The Call of the Wild by Jack London | 
 enlarge | Manufacturer: MobileReference
Category: EBooks
Buy New: $0.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  51 reviews
Sales Rank: 1263
Format: Kindle Book
Media: Kindle Edition
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 160
ASIN: B0015KGXKU
Publication Date: March 5, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
"Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for himself, but for every tide- water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego. Because men, groping in the Arctic darkness, had found a yellow metal, and because steamship and transportation companies were booming the find, thousands of men were rushing into the Northland. These men wanted dogs, and the dogs they wanted were heavy dogs, with strong muscles by which to toil, and furry coats to protect them from the frost." Features - Intuitive navigation.
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- Automatic synchronization between the handheld and the desktop PC. You could read half of the book on the handheld, then finish reading on the desktop. Annotations and drawings are also synchronized.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 46 more reviews...
 This book teaches so much... September 6, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I read this book over and over as a child and after reading it again this past week, I see so much value in it. A story told from a dog's point of view, it teaches children empathy for animals and that value cannot be overrated. One might make the mistake of thinking that because it is written from the dog's POV, it is trite or cutesy...it's not. It is gritty and realistic, emphasizing how a man's character can often be revealed in the manner he treats animals.
A rollicking adventure from start to finish, expect to cry and be overjoyed as you read. I would recommend that you read it before giving it to a child, just to make sure it is age appropriate for their developmental stage.
Stark, Powerful Wilderness Tale July 21, 2008
This is a powerful tale of survival of the fittest in the Alaskan Wilderness. It's the story of Buck, a large St. Bernard/Collie kidnapped (or dognapped) for the Klondike Alaska Gold Rush of 1897. Mistreated and passed between human owners, Buck quickly learns to survive by stealing food, and fighting for leadership of the hounds pulling the dogsled. Buck happily comes under the ownerships of kindly John Thornton, but turns savagely vengeful after Thornton is killed. Later, he joins a wolf pack in the wild. This story is told from Buck's point of view, and the descriptions of a frigid, unforgiving wilderness inspire many readers. Others are moved by the author's take on the dark side of human nature and the Darwinian struggle to survive.
Author Jack London (1876-1916) knew of the stark wilderness from his participation in the 1897 Gold Rush. Readers might also like his other writings like SEA WOLF and WHITE FANG.
 A great read with powerful messages for all ages June 10, 2008
Perhaps Jack London's most famous (and shortest) novel, THE CALL OF THE WILD is an undeniably powerful book. Its reputation as a children's book is unfortunate, as this one has something to offer readers of all ages. It is more than the simple-seeming story of a dog taken from civilization and thrust into a harsh and brutal environment, where he is forced to thrive or die, kill or be killed. It is also a story of making the best of the worst, persevering against overwhelming obstacles, living up to ones potential, and reclaiming lost heritage. The emergence of Buck's instinctual fire for life and the almost ghostly visitations from his ancestors is really a joy to read. London's ability to draw you into his stories is also much in evidence here. Even though Buck is a dog, London is able to make him into one of the most intimately knowable and lovable characters in fiction, a remarkable feat when considering the brevity of the novel. Additionally, the sometimes extreme brutality of Buck's surroundings, and the graphic nature in which London describes it, certainly indicates that children were not the intended audience for this piece.
Buck's journey in the North and his transformation into the powerful adept of the Fang and the Club makes up a tale that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to readers of any age or experience. London's message is more than the straight forward story that it usually gets credit for. If you haven't yet read it, or haven't since your childhood, pick this one up for a few hours of enjoyable reading.
The Call of the Wild is a Savage Glimpse of Nature Tooth and Nail through the eyes of a husky dog May 20, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Jack London (1876-1916)was a man of the outdoors who wrote best about nature tooth and claw. In his great novel "The Call of the Wild" he tells one of the greatest dog stories ever written.
Buck is a dog living on the California ranch of Judge Miller. He is kidnapped and shipped to the gold fields of Alaska in the 1890's. Buck was placed in a cage and beaten with savagery by a man in a red shirt in Seattle. Buck was sold to two French fur traders; fought and won a horrific battle to the death with their lead sled dog Spitz and sold to a Scottish half breed. Buck almost dies as he and the team have to travel near the Arctic Circle and Canada for over 3000 miles. The dogs are ill kept being cold, hungry and abused. Later Buck is sold to two brothers and a woman who do not know how to survive in the wild. They too abuse Buck.
Buck is rescued when he stumbles into the cabin of the kindly John Thornton who restores him to health. Thornton is killed by Indians so Buck returns to the wild where he roams freely. Buck is a strong, independent dog who learns that only the strong survive in a cruel environment.
Jack London penned the novel in 1903. He believed that in the world only those who are tough can survive against enemies. London's world is a harsh, cruel place. The story of Buck and later White Fang in another novel remind us of how difficult life can be in a merciless and hellish setting. The book also reminds us of the need to be kind to animals.
Call of the Wild April 29, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I first read this book in junior high, and when I read it again the brutality of this book made me realize how cruel life can be. I had forgotten much of it and I was somewhat surprised how cruel this book was. Jack London uses human emotions and characteristics as he writes of Buck, the loyal, strong dog that goes from a passive life in Cailfornia to the barreness of the Alaska gold rush.
London's human characters are merely role players, cameos if you will, while the animals undergo a reverse evolutionary process from tranquil to ferocious beasts of the wild. In the end, the civilized dog, Buck, takes his rightful place at the head of a pack of wild wolves. Whether this is believable or not remains to the reader to decide, but London writes artfully and conviningly about his subject.
London lived part of what he wrote about, so the fact of the gold rush towns and personalities are true, but his dogs achieve a superior role that may or may not be really possible. Nevertheless, this truly is a gripping story and, while it is aimed at a male audience, any reader who enjoys this type of book will be rewarded with a good story.
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