50 books to read before you die discussion

June group read from 50 books list.

I thought I'd try something new and divide this book discussion into weeks. I'm hoping to encourage more conversation. Plus as we are reading 3 books, I thought it may enable people to participate in more of the group reads.

June 1-7: Chapter 1-4
June 8- 14: Chapter 5- 9
June 15-21: Chapter 10- 15
June 22-30: Chapter 16- 20

I was in Dublin 2 years ago and discovered the Dublin Literary Museum. Set in an old house, this museum is a tribute to famous Irish authors. Although I had previously read Wilde when I was much younger, I fell for his audacity.
Later on a bus tour we passed his Dublin House and his tribute statue. The more I learnt, the more fascinated I became. There is something absolutely charming about this anti authoritarian genius which coupled with his tragic end could make him a fairly iconic literary figure.

The Picture of Dorian Gray was initially published as the lead story in Lippincott's Monthly Magazine on 20 June 1890. The magazine's editors feared the story was indecent as submitted, so they censored roughly 500 words, without Wilde's knowledge, before publication. But even with that, the story was still greeted with outrage by British reviewers, some of whom suggested that Wilde should be prosecuted on moral grounds, leading Wilde to defend the novel aggressively in letters to the British press. Wilde later revised the story for book publication, making substantial alterations, deleting controversial passages, adding new chapters, and including an aphoristic preface that has since become famous in its own right.

There is an incredible sensuality to this book, more in style than event. The preface could be stand alone philosophy.

“The artist is the creator of beautiful things.
To reveal art and conceal the artist is art's aim.
The critic is he who can translate into another manner or a new material his impression of beautiful things.
The highest as the lowest form of criticism is a mode of autobiography.
Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault.”

We are first introduced to Lord Henry Wotton, a strongly opinionated man, observing the sensitive artist Basil Hallward painting the portrait of a handsome young man named Dorian Gray; Basil's ultimate muse. Despite Basil's attempts to prevent their meeting, Gray and Henry become friends. Gray. Falls for Henry's view that beauty is the only worthwhile aspect of life. He wishes that the portrait Basil painted would grow old in his place and starts to value beauty above all things.

Interesting! Do you if the original magazine publications are available? It would be rather interesting to compare the changes he made, even if not on here.

I have not actually read this novel yet. This is my first group read as well. What better time to do both than the first month of summer?

Cheers!

Welcome Kaitlyn, it's always good to see new faces. Hope you enjoy the book.

That's an interesting idea. I've found an uncensored copy on the internet (google: Dorian Gray lippincott edition), a comparison would be interesting. Think I will finish my copy first though.

I'll have to do that after I finish; thank you for the information!

I have finished the first two chapters. I must say, the imagery is fantastic. I felt like I was sitting there right with Basil and Lord Henry as they discuss DG. Everything was described so vividly and wonderfully!

After the first chapter, I started to wonder if Basil and Heney would stick around? I actually only not the basics of the plot later on and had not heard of these characters, but I hope at least Basil sticks around! Henry is bothersome; I find his jargon about life arrogant aand a way to make himself dominant in his relationships; he wants to change people, I believe, but it's not always for their good; given his actions so far, I see him changing DG's life for the worse, NOT the better.

I appreciate the author mentioning his ideas from the prologue in the first chapters- that being Basil mentioning he didn't want to display the portriat because of what it reveals of him, the artist. I see this being a reoccuring theme, and it will be interesting to see how the author connects everything together.

I read The Picture of Dorian Gray Last year. I'll post my brief review later, when more people have finished the book, so I don't have to hide any spoilers.

Buck wrote: "I read The Picture of Dorian Gray Last year. I'll post my brief review later, when more people have finished the book, so I don't have to hide any spoilers."

Thanks

I plan on reading this book later in the month. Another reading group chose it for July's read, so that's very convenient. :)

Week 2: chapters 5- 9

Pleas excuse my tardiness, I've had flu and have been comfort reading old favorites.

We've met Sybil; Dorian's intended; a young, naive, beautiful actress. It interested me that her occupation is considered lowly, where in today's age actresses are held up as a milestone to aspire to. She is spellbound by her Prince Charming.

Dorian is captivated by Sybil's talent and uniqueness. She fits into his worldly outlook. When she doesn't live up to expectations, he cannot see himself with her.

He becomes more and more preoccupied with worldliness and less with character. His revulsion to the painting seems to be more based on distaste for the change in appearance and less on what it represents.

The more I read about Basil, the more I feel he is in love with Dorian, I think he would have been a better influence on Dorian if he could see Dorian's flaws through his perfections.

Hi everybody, I read this book about a year ago...I couldn't put it down I finished it the same evening I bought it. The prose is so elegant and the descriptions are beautiful, it sucks you right in. I think I may just reread this when I finish The Count of Monte Cristo. Also, The Importance of Being Ernest is an excellent read, very funny!

Sarah wrote: "Hi everybody, I read this book about a year ago...I couldn't put it down I finished it the same evening I bought it. The prose is so elegant and the descriptions are beautiful, it sucks you right ..."

You're right, the prose is hypnotic. Will definitely check of The Importance of Reading Ernest.

Week 3: 10- 15

Dorian becomes more corrupt with each page.his corruption is not visible on his angelic face, yet his reputation takes some strain.

Is the reason for his total corruption due to the fact that he bears no consequences or due to the selling of his soul or was he a corruptible character from the get go?

Linda wrote: "I plan on reading this book later in the month. Another reading group chose it for July's read, so that's very convenient. :)"

Looking forward to hearing from you.

I said I would post my review towards the end of the month. Here it is, spoilers and all. I don't really spill the beans, (everybody already knows the gist, right?) but I do give a little bit of the story line

My father told me about The Picture of Dorian Gray when I was a child, about how it is the story of a man whose portrait ages while he remains young. It is that but more.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is categorized as a gothic novel, but the first part of the book is lighthearted, almost a comedy. Lord Henry, Harry to his friends, is full of witty epigrams and cynical aphorisms. He is the most memorable character in the book. I think he may be a self-caricature of Oscar Wilde himself.

About halfway through, the book takes a turn and becomes more serious. The story moves away from Harry and more to the incredibly handsome young Dorian Gray, whom Harry has met while his astonishingly beautiful picture is being painted. As the story advances, Dorian rejects a young girl who loves him and whom he was about to marry and then she ends her life. Dorian discovers that the picture has acquired a cruel mouth. We learn that the picture not only absorbs his aging but also the flaws in his character. Over time it not only looks older, but more wicked, while Dorian Gray remains young and seems charming to all who know him.

There is a part of the book where Wilde describes long lists of the things in which Dorian Gray is interested or is amused by: art, gems, royal fashion, etc. Long descriptive listings. I suppose the intent was to show the passage of time, but I found this tiresome. It doesn't last too long however and the story continues. Dorian Gray retains his youthful good looks over the years as his character becomes more depraved, murderous. The picture becomes more hideous and evil looking. The ending seems predictable, but it doesn't happen quite the way I expected it to as the climax culminates in the final sentence of the book.

Lisa wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Hi everybody, I read this book about a year ago...I couldn't put it down I finished it the same evening I bought it. The prose is so elegant and the descriptions are beautiful, it su..."

Yeah, let me know what you think if it, I thought it was so funny and as usual with Mr,Wilde so elegantly written.

I'm done.
Wow! What a book! There's something about Wilde- he's cheeky and introspective all at once.

I still wonder- was Gray corrupt due to nature; the lack of consequences or the lack of a soul?

For me, I think all three.
We are born with a genetic predisposition that is shaped by environment. If Gray had not fallen under Harry's influence, he may not have been as bad. But we don't know enough about him before to say he was truly not evil.
The soul: is described as the seat of the conscience, can you have a conscience without a soul? There is also a tendency to describe evil acts as soulless...

I am rambling

My sister has read this and really enjoyed it (the only classic she's read and enjoyed so far - I'm trying my hardest!) but I've never read it. I do know what happens as she told me but I'm still excited to read it myself.

I read this quite a few years back as a good introduction to Oscar Wilde.
I'd also been going through the classic 'Gothic' tales so the book is associated, for me, with Stevenson's Jekyll and Hyde.
But as I think of it now there's more in common than I originally thought and they were both written about the same time.
Stevensons' split personality is more sensationalist and obvious, Oscar's is much darker; unsettling for the read as well as the main character.

That's interesting, I recently read Jekyll and Hyde. I can already see the similarities.

Enjoy it Sophie. It's one of my favorites this year.

I started this yesterday. Exciting!

70 pages in. My thoughts so far are that Lord Henry (controversial as his views are!) makes this book. For one his strange way of seeing the world influences Dorian greatly and two, the way he makes his sentences is so poetic and beautiful.

Finished! That last line was... just the best. I really enjoyed the whole book. I'll be back when I've done my review.

My review is here... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Good review, Sophie.

Glad you enjoyed it Sophie