For my book review this month, I've opted to talk about a classic I've only read for the first time this year - THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde.
Last year, I wrote a short story for Chrysalis about a really creepy painting. I didn't realise at the time that DORIAN GRAY was also about a creepy painting. Somebody commented that part of my story reminded them of this classic novel. Having now read Wilde's classic work for myself, I can definitely see the parallels. And I can attest to the sheer creepiness of the original!
While this book no doubt has some deep meaning about gluttony and greed and how we should age gracefully, all I can really focus on is that totally messed up painting. I wasn't sure what to expect as the end of the story drew nearer. Would the painted image step off the canvas and start killing everybody? Would fleshly Dorian run off and kill his dear friend Harry? He seemed to be pretty into that sort of thing by then. So as not to spoil the ending, I will simply say that the ending wasn't a letdown!
To summarise, I'd call this a dark and seedy story of one man's slow but steady demise - his twisting from something almost angelic into something truly monstrous. I haven't quite decided whose fault his downfall was - his friend Harry for being such a bad influence, or himself for being so dangerously vain at his core? Thinking about it now, the story reminds me a little of Kirino's GROTESQUE, which I read last year. Only GROTESQUE was utterly littered with characters who went from good to oh so bad.
Sunday Session #8
I have never read Oscar Wilde. I may check this one out - now that I have a kindle it is so much easier for me to grab a book and read. Thank you for this suggestion.
ReplyDelete(love The Cult too!)
Yay for the Cult!! Seeing them live was one of the highlights of my musical life! And I can totally imagine a Kindle makes things a lot easier!
DeleteIsn't that a coincidence--I watched The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen recently and Dorian Gray graced the roster of evil gents. Now, I HAVE to read the story! I can't let coincidence pass!
ReplyDeleteI have yet to see that movie! Maybe we should do a swapsie and I will watch the movie, and you read the book! :)
DeleteThe Picture of Dorian Gray is right up there with American Psycho. Both are superb reads that leave me wanting to wash my eyeballs out. : )
ReplyDeleteHave a great Sunday!
I haven't read (or seen) AMERICAN PSYCHO...I think I've always been reluctant to give it the time of day. It sounds rather horrific! ;)
DeleteIt's definitely one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThe Picture of Dorian Gray is one of my favorite books. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never read the book, but I like the film (the original black-and-white film with an actor I can't remember the name of). I do keep meaning to read it, so you put it back to the top of my list.
ReplyDeleteHaven't ever seen any film adaptations. Should probably check them out. I can imagine an old b&w version being rather gothic!
DeleteI think I'm going to have to put Dorian Gray on my to be read list! I love those freaky books!
ReplyDeleteI love checking out classics I haven't read, and also re-reading classics I met a long, long time ago. I remember reading DORIAN GRAY many years ago, but, as I recall, the last few pages of my copy had been torn out and I never got to the ending! Your post has inspired me to get a complete copy and take another look. And yes, there is all sorts of deeper meaning about aesthetics and what constitutes beauty and art and morals and how or if they ever coincide, among other things. At least, that's what I remember.
ReplyDeleteOh no! That's no good - you should definitely read those last few pages. hehe. I actually have a similar problem with THE GRIMM FAIRYTALES - at a certain point near the end, 100 or so pages repeat themselves & the pages that should be there are missing!
DeleteI want to read this book--protagonists who turn bad always intrigue me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review!
Rock and Roll forever! Also, thanks for the review of Dorian Gray. I haven't read it myself. One of many classics that I've got on my list to read before I die.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's only been in recent years that I've started reading classics. I'm a late starter ;)
DeleteHey Trish! I'm just finishing up the bio of O.W. It's fascinating. He was fairly insistent that the book was not a moral tale simply about vanity but, rather one about becoming so obsessed with beauty for beauty's sake that one loses oneself. In an awful way, his life mirrors that of Dorian's. He becomes so overcome with love of a man he called Bosie that he destroys himself in the process (is sent to prison for Sodomy). It was well after he'd written D.G. but the story definitely seems to foretell the internal struggle Wilde will have. I'm planning on reading it soon but I have some more reading on Hemingway and Fitzgerald to do first.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it. Now I am looking forward to it even more!
I guess it could be seen as a retelling of the Narcissus story, only way more gory. haha
DeleteI haven't read this book in forever, but I remember loving it :-D
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds a little too creepy for me, but I did enjoy reading your review ;)
ReplyDeleteYep, it's certainly lacking in fluffy bunnies and rainbows. hehe
DeleteEnjoyed your review of this book, Trisha!
ReplyDeleteI loved this book, although I have to admit skimming some of the descriptive bits. I love the idea of the painting being part of the man and how the two were really one. I remember it not being what I was expecting, and the ending being a little sudden.
ReplyDeleteI think there were some parts I wanted to skim, but I generally can't skim stuff. It's a compulsion against skimming!
DeleteI've never read this book, but your review makes me want to check it out.
ReplyDeleteI've never actually read THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. I really should.
ReplyDeleteI watched the movie of Dorian Gray (the recent one. Don't know if there are multiple versions). Don't know how true it stayed to the book, as I haven't read the book, but I found it pretty disturbing.
ReplyDeleteWell, the book is what I'd classify as disturbing too - there aren't really any happy endings!
DeleteLove Neil Young.
ReplyDeleteAnd, oh, how exciting, reading The Picture of Dorian Grey for the first time! I really like Oscar Wilde's stories. It's about time I reread this one!
I think this is the only one I've ever read ;)
DeleteI can't believe I haven't read that book because I know I would love it. I'm adding it to a very long list of books I haven't gotten around to reading...
ReplyDeleteYeah, my TBR list at GoodReads has over 500 titles. And those are just books I've stumbled across by chance. Haven't really made a concerted effort to hunt down books I need to read...yet!
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