The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

Advantages: An exquisite adventure into description.
Disadvantages: None.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is by far one of the best books that I have ever read. I am a writer, and the clever use of words in this books astounds me, as well as the way that Oscar Wilde weaves description with emotions that every human being experiences in their lives. When I was younger, perhaps my understanding of the book was limited, although as I grow older and see the age lines start to appear, his writing makes great sense, because it is ...
...growing old himself, the portrait that he has commissioned of himself at an age when he is young and in his prime would age in his place. The book begins with beautiful description of surroundings and Oscar Wilde cleverly pulls you in to the story as any good writer tries to. I am envious of his seemingly simple invitation to read on. The story begins "The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light summer wind stirred amidst ... Read review

Advantages: Beautifully written and still so important...
Disadvantages: Bleak and sad and horrific...

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ “It is the spectator, and not life that art really mirrors”. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In “The Picture of Dorian Gray” the wonderful fop Oscar Wilde paints a bleak picture of the repellent side of human nature as the beautiful hero Dorian Gray ages not one jot between lewd acts and malefaction but the sinister portrait of him hanging in the attic takes on all the pestilence, age and filth that ...
...is an iconoclastic image of the age: it matters little if you have ever read the book but I would be surprised if many English-speaking adults did not know at least the central theme of this most famous of short stories. The once pure “child” that is the early Dorian reveals all the stains on his blackened soul through the hidden picture. There are many themes, if you chose to follow them, that bring a multi-layered offering to the reader, and it ... Read review

Advantages: Beautiful prose and wondering story-telling.
Disadvantages: None

...you were to think of the classic horror stories of the nineteenth century, I am sure you would be in mind of…say, Dracula or Doctor Jeckle and Mr Hyde. You will think the names Poe and Lovecraft. Some of you might even think of Oscar Wilde and ‘The Picture of Dorian Grey.’ Grey by the way seems to be spelt both as Grey and Gray! This is the book that I had promised myself I would read at least five years ago, and now I have done just that. But was ...
...as being? The first sketches to be put on the canvas that is ‘The Picture of Dorian Grey’ are an introduction to three main characters. Three friends, all of different personalities… to begin with anyway. We have the young, naïve Dorian of the title, sitting for a portrait by top artist Basil Hallward and we have Lord Henry Wotton. Basil has become quite fond of the young Mr Grey, and Lord Henry is curious of the gentleman. Dorian appears to him ... Read review

Advantages: many
Disadvantages: few

...consider myself well-read, compared with the number of books on the market I feel I?m hardly literate. Rarely do I read a book a second time although I´ve got lots which would be worth it. Why have I decided to honour this novel with a second perusal? I read the German translation in my teens and since then Oscar Wilde has always been with me, so to speak. I´ve read his children´s stories, seen on the stage and read with my students The Importance ...
...Windermere´s Fan and have seen the film on Oscar Wilde starring Stephen Fry. What has always pleased me is Wilde´s use of the English language, his witty apercus and aphorisms. I like using those myself with the difference that I don´t invent many not being a genius ;-), luckily I´m able to pick them up, store them and use them when appropriate. The Picture Of Dorian Grey then. Wilde´s only novel created a scandal when it appeared in 1890, difficult ... Read review