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Robert Isenberg's Reviews > The Jungle
The Jungle
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Naturally, my high school English teacher felt it necessary to assign "The Jungle" to read over Thanksgiving break. As my Dad carved the turkey, the conversation went something like this:
MOM: Could you pass the turkey?
ME: Oh, yeah, great, why don't we pass the meat that untold numbers of Slavik immigrants had to die to process? Why don't we just spit in the face of the proleteriat and laugh, knowing that he's too malnourished to fight back.
DAD: Are you okay?
ME: Oh, sure, I'm great. And you know why? Because my comfort is based on an oligarchic pyramid, where we feast while others starve. Thanks-Giving? Who are we thanking? The Taiwanese sweatshop worker who wove the plastic netting that enwrapped our raw turkey? I'll be we're not. I'll be we haven't given HIM a second thought.
MOM: So, no turkey, then?
I'm not sure which was worse: My Socialist diatribes or bookending the most succulent turkey of my life with readings about men kicking rats off their bleeding feet and falling into vats of grease. Thanks, Ms. Doe.
MOM: Could you pass the turkey?
ME: Oh, yeah, great, why don't we pass the meat that untold numbers of Slavik immigrants had to die to process? Why don't we just spit in the face of the proleteriat and laugh, knowing that he's too malnourished to fight back.
DAD: Are you okay?
ME: Oh, sure, I'm great. And you know why? Because my comfort is based on an oligarchic pyramid, where we feast while others starve. Thanks-Giving? Who are we thanking? The Taiwanese sweatshop worker who wove the plastic netting that enwrapped our raw turkey? I'll be we're not. I'll be we haven't given HIM a second thought.
MOM: So, no turkey, then?
I'm not sure which was worse: My Socialist diatribes or bookending the most succulent turkey of my life with readings about men kicking rats off their bleeding feet and falling into vats of grease. Thanks, Ms. Doe.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
January 1, 1995
–
Finished Reading
November 12, 2008
– Shelved
Comments Showing 1-37 of 37 (37 new)
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message 1:
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Don Incognito
(new)
Jul 13, 2009 02:37PM
Chicago never was taken over by Socialists, as Upton Sinclair's party functionary roared that it would be; but it did become a den of hopeless corruption.
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:) Until recently, I had no idea why it was called the Windy City. Recently someone explained its true, political origin. Fascinating stuff.
Political? I supposed it was because the weather was windy there. (I visited only once, just driving through.) Then is it, perhaps, called the Windy City because successful Chicago politicians raise a finger to see which way the wind is blowing?
The way every Chicagoan has described it to me, "Windy City" is *sort* of a pun about the city being metereologically windy -- but more that the politicians have windy deliveries (in today's parlance, they're "windbags"). Of course I'm only now bothering to look this up, and according to Wikipedia (my favorite semi-dependable source), there are several possible origins. So I suppose I should rescind my self-assured statement :)
Did you REALLY say that? :)
That made me laugh like no other.
kwl, maybe u also wanna check out *my book at plus an introduction at
Dude, it's "Slavic," not "Slavik."
or/oder Ostslawisch, Westslawisch and Südslawisch ;
I hadn't realized we were speaking German. My bad.
This book truly was traumatizing to read. Learning about all of the things that the immigrants from other countries have to deal with when they come to America, especially slaughterhouses, really brought light to the subject for me and showed that the world can be a cruel place.
This was a hilarious review! I agree, poor timing on your teacher's part. Mostly I just read it to find out what was going to happen to Jurgis and his family, who I came to love and know. But I did not enjoy the meat-packing or the Socialist remarks.
Oh dear! My teacher did the same thing, were right in the middle of the book and thanksgiving is next week... fun. I'm already starting to turn my nose up at hamburger, and I have a feeling that this book is only going to get more disgusting and stomach-turning!
It seems you have a gift for writing yourself. Have you thought of pursuing it as a career?
Favorite review ever, haha!
It had the same effect on me! Love your comment!!
Nice; this made me laugh way too hard!
That was a great review! burst me to belly laugh! so useful and helpful for my new article about the novelist though. Thank you a bunch!
I loved your review, it was hilarious! I just finished the book and I have never been known to have a weak stomach, ( I taught biology for 23 years,) but at times I thought I was going to lose my lunch!
Hahahah! Love it! Now I want to read the book report you wrote and know what you got for a grade!! ;)
Poor jury is, works hard, loses everything, joins machine, that ends badly, but it has a happy ending...he becomes a socialist.
*jurgis...damn autocorrect
This funny. But wow only a three star rating?
Lithuanians are not slavic.
I relate sssooo much to this!!! 😆
Haha this was so funny! This is exactly how I felt after reading it last year!
I'm your mom.. "so that's a no on the turkey. How about green bean casserole? Anyone?"
// m
only pqr&&23
This is one of the most influential novels in history!
Toooo funny, great story! 🤣
I needed this commentary after finishing The Jungle.
This is hands down, one of the most kick-ass book summations I have ever come across. Frigging brilliant.
