•"An artist should create beautiful things, but should put nothing of his own life into them."

I have been waiting a long time for a book like this to come across my desk and all I needed to do was go back to my roots and shoot for the classics. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde came to me through our book club pick and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

 

Wilde brings us the story of devilishly handsome, suave, pure, Dorian Gray. He is the talk of the town for his unbelievably striking good looks. The young man is a sitter for famous English painter Basil Hallworth who has an unhealthy fascination with Gray, and says that all his inspiration for art comes from him. He worships his beauty and youth with such a deep fascination in a way that only an artist can.

 

Hallworth’s finished portrait of Dorian is his masterpiece. It captures everything about him so well that the subject himself despises it. He thinks it so unfair that this painting get to live on frozen in time while every second he looks at it, he becomes a second older and a second less attractive. In a fit of youthful rage and pestilence Dorian wishes that the painting could age and he remain forever as he is today. Little did he know, his wish would come true. Upon next seeing the portrait the face had grown older somehow. It turns out that every decision and weight of life that normally shows on a face shows up on his portrait instead. Dorian's portrait reflects his inner soul and personality while his physical self shows nothing but perfect. Grays life goes on a strange downward spiral with his vanity and self indulgences turning him mad and bringing about his miserable demise all under the mocking vulgarity of his portrait.
 
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a fascinating look at what it means to be youthful, honest, moral, and alive. Oscar Wilde uses very dense language and if you absent mindedly read this one you will miss so much. This is the type of book that requires careful attention and a keen reader’s eye; however, I promise you it is worth it. 
Our group had mixed reactions about it. I loved it through and through, while several others liked the sentiment and overall message but had a hard time getting through it page by page. The language was a bit of a hang up for a couple of others as well. 
If you are looking for a thought provoking and deeply philosophical read than I highly recommend "The Picture of Dorian Gray." Plus, like one of our club members noted 'Reading this book makes you feel smarter.'