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jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this classic protest novel about the Chicago meatpacking industry at the turn of the 20th century. It tells of treatment of workers and meat in the stockyards and processing plants. The book lead to actual agricultural and labor reforms and the creation of the FDA in America.
If you enjoyed more current works such as Fast Food Nation, The Omnivore's Dilemna, or My Year of Meats, I recommend that you take a look at The Jungle.
If you enjoyed more current works such as Fast Food Nation, The Omnivore's Dilemna, or My Year of Meats, I recommend that you take a look at The Jungle.
youkirmv's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
wizardfuzz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
christopher_shiprack's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Death, Blood, Gore, Xenophobia, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Child death
historyofjess's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There's a lot going on here and a whole of that is super sad and depressing. It's fascinating to me that the staying power of this still discussed novel has been entirely focused on the food safety issues, when, from cover to cover, it's an full-throated indictment of capitalism and all its ills. And maybe, if that's where it all left off. Yes, it's virtually misery porn, but by the last chunk of the book, I would have preferred that to the intensely preachy pages full of speeches by socialist leaders (and I say that as someone who is down with what they were preaching) that the protagonist finds himself amongst after his journey through the labyrinth of American capitalist dysfunction. It's a rough conclusion that trades in narrative storytelling with didactic droning.
maybanks2011's review against another edition
3.0
would have given this book four stars but the last 30 pages sucked. they were preachy, political propaganda for socialism. if i ever read this again i will not read the last 30 or so pages, however i thought the rest of this book was great; depressing for what happened to Jurgis and his family, but overall a good classic, minus what I've already mentioned.
tangiblereads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
The graphic novel is a more palatable adaptation of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. I remember being read a chapter in school about the meat packing plant and it turned my stomach. This book doesn't go in depth at all about that. I was a bit disappointed in that to be honest. But it shows the exploitation of migrant workers and how capitalism chews and spits out people with little to no regard and the hard choices people have to make to survive. The images are crisp and well done. I didn't get the red color that frequently was included. Overall, a good story.
rnembers's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0