Reviews (17)

The Best American Novel.
I love this dogs spirit. Two primary themes are present. A dogs struggle for survival, and man's yearning for adventure. This is an adventure story about the transformation of one of mans best freinds. Buck is a gritty and dignified dog. He led a lavish life at judge Miller's estate in the Santa Clara valley California. Then one day he is kidnapped for money and sold to traders as a sled dog, during the gold rush. He endures men's cruelty and fights for his life with other dogs. He eventually slays the lead dog and takes his place. Chapters 5-7 are worth reading several times. In 5, a civilized miner John Thornton saves Buck and their relationship grows. Chapter 7 I won't reveal. Just read this book, I promise you will love it.

Recommended
I read this as a book on tape.I had heard about this book for years as "a classic" but never could get up enough interest to actually read it.When I got it as a book on tape I could read it in my car or while laying down relaxing at home.I found that it IS a "good book" and is worthy of it's stature as "a classic".Recommended.Email:boland7214@aol.

The Law of Club and Fang
Call of the Wild is an extraordinary book by Jack London. In this book, you follow a dog named Buck. Buck has a good life with his owner, Judge Miller, and lives in Santa Clara Valley, California. But one day, when no one is home, the gardener kidnaps Buck and he is sold again and again across the United States and Canada, all the way to a Klondike region of Canada, where a gold rush is going on. Buck is forced to pull sleds with other dogs, and finds that it is a dog-eat-dog world, literally, and that the only way to survive is to get to the top. But many obstacles get in his way, including a dog named Spitz. Buck's primal instincts come back to him, changing his personality along the way. Jack London does a great job of showing how different your personality can change depending on the situation. I find that this is a very important thing to know and that he shows it very well. This book really made me think, probably due to all of the intense scenes in this book. If you like dogs, action, or Jack London, I definetly recommend this intense book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Literature - Classics / Contemporary    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Classics    5. Dogs    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Wolves    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (126)

Eat or be eaten
"The aim of life was meat. Life itself was meat. Life lived on life. There were the eaters and the eaten. The law was: EAT OR BE EATEN."
Haunting!
This book is the best book that I have ever read in my life, bar none!And I have read many, many books in my 49 years.I only read this book because I was reading an article in a magazine and an author was asked what book was she reading.The author said that she had read "White Fang" years ago, and after reading that book, saw no reason to ever read another.I thought with a recommendation like that it had to be a good book.And boy was it!The story stayed with me for days after finishing it.It was a beautiful, beautiful story.I am only sorry that I didn't read it years ago!!!!

Read this book!!!

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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Canada    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Classics    6. Dogs    7. Fiction    8. Wolves    9. Classic fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Reviews (35)

Gripping story of survival
London is a tremendously talented writer and his understanding of life matches his tremendous knowledge of the snow-enshrouded world of the upper latitudes.His writing is beautiful, poignant, and powerful, yet also somber, morose, and infinitely real. This isn't a story to read when you are depressed. Although The Call of the Wild is a short novel and on the surface a dog's story, it contains as much truth and reality of man's own struggles as that which can be sifted from the life's work of many other respected authors. The story he tells is stark and real, and as such, it is not pretty picture he paints, nor an elevating story he writes.
The call of the wild
This story is about a dog named Buck.He was a huge St. Bernard, four years old and he lived in the South.One day he was kidnapped from his home by gardener's helper and sold as a sled dog in the cold North.Since this time his life was hard.Everday he tried to survive.He was hungry, he was beaten and he fought with the other dogs.Soon he was strong, smart and the leader over the team of dogs.
The Call of the Wild
The Call of the Wild
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Animals - Dogs    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Classics    6. Dogs    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Wolves    10. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Reviews (329)

A Journey Into The Wild
While reading this novel, I felt as though I was on a journey. The sensory detail and connections that I could make with Buck made his jouney seem more and more real to me. Watching Buck transform from a domesticated house dog, to a wild, one with nature, almost wolf-like animal was both amazing and heart-wrenching. It was amazing to see how the wild changed Buck so much, but it was sad to see how the major struggles and difficulties he faced sort of forced him to change. Buck had great determination and spirit that was clearly shown through his actions and reactions to his surroundings.
At times gut-wrenching and heartbreaking...
Jack London needs to be given his proper due. He is a tremendously talented writer and his understanding of life matches his tremendous knowledge of the snow-enshrouded world of the upper latitudes. Although The Call of the Wild is a short novel and on the surface a dog's story, it contains as much truth and reality of man's own struggles as that which can be sifted from the life's work of many other respected authors.
Good for all ages
I read it when one of my kids had to read it. A great story and brings up a lot of American history for teaching and learning (about the Gold Rush). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - Dogs    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Classics    4. Literature: Classics   

Reviews (2)

Buck realizes his potential
Gold was found in Alaska, the rush to obtain it required a strong constitution and many dogs to do the work that horses usually did in the states. The environment bread harsh attitudes. Also in the testing of ones mettle one finds their true potential.
A rocking book review
The Call of the Wild
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Subjects:  1. Animals - Dogs    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Classics    6. Dogs    7. Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Wolves    10. Yukon Territory   

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's 9-12 - Literature - Classics / Contemporary    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Graphic Novels    4. Children: Grades 3-4    5. Classics    6. Comics & Graphic Novels - General    7. Graphic novels    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Classics    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Literature: Classics    6. Classic fiction    7. English    8. English language readers    9. English literature: fiction texts    10. Language readers   

Reviews (16)

Call of the Wild Revisited
Picked up this book while in Alaska and throughly enjoyed it....as with most men, had read it or heard of it as a boy, but put it aside or didn't remember it...Surprisingly good, especially while in Alaska, but one doesn't have to be in Alaska to appreciate and enjoy this book.Yes, it's about a dog, but it's also about life, relationshships, and attitudes. Good book well worth reading. LIke most classics, we tend to appreciate them more as we grow older than when we first read them.Thus it is with this book.

Call Of The Wild Review
This is a compelling tale of a dog named Buck taken from his home and used to find gold. Sometimes there could be a funny moment but most of the time you can see the cruel abuse people give to dogs and other animals. Buck is a true survivor and he makes it through that perilous journey. You should read this book and you will be at the edge of your seat all through it. A lot of deaths happen in this story so if you really do not like animal abuse I wouldn't recommend it to you. I can't tell you the whole story because I don't want to give you away one detail that might spoil the end or any other good things that happen. Read it and you'll find out how a dog named Buck survived!

The Gory Truth of Call of the Wild
I highly recrecommend Call of the Wild to Sick minded people who do nothing but sit around all day playing bloody gore war games rated M.There is a bloody graphic death every chapter!YAY!OH! And who could forget the gory fight scences?Eptic blood battles with the moral being winners kill and loosers show mercy!What an important life lesson!And the PAIN!!How can life go on without PAIN?Broken bones, body slashes, club beatings, and, best of all, freezing to death!!!Ah, What a life!In conclusion, I prefer MY games rated E for everyone. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Animals - Dogs    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children's Books/All Ages    5. Children's stories, American    6. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    7. Classics    8. Dogs    9. Fiction    10. General    11. Juvenile Fiction    12. Wolves    13. BG-HUMOR/GAMES - BG-HUMOR    14. Classic fiction    15. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Animals - Dogs    3. Animals - Wolves    4. Children's 9-12 - Literature - Classics / Contemporary    5. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. Classics    8. Dogs    9. Fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. London, Jack, 1876-1916    12. Wolves    13. BG-MIND & BODY - BG-HEALTH    14. Classic fiction    15. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Features

• Audiobook

Subjects:  1. Children's Audio - 4-8    2. English as a Second Language    3. Foreign Language Study    4. General    5. Language    6. Unabridged Audio - Misc.Nonfiction    7. ELT audio-visual (video & audio cassettes)    8. ELT graded readers    9. English    10. English Language Learning (ESL) | Readers | Oxford Bookworms Library    11. English language readers    12. Foreign Language Study / English as a Second Language   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Literature - Classics / Contemporary    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Classics    5. Dogs    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Wolves    9. Yukon Territory    10. BG-COOKBKS - BG - COOKBOOKS    11. Classic fiction    12. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Reviews (12)

Mixed Bag of Stories
London is a tremendously talented writer and his understanding of life matches his tremendous knowledge of the snow-enshrouded world of the upper latitudes.His writing can be beautiful, poignant, and powerful, yet also somber, morose, and infinitely real. However, in this collection, his Klondike stories stand out above all the others: "The League of the Old Men," "Love of Life," and the titular "To Build a Fire." These stories are the worthy stories, the others much less so hence the title of this review and my 3-star rating.
Really good for an adventurer that can't get out much
Most of London's writings are great. One might find stories like "the droolers" not very interesting, but you can't blame London for wanting to diversify his stories a bit. The proceeding is only the opine of this reader.

This really doesn't review the book, but....
Have any of you ever seen the old movie version of this book?
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Classics    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Short stories    7. Adventure stories    8. Fiction anthologies & collections    9. Juvenile Fiction / Classics    10. Modern fiction   

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 3-4   

Features

• Abridged

Reviews (5)

T.B.A.F
For my english class we did a unit on short stories and we read the book To Build A Fire By: Jack London it was an okay book but it was very confusing at times This book was okay I guess the reason why I gave this book only three stars is because the book wasn't very detailed! Just if you're wondering my answer would have to be no, I would not reccomend this book Usually I enjoy Jack London's Material but this story I just wasn't satisfied With SORRY! :(

To Build a Fire
Re-read this book for an online English class. I had forgotten how well London was able to convey the message of how you should listen to those who are only trying to look out for your best interests. I even went so far asto turn up the heat in my house after reading this book!

One man's suspenseful journey through the frozen wilderness
Although at times this book becomes slightly boring, the overall effect makes it well worth reading. A multitude of stories are told throughout time, yet few truly well-told tales exist among them. These well-told tales are not only memorable, they also exhibit exceptional grammatical ingenuity. The extreme setting and vivid, descriptive adjectives, by a notable author, make this a remarkable piece of literature. A lone, rather unlikable man and his dog are portrayed throughout the story. This inhumane man, in ingnoring his elders, does himself great damage. As the temperature in the story lowers, the suspense rises considerably. The reader may find themself at the edge of their seat while reading, as the man, oblivious to the cold, continues to trudge on. This book ought to be read by everyone, for the theme of the story appears to be that oftentimes an animal's instincts prove to be far better than one human's supposed intellegence ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    2. Children's Audio - Young Adult    3. Fiction    4. General   

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    2. Dogs    3. Fiction    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Literary Criticism & Collections    6. Wolves   

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/All Ages    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Adventure stories    6. Classic fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    3. Non-Classifiable   

Reviews (74)

Unique Classic
Jack London was one of the greatest authors America has ever known.It's ironic that because of his dog-centric books that he is often written off as a children's author.I once made the mistake of taking a collection of his short stories on a vacation.Great stories, but among the most depressing, violent, cruel concepts ever put to paper.A poor fit with frozen drinks and palm trees.
Wolf Larsen's Lead Poisoning?
For those modern readers who find the second half of the book unsatisfactory, I ask you to ponder the following: Was Jack London inspired by the real-life characters of Sir John Franklin and Lady Jane (Griffin) Franklin and the events of the 1840's relating to the doomed expedition of the Canadian Northwest Passage?Were Wolf Larsen's headaches, psychological state, numbness, tingling and weakness symptoms of lead poisoning from the solder that sealed the Ghost's tinned food supply?Was Jack London trying to show Victorians how to survive in life-and-death situations instead of making the same mistakes as Franklin's well-read, materialistic crew who refused to give up their silver plates and crystal decanters after they were shipwrecked? Was London trying to show that even physical weakness, inexperience and lack of skill can all be overcome by cool-headed decision making, and an ability to adapt to novel and challenging situations?
My favorite Jack London book
Don't read any other reveiws it will ruin it for you. Just buy this book it's amazing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 9-12 - Literature - Classics / Contemporary    4. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Classics    7. General    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Classic fiction    10. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/All Ages    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Adventure stories    6. Fiction-Action & Adventure    7. Fiction-Short Stories (single author)    8. Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure    9. Short stories   

Reviews (1)

Please read it!
Very good book - and typically for Jack London it is about strong people and strong feelings. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's All Ages - Fiction - General    4. Children's Books/All Ages    5. Classics    6. Fiction    7. Literature: Classics    8. Adventure stories