The Call of the Wild

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

The Call of the Wild is a book about Buck, a dog who through a series of circumstances and adventures, finds himself in the Yukon Territory of northwest Canada, answering a primordial calling. The book is set in the late 1800's around the Klondike Gold Rush. Jack London was twenty-seven years old when it was published in 1903.

For whatever reason, I missed reading The Call of the Wild and other books like Alice in Wonderland, when I was in school. So, in an attempt to keep my boring non-fiction business book mind off guard, I'll pick up one of these books from time to time and read it.

Two things caused me to not put this book down. One, Jack London's voice and storytelling. Jack, an  American, doesn't write like an olden time author. His cadence is fresh and doesn't require extra thought to figure out where he is going. Number two is the book's design. This is an EMC Masterpiece Series Access Edition. It's actually a fictional work held sentinel by a textbook. It is designed to teach students about plot, conflict, theme, motivation, characters, etc.

The book begins with a light biography of Jack London. It's followed by biographical and historical time lines. The introduction provides the book's setting in an historical overview. Then there is a list of characters followed by a map of the Yukon Territory.

Chapters - a thin line drawn down each page provides a separation for the margin. Within each margin is a question that helps the reader introspect deeper into the passage. At the bottom of every page is a dictionary-type description of selected words on that page.Techniques and exercises are found at chapter's end to help readers with recall, interpretation, synthesizing and connections to literary terms.

The book's end begins with a plot analysis followed by creative writing activities and projects. A glossary follows along with definition of literary terms.

My head was spinning from potential take-aways from this book - above and beyond the pleasure of reading a well written story. EMC's design and format flat out facilitates learning. If you have to present written instruction that contains unfamiliar terms, break down the meaning on that page - like the definitions found on the bottom of the pages here. Ask questions on that same page to provide a deeper understanding  of content. Provide a review that engages the reader.

If you are a writer of fiction and are in need of some light, remedial work, this book is the perfect elixir. It will take your hand and gently guide you through the parts of a plot. If you are a writer of non-fiction and bring your imagination along, the journey through the parts of a plot will unburden your suppression of facts and provide much needed word lubrication.

My next take-away is to be savored in its own post. I'll give you a hint though - it has to do with a journey through one's own mind and personal branding.

Comments

[Vira Tokarchuk]

Well. I think, the book is really great.
Jack London tried to describe the life in its real way. Of course, we can' find in this book the thoughts of the dog (i'm speaking about it, because smb tried to do it), but the book teachs us the real life, not in a big comfortable flat, but life, which consists of fighting with nature. We don't know what is it, because we got used to comfort, tv and nice food. But what's there? out of the city?
"The call of the wild" demonstrates it to us.

[Vira Tokarchuk]

Well. I think, the book is really great.
Jack London tried to describe the life in its real way. Of course, we can' find in this book the thoughts of the dog (i'm speaking about it, because smb tried to do it), but the book teachs us the real life, not in a big comfortable flat, but life, which consists of fighting with nature. We don't know what is it, because we got used to comfort, tv and nice food. But what's there? out of the city?
"The call of the wild" demonstrates it to us.