This is my first time reading Jack London - the way he pieces words together, as well as the social commentary between the lines, is so beautiful. I knew there’d be violence, but I wasn’t expecting it to be as graphic as it was. Of course this was written in a different time, but I think the disturbing images made me take off a half star off. But to see a dog go through strong character development was unlike anything I’d read. 

I think I now understand why this books means so much to so many people. It is very hard to read through the unbearable hardship and cruelty it presents, but I am glad that I did so.

I would have given it 5 stars, if I weren't bothered by a few things. 

First and foremost, I did not appreciate the racist comparisons between Native Americans and white people. The narrative had no need for them whatsoever in my opinion, and they only revealed London's own prejudice.

Also, the book repeatedly uses some slurs. I know that the times were different when the book was written, but some words were just as offensive then as they are now, and also there were already better words available at the time, so that's no excuse.

Lastly—and this is admittedly more personal than my previous points—it took me quite some pages (and time) to get used to London's use of the word "god", understand they way he perceives it, and stop being annoyed by it. I have no problem with the word in general, but putting the word in the mouth of the victim when talking about their perpetrator didn't feel right. It was around the middle of the book when I started gathering what exactly does the word mean to London.