrown into the cold harsh world. He faces man and his own call to the wild. The story moves slowly and there’s no real action and when there is the author just moves along to the next thing. With no excitement the readers are easily bored. There’s nothing that happens that draws your attention and keeps you in. In addition to that there was a lack of detail. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone unless you’d rather prefer a slow paced story. If you’re looking for a fast paced story then this book is not for you. Even though it does have its drawbacks it is a classic and gives us a glimpse into the past to the time of the Gold Rush and the hardships that fell upon the people who wished to gain riches.

The Call of the "Review"

Call of the Wild was is great and very interesting book, but it wasn’t the greatest book that I have read so far in my life because it has its ups and downs in it. The novel is mainly about a dog named Buck who had a very great life until something devastating happened to him that forced him leave to leave his life. He goes on a journey leading up to more conflicts but he somehow gets out of them and tries do more. The reason I wouldn't like the book is mainly the fact that I think it has to have a mature view on it because it does deal with death and despair, but I also still like the book because of the story line in it and how the writer kept is flowing throughout the novel. Even though some people may say that the book is bad because of the ending and how it needed more, I think the book has more than that and it was somewhat good, it even stays true to the timeline in the story. This was. a “wild” novel to read in my opinion.

Not the Best, but Not the Worst

Call of the Wild might be one of the most average books I ever read. The story has some redeeming and unredeeming parts. The rising action barely advances, making the climax less appealing then it could be. The conflict in Call of the Wild was hardly an adversity all. Buck, a mix of St. Bernard and Scotch shepherd dog protagonist, becoming captured and taken to a rugged, and harsh territory called the Yukon could be more emphasized, and what made it was so dreadful there. The concept of Call of the wild was really intelligent, although the execution wasn’t delivered. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend it, the plot is too dull, and it’s not engaging. The rising action/climax doesn’t have you sitting on the edge of your seats, like most wholesome novels. Even though some will appreciate Call of the Wild for its resolution, and Buck finally accepting his call. I say the tension for the resolution was a disappointment. If you’re not convinced, I won't stop you from reading this novel. Just don’t make me say “I told you so.”

Amazing Novel Recommend to a mature audience

Call of The Wild is a great and a very depressing book. I Recommend it for everyone who is mature and loves dogs as well. The main character is Buck a dog that goes through harsh climates trying to survive. And goes through many owners/masters. As Buck and the sled team, matures and learns they understand the harsh reality of the world. He goes through many owners/masters. And finally meets an owner that respects him and cares for him more than the other past owners/masters did. This text shows the rigid climate of the Yukon’s territory. Buck does devote himself to John Thornton. Even though people say it the finest novel. It has its flaws like it does begin a little sluggish and a little baffling. Also it does get really heartsick to where you can't read it. This is a fantastic book that's why I give it such a high rating. This amazing text shows us how connected and attached we get to animals. And How depressing it is when that animal perishes.

This was a good but not great book.

Call of the Wild is a good but not amazing book. I thought the message and meaning of the book was really interesting. The book is about a dog named Buck who went through a tremendously tough adventure that you wouldn’t see most dogs today go through. He had many different owners throughout this rough adventure including one that he developed a very memorable relationship with and his name was John Thornton. Unfortunately there is a very disappointing problem that occurs forcing Buck to have to make an extremely important life decision which he probably could have prevented. This Novel has a very powerful storyline and does a really good job showing the hardships that many people and animals faced during the time period that this book was written. Even though some people say this book was one of the best ever, but I believe that at times it can be very boring. This story has such extraordinary storyline where they could have put so much great action to go along which it. I do believe that it was still a good book though and I would recommend it.

this book didn't really "call" to me.

If you are someone who does not fancy slow storylines I would not propose that you read The Call of the Wild, but if you are more elevated towards those kind of writing then this might be the novel for you. Buck’s story and adventure, which is the dog in the novel, is about him discovering the call of the wild. During his journey Buck face’s much adversity that help mold him to really become who he was meant to be, from being a house pet, to being seized and taken from the only people he knew to hauling a sled across the cold and frigid Alaska he slowly becomes one with the wild. Even though I don’t admire this book it does instruct us about survival skills. Some may see this novel as a must read, but my relation towards it is the opposite. This book does not contain captivating or thrilling traits. Being someone who is drawn towards more entrancing books I have a difficult time really connecting or enjoying the book.

very good book

Call of the wild is a classic novel made for more mature readers. the story starts with Buck, a beastly dog, being taken from his wealthy life and being forced to survive in the harsh Alaskan wilderness. this was his first experience with human cruelty. Buck had to make life and death decisions and fight his way to the top. He had to adapt to the life of a wild mutt under the law of club and fang. I would recommend this book to teens of all ages. It is a heartwarming and heart-wrenching tale of the hardships a dog must face in the rugged Yukon Territory. Even though it is an amazing story, it is very violent and intense. Not for the children or faint at heart. Its definitely a good read if you are looking for action and a great story.

I did not like it at all

The Call of the Wild was abominable and hard to comprehend; it was tedious and did not grab my attention when I was reading it. The dog, Buck, was admired and loved in the beginning of the novel. Then he was deceived by someone he trusted into being sold and treated poorly as a sled dog. He did not see the kindness of man for a long time. He had to depend on man to survive the rigorous, frigid life in the frigid wild. Some people might say that this novel is a great classic, but I think that it needs more intensity and action to be considered that. If you are more into fictional/fantasy novels, then i would not recommend it to you. However, if you like books that are very realistic, and that have hardships and sacrifices. This book has hardships and sacrifices. Though if you like books like that, then this book is perfect for you.

The book was ok

I wouldn’t recommend this book to another person because the storyline isn’t that appealing. For example Buck is captured and transported to the yukon to pull sleds then, he had experiences that led him to learn and achieve different things.The storyline just wasn’t that exciting and didn't have me on the edge of my seat like i prefer my texts to do.If you like action packed stories that keep you on the edge of your seat then this story isn’t for you.Even though some may say that this book is a classic to be read for eternity I feel that it needed to appeal to more audiences and be more interesting.After all the book wasn’t that “wild” it didn't really “call” my name.

The birth of the animal-rights movement

Long before TV, the written word was the wellstone of many political movements. This is as true in America as it is in Europe, and many modern American books are testament to this. Upton Sinclair's Jungle started the food safety movement, Nader's Unsafe at any Speed brought public and Congress's attention to car safety, and the Grapes of Wrath put white poverty into the attention of the mainstream media. This book, more than any other single work of American literature, can be argued as giving birth to the animal-rights movement; a very unique feature of American society as animals have almost no rights everywhere else in the world. This story itself is short and accessible to most elementary school students. What it does is create a parallel between human suffering and the suffering of animals; and in doing so, it puts a human face on animals. As such, it deserves to be on any list of great works of English literature, and as part of any middle school curriculum.

Not only a great novel about dogs, but also a perceptive comment on the human condition

Jack London's letters about the publication of "The Call of the Wild" reveal an all-too-common story that would make any author and most sympathetic readers cringe. In 1903, Jack London was hard up for cash and had just completed the manuscript. He sold the serial rights to the Saturday Evening Post for $700 and, since the editors were not all that keen on his first choice, suggested the title "The Sleeping Wolf." (Interestingly enough, the magazine version did not even include what has probably become the book's most famous scene: when John Thornton blusteringly makes a wager that Buck can pull a sled weighing half a ton.) Soon after, Macmillan agreed to take a chance on the unknown writer and offered to publish the book for $2,000, with no royalties. By this time, London had warmed to his initial title, "The Call of the Wild," but left the final choice up to his editor. Both the magazine and the book publisher reluctantly used London's now-famous title, and seven years later London wrote to his editor, reminding him of his tin ear: "I'll be damned if that very muchly-rejected title didn't become a phrase in the English language. This is only one of many experiences concerning titles, wherein editors, booksellers, and publishers absolutely missed." But it still boggles the mind that London earned a grand total of $2,700 for a book that quickly sold more than two million copies. And what a book! I must have read it three or four times as a youngster, but even now, over twenty years since I last picked it up, it still manages to electrify me. "The Call of the Wild" is often cited as the best work of fiction ever written about dogs, but the book is equally about men--and about London himself. As a puppy, Buck is like a human child--dependent on his benefactors and with few cares in the world. But soon he is wrenched from his first home, ending up in Alaska to perform the most menial tasks in appalling conditions for a series of contemptible owners--much like the impoverished London himself who, beginning at the age of 14, went from cannery employee to oyster pirate to jute mill laborer to vagrant to prisoner to laundry worker to would-be gold prospector. In such conditions, both dogs and humans resort to their most primitive, robotic instincts. "The Call of the Wild," however, is not only about descent into feral survivalism. It's also about the irrepressible yearning for independence and even solitude, and it shares a good deal, thematically, with London's social writings. If you tend to think that London's masterpiece is little more than a work of children's literature, you might want to visit it again and see how it works as an allegory. While it's certainly a great novel about dogs, it's also a perceptive statement on the human condition.

Review of The Call of the Wild and Selected Stories

I read three short stories from the book, "The Call of the Wild and Selected Stories", by Jack London. These stories include "To Build a Fire", "To the Man on Trail,", and "Diable the Dog." I recommend all three of these short stories to people who like descriptive short stories with exciting scenes and sad endings.The story "To Build a Fire" is about a man who is heading up to camp, which is twelve hours away in seventy-five-degree below zero weather. This story is about man versus the cold, frigid, abilities of Mother Nature. The theme of this story seems to be about how challenging nature can be to humanity. The second story, "To the Man on Trail," is about a band of men from many different lands celebrating Christmas when an under cover thief shows up. This is an exciting story that confuses the reader at times because you can't tell if he is good or bad until the end. The theme of this story is about man versus society. It makes one think that you can't judge a book by its cover.The last story of the three, written by Jack London, is called "Diable - A Dog." This is about an evil dog who is owned by an evil owner. His owner beat him so much that he started to take revenge against his owner by trying to kill him. This story is a great example of the saying, "You reap what you sow." This story seems to be about the conflict of man versus nature, as well as man versus himself, since the dog had a natural evil temperament, which was worsened by the beatings he received from the man. Both of these factors created evil in this dog, which in the end defeated the man.I had mixed feelings about these stories because I normally prefer science fiction novels. I also didn't like how the main character in two of the three short stories always perished. However, what I really like in the stories was the author's way of describing his characters and their conflicts. I t made me feel like I was a part of the story. I recommend these stories to anyone who enjoys rich, detailed, stories with exciting scenes..

Wonderful

The Call of the Wild is about a dog and his adventures. The writing of it and the action that takes place is excellent.