Book Review: The Picture of Dorian Gray

Author: Oscar Wilde

Title: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Genre:classics, Historical Fiction, Horror, Gothic, Fantasy
Pages: 248

First Published: June 20th, 1890
Where I Got It: my shelf (bought at used book store at Frankenmuth)

"Oscar Wilde brings his enormous gifts for astute social observation and sparkling prose to The Picture of Dorian Gray, his dreamlike story of a young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty. This dandy, who remains forever unchanged; petulant, hedonistic, vain, and amoral; while a painting of him ages and grows increasingly hideous with the years, has been horrifying, enchanting, obsessing, even corrupting readers for more than a hundred years.

Taking the reader in and out of London drawing rooms, to the heights of aestheticism, and to the depths of decadence, The Picture of Dorian Grayis not only a melodrama about moral corruption. Laced with bon mots and vivid depictions of upper-class refinement, it is also a fascinating look at the milieu of Wilde’s fin-de-siècle world and a manifesto of the creed “Art for Art’s Sake.”

The ever-quotable Wilde, who once delighted London with his scintillating plays, scandalized readers with this, his only novel. Upon publication, Dorian was condemned as dangerous, poisonous, stupid, vulgar, and immoral, and Wilde as a “driveling pedant.” The novel, in fact, was used against Wilde at his much-publicized trials for “gross indecency,” which led to his imprisonment and exile on the European continent. Even so, The Picture of Dorian Gray firmly established Wilde as one of the great voices of the Aesthetic movement, and endures as a classic that is as timeless as its hero."

Took me a while to finish this, but I am finally done. It took me a while, because it was like a sweet, sweet wine and I would take little sips here and there.

I've been wanting to read this for a long time, but I'm odd because I like owning the classics if I am to read it. For some reason I need to take my time with classics when I read them. The only real exception to this are the classics that are small like Of Mice and Men. Plus I had read that one anyways.

Well, this was rather good. Not excellent, but it was good. Oscar Wilde is a fantastic author and I enjoyed the witty and well played out conversations between the characters. There was a lack of action and 95% of the book was just conversations and the thoughts of Dorian Gray. The rest of the 5% was action and etc. Normally this would annoy me, but Oscar Wilde did a wonderful job keeping the book interesting and making the reader want to know more.

I don't understand how this can even be considered a horror novel. Yes, fantasy, but horror? Not once did goosebumps arise on my arms. Yes, I found it interesting and etc, but I was never scared or horrified or even mystified. I sort of felt bad for Dorian Gray, because he sold his soul in a fit of not wanting to grow old. Though he quickly got over it and apologized for his childish tantrum, the "devil" or whatever still bestowed immortality and not feeling bad for his sins. I mean...how unfair! I also wish I wouldn't grow old and I wish I could live like there was no tomorrow, but does one of my pictures get "enchanted" and I never age? No. Lame. Poor Dorian. However, that is no excuse for Dorian being a, well, asshole. A huge asshole who really needs a punch in the face. God, how I wanted to punch Dorian myself. *grumbles* Womanizing, party, douche, murder *grumbles and looks away*

The ending was decent. I excepted it, but I expected it in another way. Does that make sense? That's as much as I can give out without ruining the end. I've seen the movie 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen' and I excepted something like that. *sighs* But I can see the symbolism behind HOW Oscar Wilde ended it. Also, I was secretly hoping one character (who I will not name in the sack of not creating a spoiler) would get his revenge. *sighs* Again...that was far-fetched and I knew it. Oh well.

In the end, this was a good book. I enjoyed it and I think I should check out Oscar Wilde's other writings. He is very good. Though I don't see or feel the "horror" aspect of the book, I still enjoyed the fantasy and gothicness of it. I expected the ending, even though I wanted it to end differently. Oh well. If you like classics and want to venture out of your normal reading pick this up. I shall stamp this with four stars. It seems to be more like 3.5, but I rounded it up since I don't give out decimals.

Favorite Character(s): James Vane and Basil
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Everyone else. >.> ESPECIALLY Dorian Gray. *grumbles*

*CaroleRae*

Wordless Wednesday

Random Time - Today in History

Happy Tuesday everyone. GAH! Just a few more days until Friday, then I get four days off. Huzzah! Worry not everyone...we can do this together to last to the weekend.

found this on B's facebook page. hahaha

But yeah. I feel like being random today, so I'm going to share what happened today in History thanks to The History Channel:

~Hula-Hoop patented, 1963

~American Revolution - Civilians and soldiers clash in the Boston Massacre, 1770

~David Buick dies, 1929

~Civil War - The Confederacy's Breckinridge assumes command in Virgina, 1864

~Cold War - Churchill delivers Iron Curtain speech, 1946

~Jim Morrison is charged with lewd behavior at a Miami concert, 1969

~Jet breaks up near Mt. Fuji, 1966

~Innovator of hypnotism dies, 1815

~ Charlotte Bronte declines marriage, 1839

~Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler hits #1 with "Ballad of the Green Berets", 1966

~Antoino de Ulloa tries to govern Louisiana, 1766

~Dial-a-President radio program airs, 1977

~Miller elected executive director of MLB Players Association, 1966

~Vietnam War - USAF advisory team sent to Laos, 1964

~WWI - Socialist revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg born, 1871

~WW2 - Joseph Stalin dies, 1953

*CaroleRae*

Friday Flash Fiction: Oklahoma Wind

Every Monday Dottie over at Tink's Place (or Carole Rae/me) posts a picture and on Friday we share a story to go along with the picture. The story has to be about 350 or so words.

Happy Friday everyone. I was originally going to skip these week because I could think of nothing for this picture, but then it struck me when I was driving home last night from work. The dialogue was the thing that first came to mind. I just imagined a velvety Irish voice whispering "we can't do this anymore" and THAT set off my little story below. What have you guys come up with this week?

Oklahoma Wind

by: CaroleRae

"Oh Elizabeth...we can't do this anyone more." Sighed James in his velvety Irish brogue as he laid his head on her lap and stretched his arms. 

She grabbed his hands and looked down lovingly at him. She also sighed, "Oh I know James. I know my husband would kill me if he found out,but I love you too much let you go."

James looked up at her and smiled, "I love you so much Elizabeth. I wish you would divorce the man and run away with me. We can go to England or to the Continent. We could run to my homeland, Ireland. We can be really happy."

She chuckled, "That is just a dream, my beloved. I can not leave my son. You know Edward...if I attempted to take our son he would hunt us down and take him by force and kill me."

There was a silence for a moment. There was a gust of warm Oklahoma wind. The sun soon was hidden by the clouds. There seemed to be a rain on the way. Both of the lovers shivered, but remained where they were. They did not want this afternoon to every end. The older Elizabeth's son got, the less time they had time to be with one another. The older Elizabeth's son got...the older they got. Time and Edward were the enemy in these lover's eyes.

Sitting up, James looked into Elizabeth's eyes. Pain seemed to be etched into her eyes and James could sense his eyes were etched with the same pain. A couple tears trickled down Elizabeth's cheeks. James tsked and brushed them away with his thumb, "Please don't cry my dear." He hugged her and she buried her head into his chest.

Once her tears were finished, he lightly laid her down and made sweet love to her right there and then. Though Elizabeth didn't know it, James knew that was the last time they would be together. His heart couldn't do it anymore. He loved her too much and it killed him to see her with Edward. He had two tickets on the next train on to Canada. He slipped one in her purse when she was not looking. He knew she would not go with him. 

-----

Elizabeth returned home. Edward was still in St. Louis and wouldn't be back in another couple weeks. She sighed as removed her hat. Though she loved James it killed her each time to be with him, for she knew time was running away. 

Little Edward ran over to her and hugged her. She smiled as he asked for a piece of candy. Being a good mother, she always kept extra in her purse. Rummaging her hand in her purse, she not only found a piece of candy for her baby, but she also found a strange piece of paper. She pulled out the candy first and handed it to her son. Then slowly she pulled out the paper.

It was a ticket.

To Canada.

Her heart swelled and then busted. James wanted her to go to Canada with him. She contemplated the idea for a moment, but then reality struck. She walked out the door and stared out at the Oklahoma landscape. A hawk swooped down and she could hear the distant mooing of one of their cows. With swift movements, she ripped up the ticket and tossed them to the Oklahoma wind. 

~The End~