He got up, and locked both doors. At least he would be alone when he looked upon the mask of his shame. Then he drew the screen aside, and saw himself face to face. It was perfectly true. The portrait had altered.
(from The Picture of Dorian Gray, page 100)
The Picture of Dorian Gray is the first pick for my new book club, and it certainly will make for an interesting discussion at tomorrow’s meeting. I’ve owned a copy of this book since I was very young (I bought the edition pictured through the Scholastic book club in middle school) but hadn’t read it. At least the book club gave me an excuse to clear this classic from my to-read shelves.
First published in 1890, The Picture of Dorian Gray is about a young, narcissistic man who basically sells his soul to look young forever. When the book opens, Dorian is an impressionable 20-year-old being painted by Basil Hallward, who worships Dorian for his good looks and thinks his art has reached a high point with this portrait. Basil reluctantly introduces Dorian to his friend, Lord Henry Wotton, who enjoys how easily he can persuade Dorian to his way of thinking about anything and everything.
A comment is made about how sad it is that the real Dorian will age but the Dorian in the painting will be forever young. Henry insists that beauty is more important than intelligence, though being intelligent is better than being ugly. This discussion prompts Dorian to pray that he could always remain young, and he would give his soul for the picture to grow old instead. Basil laments the changes in Dorian once he and Henry become close; whether Basil is actually in love with Dorian and whether Dorian and Henry are in love is anybody’s guess, though the dialogue between these characters is quite sensual at times.
An affair with an actress that ends tragically becomes the beginning of the end for Dorian Gray. Returning home after breaking her heart, Dorian notices that his portrait has changed, that the expression on his face has altered, and that the prayer he uttered has come true. Dorian will spend the next 18 years putting pleasure on a pedestal, living in excess, and leading other young men (and a number of women as well) down the slippery slope to ruin — all the while remaining beautiful while the portrait he has locked away displays his vile soul.
I have mixed feelings about The Picture of Dorian Gray. I’m always worried about writing style when it comes to classic novels, but Oscar Wilde’s prose is very readable. His characters are intriguing and complex, and the book gives readers much to think about — Is outward appearance more important than having a good soul? How easy is it to dupe oneself into believing that we should seek pleasure above all else? If no one can see our soul does it really matter how tainted it is? I was delighted that I could be shocked by how far Dorian was willing to go to preserve his senses-over-soul lifestyle, as I often find that classics are so old fashioned that their shock value is diminished; not so, in this case.
However, the prose went from mildly entertaining to boring to exciting to boring to exciting again. I wanted to throw the book across the train while reading one chapter in which Wilde goes on and on (and on) about Dorian’s excessive lifestyle. In describing Dorian’s excess, Wilde was a little excessive himself, providing way too many details about the instruments, jewels, and embroidered fabrics Dorian acquired over the years. In other chapters, the narration and dialogue were more statements about the characters’ lifestyles than vehicles to move Dorian’s story forward. In fact, my husband (who is in the book club, too) couldn’t get past chapter 5 because he thought the dialogue wasn’t realistic enough for his tastes. (“Who talks like that?” is what he actually said.)
Still, I ultimately liked The Picture of Dorian Gray as a captivating character study. The story was a bit over the top at times, but humorous, creepy, and quite sad in places as well. It certainly provides much food for thought about human nature and made me think about how society hasn’t changed all that much over the years. People still place a high value on beauty and pleasure without realizing that they aren’t paths to happiness. I can’t wait to discuss this with my book club!
Disclosure: I purchased my copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray. I am an IndieBound affiliate and an Amazon associate.
© 2012 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
I’m saving my review of this one for after book club…but glad to see you liked it.
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I think you liked this one better than I did though. It certainly was interesting.
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This is a book I have always meant to read but haven’t yet. My husband read it a couple of years ago and his reaction was similar to yours regarding the narrative becoming boring a few times in the course of the book. He felt a couple of chapters should be excised from the book and then it would be great! I think the questions the book sort of poses are really interesting and thought-provoking (great for a book club too!)
This is another great review, Anna. I’m going to read this book soon. Enjoy your book club, I so wish I could join you! I think it’s good that there are men in it, too!
Oh! I think the writing your husband had trouble with is the way it is because it’s a product of the times when the book was written, to a degree anyway. I always remind myself when reading classics that they aren’t contemporary, that at the time they were written, language was used and spoken often more formally and quite different than today..
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Amy, I’d love it if you could be in our book club! 🙂
Some of the passages in the book go beyond the way people spoke during that period, in my opinion.
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I’ve never read this! I really need to — one of those classics that seem right up my alley. Hope it leads to some great discussion with your book club!
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I thought it did make a great book club pick. There certainly was a lot to talk about!
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You’ve had this book since middle school? I’m impressed. I love the premise of the book so I’m glad to see you enjoyed it. Let us know how the book club meeting goes.
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It seems like the only books I saved that long were classics I never read. I don’t have too many thought. You can see the age on them, with the yellowed and brittle pages. Makes me feel old! LOL
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I have wanted to read this book forever, but never tackled it. One day I will because I am curious about it.
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I think it’s worth giving a try.
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I read this many years ago, and was utterly fascinated by it. I should probably reread it soon(ish). Wonderful review, Anna!
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Thanks, Suko! I’d be curious to hear how it holds up to a re-read.
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Saw the old B&W movie ages ago but never read it., nor any of Wilde’s work. This book should make for a great discussion. Wasn’t Wilde quite the excessive person in real life? Art imitating art perhaps?
Excellent review Anna.
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I’m sure the book was at least partly autobiographical, from what I’ve read about Wilde.
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I’ve always wondered about this classic and your review really gave me a good idea about the book. It’s not one I want to read though.
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It’s definitely not for everyone!
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I’ve never read this one but the Great Illustrated classic version that I have on my middle school shelves always gets checked out! I may just read that one and miss some of those overly descriptive chapters!!
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That’s not a bad idea! I’d be curious to see an illustrated version for middle schoolers!
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you’ve piqued my curiosity, I’ve never read this, but I’m sure it’s on my shelves somewhere. Thanks for stopping by, and for commenting on Scarecrow in Gray.
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You’re very welcome!
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Ill be reading this one this year but my husband has alreay warned me that Wilde does go on and on in parts, hopefully overall Ill like it
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I’m looking forward to your thoughts. Feel free to skip that section about the instruments, etc. I don’t think you’ll miss anything. 😉
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This is a novel that I have heard about but never read. I think it will make a great book discussion subject.
Good luck with the new club!
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Thanks, Kim! So far, so good!
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This sounds like a classic I want to read someday. It would frustrate me as well if it went from interesting to boring, then back to interesting again. Great review 😉
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Thanks! At least it was interesting enough that I didn’t want to abandon the book…well, aside from that one really excessively detailed chapter!
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i read only a couple of chapters of this book and am yet to finish it, but I loved the little that I read of it. I’m hoping to someday get back to it.
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I can’t wait for your thoughts!
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I completely understand the mixed feelings you had about this book. I thought Dorian was a horrible person and I COMPLETELY agree about the excess of description. But the whole premise was really interesting and the writing style quite engaging.
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It certainly was an interesting character study. I liked the characters in that they were interesting, but I don’t think there’s a single character that you could actually like as a person.
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I have this one sitting on my shelf. It seems like one I should read, I just haven’t felt the draw to pick it up yet.
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Well, maybe you’ll be pulled to it at some point.
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[…] new book club’s first discussion on The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde on Saturday was a success. I think Serena and I liked the book more than the other […]
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Great review. Your thoughts were similar to mine although I listened to the audio.
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Hmm…this book might actually be interesting on audio.
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