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A review by shadybanana
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
5.0
This, definitely, is either my best read of 2016 or at least one of them! The picture of Dorian Grey, is about quite simply the picture of a young juvenile man, pure from the complications and sins of the world until he is influenced. Now of course there is an interesting definition of influence in the story but thats just a small sneak peek of what the rest of the book bad in store. I wont comment about the story. I cant. I wont be able to do justice or explain the implications and ideas that have been so beautifully discussed while remaining on the track of the plot. The book touches so many points and so many unorthodox thoughts that at times I just couldnt fathom any more. Half of the time, I would try to re-read all such thoughts/ideas/philosophies presented in the novel in a vain attempt to soak up all the radiance emitted by the book (got a bit too metaphorical here, probably an after effect of the book). Part of the reason why the book was so inspiring and epic was the way of writing. I had recently read Umberto Eco and whereas there was class in his writings and the figure of speeches he used were awesome but Oscar Wilde is outta this world. The way many simple things were presented left me awestruck. The choice of words and phrases was so fine and elegant. The flow of words was so smooth that you couldnt read a page of the book without remarking about the finesse of the author. It is a pity that Oscar Wilde wrote only few (or maybe only one) novel. It would be a great crime if I spare the appreciation all the major characters deserve. Basil Hallward! Poor Basil thats all I've got to say. He was the exact alter ego of Lord Henry about whom I have much to say. Lord Henry's character perplexed me immensely. It had a charisma, an intellect and I am assuming okayish looks. He was the main man if you ask me. His thoughts are so radical that for a moment even I feared he might corrupt my morality. On the other hands those very thoughts tend to make a lot of sense and logic proves that they might be rather lucrative for everyone! And Dorian Grey! The transformation in his character was marvellous. I cannot..cannot say anything more, I dont know, I might explode due to excitement or whatever this is! Lastly, one regret or rather a request. In fact two requests! I wish Oscar Wilde had written an epilogue based on . Quoting J.D Salinger from Catcher in The Rye that after we finish the book we wish that the author was a splendid friend of ours but that is not the case. Anyway, I would literally give anything to be in company of Oscar Wilde and talk to him of all that he has written in this book. Well it is impossible now, isnt it? Unless Wilde had some crazy wish like Dorian which miraculously came true.
EDIT: In 2021 now, and I just reread it. The review pretty much still stands strong. I can comfortably say now that the character of Lord Henry is my favorite. And the opening sentences of the novel are so sensorially descriptive and pleasant that if the rest of the novel had not followed suit in a similar quality of prose, it wouldn’t have had quite the same mark.
Still love it
Also what the fuck? Apparently the last time I read this book was half a decade ago, around the same days of June.
Spoiler
Lord Henry's thoughts on Dorians suicide and should have presented a conclusion by Henry on the life which he experimented on through DorianEDIT: In 2021 now, and I just reread it. The review pretty much still stands strong. I can comfortably say now that the character of Lord Henry is my favorite. And the opening sentences of the novel are so sensorially descriptive and pleasant that if the rest of the novel had not followed suit in a similar quality of prose, it wouldn’t have had quite the same mark.
Still love it
Also what the fuck? Apparently the last time I read this book was half a decade ago, around the same days of June.