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Lisa of Troy's Reviews > The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Picture of Dorian Gray
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“I loved you because you were marvelous, because you had genius and intellect, because you realized the dreams of great poets and gave shape and substance to the shadows of art.”
- The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde
Wow! This book can really mess with your head.
Let’s start off by my confession. Most people won’t describe this book in these terms, but it’s my review, and this is my take….
The Picture of Dorian Gray is about a young man named Dorian Gray. He is exquisitely good looking, and his friend, Basil Hallward, paints Dorian’s portrait. In walks, Lord Henry Wotton, Harry, who convinces Dorian that youth is everything, and Dorian wishes that his portrait would grow older while he could retain his youth.
Lord Henry is an extreme narcissist, and his conversations with Dorian are riveting. There are so many quotable quotes, and the discussion of his philosophy is highly intriguing. He essentially views anything honorable as horrible and boring.
Although the book is The Picture of Dorian Gray, the book really belongs to Lord Henry. He is far from a perfect character, but he is definitely not boring.
Tip: Audible has a version of this for free!
2025 Reading Schedule
Jan A Town Like Alice
Feb Birdsong
Mar Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
Apr War and Peace
May The Woman in White
Jun Atonement
Jul The Shadow of the Wind
Aug Jude the Obscure
Sep Ulysses
Oct Vanity Fair
Nov A Fine Balance
Dec Germinal
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- The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde
Wow! This book can really mess with your head.
Let’s start off by my confession. Most people won’t describe this book in these terms, but it’s my review, and this is my take….
The Picture of Dorian Gray is about a young man named Dorian Gray. He is exquisitely good looking, and his friend, Basil Hallward, paints Dorian’s portrait. In walks, Lord Henry Wotton, Harry, who convinces Dorian that youth is everything, and Dorian wishes that his portrait would grow older while he could retain his youth.
Lord Henry is an extreme narcissist, and his conversations with Dorian are riveting. There are so many quotable quotes, and the discussion of his philosophy is highly intriguing. He essentially views anything honorable as horrible and boring.
Although the book is The Picture of Dorian Gray, the book really belongs to Lord Henry. He is far from a perfect character, but he is definitely not boring.
Tip: Audible has a version of this for free!
2025 Reading Schedule
Jan A Town Like Alice
Feb Birdsong
Mar Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Berniere
Apr War and Peace
May The Woman in White
Jun Atonement
Jul The Shadow of the Wind
Aug Jude the Obscure
Sep Ulysses
Oct Vanity Fair
Nov A Fine Balance
Dec Germinal
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Insta My Bookstore at Pango
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Reading Progress
February 8, 2022
– Shelved
November 3, 2022
–
Started Reading
November 8, 2022
–
Finished Reading
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Kerry
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Nov 08, 2022 05:57AM
Thanks for the intriguing review. I read this as a freshman in high school in 1980, and while I loved it then, I'm sure age and my so called maturity will give me a different perspective. Will listen on audible
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It would be interesting to read this book at such vastly different time periods in life! Hope you enjoy it the second time around!
Brilliant take on this book Lisa. We all know it's a classic so I was impressed to read your thoughts. Nicely done.
I thought the same thing. I mean Lord Henry was the worst character in the book, but it's him that sets things in motion. He's the main person manipulating conversations. He was Littlefinger to me.
Thanks, Morgan! I am already looking forward to rereading this one!
Lord Henry is truly fascinating. He knows just how to sprinkle in a bit of truth. I also loved the idea of the portrait. What would a painting look like if it really reflected me, the actual me? That is a pretty deep question!
Thanks, Tina! Hope you are enjoying your current read!
Lord Henry is essentially Oscar Wilde. I would not call him an extreme narcissist, but he was definitely pleased with himself and with his ability to come up with memorable, albeit sometimes morally reprehensible, quotes. He seemed to also derive satisfaction from shocking others with the alleged wickedness of his personality, while in reality he was not that bad. Wilde was like that too. He once said that he would sacrifice the truth for a good aphorism. What I appreciate the most about this book, which is one of my favorite novels, is how Wilde combined an aesthetically sublime narrative with a strong moral lesson. I believe that the extreme narcissist of this story is Dorian Gray, and the fate that befalls him is a warning to all the Dorian Grays of the world.
I viewed Dorian as more a mound of clay to be molded. Lord Henry just shaped him into something heartless and irresponsible. Harry set the dominos in motion.
Lisa of Troy wrote: "I viewed Dorian as more a mound of clay to be molded. Lord Henry just shaped him into something heartless and irresponsible. Harry set the dominos in motion."You have a point, Lisa, although I think that Dorian was inherently narcissistic. When he sees his portrait, he exclaims that he wants his beauty to last forever. It is true that he has spoken to Henry before that, but it is their first meeting – Henry has not had an opportunity to influence him much. This is why I think that Dorian was inherently narcisstic.
Oscar Wilde's quotes are enjoyable reading as well. Thank you Lisa for your great review of a book that's been one of my favorites for 50 years.
Great review! This book is terrific!
Lord Henry is probably my favorite devil-on-the-shoulder character ever. He’s completely batshit and I adore every word that comes out of his mouth the same way I adore watching a bonfire: from safe distance and only heating my hands over it.
Well your review is different from others I have read. Well done, Lisa.
I have this on my list to read next month, and your review has me even more excited to start!
I look exactly like my Driver's Licence photo=scary!! old, gray and shrinking.
Thank you for the tip about the free Audible version! I love when they do that. Wonderful review Lisa, definitely bumped this one up my to-read list!
Your a very talented reviewer
