Well worth a read
By Isaac Rice / Spinebreakers Crew
For the first few pages of this month’s classic, ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ by Oscar Wilde, I was excited to read it. This was mainly because the people who I have talked to about it say it is very good, and also because of the recent film released. I really wanted to read the book before I watch the film, as I often do. However my opinion is mixed about the whole book.
Quite often I found myself getting distracted from the book, my mind wondering off on to other things, and, disappointingly, getting bored. But when I really concentrated, I got into the story and enjoyed it, when I was engaged in the book, it was a lot easier to read.
The curse lurking behind the events in the whole story was interesting, and when the picture changed when things happened, even before Dorian Gray himself knew was fascinating.
Although, in a way, Dorian Gray was supposed to be the good guy, I thoroughly disliked him. The harshness he portrayed through his relationship with Sibyl Vane and the murder of Basil were acts of an evil man and deserved to be punished.
The ending was a great ending, and, so I’m told, it is in the film. Throughout the book I wanted some evidence to be shown about what would happen when Dorian Gray died, through natural courses and otherwise, or could he not die an unnatural death? So the ending tied loose ends for me.
In conclusion, I think that ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ was a good book, shadowed by evil all the way, and well worth a read. On the other hand it requires a competent reader and concentration to read.