Reading 1001 discussion

by Jack London
3 stars

Read by Jeff Daniels, who did an awesome job, this adventure story is told from the perspective of a dog who becomes a sled dog in the Yukon. He starts out as a rather pampered dog, going where ever he wants whenever he wants. When is big enough to be sold to work in the reins of a sled, Buck has to learn how to survive in this new environment. Not unlike learning to get along with our coworkers, he learns the hierarchy that he must operate within on a daily basis. As his skill and confidence grow he becomes a leader for his owner and team.

It has been a long time since I read this, so I wanted to revisit it before checking it off the list. It was chosen as my TBR challenge book for June, as well as being on my Randomized list.

I enjoyed this book as much or more than the first time I read it. I had forgotten just how violent the story was, but I loved the characterization of Buck. The description of the setting and the events of Buck's life completely captured my attention.

Main character of this adventure novel is Buck - a shepherd/Bernardine dog. The story follows his adventures as a sledge dog in Alaska and Canada. The main themes are the laws of nature - protecting yourself, survival of those who are strong and smart, adaptation and leadership. It is also a story of humankind, their cruelty, stupidity or humanity towards animals and natural laws.
My rating: 3 stars

I had read and loved almost all of Jack London's book when I was young. However, on this rereading, I didn't actually recall much of the details of the plot or even the general tone of the book which is filled with harsh violence. London fashioned a story that allowed him to discuss and offer up insights into the harsh world of nature and the harsh world of humans, and the fact that all animals will revert to their primitive selves if they are put under stressful situations where the desire for food and warmth become the driving force in life. Although some humans are driven senseless by the obsession of searching for a yellow metal, London implies that there is a truer sense of self that lives in the primitive. I found his portrayal of Buck, the dog, to be clear and although it is full of anthropomorphisms, Buck is never more than a dog until he becomes the Ghost Dog of the indigenous peoples of the north. It is really a three star book but I am giving it 4 stars - one for nostalgia perhaps.

Read in 2016
3 stars

This I chose as a summer read for me and my 11 year-old son. I had never read the book so I thought it was a good choice. After we started reading it my son told my husband “this is a really violent book, they beat dogs”. I am not sure this story was what we were looking for. It is a book that is all about the journey but what a journey it was.