The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Curiosity and an impulse purchase at the bookstore led me to read this novel. Having only read one other piece by Oscar Wilde (The Importance of Being Ernest) and that being over ten years ago, I was wondering what a novel by Wilde was like.  The story focuses on the lives of three men; Basil Hallward, Lord Henry Wotton, and the young and innocent Dorian Gray.  Basil is a gifted painter enamored with Dorian's looks and aims to capture his likeness in what is his chef d'oeuvre.  While sitting for the portrait one day, Dorian is introduced to Lord Henry whose dry and often cynical perception of the world permeates into Dorian's thoughts and actions.  Lord Henry plants the seed of grief over aging and loss of vitality in impressionable Dorian's mind.  Dorian's vanity leads him to be jealous and despise the portrait where his image will stay pristine, youthful, and handsome forever.  He prays that the painting might sustain the hardship that age and experience inflict on one's outward appearance while he remains just as he is.  By some strange fate, his wish is granted...

Perhaps I took too long reading this novel or thought too much about the author's intentions, but I never felt quite settled on what the ultimate message of the book was.  Where luxury, impulse, and aestheticism are embraced and praised throughout the text, the reader is often confronted with the vulgarity of debauchery.  I'm not sure if I felt more grieved by how corrupted Dorian became because there were no consequences for his actions or that there was no justice for everyone who had the misfortune of falling into his path.  If anything, the grotesque transformation of his portrait clearly represented conscience, and he only faced the ugliness of his true spirit when a morbid curiosity overcame him.  From this, I can derive two truths.  One, sin mars both the soul and visage.  Two, there is always a choice of whether or not one will look upon the ugliness of sin by acknowledging the conscience. 

Therein lies the trouble I have with Wilde; he ends the book with Dorian committing to a life of doing good.  Wilde turns on his worship of the world and states that beauty had spoiled Dorian.  Further, he says, “Better for him that each sin of his life had brought its sure, swift penalty along with it.  There was purification in punishment."  Ultimately, Dorian can't even discern goodness in his motives to do good and determines to destroy his hideous moral compass~ the painting.  He inadvertently kills himself by tearing through the image of his soul~ alone and unredeemed.  The reader is left with a haunting vision of the painting restored to its original beauty above the lifeless body of an ugly, sinister, and aged Dorian.

I find the ending troubling because I think there is something autobiographical in his meaning.  It's no mystery that Wilde lived a controversial life, and perhaps this text illustrates some of his regrets.  Sadly for him, he did face the penalty of his choices throughout his life (unlike Dorian), and his life ended as gloomily as his tragic hero.

This is probably a good read for Brit lit lovers.  It certainly would make a great subject for a college student's paper in an English class.  The method of writing changes throughout the book; you almost feel Wilde tire of narrative and shift gears into his philosophy on aestheticism.  Though not in my favorite books collection, The Picture of Dorian Gray is engaging, entertaining, and thought provoking.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

I had not expected to like Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie.  It seems like "bad form" as Captain Hook would say to choose to read a book you don't intend to enjoy, but I really have disliked the personage of Peter since viewing the Disney film in my teen years (I would have characterized him as a misogynist).  As most folks know the story centers on the lives of the Darling children who are enchanted by a flying boy.  Wendy, John, and Michael often dream of a land filled with all kinds of characters like pirates, Indians, fairies, and mermaids where adventure is around every corner.  There children can fly and never grow old.  One evening while the children's parents are away from home, they are whisked off to the world of their dreams by Peter Pan, a boy who'd rather be young above all else.  The children fly into the night sky and take on new lives~ John and Michael become members of Peter's tribe of lost boys while Wendy becomes the mother of this brutish brood.  Over the course of their stay they begin to forget the home and family they left in England making it difficult to expect that they'll ever return and grow up.

I still hold reservations about Peter Pan, but I'd like to comment on the good before the bad.  First, I loved Barrie's writing style.  His language is rich and honestly a bit elevated for any child reader (my copy had plenty of footnotes with definitions for the ambitious youth who picks up this book).   Second, he has asides just to the reader which happens to be something I like very much.  Being addressed by a known or unknown narrator endears me to any writer, but I can't exactly explain why.  Third, I appreciate that there are real deaths in Neverland.  I am not impressed with watering down stories for the sake of guarding a sensitive child's psyche.  Besides, how can there be any truth to the adventure when the protagonists risk nothing?  For those who still like fluffy happy stories, the matter of death in this book is always dealt with concisely and modestly (re: it's not a gruesome gore-fest).

Now as for Peter himself~ he is a most unlikeable little fellow to me.  At times he reflects true childlike attributes especially when playing make believe.  However, he is filled with characteristics I find more appropriate for a very wounded and narcissistic individual than a boy.  Where I think Barrie aimed to capture the truth of real boyhood, he sacrificed the goodness often found in children for the depravity we are all capable of but hopefully endeavor to overcome.  For instance, Peter forgets nearly everything because he is consumed with himself at each and every moment.  He is stubborn and reckless with those around him when he has his mind set on doing what he wills.  He is prideful and envious of others.  The things he doesn't understand, he resents or belittles.  Altogether, you can't love his bravery because it serves his ego and you can't trust his affections because he is unlikely to remember his personal connections in just a short time.  It's a shame because I believe he reflects something very tragic in the author.  I haven't quite sorted it out in my head, and I'll not likely devote much more thought to it.  

I've rated the book low because I don't think I'd recommend it.  The writing, though lovely, can't compensate for the content.  I wish Peter had been written to be more noble or good (as Wendy was).  Since it was not meant to be, I believe there are other children's stories and fairy tales which encompass beautiful storytelling, timeless principles, and authentic and engaging characters.

A Year with C.S. Lewis by C.S. Lewis

My husband, Kyle, and I started each day with C.S. Lewis this past year along with our Bible devotional. The book contains excerpts from Lewis' works, and each entry highlights a topic intrinsic to Christian living. Having read a number of his books, it was nice to be reminded of important themes from texts like Mere Christianity, The Great Divorce, and Screwtape Letters. I also was exposed to writings I have yet to read. I have Miracles waiting on my bookshelf to be read, and I'd really like to have my own copy of The Weight of Glory. I recommend this book as a supplement to your daily Bible study or something to share with others. It gave Kyle and me ample things to discuss and pray for in our lives. I even think it'd be cool for accountability groups as an ice breaker of a sort; each entry provides a short reading that presents thoughtful topics of discussion. Now, on to a year with Oswald!

On The Road by Jack Kerouac

I found this little treasure again on the community bookshelf at the university. I am typically drawn to read the classics and especially love learning about history through fictional stories. On The Road by Jack Kerouac depicts the misadventures of Sal Paradise at the height of the American beat movement in the late 1940s. Sal is a fairly young man who restlessly traverses the nation from New York to San Francisco and back in search of good times. Kerouac consistently uses words like "dig", "jazz", and "kicks" to fully immerse the reader in the sentiment of the time. Ultimately Sal sticks close to his friend, Dean Moriarty, who embodies the frenzy and trance-like state of mind these cats are always hoping to achieve. The height of their adventures leads on a road trip to Mexico City where Dean hopes to get a quick divorce from his second wife in order to marry a third. Spoiler alert~ Sal and Dean live large spending all their money on beer, weed, and prostitutes while digging some loud Mambo music. Then Sal gets dysentery and decides to go back to New York once he's better and settle down.

For me, I love the idea of this book, but in truth it was a huge disappointment. Sal has returned from fighting in Europe (WWII) and doesn't seem to have any direction. With all his energy and time, he lives to experience life. The problem is that he never really invests in others or settles any where long enough to have a meaningful experience. If anything, I get the feeling he's a mooch or burden to anyone with whom he comes in contact. His poor aunt sends him money anytime he finds himself in a bind. At times it frustrated me to see how irresponsible and self-involved all the main characters are. How disingenuous to portray transcendentalism and authentic vitality through men who have no roots, bail in a jam, steal, get high, sleep around, and seek to be satisfied through external sensations. All in all, I found it terribly boorish.

I will say that Kerouac has some lovely writing skills, but really there are only glimmers in this tale. He can string a couple of good sentences together, but it can't hold a paragraph with sorry content afloat. For instance, in one of Dean's rants, he says, "...Time stops. He's filling empty space with the substance of our lives, confessions of his bellybottom strain, remembrance of ideas, rehashes of old blowing. He has to blow across bridges and come back and do it with such infinite feeling soul-exploratory for the tune of the moment that everybody knows it's not the tune that counts but IT." And no, that's not IT~ information technology, but a certain intangible "it". To me, this gives any potential readers and insight into what the beat generation was all about. It's complex, skims real human emotion, and is particularly nonsensical. In a moment of real clarity, Sal admits, "I had nothing to offer anybody except my own confusion." This could summarize the whole book. As you may guess, I'd only recommend it to someone who really feels the need to read all American "classics". Otherwise, just watch a stoner movie and imagine that it's taking place in 1947. It will save you time.

Phantastes by George Macdonald

Phantastes was given to me by my younger sister. It is the fourth book by George Macdonald that I have read, and it lived up to my expectations. Macdonald wastes no time from taking you from the mundane to the extraordinary. The main character is a young man named Anados. He embarks on a mysterious and glorious expedition through Faerie Land. In his wanderings he encounters dangers, beauties, wisdom, love, and music in marvelous settings. He meets enchanted trees, spirited children, lowly ogres, sub-terrestrial goblins, lovely maidens, dancing statues, stately knights, and greedy trolls. It is quite an adventure.

Macdonald distinguishes himself from other fantasy writers by incorporating both prose and poetry into his works.  His rich language provides a vivid experience for the reader; poems and songs enhance his storytelling. Macdonald even takes time to include short stories into his text. For instance, Anodos wanders into a castle's library and spends countless days reading the books he finds. As the narrator, he recounts a poem and a story which were meaningful to him.  Rather than detracting from the main plot, these asides elevate his version of traditional-style fairy tales. My favorite attribute of Macdonald’s writing style is how his stories are subtly infused with Christian faith. I will not give away the ending, but he gives a wonderful interpretation on death and afterlife. It is simply beautiful and makes me ever so hopeful for a life after death like the one he has imagined.

This perhaps should not be one’s first exposure to George Macdonald. It was for my sister, and it did not quite appeal to her the way it would to a seasoned Macdonald reader.  I recommend At the Back of the North Wind or The Princess and the Goblins (if fairy tales intrigue you).  Both are great reads for those who love imaginative fiction. Save Phantastes for your second or third Macdonald read.

Villette by Charlotte Bronte

Lucy Snowe is a young woman who lives with her godmother, Mrs. Bretton, and her son, Graham Bretton. For a period of time she happily observes, though rarely participates, in the family's excitement. The introduction of a pixie-like child named Polly who temporarily stays with the family adds a new dynamic to this oddly pieced together family. Alas, as time goes by, Lucy sets out to provide for herself first becoming a caretaker for an elderly woman. This short episode ends with the woman's death causing Lucy to pursue a new occupation. Quite unpredictably, she leaves England for the Continent. Her destination is Villette, the capital city of Labassecour (a fictional francophone country). There she is hired to be an English teacher by Mme Beck, a directress of a women's boarding school. While in Villette, Lucy makes new friends, has old friendships restored, and even encounters the ghost that haunts the old school. Rather than Lucy's interactions taking center stage in this novel, it's Lucy herself who becomes the primary subject for the reader. She shares the depths of her heart, the ardor of her Protestant faith, and thoughtful reflections on her interactions with those in Villette.

This is a challenging book review for me. Have you ever loved a book so much that you compared others to it? Such was the case with Jane Eyre. This being the second novel I've read penned by Charlotte Bronte, I yielded to comparison more than I wish. Why? Because this book is written in a different style with a distinctly different purpose. It's easy at first to draw parallels between Jane Eyre & Lucy Snowe; both claim to be no beauties and seem to have no immediate family who cares for them. Bronte distinguishes Jane by giving her a fantastic tale, romance, and a seemingly flawless personality. Bronte's intentions with Lucy were quite different; Lucy wasn't meant to be a spectacular protagonist in the same way as Jane (most easily illustrated by Bronte's choice to title the book Villette~ not Lucy Snowe). The reader seems constantly impressed that Lucy is an observer while those around her are living the traditional story. Yet what matters are Lucy's own thoughts. We learn of her modesty, sensibility, and keen awareness of whom she is (including her strengths and deficiencies). She loves like any woman, but her reason prevents her from ever hoping or expecting a mutual affection in romance (she personifies her Reason frequently when it is particularly ungracious with her heart). She prizes friendship and honest living; at one point she turns down a comfortable occupation serving her aristocratic friend in the hopes that one day she may save enough money as a teacher to open her own school. It's odd, though, because I wouldn't say she is fiercely independent or highly ambitious. I had yet to mention Lucy's friend M. Paul Emanuel, a professor of French literature. The introduction of his personage creates an opportunity for Lucy to be better known to the reader; he is quite her foil and compliment at different times. He sees her quite differently than anyone else, and at times, I believe inaccurately. Though uncomfortable at times, he always is the source of tests and trials which lead to Lucy's confusion, frustration, amusement, and sometimes a habit to avoid him. I have a tendency to go on, so to conclude, one said that Bronte's novel is celebrated not for its plot but for her ability to acutely trace Lucy's psychology.

On one personal preference, I'd like to comment on Bronte's usage of the French language. She used French dialogue and plenty of French words which have been incorporated into the English language to convey with some authenticity that Lucy lived in a francophone country. I would submit, though, that the amount of French dialogue would make anyone without the ability to read it quite fatigued by frequently depending on the footnotes for translation. As for me, I was perturbed more by switching to French dialogue and then abruptly returning to English because Bronte wanted to communicate the content of a French conversation more quickly with the reader. I would have preferred the French conversations to be wholly French; though I don't know what kind of book that would have made, and I doubt it could have been popular. Either way, I'd say Bronte used too much or too little French.

As for recommendations~ if you are in the market to read a Bronte book, please try Jane Eyre first. It is miraculous & wonderful. If you are the kind of person who would read anything a Bronte ever wrote, you should try Villette. I'd also recommend this to ladies who have an affinity for European francophone culture.