Wilde, Oscar - The Picture of Dorian Gray

Facinating. Would make a bit of a horror if turned into a movie (Which I think it has been).

Roughly speaking. Dorian is this handsome/rich young man who portrait is painted. While admiring the work he makes a rash wish in a moment of vanity that if only he could stay young forever, or something of the sort. Other influences come by means of a friend, a book etc... Dorains life is altered dramatically when he discovers that any misdeeds translate to his face on the portrait and he looks no different. His soul is personified or displayed within the painting. Naturally he ends up seeking every misdemeanor and the cruelty continues its etching into the paint.

I dare say I missed many connotations and the complete ugliness as I would have had to be paying extremely close attention. There are underlying themes here of homosexuality, vanity, masking, you name it. It's not a pretty book, but it has fair bit to say on life. The notes following the work were really interesting. I actually bothered to read them which is saying a fair bit.

A classic and for a good reason. Much to go over ones head though.