So I decided to read something written well before most of us were born. I'm blaming this forum for sparking the motivation.
I chose (lucked into) Upton Sinclair's
The Jungle for my reintroduction to an area of literature that I have neglected since high school. I couldn't have chosen any better. I remember reading
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck in school, and although I enjoyed it, it did not have the impact on me that I feel this book would have. I'm sure it would have been a difficult read, but well worth the effort.
For those who haven't read
The Jungle, it is extremely graphic in its depiction of the meat processing industry at the turn on the 20th century. I could have been assigned this in my US History class. Before reading this novel, I was unaware of a large part of American history. I feel cheated that none of the history in
The Jungle was covered in my education.
There is a story in this novel, an amazing one too. In another thread someone asked if anyone had come across a main character who had been completely undone. I feel that Jurgis (main character) can be added to that list. The best description I can give of this poor sob is that he's an anti-Forrest Gump. He's naive and foolish 90% of the time, but when he lucks into good circumstances, he detonates in splendid fashion.
Hmm, I'm doing more of a review, and that's not what I'm supposed to do. Has anyone read the novel? Some possible areas for discussion:
The American dream that was experienced by these immigrants.
Even I have to concede the novel makes a strong case for vegetarianism. That topic is covered in another thread however.
Comparisons to other novels that can be considered historically accurate.
Anyone not like
The Jungle?
