The Picture of Dorian Gray

[Vicky]

It was a strange reading experience... First things first, for me, all the way through, it was a thought provoking read, and I was lucky enough that my other half had read it a few years ago so I could discuss it but... Up until about half of the novel I didn't enjoy it at all, the third quater I grew a little warmer to it and when I closed the book last night, I couldn't help but admit that, in the end, I finally enjoyed it! So yes, I'm giving it four star, can't give it a lower note, it has a lot more qualities than it had faults. I loved so of the descriptions, I admire a writer who can convey a feeling, a mood with an economy of words and Wilde certainly can; my ebook copy is full of notes I've added and passages I've highlited.

There's a few things I just have to comment on. First, none of the characters were truly likeable, I, as a reader, had no sympathy for them (or hardly any) and because of that I couln't identify in any way with any of them. Not that identifying with a character is a must but sometimes it makes the reading experience more enjoyable. I can help but think of Valmont, from "Les liaisons Dangereuses" by choderlos de Laclos, he was a despicable character in most ways, bent on destroying reputations and on satisfying his sinful wants and putting his enjoyment first, yet readers like him...? Why is that??? The first hafl of Dorian Gray made me feel as if we were observers from a distance, little by little, as I got further in the novel I felt as if The point of view of the reader got closer to the character, that we were finally right there besides Dorian and not watching from a distance. That certainly made a difference for me. It almost felt as if there was two different type of novel in the same novel (not sure if I'm getting my meaning successfully accross). That point still puzzles me but as my tender half was trying to find which movies from "the portrait of Dorian Gray" he had seen, he came accross something on wikipedia that might just give a clue as to why the novel doesn't quite feel as an homogenous entity:

[edit]Uncensored edition
In 2011 Harvard University Press published under its Belknap Press imprint an annotated and uncensored edition of the work that includes material that was removed prior to its first publication in 1890.[25][26][27][28]

That leaves me wondering if the novel would have flowed better between the first and second half without the censored scenes??? I don't feel up to rereading it just now (if ever) and since I didn't have that particular edition there's no way to know. ...Unless one of you read that edition and can tell me whether they had the same feeling that there was two different novel in there. I have a feeling the missing part might have unified it a bit, sometimes a little can make a big difference?

[Cleo]

You sound like you has a similar experience to me, Vicky. I ended up giving it 4 stars as well.

As for the continuity of the novel, I don't think the publisher's censorship affected it. My edition had footnotes, therefore I was able to see what Wilde had originally written and what changes the publisher had required. There weren't large amounts of the text that were added or struck or changed; it appeared that it was only when the wording got too close to being construed as referring to homosexuality, did the publisher have him change words or sentences. However I believe Wilde edited it himself (someone else can correct me if I'm wrong) and added full chapters with more information. This was what made it feel disjointed for me.

[Vicky]

Thanks for the info Cleo, it does make sense. I'm glad to read that you had a similar experience as well.

[Maggie the Muskoka Library Mouse]

A shorter read than most, I thought this one was okay. It wasn't a favourite though.

[Kenzie]

I remember reading this in high school, and although I was perplexed about Dorian Gray it was so interesting seeing his transformation and how the painting manipulated him into a real monster on the inside of such a "beautiful man."