Aggie Blue Books: The Call of the Wild

If you are looking for your next winter read, nothing encapsulates the chill in the air quite like Jack London’s “The Call of the Wild.”

A devastating tale told from the perspective of a dog named Buck, this novel outlines the hardships of the Klondike Gold Rush in the 1890s when sled dogs were the only means of transportation through the brutal Yukon territory. Stolen from his warm, countryside home in California, Buck is forced into the dog-eat-dog world of mushing where he has to fight to survive or succumb to the brutality of his new world.

Buck’s journey is anything but easy. A stark contrast to his previous life in the sun, the Canadian frontier is brutal. From being beaten by greedy gold seekers to being attacked by his own team, Buck has to learn the difference between friend and enemy to even stay alive.

In addition, he has to battle nature. From sleepless nights below zero to the treachery of the sled dog paths, he is battered and worn in his many travels across the Yukon territory. Buck completely changes as he is hardened by the difficult life he is forced to lead unwillingly.

He is beckoned by a deep, primordial call to disappear into the unknown.

As Buck struggles to persevere in this world divided between the civilized and the primitive, only one thing makes him stay: John Thornton.

On one of Buck’s many trips along the Yukon trail, he is near death when outdoorsman Thornton takes him in and nurses him back to health. Buck grows to love and respect this man who is one of the only humans who has shown him kindness throughout his difficult journey. Reminiscent of his old life, he finds peace within the company of Thornton.

But Buck’s story doesn’t end there.

As he travels and lives along Thornton, Buck is still bombarded by the desire to be completely untethered from humanity and civilization. He battles with his own nature as it calls to him from the primitive world.

Will Buck stay with John Thornton and live the easy life he was born into, or will he answer the call of the wild that has grown in him as he has struggled to survive?

This book is not a light read. There are many scenes and descriptions of brutality and animal abuse. However, if you can stomach Buck’s experiences, his story will not disappoint. With underlying criticisms of the real world, there is much to unpack in this short novel.

In addition, this book perfectly fits the winter weather and contains beautiful prose that will keep you turning pages chapter after chapter. Reading this novel is like settling down in front of the fire as it snows outside, and you are the only one in your house.

For anyone craving a bit of the unknown, “The Call of the Wild” can satisfy the need to disappear. Allow Buck’s story can transport you to a foreboding world where you can forget about the real world momentarily. In a society where so much of life is based within the confines of civilization, this book is an important read for anyone willing to confront the question: Will you stay within the boundaries of your comfortable life, or will you answer the call of the wild?