The Picture of Dorian Gray: Book Review

• Author: Oscar Wilde  
• First published: 1890  
• Genre: Classic Literature  
• My rating: ★★★  

Who knew that the desires of man could be so dangerous? From a beauty as pure and innocent as one could imagine, to a corrupt and tormented soul beyond reckoning, the story of Dorian Gray and his cursed painting draws one in to the outcomes of giving in too much to one's desires. 

I'll be honest, I found the first half of the book to be quite slow and pedantic, causing me to look almost anywhere else for something to read. I've seen the movies though, and this story is so rich and interesting that I persevered because I knew at some point that the Dorian Gray I had seen on the big screen would come out of hiding. 

Boy, was I not disappointed! Aside from a bit where Wilde went on for far too long about textiles, tapestries and, gems of all kinds, Dorian realizing his power -later to be his curse- and delving into sin was everything I wanted it to be. Leave it to Wilde to give just enough wit and insinuation to let the mind wander; saucy! 

The supporting characters, and their parts in Dorian's curse and character development did not disappoint either. Basil Hallward, the painter, with his reserved demeanor and adoration of all that was good and pure in Gray was tragic and relatable. Lord Henry Wotton, the aristocrat, with his love of disruption, wit, debauchery, and influencing others to follow suit made for the perfect catalyst from Dorian the Pure to Dorian the Corrupt. Even Sibyl Vane, the actress, whose art was her making and her undoing, and whose influence over Gray was clear throughout the book, despite him believing that "the past is the past" gave footing to his descent into madness and sin.

The last third of the novel was truly the most interesting part of this whole tragedy. The culmination of all of his sins and wrongdoings, adding on a few more along the way for good measure, and his final slips into paranoia, delusions and, even remorse all blended together for a beautiful ending. 

Although the beginning of this novel was slow, I am happy that I read it. While it is not my favourite book ever written, not even my favourite that he's written -that honour belongs to The Importance of Being Earnest- it was well worth the read. I do recommend this novel, with the warning that you may need to be patient at first so that Wilde can build the world and characters around Dorian Gray. 

Have you read The Picture of Dorian Gray before? If so, what did you think of it? If not, do you think you might like to in the future?

Cheers!