| Product: |
The Call of the Wild - Jack London |
| Date: |
02/08/03 (131 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: Good story , Changed Litertature
Disadvantages: Can be boring at the beginning
The Question that's been on many people's lips for years is - is The Call Of The Wild a book aimed at adults, or a book aimed at children. People assume because it's got a dog in it, it's straight away aimed at children, but in my opinion, that's not the case.
There's a lot of brutality in this book. The fighting in it is pretty full on, and that was rather upsetting for me, let alone a child. Not only that, but London writes it not in a childish manner, nor in a childish tone, but in a very mature tone and manner.
Not only that, but, the dog, Buck, doesn't even talk, so it's not like the book is even imaginary, the story could've and could happen. I think London wrote this for adults. Wrote it to be different. For it to be well known and appreciated; and I think he's succeeded.
**The Plot**
Buck is a happy dog who lives with Judge in a small in Santa Clara Valley. Buck loves nothing more than to sit by the fire with his owner, play with his grandchildren, and sleep in the sun. His four years of life with the family has made Buck a tame and kind dog.
But, when the Judge's gardener, one who likes to gamble, has money problems, he kidnaps Buck and sells him. He doesn't sell him to another family. He doesn't sell him to another man. He sells him to become a dog on a sledge-team.
Buck's tame and kind nature is suddenly transformed after having to live like he did. He had to walk for miles after miles. Hundreds and thousands even, and doing the same each time. Not only that, but he had to take beatings, and he had to do nothing. He had to sit there and bleed. In pain. A pain, after a while, he got used to.
He wanted leadership. He wanted to be the leader of the sledge-team, and to rule the other dogs, and to rule all of them. Not to be horrible, but so they would know who was boss.
But, there was already a type of leader. His name being Sp
itz, and Spitz did not like Buck one bit. Any opportunity they'd have they would fight. They would snarl and growl at each other.
Then, when Buck and Spitz's owners at that time weren't looking they began a fight. Spitz winning in the beginning, but Buck later gaining strength to fight back.
Buck killed Spitz, and then he was leader. He was leader of the pact. He was the one who told other what to do. He was a different dog. A different dog to the one who used to play with Judge's grandchildren. He'd changed with his surroundings, and if anything Buck was dangerous!
**Characters**
Buck
Buck is the lead character. He is the only character that remains alive throughout the book. Some people might say it is silly that a dog is the lead character in an adult's book, but in actual fact it's quite clever.
London is forever pointing out how intelligent Buck is, and my favourite part of the book is when Buck and Spitz are fighting, and London writes:
"But Buck possessed a quality that made for greatness - imagination. He fought by instinct, but he could fight by head as well."
Page 43 - Chapter III
It seems that Buck is the most intelligent dog to have lived, and is always planning things. He knows what he can do, and what he can't do, and uses them to his advantage.
If you took a dog today, which had been brought up in a home for four years, learnt that he was fed and watered each day, loved, and never beaten; if you took him, and put him in the wild, it's highly likely that he'd die. Almost certain.
And although Buck wasn't put in the wild, he was as good as, as he was beaten badly and he had to go for days without food. What's so brilliant about Buck is he's trained his body to change. To tell his brain that he won't be eating everyday, to survive.
Buck is determined throughout th
e book to stay alive. To stay alive and fight as hard as he can to do so. There's no mention in the book, though, about Buck missing home. It seems that he doesn't want to go home and be back with the Judge, it seems he prefers this life.
Buck often heard the people who were looking after him at the time, talking, and he understood each word they were saying. I can't help but wonder whether London is trying to make out whether all dogs can hear, and to show us how special of a dog Buck is.
If Buck was a human, I think he'd have gone down with Oliver Twist and all the other classic characters in books, as the bravest and most enjoyable. But, as he's a dog it seems he can't It's sad in a way.
**My Opinion**
I have read many classic books. I've read Robinson Crusoe - Daniel Defoe - to Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte - and although you have to read them closely to understand the language, it's still easy and very possible to read.
But, with Call Of The Wild, I found myself very confused and lost in London's words. I don't know whether it was lack of concentration, or whether London's words were so strong that it was difficult to read.
The Call Of The Wild was published in 1902 so I presumed it would be an easy read, but at the beginning I found myself not only confused by getting very bored, and I felt like giving up, and not reading it.
I think what London was trying to achieve was a good beginning. A classic one, in fact, and I think he spent a long time on the beginning of the book, because even though it was difficult to read, went you read it again, after reading it once, you appreciate it, and I think that's what he was trying to achieve.
I didn't really start enjoying The Call Of The Wild until about 50 pages in. I felt before that, that it was long-winded and just not enjoyable. I often wanted to put it down, but I carried on, and
now I did I'm extremely glad I did!
The Call Of Wild can only be enjoyed when you read it to the very end. That's because it has a story right to the end, and there's even a new story on the last three pages.
Although The Call Of The Wild was a very short book, I think London tried very hard to write a good book. I think he wanted to tell people that anything could be written about and made interesting. And I think The Call Of The Wild has changed literature for the better.
It has showed people that dogs are animals, but they shouldn't be treated badly. They should be treated equally. And if a child is reading that, it will stick with him or her, and hopefully they'll change the way dogs are treated by some.
**Who Should Read The Call Of Wild?**
No matter who you are, I highly recommend you read The Call Of The Wild. Not only does it have a good story, it is written wonderfully. If you are planning to read it to your kids, I warn you that at times it's extremely brutal, and it's probably not suitable for kids under 10; unless you censor the brutal parts!
**Where Can I Buy The Call Of The Wild?**
You can buy this fantastic book for £2.99 from Amazon. Now, you can't get fairer than that, can you?
**Final Thoughts**
The Call Of The Wild has certainly changed my views on what sort of books to read. I'd have never have read this book a few months back, but now I've realised whatever taste you have, you can enjoy any book if it's written as marvellously as this.
So, now, go. Buy. Read. Cry. Appreciate. And you certainly will!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Written By: Matt Roberts.
Summary:
|
|
