The book "the Jungle"- is it interesting?

Question

I have to read it for my 11th grade american class. From your stance, is this an interesting book? Please don't give anything away.

Answer 1

As a record of American history, yes.

I'm reading it right now, on my own time, and the descriptions of food industrial practices of the time did not fail to disgust me. I expect you'll find it that way for you, too. Theodore Roosevelt did. Funny thing is, Sinclair (the author) never intended his book to be a catalyst for food industry regulation - heck, he was trying to publicize the workers' plight, not their workplace hygiene! As he put it, "I'm aimed at the heart of the people, but struck their stomachs instead." For me, the social history recorded was but secondary to the stomach-churning passages within. Moving on.

As a work of literature, I say ugh! Sinclair tried to make his book a masterpiece and epic work of fiction; it ended up as a journalistic, muckraker of a book - devoid of staying power so far as plot goes, and so dry as to make one wonder how anyone could finish it in the first place. It is agreed on all accounts that The Jungle fails as literature. The flaws insofar as storytelling goes are indisputable, so if you're anticipating a rollickin' read, you're in for disappointment.

I recommend anyone who tries his/her hand at The Jungle does it keeping in mind the writers' intentions and the effect the book had on the national conscience (or should I say digestion?) because that's where its significance lies, first and foremost. Very different from, say, Mark Twain's colorful depiction of Mississippian life in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I guarantee, however, that you'll comprehend The Jungle without trouble. Not much of that slippery symbolism stuff, if you're the type of reader who's uncomfortable with that kind of thing. Whatever you do, be sure to stay awake for the meat-packing descriptions (one or two of which might be taken with a grain of salt, as there were incidents treated as the norm when they were really the exception, even in wildly free-rein 19th century America); Sinclair wasn't one to begrudge the dirty details.

Answer 2

There is no better description of the 1900s-ish meat packing industry than that found in The Jungle. When they describe the making if sausages it makes one want to give up meat forever. It is also a wonderful basic story and plot telling of immigrants and how they lived, and we exploited by a corporation, so the corporation could make bigger profits. This is the best book dealing with this era and it is very readable.

Answer 3

I thought it was amazingly interesting. It explains a lot about a type of business and lifestyle that not many people know about. It might just make you rethink your food choices, too :)

Answer 4

Just keep in mind that times have changed! Laws have been made...

Answer 5

Don't read it if you ever want to eat meat again.

Answer 6

ya, it is. read it. i think you will like it if you only give it a chance.

Answer 7

Yeah, it's great.

Answer 8

s, it's really good! You'll enjoy it for sure! :)