Rach's Reading Club

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde  

Description: This story surprised me with its depth and intensity. On the surface, it is the story of Dorian Gray, a pretty young man in English society who, after having his portrait painted by his exceptionally talented friend, is swayed by another gentleman (Lord Henry) to believe that his beauty is his greatest asset and that it will soon wither and he'll grow ugly; Lord Henry, and a book he gifts to Dorian, lead him to living a life of self-centered hedonism, with no regard for the feelings of others. Their friend who painted the portrait doesn't believe the rumors about Dorian being such a terrible person, because he believes that anyone partaking in such evils would have those experiences etched into their face – and when he sees Dorian again after several years, he is still as beautiful as the day he painted the portrait. The twist of horror is that Dorian keeps that painting hidden away and covered because his experiences and his aging appear on his face in the painting.

What I liked best: Because this book was written over 130 years ago, you get a good look at English society – but from the male's point of view (for a change). I found it interesting to read an example of how high society males interacted with one another (though admittedly the main relationships in this story were likely not the norm). Still, I liked getting an "inside look" at how men looked at women (and disregarded them) in that age, as well as how they spent their leisure time.

What I liked least: There are long passages of Lord Henry's philosophy and Dorian's discoveries as he gives his life over to Lord Henry's opinions and beliefs. For me, the philosophical discussions were long and drawn out. I also didn't expect this book to be a tragedy, which it is. (I guess I should have known from the start, but I had only read one play by Wilde before this book.)

Would I recommend this story? I have friends who love this story, and friends who disliked it. I think it's worth a read for its historical significance, but it isn't something I would ever re-read for pleasure. It isn't a happy or pleasant read.