The Jungle: A Signature Performance by Casey Affleck

By: Upton Sinclair

Narrated by: Casey Affleck

Upton Sinclair's The Jungle is a visceral and tragic story of immigrants trying to scratch out a living in the meatpacking plants of Chicago. The resulting public outcry led directly to the US government enacting changes in food and workplace safety practices still in place today.

With food production, business ethics, and immigration back in the news, Academy Award nominee Casey Affleck (Gone Baby Gone) taps into the emotion behind these issues to breathe life back into the struggling inhabitants of Packingtown. Affleck, a committed vegan and animal rights spokesman, delivers a moving performance that connects with the book’s enduring legacy.

The Jungle revolves around the life and family of Jurgis Rudkus, a Lithuanian immigrant whose dreams of a better life are crushed by punishing work in gruesome stockyards and an unforgiving city. Brilliantly written and vividly described, it provides a poignant and incredibly detailed snapshot of a striking point in American history.

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Great book awful narration

Great story, but much better read off a page then to listen to Casey Affleck. I could barely stand to listen to his whiney teenager sounding voice. Glad I got this on sale because it is still not worth what I paid. If another version is released it should be given for free to all who bought this one.

might be the saddest story ive ever heard

it took a few chapters to get used to Casey's style of narration. it grew on me eventually. the story is so incredibly sad. tragic is an understatement.

Excellent!

Somehow I have never read this book. I was amazed! Casey Affleck did a terrific job reading it.

Extraordinary!....except for Affleck

The book is so powerful that it left me breathless despite the poor narration. I have no idea how I missed reading this earlier in my life. I am so disappointed with so much of current writing I browse classics constantly looking for what I have missed and yet believe has stood the test of time. If you are doing the same, you've hit a home run in listening to Sinclair. Take a few minutes first and check out a few other narrations. Then join me at a meeting of local Socialists.

American socialism in context

Riveting story in a larger socio-political backdrop that Tea Party fans should listen to at some point.

That said, I did not like Affleck's narration too much. His tone is almost dis-interested at the beginning, with a lazy pronunciation of sorts. However, it somehow gets better (or I just got used to him) later on and the distraction is not enough to ultimately get in the way of this classic.

The Narrating was Quite Good.

What did you love best about The Jungle: A Signature Performance by Casey Affleck?

I felt an incredible amount of empathy for this man, Jurgis. I had never read Upton Sinclair before this, and frankly all i knew about this book was that it spurred the creation of the FDA and that Sinclair was a Socialist.

What does Casey Affleck bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

For being a 100 years old it read to me like it was written in a very modern fashion.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Honestly, i felt a flood of empathy. Kinda weird experience. lol, but cool.

Any additional comments?

Come to find out Sinclair wrote OIL! which the movie 'There Will Be Blood' was based on.

Skip the End

Good while it's Jurgis'story. Long stretches of campaign speeches and lectures after that. I recommend ending the book at that point.

Mandatory Reading

Thinking people should read this, and “Atlas Shrugged”. With these together they’ll have a basis for existing with meaning in the world.

Note to self: Skip Casey Affleck readings

His voice, ugh. Classic story which will make you feel terrible for the characters in more ways than you can imagine as their stories unfold. Wish I had listened to a version read by someone else and not Casey Affleck’s creaky, whiny voice.

Great book ruined by poor narrator....

This is truly a classic and a compelling tale, well worth reading. Unfortunately, The Jungle is ruined by Casey Affleck's sub-par narrating. Affleck's narration has a drawn-out, unrehearsed cadence of one who is reading a children's story to a particularly slow witted child.

Why is Casey Affleck narrating a book of this caliber in the first place ? He does not have a particularly good voice and like I said, his reading of The Jungle is underwhelming. I do not know what he is like as an actor, but he really disappoints here.

I would not rate this book as a waste of a credit -the story is engaging, it is just a bit of a disappointment with Affleck at the helm.

If Affleck was reading "Green Eggs and Ham" I am sure he would shine.