The Classics Challenge: "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London

In an effort to start working on my goals of reading more classics this year, in January I picked up Jack London’s The Call of the Wild. The book was originally published in 1903 so this will satisfy my challenge to read a classic published between 1900 and 1969. The story is about the life and adventures of a dog named Buck. He is a crossbreed between a Saint Bernard and a shepherd, whose early years were spent leading a leisurely life in Santa Clara Valley, CA, on the estate of a wealthy local judge. Buck’s life changes dramatically when one day he is kidnapped and transported up North to be a working sled dog as the gold rush strikes the Klondike region of Canada.

The book relates the hardships Buck goes through and the lessons he learns along the way. Some parts of the book describe the brutality of the life on the trail in vivid detail. Life was hard for both men and animals, and not all humans had the talent to understand and bond with dogs. The reckless and the careless are mercilessly punished by “the wild” – the nature and the hardships of climate and living conditions. For Buck, the return to the wild and getting in touch with his animal nature is a slow process, but one he masters brilliantly. In addition, the book shows a beautiful bond a man and an animal can forge under the hardest of circumstances.

I ended up really enjoying this short book and would highly recommend it. 5 out of 5 stars.