Scan barcode
vex97's review against another edition
1.0
DNF. I believe Sinclair seriously erred by writing a fictional story instead of an investigative journalism piece à la, for example, Karl Marx's description of horrible working conditions of 20th century English laborers. While Sinclair's descriptions of the inhumane working conditions and horrors of the meat packing plants were well-detailed and harrowing, the overall narrative story is not written well. Sinclair untactfully throws the protaganist Jurgis into every possible misfortune that a workingman of the early 1900's could experience. Over the course of the book, Jurgis' ordeals reach the point of ridiculousness and disbelief. The result is that instead of emphasizing with Jurgis and being emotionally moved by his suffering (and thereby more open to Socialist ideas), I was left thinking after each chapter: "Seriously? How hasn't Jurgis killed himself yet?" Furthermore, the book is too long—having the reader slog through 300+ pages of Jurgis falling into one tragedy into another with no respite makes for bad reading and diminishes the intended effect of the book as socialist propaganda. (And I provide this critique as someone who is quite open to socialist ideas.)
sincerelycalla's review against another edition
4.0
was NOT expecting this total venture into socialism
carsongomas's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
pained_creations's review against another edition
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I enjoyed the beginning story of an immigrant family barely clawing out an existence in Chicago. It was insight. Lots of details of the corruption and abuse in the stockyards in the early 1900's.
The last few chapters were basically a socialist manifesto, and were hard to slough through. More of a political essay than a fiction story.
The last few chapters were basically a socialist manifesto, and were hard to slough through. More of a political essay than a fiction story.
ec_newman's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not a vegetarian despite reading this book, but I would understand why others would choose to do so after the mess of turn of the century meat packing factories. And I am not convinced that today, our food is much better. The plight of the Lithuanian family is horrifying, disaster and misfortune attack them and each one worse than the previous, so much so that it's hard to muster up sympathy half-way through the book because you're desensitized. The last few chapters are incredibly preachy about Socialism, in fact one of the speeches I thought if I could replace Socialism with God and a few other church words, it would pretty much be a sermon. I felt like the book lost its way in the end as it's not about the character of Jurgis anymore, but about the ideology, which makes sense when reading about Sinclair's life.
But for the story in me, I wanted more for Jurgis and the ending to his story. It's a great book, of course. Changed so much about America and I can't argue with its impact. I like the fact that it challenges everything said about America being a 'land of opportunity' and the parallel between the animals physically slaughters and the souls of the working men and women slaughtered. Truly, worth reading and probably worth reading more than once.
But for the story in me, I wanted more for Jurgis and the ending to his story. It's a great book, of course. Changed so much about America and I can't argue with its impact. I like the fact that it challenges everything said about America being a 'land of opportunity' and the parallel between the animals physically slaughters and the souls of the working men and women slaughtered. Truly, worth reading and probably worth reading more than once.
uhhyeahsure's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Thank god it’s not 1900, but also graaa socialism
mikewardevrybdy's review against another edition
5.0
About 30 pages in I thought to myself “Upton Sinclair must’ve been a huge socialist.” I think the last 30 pages of this book answers that pretty clearly
rapunzelholly's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The prose is quite dry; however, it highlights extremely important issues of the time that still plague us today.