Book Review - The Call of the Wild by Jack London

 Book Review - The Call of the Wild by Jack London


(For most of the literature selections, I am checking out audiobooks from my local library or, if they are really inexpensive and not available from the library, purchasing them from Audible.  This is working really well for me and I would highly recommend it for getting more “good reading” in with your limited hours, just make sure you get an “unabridged” edition.)

The Call of the Wild is a book written mostly from the perspective of a dog.  There is a lot of personification because of this viewpoint.  It does make you think, however, not just about dogs, but about people and our ways of dealing with difficulties.  There are characters in this book that make you shake your head in wonder asking, “How can they be so self-centered?  How can they be so prideful and foolish?”  Of course, once we ask those questions about these people, we must examine ourselves for our own self-centeredness and pride.  There are other characters that are very cruel that make us examine our own cruelty to others.  Finally, there are characters that are good and inspire loyalty, making us question how we can be more like them.  Through it all, there is Buck, the main character of the story.  Buck is a dog who has dealt with all these kinds of people and all kinds of conditions from lazy and luxurious to overworking and harsh.  Looking at life through his eyes helps us to analyze how we deal with the different realities of our own lives and how we can be more mindful of what others might be going through.  If you haven’t read this book, check it out.  (And no, the movie isn’t quite the same, as is true whenever a book is turned into a movie.  The book is always better.)

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