What I'm Reading: The Picture of Dorian Gray - Review

The Picture of Dorian Gray 

Oscar Wilde

‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ (1891) was the only novel written by Oscar Wilde and follows the story of the young and handsome Dorian Gray. Dorian Gray, at the beginning of the novel, has a portrait of himself painted and he is confronted with the true extent of his beauty. After a conversation with the easy-going Lord Henry Wotton, Dorian is fearful of what will happen to him when his beauty leaves him and old age takes its place. He makes a wish, that “If it were I who were to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old” which is fulfilled. Dorian Gray proceeds to live a life of immorality, with the portrait acting as a constant reminder of the effect of his sins and debauchery on his soul until he becomes tormented by his own behaviour and the novel comes to a sombre but thrilling end.

I truly enjoyed reading this thought provoking novel that makes you think about what would happen if people were not called into check by the consequences of their own actions and if they had no idea of empathy but were instead allowed to run riot and do whatever they feel like. Dorian, throughout the majority of the novel, is not haunted by his own misdemeanours and instead is thankful that he has license to act as he wishes and enjoys watching the painting change as he remains young and beautiful and is allowed to turn his back on the painting and continue with his self-indulgent behaviour. The ending of the novel however is a message to the reader that this type of selfish and hedonistic behaviour will catch up with you in the end, and although the ending was not a ‘happy ending’ as one is pleased to read in most novels, it is certainly one which leaves an imprint on you.

Right from the first page of this book, I was amazed by the eloquent and rich writing style of Oscar Wilde. Although this book is filled with brilliant descriptive passages, it does not, at any point, become dull to read. The dialogue between characters is pleasant although it is at times shocking to read the views and opinions such as those of Lord Henry Wotton, who tells the easily influenced Dorian Gray that the only way to resist temptation is to yield to it, to experience everything without experiencing any remorse or consequences, and that the most important thing is beauty. These views would be frowned upon by most people but I found them thrilling to read and Lord Henry’s appearances in the novel soon became something that I looked forward to.

After reading this book, I would today rank it among my favourites. The story is captivating and exciting and the grave and dramatic ending to the story makes you understand the meaning of ‘Be careful what you wish for’ a little more than you did before.

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower - Movie Sneak Peek!

Since I read this book about a year ago it has really become a part of me, and for that reason I advise every single person to read it. I can guarantee that you will not finish this book without taking something special away from it. To read my review on The Perks Of Being A Wallflower, click here.

So the film adaptation has been set for a US release date of 27th September 2012 - unfortunately I'm not sure about the UK release (poor UK, we're always left out). The official trailer will be shows at the MTV Movie Awards this Sunday which will be aired in the UK on Monday 4th June in the evening on MTV. In the meantime however, much to my surprise, a sneak peek has been released (CHRISTMAS HAS COME EARLY!)! It is only 10 seconds long but I'm crying tears of joy nevertheless, and I cannot put into words how excited I am, except maybe these: asdfghjkl ARGH!

To watch the sneak peek, click here.

The film, which is directed and written by the author of the book Stephen Chbosy, stars a few names you may recognize, such as:
Charlie - Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson, The Three Musketeers)
Sam - Emma Watson (A small film franchise - Harry Potter, My Week With Marilyn)
Patrick - Ezra Miller (We Need To Talk About Kevin, Californication)
Bill - Paul Rudd (Dinner for Schmucks, Role Models)

Other cast members include Nina Dobrev, Kate Walsh, Mae Whitman and Johnny Simmons. For a full list of cast members click here.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

What I'm Reading: The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Review

The Five People You Meet In Heaven

Mitch Albom

I picked this book up in a charity shop a couple of months ago. I had been meaning to read it for a while as I had heard about it through the grapevine and it sounded like a really intriguing story. Anyway, I walked into the shop with a friend and I had run out of books at home to read, and there it was, the first book on the shelf for the bargain price of 50p, brand spanking new and everything. It might as well have had a sign over it with Christmas lights and 'BUY ME' written in glitter with a big arrow pointing at it. I couldn't resist.

The story revolves around Eddie, eighty-three years old, a war veteran who has worked in the same amusement park for so many decades that the children call him 'Eddie Maintenance.' He's pretty much a part of the furniture. On his birthday Eddie dies (how morbid) saving a little girl from a tragic accident and wakes up in, not Heaven or anything of that sort, but sort of an in-between place. There he meets five people who explain his life to him and changed his life forever. Among them are loved ones and absolute strangers. The Blue Man, a freak who made a life for himself at the amusement park where Eddie has lived his life. Second, Eddie's former war Captain, who tells Eddie the truth of why he was injured at war. Then comes Ruby, after whom the amusement park Ruby Pier is named who helps Eddie to let go of the anger he holds against his father. Marguerite, Eddie's late wife comes next and teaches us all a few lessons on the meaning of love and finally, a young girl who helps Eddie to realise the meaning to his life. 

The Five People You Meet In Heaven is written beautifully, it is easy to read and flows well and there is never a dull second. Over the course of the book, you go through the toil and turmoil that Eddie has been through in his life and you feel his pain, you sympathise with him over the death of his life and alongside him, you learn the painful truth about his experiences in the war. Albom does a brilliant job at teaching us all a lesson that we all have the power to change the lives of those around us by one simple little action which we may not even notice, such as running across the street. I found the idea behind the story wonderful too, Mitch Albom says in his author's note that the idea arose because he felt that people who felt unimportant on earth should realise how much they mattered and how much they were loved.

This is a book I would advise everybody to read, it will definitely give you something to think about.

Personal: Between GCSEs and Novels.

There is no excuse for my behaviour. I know. There is no need to remind me.

I am here to tell you that I have not fallen off the face of the Earth, and I have not forgotten about this blog. In fact, whenever I pick up a book, in those rare moments when I can, I think about this blog and how much I so want to be able to read all the time and update all the time. I wish I could tell you that I had been kidnapped by Russian assassins and had wriggled my way out of chains and hitch-hiked my way to an internet connection, or that I have been away travelling the world. But I can't.

In fact, the true and honest reason for my disappearance is very boring indeed and it goes by the name of

FORMAL EDUCATION.

Yes, that beast that looms over the first 20 years of your life and casts deep, dark shadows over you and seems to eliminate any flicker of hope that you once had. I graduated from secondary school last week, but I am in the middle of those horrible exams, GCSEs. This morning, I had my English Literature exam, the exam which I am most desperate to do well for and for which I spent all of yesterday taking notes for until my hand dropped off (not literally). But since I am so knackered from all that and I could really do with a break from staying up until 11.30pm revising and since I don't have any exams tomorrow and in fact I have four exams until half term (after which I have another load of exams but don't remind me) I decided to write something here.

I am trying my very best to make time for reading and I have read a few books but I just don't have the time to update regularly.

So here's an update.

• I never finished Wicked - (oops). I realised that I am not a reading-on-a-small-electronic-screen type of person and I gave up reading the novel on my phone. I saw Wicked at the theatre for my 16th birthday and now the story is ruined and I deleted all books from my phone.
• I am half way through Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin - a fabulous book with trillions of characters which I love very dearly. However I am taking a break until further notice for the sake of my education because whenever I pick up that book I can't put it down and I would really love to get my A's.
• I read a few books in between, some of which I will be trying to write reviews for.

So, in conclusion, there is no point to this post apart from again, begging you to stick with me. Please try to understand the mental strain under which I am trapped. In a few weeks, this will all be over (June 27th to be exact) and I will be free as a bird flying in the sky. And by that I mean 'free as a teenager who will have an abundance of time to lock herself up in her room reading books, watching films and crying over how long it will take for Doctor Who and Sherlock to return to her TV screen."

In the mean time - feel free to follow my twitter which is on the left of the screen I believe and if not, it's @camilaarh!!

Good day and happy reading to you all - CHEERIO!