I admit, I didn’t read this book the first time it came across my desk, but I have been forcing myself to go back and read more and more, because I hate how society has lapsed in applauding literary works, and I’m tired of hearing stupid commentary about things that aren’t really that important in the long run. Sure reading is not going to win me any prizes, but dangit, it’s going to at least allow my brain to grow in vocabulary, thought, and stability…where as the rest of the world can enjoy their American Idol and random obscure home makeover shows…

The book, Oscar Wilde’s only novel, is a fascinating tell tale about vanity and morality in the midst of understanding. The book follows a very good looking young man, who has a portrait done of him, and upon gazing on it wishes that the portrait would age and not himself.

The celestial circumstances align, and the portrait begins to age while Dorian remains a handsome man.

Through the novel we see a transformation of character, as Dorian falls into the lusts of the flesh, so to speak and begins to harden his heart to any sort of kindness and understanding for his fellow man. While those around him hearken for him to change his ways, Dorian begins a macabre slide.

All the while, he remains pleasant on the eyes, the portrait begins to form wrinkles, age, and looks more and more ugly as Dorian’s character overshadows the portraits original beauty.

The book runs its course into a boring section of sentences, that compile only dreams of what if….

What if, we could stay young, what if we had the opportunity the same that Dorian had? Would we stay sane? Would we treat others the same?

Sometimes I think I’m an ugly man, so I don’t have to deal with the things that the beautiful people have to deal with…in fact it’s true…programmers don’t get a lot of women, and I’m glad. I couldn’t deal with the dilemma of loving everybody’s girl…like the Dwarves once stated in their hit song.

Dorian eventually finds flaws in his life, and fed up with his own ways goes to strike the photo….only to feel the pain in reality, rather than illustration…Dorian dies a painful death.

Overall, a classic is a classic. The book transitions from cautionary tale, to a real example of vanity and carelessness.

I enjoyed it greatly, and recommend it to those that are tired of watching television but don’t want to sink their teeth into heavier reading just yet. A tale for all ages, that’s for sure, and cheap…well relatively cheap. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is a terrific book to add to your book shelf.