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A review by lizziebeex3
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
3.0
Let me start by saying I respect this book.
Was it for me? I suppose…yes and no.
The language was beautiful. Reading alongside an audiobook made it all the richer. It was almost necessary because of all the French and unfamiliar words. The beginning of the book had me intrigued and drawn in with the descriptors really transporting me back to that era and making me feel like I was in Dorian’s shoes. Who is this Lord Henry? He draws me in with the way he speaks, but some of his ideas are questionable. The general attitudes toward vanity, women, etc…I had conflicting feelings toward him because he was both likable and detestable. They speak on influence:
“Because to influence a person is to give him one's own soul. He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn with his natural passions. His virtues are not real to him. His sins, if there are such things as sins, are borrowed.”
This is exactly what Lord Henry did to Dorian Gray, despite Basil Hallward’s plea. He influences him to the core, causing Dorian to lock his soul into this painting, and later gift Dorian a book that further drives him into depravity. Starting with Sybil Vane and the first effect on the painting, Dorian is a death sentence to just about all but Lord Henry, a sort of devil who led Dorian into hell and temptation. It’s a bit funny that Oscar Wilde got in trouble over this novel because it seems to be sort of a warning against immorality, in my opinion.
The middle of this book is where it really dragged for me. I think it was chapter 11 where the descriptors were endless in a way that I felt didn’t add anything…I just couldn’t wait to get through it. Beyond that, the middle chapters in general felt mostly unnecessary. We never really get to know exactly how bad Dorian got or what he did specifically (aside from Basil and the girl at the end) which left me wanting more; I’d rather have known his crimes than painful detail about his interests, although I suppose this adds some mystery.
Finally in the end I felt like I got back into it. I was certainly happy Lord Henry’s wife left him, (run, girl!). What disappointed me was as gifted as Wilde is with language, he didn’t dig into that last chapter and final scene deeper…it was a satisfying end but could have been richer, more like the rest of the book. I think I would have enjoyed this more as a novella, cutting out unnecessary droning detail and telling a more efficient, but still beautifully written, story.
Three stars for it being beautifully written, but poorly structured (in my humble opinion), my disinterest threatening to take over and making it difficult to get through. Respectable, just perhaps not entirely for me.
Was it for me? I suppose…yes and no.
The language was beautiful. Reading alongside an audiobook made it all the richer. It was almost necessary because of all the French and unfamiliar words. The beginning of the book had me intrigued and drawn in with the descriptors really transporting me back to that era and making me feel like I was in Dorian’s shoes. Who is this Lord Henry? He draws me in with the way he speaks, but some of his ideas are questionable. The general attitudes toward vanity, women, etc…I had conflicting feelings toward him because he was both likable and detestable. They speak on influence:
“Because to influence a person is to give him one's own soul. He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn with his natural passions. His virtues are not real to him. His sins, if there are such things as sins, are borrowed.”
This is exactly what Lord Henry did to Dorian Gray, despite Basil Hallward’s plea. He influences him to the core, causing Dorian to lock his soul into this painting, and later gift Dorian a book that further drives him into depravity. Starting with Sybil Vane and the first effect on the painting, Dorian is a death sentence to just about all but Lord Henry, a sort of devil who led Dorian into hell and temptation. It’s a bit funny that Oscar Wilde got in trouble over this novel because it seems to be sort of a warning against immorality, in my opinion.
The middle of this book is where it really dragged for me. I think it was chapter 11 where the descriptors were endless in a way that I felt didn’t add anything…I just couldn’t wait to get through it. Beyond that, the middle chapters in general felt mostly unnecessary. We never really get to know exactly how bad Dorian got or what he did specifically (aside from Basil and the girl at the end) which left me wanting more; I’d rather have known his crimes than painful detail about his interests, although I suppose this adds some mystery.
Finally in the end I felt like I got back into it. I was certainly happy Lord Henry’s wife left him, (run, girl!). What disappointed me was as gifted as Wilde is with language, he didn’t dig into that last chapter and final scene deeper…it was a satisfying end but could have been richer, more like the rest of the book. I think I would have enjoyed this more as a novella, cutting out unnecessary droning detail and telling a more efficient, but still beautifully written, story.
Three stars for it being beautifully written, but poorly structured (in my humble opinion), my disinterest threatening to take over and making it difficult to get through. Respectable, just perhaps not entirely for me.