Call of the Wild and White Fang (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

Jack London's The Call of the Wild and White Fang

Lately I have been picking up many Barnes and Nobles classics for their great price and better than average quality. So a couple weeks ago I went to Barnes and Noble and picked up the very book I am reviewing. I looked at the appealing price (Eight dollars), the fact that it was a hardcover, and the nice ruffled paper. I started reading it a few days later and finished it in three days flat. I was taken into the frigid and brutal Alaskan wilderness and followed the dogs that Jack London created. I thought it was a great book overall. It has an interesting setting and time (the Klondike gold rush), and was written well, in my opinion. Now if you like dogs, then this book will be a more meaningful and powerful read for you. Now there was some brutal parts in the book(No spoilers, dont worry), but I think that Jack London included them to show the power of nature and give you a different feeling of the book. Now a big thing that I have learned with Barnes and Noble classics in general is that one should read the Introduction AFTER reading the book (Do I smell a paradox?). For some odd reason Barnes and Noble feels the need to spoil the entire story before you even hit page one. The introduction gives away the plot, many events, and, basically, just made you waste eight dollars if you got the book for enjoyment only. I really think they should make it a Conclusion.But, the Introduction is very helpful for giving one a better understanding of the book, and I, personally find it quite interesting and find it helps connect some "dots" of the book if I read the Introduction AFTER I have read the book in full. Now if you are reading this review, you may have noticed that it is "out of stock" or something to that degree (It is as I am writing this). If I am correct, I remember looking at a hardcover Barnes and Noble classics named "The Count of Monte Cristo," and it said the same thing(out of stock). But when I checked a couple weeks later it was "in stock." So if one really wants this book, it should, if I am correct, be "in stock" in some weeks. If not, just buy the paperback copy. The paper is good and the only difference is that its not a hardcover (Did I mention its cheaper?)

So, in summary: Great Book,great value, and read the Introduction after reading the book.

Hope you like it as much as I did :)

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

A bit strange, but a good read nevertheless

These two books, being the Call of the Wild and White Fang, were very unique books indeed. The first novel, the Call of the Wild, follows the story of the domesticated dog Buck, who is rather wolf-like in appearance, who is unexpectedly stolen from his comfortable life and his loving master and thrown into the harsh challenges of a violent world. Throughout the majority of this first book, the story tells of Buck's hardships, as he is forced into the crude (and gory) sport of dog fighting, and is faced with ever-abusive (and changing) owners, all the while coming to learn of the law of kill or be killed. White Fang, the second of the two novels, follows the wolf called, obviously, White Fang, who, as opposed to Buck, is thrust into the confusing realm of men, which results in his gradual domestication.

Both of these novels I largely recommend, although they are somewhat strange in their forthcoming, and at some points a tad gory, but not extensively. Full of action, yet embellished with a noticeable realism, Jack London gives as a grand portrayal of looking through a canine's eyes. Although the author seems like a low-life (if you were to read his autobiography! A drunk and having gone to jail on several occasions!!!), his writing doesn't at all portray it, and I strongly recommend that you give these novels a try.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I would review it but the ebooks won't download

I have downloaded some ebooks from the B&N site, but usually just end up frustrated with a blank document, and no one can really explain it, even though the phone service people are very nice.

Look, B&N, if you're going to claim to be giving away free ebooks, give 'em away. If we have to torture ourselves with non-functioning Beta level technology then don't call it free. It's not.

As I said, I would love to review this book, but like my attempt to download _Leaves of Grass_ it ended with nothing but a blank document. Yes I scrolled, yes I have the B&N ereader, yes I know how to use computer technology reasonably well, yes I cleared the books out and tried variously saving or opening the file,yes the book is currently free, yes I chose the B&N reader, nothing worked. Downloaded it five times which is just being stubborn.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Still a Favorite!

I read this book as a young child and fell in love with it- I laid it down, and have not looked at it in many years. I wondered before reading it if I would still enjoy it, and although I appreciate London's techniques better now, it is still a fantastic story for almost all ages.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

i like this book

i like this book bec it is about kid looking for gold and advntres and that is what i like

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Great

Wild book...

An Amazing Book!!! I read this book in seventh grade Literature

An Amazing Book!!!

I read this book in seventh grade Literature class and I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! I'm eighth grade right now and I've already read this book three other times!!

Exeptional read

London uses amazing technic and style to tell this tale through the eyes of a Husky dog, Buck. Buck learns through trial and error the importance and effectiveness of leadership. London's tale can also compare to us as humans, and how we react and adapt to the harsh conditions of life. This book is a timeless classic that everyone should read some point in their life. Jessica the bug freak

Quite a good book

This particular novel combined the two books, Call of the Wild and White Fang, both written by Jack London. The first book, Call of the Wild, is about a Saint Bernard named Buck who was born and raised in a luxurious life with very wealthy owners. Then one day, he was kidnapped from his opulent life and sold to Alaskan gold seekers as a sled dog. In order to stay alive in the Alaskan Wilderness, Buck must learn: to scavenge every scrap of food he can get, the "Law of Club and Fang", how to fit in with the pack and, most importantly, how to fight. Throughout his perilous adventure, Buck has to endure the cruelty of his malicious masters, an innumerous amount of wounds from thousands of battles, and the harsh conditions of the winter to survive the American Northwest. The second novel, White Fang, is about a wolf that is half dog that grew up in the Wild. the first few months of his life are spent with his mother in the Wild, but they accidentally stumble into the hands of indians who amaze him with their "powers". These ways of man cause White Fang to believe that they are his gods and that his calling in life is to serve them. His wolfness causes him to be shunned and hated by all dogs that he meets, which molds White Fang into a ferocious fighter, a very agile speedster, and makes the wolf much more faithful to men. This faithfulness introduces him to the evil part of mankind that changes him into a merciless monster that loathes anything and everything that is living. However, one man treats him differently from the others, but in a good way. Using the power of love, his new god rids White Fang of his hatred and replaces it with an affinity towards him.

BEST INDEPENDENT BOOK EVAAAA!!!!

This book is like an elegant red whine, it is sold with a companion book Whitefang if you can find it. I just finished it, it is the most descriptive and in depth literature i have ever read. Jack London's writing style is strange, looking back he made out perfectly what was happening in Call of the Wild and Whitefang with nearly no dialect. The animals themselves do not ever talk but the humans bearly talk through the entire book. It is almost perfectly from the animals point of view. The only let down is it was written in 1901 and therefore is one of its kind as fa as i know Jack London does not have many books published i have only heard of these two but superb book a must have in any collection.

J B

JUSTIN BIEBER IS SO CUT $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$%??????$$%%$$%$%%$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$/*****???????????????????????@@@@@@@@########$$$$$$$$$$$$$

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Amazing

Just finished call of the wild in less then a week, i didnt want to put it down!

Buck's call to the Wild

This Jack London classic is great for readers of any age. Buck will capture your heart from the first paragraph as you read about his trials and adventures during the Gold Rush.

its okay

The "Call of the Wild" was very grewsome and bloody. I would not reccomend it to some people, i would reccomend it to people that like abuse and bloddy scenes. Over all, I am not glad I read it cause I dont really like these sorts of things. I also dont like this book because it hurts me to know that the dogs get abused. I would not recommend this book to basically anyone.

0 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

The Call of the Wild

The Call of the Wild was just magnificent. It had great discription and fully described everything. Also, it answered every question that was asked by me in the end. It really kept my attention thoughout the whole book. My favorite character would be Buck, because he never gives up and keeps pushing though every problem he faces. I would recommend this book to someone who loves action in a book, and doesn't mind reading. I don't like reading but this book was great. It would probably be in me top ten favorite books.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

It'll do

this book was very abnormal. I didn't like how the main characters were dogs and. Some of the scenes were very gruesome. I understand how their dogs but I didn't like how they made it hard to understand. I think it was cruel when they were beating the dog. I don't recomend this book to people who are into love and happiness. It is about dogs and blood.

0 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Call of the Wild

Call of the Wild has a good plot because it is exciting. I thought it was a really good book. The mean idea is told by Buck, a mixed breed who is a sled dog. From his point of view, he is trying to show the world in a dog's eyes. It was written in the early 1890's by Jack London. Young readers are attracted to this story. Jack London is a suspenceful authur.
Judge Miller is the original owner of Buck until he is sold enormous times, he is taught the law of club and fang. Buck goes days without food, water, and sleep. Spitz the head leader is visous and cruel to the other sled dogs. He killed Curly in a fight for food, and Buck told himself that he would never let that happen to him. Spitz instigated Buck to fight and one day they finally did. Buck had won the big fight. He became the head dog and wouldnt let Francios put him in any other position.
John Thorton saves Bucks life when he is getting beaten by Charles and Hal by taking him when he refuses to cross the Unfrozen river. He saved John Thorton's life 3 times. He also pulls 1,000 pounds of flour for John Thorton, when he placed a bet. Buck realizes what love is for the first time. Will he answer the call, or stay with John Thorton...read and find out.

Kiana's Review

The Call of the Wild is really amazing. When I read this novel I figured the main idea was whether or not a dog named Buck would answer his call of wild. Jack London probably wrote this novel to entertain the reader. Buck is kidnapped and begins an adventure after becoming a sled dog. I liked the way London created his characters. For example when François speaks he uses dialect. I would compare this book with 101 Dalmatians but with a little more exciment. I think they are alike because they are both dog stories but the call of the wild has more description of the fights. Overall I think many readers should read this book. I would give this novel five stars!

White Fang

Two men are out in the wild of the north. Their dogs disappear as they are lured by a she-wolf and eaten by the pack. One of the men is soon eaten along with another dog. Only Henry and two other dogs are left, they almost get eaten until at the last moment they are saved by a group of traveling men. The wolves continue to search for food and split up. The she-wolf mates with another wolf and only one of her pups survive, and grow into a strong young wolf. The she-wolf and White Fang go to an Indian village where the she-wolfs master is. He soon sells her but keeps White Fang. White Fang is terrorized by the other dogs in the village. This makes him turn very vicious killing some of the other dogs. White Fang is then traded and used as a fight dog. He is later saved by a man named Scott. He tames White Fang and teaches him to love.
The book White Fang by Jack London is one of my all time favorite books. It has a good story and plot that anyone who loves an adventure will enjoy. One thing that I enjoy about this book is that it is very descriptive so you feel as if you are right next to White Fang throughout all of his adventures. Another thing I enjoyed about it, and others might too, is that Jack London wrote realistic dangers and believable situations that you can relate to in one way or another. My favorite thing about the book is that it is not predictable and keeps you eager to read more and more until you are finished, and that is saying a lot for me because I am not much of a reader.
I had a hard time finding things I disliked about the book, I actually tried to go back and find things. I was unable to find something I disliked so I put into consideration what other people might not like about it. One thing that I found is the fact that the minor characters in the book come and go rather quickly which can be irritating to some people. The final thing I put into consideration is that it is a very long book, 25 chapters worth, so if you are looking for a quick read this is not the book for you.

okay, but not fantastic

It was an okay book, I must admit, but the story line was very poor. It seemed as if the call of the wild had no point to it, at all. His descriptions and everything were all right, I mean it kept you reading, but his plot was very messy, especially in call of the wild. It seemed as though it lead you to nothing, really. I must admit, White Fang had a better ending, a little more planned out than Call of the Wild, but they both almost seemed the same. It was all right, don't get me wrong, it all seemed planned out carefully to start with, up until the end. I don't get why it became a classic, but it was still an okay read. Hey, a pretty good write for a crazy, suicidal author.