The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde (Part II)

As it turns out, I have a little more to say about this book. I recently became aware of Wilde's admiration of Edgar Allen Poe, and the influences of Poe's writing are clear in "The Picture of Dorian Gray." First of all, both authors seem to have favored Poe's "unity of effect" theory, which promotes shorter pieces that focus on one main effect for the reader to experience. I mentioned in my first post that Wilde's novel is short compared to most popular novels of the late 1800's. Poe said that most writings should be able to be read in one sitting, so as not to disrupt the effect. Following this, both writers only wrote one novel and favored instead short stories, collections, and essays.

After reading a good amount of Poe's stories lately, I see "The Picture of Dorian Gray" as melting pot of Poe's short fiction, with added themes to tie the narrative together. The book starts out with the painting of Dorian's Portrait, which is so perfect as to be nearly lifelike, and indeed it becomes a representation of Dorian's own soul. It seems that Wilde was intrigued by Poe's "The Oval Portrait," in which the painter is so enamoured in the beauty of his wife, that attempts to paint the most perfect, lifelike portrait of her. As he succeeds, she dies, and the picture remains as an uncannily perfect and lifelike representation.

The chief difference between the two stories is the fact that Dorian Gray continues to live, and only his soul is trapped. As Wilde's narrative progresses, this difference is reconciled by strong elements of another of Poe's stories: "William Wilson." In this story, the narrator confronts his double--a refelction of his virtuous side--in college and comes to hate him. Thereafter, most every time the narrator turns to immoral acts, his double shows up. This, in turn, drives the narrator into a perverse sort of self-torture as he resorts to more and more terrible acts in order to get his hated double to appear. Finally the story ends with a confrontation in which the narrator kills his double only to realize that he has figurativley murdered himself.

Essentially, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" seems to fit almost entirely between a couple of Poe's short works.

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

This was a quick read, so I'll make it a quick post too. Mostly, though, that's because the book is a good piece of literature by most standards (including wide popularity), but I don't much enjoy reading Oscar Wilde, so perhaps it's better that I don't say too much anyway. Wilde somehow bypassed the long-winded style of his time (often evident in the serial novels of Dickens), and wrote a fairly short and interesting novel. But he somehow still manages to fill the pages with long monologues on the aesthetic virtues of art for art's sake. The book presents, as its moral fulcrum, an important discussion of morality and the effects of moral corruption. I will say it's one of those books that you ought to get around to reading someday, and in comparison to some of the more stuffy classics, it is quite interesting or at the least, relatively painless. I do recommend it, just not as enthusiastically as some...

Elantris - Brandon Sanderson

Well, it's been a while since I posted anything; school pretty well kicked me in the butt. I keep reading good books and not saying anything about them. I started this entry a while back and figured I'd better at least finish it:

This was my first Brandon Sanderson book, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I'm generally wary of the fantasy genre, as it seems to contain a vast overabundance of worthless junk--only to be rivaled by the modern romance genre. My pleasant surprise upon finishing this book was due to the fact that it actually addressed relevant themes, instead of just swords, sorcery, and the drunken hero in the tavern pinching the serving maid's bottom...

Sanderson easily avoids the common (and genuinely disgraceful) poor mimic of Tolkien fantasy. He pushes towards the need to create a fictional world in order to tell a compelling story, rather than creating a poor story in order to explain an unoriginal fictional world. At the center of the Sanderson's story, as I see it, is an exploration of the basic needs of mankind, and perhaps I could compare it to Maslow's hierarchy. Yet it bypasses the foundation need of physical nourishment in a creative way, and in doing this emphasizes the importance of the higher four needs. It's thought provoking at the very least.

Capitalism is also a theme I noticed, as the fictional society is built upon a merchant ruling class. On one side of the coin, the book explores the benefits of and the human right--or need--for the personal ownership inherent in capitalism. On the other side, it discusses the problems of a society that too easily allows the right to rule to be based upon wealth.

Finally, Sanderson pushes--I believe intentionally--the theme of fall and atonement. The book's namesake, the city of Elantris, is introduced in the story in a disturbingly fallen state, and the entire plot drives towards the resolution of atonement and restoration.

Genre: Fiction/Fantasy

Winners Never Cheat - Jon Huntsman

I usually find myself disenchanted with what generally falls in the inspirational or "self-help" genre. You can easily spend your life reading inspirational books and never do anything inspiring, and self help books rarely actually tell you anything you don't already know. Surprisingly, though, all this book talks about is what we already know (or should know), and it does so in a quite refreshing way. Huntsman reminds us of the basic values we learned growing up and takes us back to square one with our consciences. Moreover, the books is fewer than 200 very short pages, and that's always nice...

Genre: Inspirational/Self-Help

The Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan (Part I)

I read this series (or what then constituted it) several years ago, and I must say, the first five books were much better than the second five. Somehow, I doubt that has magically changed since the late 90's, yet I haven't read the 11th or 12th (I guess I have to wait till that one comes out) and I have high hopes for the last few books. Something has to happen in those ones or the series won't really be over by number 14. I just finished the first five again, which are, in my opinion, some of the best in their genre. If the last four are as good, they might even make up for having to read the middle five.

Yikes...

Well, despite the length and thus the ridiculous waste of time (as it may be argued and I half way agree), I still heartily recommend the series as a delicious--if large and unhealthy--literary dessert. It is, after all, one of the best selling series ever of any genre.

Genre: Fiction/Epic Fantasy

A Tour on the Prairies - Washington Irving

If Washington Irving had been with Lewis and Clark on their transcontinental journey, we would know it as a much more exciting and in-depth narrative. After recently reading a couple of different accounts of the explorers' journey, I will admit they saw and experienced fantastic things, which we can only partly experience by following their path today; but Irving makes a simple tag-along trip with another group more engaging than Lewis' or Clark's journals.

Genre: History/Autobiography

Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell

I have to admit, this book is even more depressing the second time around. If you are frequently plagued by thoughts about the futility of human endeavors, well, this book won't help. Despite making you feel disturbed and occasionally grossed-out, it also makes you feel grateful that the book is (for the most part) fiction. And perhaps one of the powerful messages of the novel is to make sure it continues to be more fiction than reality.


As I see it, Orwell isn't dealing with any "out-of-this-world" ideas. Rather, he's taking the ideas that are commonly tossed around in politics and progressive thought and pushing them just a few steps further or corrupting them just a bit. In this way, his novel acts less as interesting speculations than as a warning of what is politically and culturally only a few steps away. What are those steps? Perhaps the further dehumanizing of the human, or perhaps the continuance of a trend of the working class being less politically active. And combined with these a slack in the freedom of speech and a rise in propaganda. Yet as I look at this novel as a warning to the free world, the most disturbing part about it is that the use of the words "free world" already implies that there is a "not free world," which often resembles Orwell's vision more than we would like to imagine.





In the end, I prefer "Fahrenheit 451" (which is similar in many ways) over this book, if only because it's a bit more uplifting.

Genre: Fiction/Modernist Lit

The Essential Lewis and Clark - Landon Jones (Ed.)

This was a quick, interesting read, especially if you're into history. If you're looking for a good, fairly comprehensive book on Lewis and Clark, I'd recommend Ambrose's "Undaunted Courage" over this, though.

This book had the advantage of being on the short side, but that is because it consists entirely of selected quotes from Lewis and Clark's journals. Unfortunately, this leaves a lot to asked for at times and makes the book nothing especially unique. Ambrose, on the other hand, does a good job at reconstructing the entire story, adding descriptions of areas they went, other historical accounts, and making the story into a stronger narrative.

Genre: History/Biography

The Damnation of Theron Ware - Harold Frederic

Last night I finished "The Damnation of Theron Ware," which had been sitting on our bookshelf for quite some time from one of Katie's classes. While it's not one of my favorite books I've jumped into recently, I was impressed and somewhat surprised by how much I enjoyed the book. This surprise was amplified because for the first 150 pages or so I thought I was reading "The Chronicles of a Very Naive and Boring Methodist Minister Who Doesn't Do Anything Exciting, Interesting, or Significant." I still feel like the first half of the book was about 5 times as long as it needed to be.

Yet the "Damnation" part, which consisted of the second half of the book (though the slippery slope starts in the first half), is what caught my attention. Frederic seems to make a point of showing both the good and the bad in the path that Theron Ware begins to follow, and this is indeed the reason the original name of the book was "Illumination." To Theron, of course, he is following a path of enlightenment, moving away from his narrow-minded orthodoxy to a much broader world of science, acceptance of other religions, and freedom of thought. Yet instead of taking enlightenment in moderation with his former religious conviction and family life, he can't help but let himself be swallowed up in his new fascination...but wait, I can't go spoiling a good story.

Overall, though it wasn't a very exciting book (especially the first half), it was worth the read. Theron was a character I think we all can relate to in many ways, or at least we learn from his experience. I think the book has special significance to Mormon culture (as well as other religions). Many people, raised in straight-forward orthodoxy, never come to terms with the fact that there is a larger world, and not everything secular is evil. On the other end of the spectrum, many of the same type of people go to far and completely abandon what they've always known for "enlightenment." The great applicability in this novel is in the two opposing titles. Surely "Damnation" fits at times, but at other times "Illumination" cannot be disregarded.

Genre: Fiction/19th Century American Lit

Angle of Repose - Wallace Stegner

I read this book earlier this year, but since it's at the top of my favorites list, and will likely stay there for some time, it deserves some explanation.

Winner of the 1972 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and Stegner's best known work, Angle of Repose is a masterpiece of contemporary American literature. The story is built around a crippled historian telling the sub-story (which actually takes most of the book) of his grandparents in the western U.S of the late 1800's. Admittedly, the novel is long and occasionally even slow, but well worth the effort. At first the story of a couple making a life in the rugged west captured me more than I thought possible. I felt like I was reading about people I knew, and indeed, the power of the book is not in plot twists or action, but in the power of the characters and how much you begin to care about their life together and more especially their relationship. By the end of the book (and don't worry, this isn't a spoiler), the life of the historian narrator becomes the more pressing an relevant of the story lines as the two stories come together with one of the most powerful and profound endings I have ever read.

Even if you're not too keen on "high literature," don't disregard this one. It's more readily applicable to everyday life than your average high school English required reading. "Angle of Repose" explores themes of survival, ambition, love, forgiveness, and perhaps more than anything, marriage. And on that note, readers who are or have been married will generally find deeper insights and meaning in this novel.

Genre: Fiction/Post-modern Lit

David Copperfield - Dickens

Here's one of Katie's recent finishes:

"I finally finished something. I read all 830 pages of David Copperfield. The first 200 were tough, the second 400 were painful, and the final 230 made everything worth it. I especially appreciated the themes on marriage and relationships. Reading David Copperfield was uplifting. I want to be a better wife, a more focused worker, a gentler judge of others who may seem below me in any way, and less hypocritical, self righteous, and vindictive. Even though I complained my way through the first two thirds, David Copperfield is one of the most worthwhile books I have ever read. I will be haunted by David, Traddles, Mr. Peggoty, Uriah Heep, Mr. Dick, Dora, and Agnes for the rest of my life. I will certainly be reading this book again. Here's hoping I turn out to be like Agnes someday."

Genre: Fiction/Victorian Lit

J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century - Tom Shippey

This book is likely to change your perspective on how you read and/or think about Tolkien. Though the book would be in the genre of literary criticism, it rarely feels like it. It's easy to read, interesting, applicable, and engaging every step of the way. It considers Tolkien's books in the light of linguistic influence, European mythology, perceptions of evil, Christianity, and even literary modernism. For Tolkien lovers, this book is an enlightening experience. For those who find little meaning in fantasy novels, don't consider "The Lord of the Rings" high literature, or generally under appreciate Tolkien as one of the 20th century's greatest authors, it will in the least force you to pause and reconsider.

Genre: Literary Criticism

The Spectator Bird - Wallace Stegner

I actually finished this book a few weeks ago, but it's worth mentioning for my first post. This book would only be less-than-excellent when compared to Stegner's other, more widely known novels (Angle of Repose, etc.). Like most of Stegner's work, it's a fine example of careful, engaging writing about the significant and personally applicable experiences of rather ordinary people. While it's not the first Stegner book I would recommend, it's definitely more than worth the time. For those who can't get by on anything less than constant thrills and action-packed pages, however, be sure to steer clear of this one -- unless you're ready to broaden your horizons.

Genre: Fiction/Post-modern Lit