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rachelwilly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Sexual assault
katmindae's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Glad to listen to this on audio otherwise it would have been a trudge.
I don't know if I would have appreciated reading this in school but I wish I had read this when I was younger. It isn't surprising how this disgusting look into the pitiful lives of the proletariat sparked some real change - too bad it didn't continue on into the socialism at the end and that Sinclair was trying to get at.
I would love to see a modern version of this out today with a new immigrant family in new work scenarios... I think in a modern rendition the storytelling would have a little stronger characterization so the readers could care even deeper for the characters and their plight. (It took me awhile [audiobook problem too] to figure out who the main main characters were and how they were all related.
Only not a 5 star bc it was hard to read but I found it extremely compelling and way more important than other 'classics' I've tried to get through - and of course there is some racism (more stark than the misogyny, which is interesting considering we get a pretty 'sex work is work' argument) which is unfortunate. Is the proletariat the proletariat or not?
I don't know if I would have appreciated reading this in school but I wish I had read this when I was younger. It isn't surprising how this disgusting look into the pitiful lives of the proletariat sparked some real change - too bad it didn't continue on into the socialism at the end and that Sinclair was trying to get at.
I would love to see a modern version of this out today with a new immigrant family in new work scenarios... I think in a modern rendition the storytelling would have a little stronger characterization so the readers could care even deeper for the characters and their plight. (It took me awhile [audiobook problem too] to figure out who the main main characters were and how they were all related.
Only not a 5 star bc it was hard to read but I found it extremely compelling and way more important than other 'classics' I've tried to get through - and of course there is some racism (more stark than the misogyny, which is interesting considering we get a pretty 'sex work is work' argument) which is unfortunate. Is the proletariat the proletariat or not?
itsemilyshafer's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Really loved this book during the first 2/3 of it, however I struggled to get through the last hundred pages. Sinclair has an intriguing writing style, an insightful look into the American past, and unfortunate circumstances that make you wonder what’s going to happen next. Didn’t love the racism in one chapter.
vegantrav's review against another edition
5.0
No novel better highlights the harrowing, horrifying plight of the working class in the United States in the early 1900s than does The Jungle. Focusing on a family of immigrants from Lithuania, The Jungle shows in graphic, sickening detail how capitalism destroyed the health, the spirit, and the lives of millions.
While the novel is a brilliant extended argument for socialism, it is also the heartbreaking and fascinating tale of Jurgis Rudkus and his family. The Jungle is the tragedy of both Jurgis and his family and of the United States. I was appalled and horrified by this novel and reminded of the importance of the socialist cause. While The Jungle is recognized as an important piece of literary journalism, I think it is vastly underrated. This novel is a must read for anyone who cares about the plight of the poor and the working class, whose struggle continues still.
While the novel is a brilliant extended argument for socialism, it is also the heartbreaking and fascinating tale of Jurgis Rudkus and his family. The Jungle is the tragedy of both Jurgis and his family and of the United States. I was appalled and horrified by this novel and reminded of the importance of the socialist cause. While The Jungle is recognized as an important piece of literary journalism, I think it is vastly underrated. This novel is a must read for anyone who cares about the plight of the poor and the working class, whose struggle continues still.
topdragon's review against another edition
3.0
I never "had" to read this one back in high school like so many others did. If you fall in to that category and didn't like it, then I suggest you give it a second try. I think it is especially relevant today given our current US political climate.
The novel is really two seperate stories. The first is the story of a young Lithuanian imigrant and his family who have left everything they've known and come to live the American dream at the dawn of the 20th century. That plan soon goes awry as he becomes enlightened to the realities of the poor: taken advantage of at every turn, forced to work in horrible conditions at an inhuman pace, and sucumbing to injuries that leave him out of work. That's the first story, about a man and his struggle.
The second story is the one that has made this book such an important one in American history. It is the story of "the system" in all of its unfairness, the story that lead to president Teddy Roosevelt's views on "muckraking" and led directly to the establishment of the US Food and Drug Administration. We've all experienced unfair situations in our lives but very few have had it piled on like what happens in this novel.
The final 30-40 pages are a diatribe on socialism and how that would correct all that's wrong with our system. I guess this added to the "importance" of the book in our history but the arguements are faulty and easily refuted. Our protagonist, however, is taken in and one assumes Upton Sinclair hopes the reader is as well. This is the only reason I gave it 3 stars instead of 4. Overall, the book is very readable, the plot moves along nicely, and I am very glad to have finally read this classic.
The novel is really two seperate stories. The first is the story of a young Lithuanian imigrant and his family who have left everything they've known and come to live the American dream at the dawn of the 20th century. That plan soon goes awry as he becomes enlightened to the realities of the poor: taken advantage of at every turn, forced to work in horrible conditions at an inhuman pace, and sucumbing to injuries that leave him out of work. That's the first story, about a man and his struggle.
The second story is the one that has made this book such an important one in American history. It is the story of "the system" in all of its unfairness, the story that lead to president Teddy Roosevelt's views on "muckraking" and led directly to the establishment of the US Food and Drug Administration. We've all experienced unfair situations in our lives but very few have had it piled on like what happens in this novel.
The final 30-40 pages are a diatribe on socialism and how that would correct all that's wrong with our system. I guess this added to the "importance" of the book in our history but the arguements are faulty and easily refuted. Our protagonist, however, is taken in and one assumes Upton Sinclair hopes the reader is as well. This is the only reason I gave it 3 stars instead of 4. Overall, the book is very readable, the plot moves along nicely, and I am very glad to have finally read this classic.
zmuses's review against another edition
1.0
I honestly hated this book. It was very depressing and sad. In all honesty I didn't actually finish the book. I read the cliff notes from chapter 21 and on because it was so depressing I couldn't read it anymore.
garatma's review against another edition
4.0
Ronda entre 3, 4 y 5, la verdad.
La edición que leí tiene dos tomos, ambos de 188 páginas. El primer tomo y las primeras veinte o treinta páginas del segundo son desgarradoras; los párrafos son puñaladas al corazón y a la humanidad propiamente dicha, cada uno peor que el anterior. Era común, al finalizar la lectura de cada uno de éstos, emitir un suspiro de sufrimiento y decepción hacia el "ser humano" por la bajeza a la que llega. Cuesta leerlo, no por su prosa ni lenguaje, sino por el impacto que genera lo escrito en sus páginas y por el sufrimiento que genera revivir las penurias de los personajes.
Sin embargo, el libro decae luego de esta parte, poniéndose denso, poco interesante y repetitivo. Las últimas cuarenta páginas son una secuencia de monólogos propagandistas pasados de moda que, como en Petróleo, también de Sinclair, poco aportan, no resuelven nada (y si lo hacen, es de forma poco elegante) y sólo sirven de fricción entre el lector, ya cansado a este punto, y el "final" de la historia.
La edición que leí tiene dos tomos, ambos de 188 páginas. El primer tomo y las primeras veinte o treinta páginas del segundo son desgarradoras; los párrafos son puñaladas al corazón y a la humanidad propiamente dicha, cada uno peor que el anterior. Era común, al finalizar la lectura de cada uno de éstos, emitir un suspiro de sufrimiento y decepción hacia el "ser humano" por la bajeza a la que llega. Cuesta leerlo, no por su prosa ni lenguaje, sino por el impacto que genera lo escrito en sus páginas y por el sufrimiento que genera revivir las penurias de los personajes.
Sin embargo, el libro decae luego de esta parte, poniéndose denso, poco interesante y repetitivo. Las últimas cuarenta páginas son una secuencia de monólogos propagandistas pasados de moda que, como en Petróleo, también de Sinclair, poco aportan, no resuelven nada (y si lo hacen, es de forma poco elegante) y sólo sirven de fricción entre el lector, ya cansado a este punto, y el "final" de la historia.
audrey2909's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0