The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
WINTER CHALLENGE 2021
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Group Reads Discussion - The Picture of Dorian Gray
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Despite knowing the story, I don't think that I have ever actually read the full book before. I adore Oscar Wilde's writing and clever way of words so that was a great start. He provides so many great and witty quotes that made me smile or made me thoughtful. It is an interesting path to see how Dorian chooses to live his life. I struggle with his lack of ownership of his choices always passing the blame and guilt to others. He is so selfish but makes for a fabulous character to follow. Wilde did almost lose me while he went on a rather long tangent about the beauty of jewels and such that Dorian sought in his life but mostly it is just brilliant writing and ideas to ponder. What would you do if your face is never marked by your own poor choices or sins? Would it affect the way you live your life to not have consequences?
I am excited to reread this. Wilde was a favorite of my 20s and not all of my favorites from my youth have held up, but earlier this year I reread De Profundis and it definitely held up.
I finished the book today. It is an interesting idea. I like how Dorian begins by exploring different sensory things - perfumes, music, textiles - then goes further down the path of debauchery.
Like Jen I knew the story before this challenge. Indeed I have read the physical copy before. I decided to listen to the audio this time but i was bitterly disappointed by the narration. It failed to really draw me into what I know is a great storyline. Wilde writes brilliantly and this was not brought out in the audio. My favourite quote was about the ability of the senses to calm disquiet - I cannot remember the full quote and Audio is useless for finding things. I am not sure that in Dorian's case the senses could make him feel better about his actions but i do believe that enjoying things like the outdoors can bring peace to an unquiet mind.I feel like I want to buy a good edition of this book and lose myself properly in its pages
I finished this yesterday. I started reading a paperback copy and then started to listen to a dramatized version on it with many different voice actors. I was really enjoying it until I realized it was an adaptation and not the whole thing. I then went on to listen to the actual book. I had read this probably 10 years ago and remembered liking it. I had forgotten a lot about it except for how the portrait changed with his behaviors. I think I liked it better the first time because I read it the whole way through. For me, listening didn't keep my attention like reading it did.
I had never read this one before, but I have read The Importance of Being Ernest. I liked this one even better! Oscar Wilde's writing is very witty and clever, especially with Lord Henry's dinner party banter. I am looking forward to reading more by him.
Mod
Mod
I can image an Instagram star whose images become less "perfect", less airbrushed, less filtered, more aged/haggard/spiteful with all the they say or do away from their "life is perfect" channel ....
Lucy-Bookworm wrote: "Does anyone else feel that this could be quite interesting reworked in the current days of Instagram etc where image is not only important but it's the most important thing for some people?
I can image an Instagram star whose images become less "perfect", less airbrushed, less filtered, more aged/haggard/spiteful with all the they say or do away from their "life is perfect" channel ....."
I'm surprised someone hasn't done it, yet! I'd watch it. ;-)
(Read it, too, I guess, but it seems more a visual thing.)
I was surprised how much was in this book. I only knew about the portrait aging instead of the man. I didn't know that it also showed his soul, in this case the evil side of him. Also I didn't realize there would be so much of Wilde's humor. In the first couple of chapters, that was delightful. Toward the end it was rather surreal, that Harry kept acting the same way, while Dorian was consumed by terror.Knowing about Wilde's own sexuality made me wonder about some of the relationships between men, including whatever secret Dorian used to blackmail his scientific friend into helping him.
I am a Mod in a classics group and I liked this so much that I now plan to lead a discussion on it later in the year.
It's probably been almost 20 years since I read Dorian Gray, and I was glad that it held up for me in a way some of my favorite childhood novels haven't.One caveat to that: like Jen, I felt the long mid-book passage about the evolution of Dorian's tastes and the practical refinement of his 'theories' was an addition too far.
The edition I read noted all the changes between the original Lippincott's Magazine publication as a short story and the final full novel, and this was one of the only places where the additions really hurt the flow of the narrative.
I probably bought this about 30 years ago but never picked it up. Unfortunately, it's my first and will probably be my last Oscar Wilde. I just couldn't find anything to like, or dislike, about the character. There was no real plot to get into. Unlike a couple of other readers who found the middle section about Dorian's passions unnecessary, that's the only bit of the book that I found of any interest. Disappointed.
The requirement for task 20.10: You must participate in the book's discussion thread below with at least one post about the contents of the book or your reaction to the book after you have read the book.