I regularly update my âBooksâ story highlight on Instagram with what I am reading. In the past, Iâve been part of Book Clubs via work and with friends. Iâve enjoyed the conversations Iâve had with people when weâve found reads in common. To extend that, I am going to do my best to share my monthly reads on my blog. Happy Reading!
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Iâve been a little caught up but I am back! I bought The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde when I was in Dublin in September. I thought it would be good to visit the family home where Oscar Wilde grew up and also pick a book on my way out. I feel like I may have come across him during my years studying Human Geography but this was actually my first book I read written by him.
It made a fascinating read especially with Wilde using Dorian Gray and Basil Hallwardâs unlikely friendship so strong. Probably a mirror to the feelings and desire that he held towards other men. Unfortunately, that was a period when Oscar Wilde had no liberty to publicly act on his desires. The book was even more interesting with its emphasis and almost unhealthy obsession with beauty. While much has changed today, here remains a huge part of society fixated on beauty.
For quite a simple character, Dorian is complex. Maybe itâs him not knowing his worth and value; his purpose in the world that ultimately made his life a web of mess. Or maybe its society and how it views beauty⦠that we simply do not dig deep! Maybe we created the mess that is Dorian Gray?
Glad I picked this up in Dublin! Onto the next now!
Happy Reading!