The Call of the Wild
Posted By Vonna on September 7, 2009
The Call of the Wild was one of the first books that I truly fell in love with. I was eleven when I found it in a neighbor’s garage sale. That summer I read it more times than I can recall. I continued to read it periodically throughout my teens and early adulthood, but not since I started writing novels of my own.
While I was working on my current book which I intended for an audience of kids aged ten and up, I got to worrying that my plot was too dark and some scenes too grisly for kids that young. Then I remembered The Call of the Wild.
Though many years have passed since I last read it, I still have my original copy. Curious to see if the book was actually as intense as I remembered it being, I dug my old book out of the closet and reread it.
Yep; it’s dark all right. And grisly. What were my parents thinking by letting an eleven year old girl read such a thing?
Well, whatever they were thinking, I am grateful. It’s still one of the best books I’ve ever read.
And I’m grateful that Mr. London did not lighten up, dumb down or cut those intense scenes.
So I’ll stick to my story, even though I may get some painful feedback. As my father used to say, sometimes you’ve got to let the hide go with the hair.
Thanks for the reminder that as writers we must write the story that needs to be told.
“Call of the wild” was one of the books read and studies in my kids seventh grade class. I read it and found it disturbing yet powerful.
“Call of the Wild” still is one of my favorite books as well as “Sounder” by William Armstrong. Thanks for reminding me!
BTW – I love your blog and have it bookmarked.
Thanks for all the responses. It’s good to see all of you here.