This book may not have been liked by all of our members but it was a great discussion!

This is a very powerful book about immigrants and the conditions they had to live in when they came to our country and how people took such advantage of them. I think the hardest part of this book was not the gory details of the meat packing plant but the tragedy after tragedy. The hardships these people went through is so heartbreaking, between the elements, weather, health and the way people take advantage of them just compounded on top of each other and these poor people never got a break.

The meat packing part of this story is so disgusting; the food handling in and out of the packing plant is abhorrent. I was shocked not only at the meat packing but at the food they would buy from the stores in the neighborhood the chemicals they put in the food and the way they watered everything down was so awful. And our poor soldiers eating this disgusting canned meat how they got away with it, I am so glad we have better regulations now!

The way this book is written is so different because of the topic I expected something different what I got was a lyrical tale of horrors not only in industry but in life too. Oh my goodness the life Jurgis lived was so sad and I guess I have found out that I am a Happily Ever After girl after all.

The end of this book turns into a huge political ad for the socialist party so by then I just wanted it to be over!

This is an important book about a historic time in our country it is not for the faint of heart. But is a great book club book because of the interesting converstaion to be had!