The Jungle

Rating:
Summary: Propaganda at its best . . .
Review: I was somewhat disappointed by Sinclair's use of his book as a vehicle for his Socialist ideas. I believe everyone has a right to express his/her opinion, but I genuinely feel that he tricked the reader. He held my attention throughout the book through the character of Jurgis, and then turned Jurgis into nothing more than another lackey for the Socialist Party. It is an important novel for anyone who would like to better understand the situation of labor in America to read, but honestly, the last fifty pages could just be skipped. - To that reader from Colorado: I think it is encouraging that our youth is confident enough to feel they have the right to submit a book review. It makes me feel good that a high school junior spent his/her time at this site rather than on the street. Stop being such a snob and accept the growth and improvement of others!

Rating:
Summary: I didn't read the book but....
Review: I entered the Amazon.com website to further my knowledge of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle". After spending as little as two minutes at the website, I found myself reading the customer reviews. I didn't get any further than the first review, supposedly written by a junior in high school without any hope of ever understanding the communist, democratic, republic or political jargon used in the book. I sincerely doubt the literacy of this high school junior and question if this person was actually sapient enough to read and comprehend the book. Acknowledging people such as this and posting comments they have so clumsily written is a slap in the face of those of us who did pass 9th grade English. My review is not of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" , (which I still plan on reading after being utterly disgusted by the reviewer), but my review, however critical, is of Amazon.com and their editors. How did this review slip through the cracks?

Rating:
Summary: good
Review: goo

Rating:
Summary: Very Graphic, Loved it `cept for the political junk
Review: I LOVED this book the first time I read it, great graphic literature here. Sinclaire was right when he said " I aimed for their hearts but hit their stomachs in stead." My Favorite part is, no question for it, just after Jurgis's toddler son, Antanas, dies and Jurgis runs away from Packingtown into the open farmer's fields. He looses all of his worries and becomes a "free" man when he does this. The second time I read this book was for an oral book report, and since I DISPISE oral reports, I was much more critical of the political stuff. Being only a junior in high school, I cannot possibly hope for any of that communist, democratic, republic, or other political jargon to make any sense to me now or ever. But all in all, I loved the first 3/4 of the book, for the last 1/4 made me very confused.

Rating:
Summary: Suprising
Review: In this devastating book I read the unfortunate life of a young Lithuanian immigrant,Jurgis Rudkus, who came to America to find his dream of wealth, freedom, and opportunity. He wanted a piece of the "American Dream." In vivid detail I discovered the surprising truth about labor practices in Packingtown. A stockyard in the city of Chicago. Sinclair, looked into the working class in the turn of the century. He uncovered the injustices of wage slavery and the shocking turmoil of urban life. The Jungle, recreates American history in vivid detail. I recommend this book to people that want to know the truth about American History and Labor Laws.

Rating:
Summary: teachers discouraged me from reading this book...
Review: I am a high school student and I heard of the jungle and wanted to read it but everytime I went to pick it up my teachers would discourage me saying it was to hard or somthing. I think that shows there lack of taste and intelligence, the jungle is by far one of the most realistic and well done novels I have EVER read. I read through some of the other reviews and that idiot who gave this book 1 star because he rushed through it was in a hurry to get on with reading the baby sitters club. The first chapter of this book is enough to turn you to it. The way it seems like a normal situation and the author leaks in the details of the horrible lives everyone leads... this book seriously is incredible.

Rating:
Summary: An amazing and horrific account of 1920 packing-house life.
Review: Possible the most detailed and descriptive book I've read. I found a part of myself in each of the characters. The characters so realistically represented victims of society in the early 1920's and their attempt to survive despite impossible circumstances. The tragedies in this book broke my heart, and yet with each day that passed in the lives of the characters, I felt a sense of their victory over defeat and death. Truly a heartwrenching novel--- this book encourages a reader to be thankful for the life they are able to lead and the freedoms and justices they enjoy. 5+ starts for a realistic account of struggling to survive society in a new and strange land.

Rating:
Summary: A true tragedy
Review: Yes, this book has a political agenda. Whether you agree with that agenda or not, you should read the book becasue the story is so strong. This is a most depressing book. Even if you don't want to be depressed, read it anyway because this is one of those rare books that can really imapct you.

Rating:
Summary: The Jungle Deserves Five Stars
Review: Ok, this book was written at the turn of century, but what do you think was the single greatest impetus for the FDA? This book is supposed to be fiction, but it is factual. I had an aunt that worked in Chicago in the early 20's and told me what went on with production of candies. YECCH. Read this book and it will change your mind about a lot of what we take for granted.

This is well written and deserves to be among the top 100 books of this century. It changed my mind and today I am constantly aware of consumer problems.

Rating:
Summary: A great informational book
Review: A Great book that informs you about the turn of the century and working condtions.