Thursday, February 18, 2010

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Book Details
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Hardcover, 304 pages
2009, Penguin Classics Hardcover
ISBN: 0141442468

Synopsis
A lush, cautionary tale of a life of vileness and deception or a loving portrait of the aesthetic impulse run rampant? Why not both? After Basil Hallward paints a beautiful, young man's portrait, his subject's frivolous wish that the picture change and he remain the same comes true. Dorian Gray's picture grows aged and corrupt while he continues to appear fresh and innocent. After he kills a young woman, "as surely as if I had cut her little throat with a knife," Dorian Gray is surprised to find no difference in his vision or surroundings. "The roses are not less lovely for all that. The birds sing just as happily in my garden."

Review
The Picture of Dorian Gray was a quick, easy and enjoyable read. I knew the very basic premise of the story from watching the 2003 movie, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. I also had a lot of wrong preconceived notions because of the the movie.

The Picture of Dorian Gray was less supernatural in nature than I expected. Other than not aging and having the picture age for him, Dorian was a regular guy. When given the opportunity to live his life without his behavior marring his beauty, he chose debauchery. I found myself thinking, who wouldn't? He tried to experience everything the world has to offer (a noble pursuit) and finds that life can become pointless without boundaries.

Dorian's friend, Harry, is the absolute shining star of this novel. He counsels Dorian in the way of the world, full of his own theories and cynical viewpoints. He's humorous and more often than not, what he says makes a lot of sense.

The one thing I disliked about The Picture of Dorian Gray was that it seemed like the most interesting pieces of the story were missing. Oscar Wilde was very vague about what Dorian actually did in the years he spent corrupting his soul. People who were once his friends couldn't stand to be in the same room as him and no explanation was given. Perhaps in 1890, when the book was published, saying that he did vile, cruel, disgusting things was enough. Now, 120 years later, I need more. I need to know and it still bugs me that I don't know what Wilde was alluding to.

Rating

19 comments :

  1. I love me some Dorian Gray. I should re-read it. And yes, I share your sentiment on that "corrupting" part. Great review.

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  2. I own a beautiful, library edition of this book but have yet to read it. Fabulous review - - makes me want to go home and immediately delve into Wilde's 1890 world.
    I have seen the classic movie from the 40s and it's terrific.

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  3. I really should read this one. I hate when plot bits are missing, but it still sounds brilliant :)

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  4. I need to reread this book too. great review

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  5. It's one of the books this year on my challenge list. Cant wait to get to it now.

    ann

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  6. I've never read anything by Oscar wilde but I've run across some funny and true quotes of his so I want to check out his books. Then I recently saw a friend of mine (the only one who actively reads!) reading this book and I thought OK I'll start with Dorian Gray and now I see your review! It's a sign from Oscar ;)

    Missing plot points do annoy me though but I love the premise of the novel

    I really need to Watch a League of Extraordianry Gentlemen

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  7. I bought a gorgeous collector's library edition of this at a used book sale on Saturday...for $2.00! I can't wait to read it! Great review.

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  8. i've been meaning to read this for ages and just never get around to it - i LOVE oscar wilde's quotes that get thrown around, i really must get onto this book! thanks for your review reminding me to read it!

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  9. I found it to be the same way when I read Frankenstein. Victor toiled for years creating the monster but we are given very little information about how he was able to do that, and it really undermined the credibility of the story for me. I would have the same questions that you have about Dorian Gray. I still want to read this one at some point. It was a book that I was never required to read and I started it at one point but never finished it.

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  10. Having majored in English lit in college, it is amazing to me how many classic type books I was never required to read. This sounds like one to add to my list. Thanks for the great review :-)

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  11. I have not seen this or read this. I KNOW I KNOW I live in a hole

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  12. After reading this post, I'm inspired to watch The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen again. I've watched it once but I don't remember why I stopped watching! It's time to give it another go. :)

    I like the story of Dorian Gray but haven't read the complete novel. Only read it when I was younger, the abridged version. Anyway, I would love to watch the movie version, Dorian Gray starring Colin Firth and Ben Barnes! Have you watched it yet?

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  13. I have this book, but never read it. I love Oscar Wilde though. :)

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  14. I haven't read the book, but I really want to see the movie with Ben Barnes in it :)

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  15. In a weird way, I liked Wilde's vagueness about Dorian's years of corruption. It somehow symbolized to me that, despite the extent of his corruption, even he had trouble admitting to himself just how far gone he really way.
    Anyhow, I LOVE this book! Great review!

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  16. Liked your review so much, Jennifer, I highlighted it on my blog here:
    http://psychoticstate.blogspot.com/2010/02/must-read-review-reading-with-tequilas.html

    :) ~ Lori

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  17. I absolutely love this book, its one of those ones that I could re read all the time. I didn't even know there was a movie based on. Its funny you said that you were surprised that it wasn't as supernatural as you expected. I don't find anything supernatural about the book at all. I know its weird that this painting behaves how it does and so does Dorian Gray, but Oscar Wilde does it so that it seems perfectly plausible.

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  18. I've always wanted to read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde but have never gotten around to it. Maybe it's time... It sounds great.

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  19. Thanks for the review! This is going on my TBR list.

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