I nearly entitled this post "Three Things to Loathe ..." because it seemed more appropriate. It's a great story full of people you can't stand, living in a world of false beauty. Without further ado, Three Things to Love about The Picture of Dorian Gray.
- Awful(ly Fascinating) People. Listen in on just a few of the conversations over dinner and drinks and fresh cut flowers, and you're hooked. Part of the genius of this book is the sinking feeling that there really are people like these, and we may even know some of them.
- Intense Beauty. The sights and smells. The small gestures. The long white fingers, red lips, pinks, blues, and greens. The hum of bees. These people are play at Eden, and they fall, fall, fall.
- Great Premise. Fascinating idea, building to a great ending. I've seen similar endings in more recent stories, but I didn't see it coming here, in part because the ending is swiftly paced.
Next: Faulkner's As I Lay Dying.
Labels: books, friends, summer, winter