The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

Basil Hallward is famed for his portraits. His best yet is that of up and coming man, Dorian Gray. His portrait catches the eye of Lord Henry Wotton who insists that he is introduced to Gray. Basil reluctantly does so believing that Lord Henry will somehow corrupt Gray. Lord Henry likes the idea and so sets out convincing Gray that his beauty is the only important thing in life. It doesn't take much convincing and soon Gray is obsessed with his beauty. It takes a darker turn as he decides that he must do everything he can to keep his youth and beauty. He would do anything and as his soul is slowly destroyed his beauty remains the same if not amplified. Meanwhile Basil has somehow captured the essence of Gray's soul in his portrait and as it darkens this is reflected in his image.

This is my second time reviewing this book here (I think) but I am much too lazy to go hunting for it. It think it was near the start. Back then I said I disliked the book for too main reasons. First of all I found the language of the book too flowery. Secondly I disliked every single one of those characters and found it hard to enjoy the book as a result. Sadly, no matter how I tried, both are still true. I have come to some other realisations however.

Having thought about it I have read other books, particularly classics, where the language is similar. I am sure it's part of that era and yet I have liked other classics which have the same style. The same is true for the characters. No one is supposed to like Gray or even his friend Wotton. Plus I have read other books where I have disliked the characters and yet still enjoyed them (not many to be fair). So it must be a combination of these things.

It isn't just that though. I loved the idea behind this book. I really do and I am once again saddened by how much I couldn't take to it. I think the main overall problem is that there wasn't much to Gray's character to begin with which was why he was so easy to corrupt. He was already vain about his appearance and Wotton just gave him a little nudge. He did good but only so that others in his circle would look on him favourably. If maybe he had some personality to him or something that I could like then I think the contrast between what happens to his soul and the way he was before would have made me appreciate the book more. I am thinking of Jekyll and Hyde when I think of this.

In general I feel quite bad for giving it so few stars. When compared to Shades of Grey this is a master piece even to me but I couldn't give it any higher because I just didn't like it. I would hate to think that anyone is put off reading this book just because I didn't enjoy it. The truth is I am very much in the minority in my dislike.

I read this for the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen challenge hosted by Hanna of Booking Through Heels.  You can see what others have read here. Also Hanna did a six month overview here. This has actually bolstered me a little bit. I was dragging my feet but having seen this post I realise I have only three books left and only one of those is a re-read (mind you another one that I disliked). If I can get past the re-read I will be fine.

As I said this was for the challenge and it seems only fair to compare the character Gray in the book to that in the film. I think he was one of the few that was actually true to form. Completely vain and self obsessed. I didn't particularly like him much in the film either.

Travels With Charley - John Steinbeck

Already one of Americas most celebrated authors Steinbeck decides to travel round America. Despite writing about America for years he believes he doesn't really know it. With a truck all set up better than a mobile home he heads out. Of course he takes trusted dog Charley with him for company. His goal is to not only see America but to get to know it and the people who make it.

Every time I pick up a book by Steinbeck I am reminded once again how much I love this author. I thought that this one would be different since it's not fiction (although I believe that some claim it is). I put off reading it because I didn't want to be disappointed. At the same time I was fascinated with the idea of this author traveling round the States with only his dog for company.

I needn't have worried as I was immediately lost in his words. This man can write. Fiction or non-fiction it doesn't matter. I bet he could make a computer program manual sound interesting. The book starts off with his reasons for taking this trip and his organising. Normally I would be frustrated at the point and just wanting him to get to the trip itself but with Steinbeck I was happy just to enjoy it. I loved the sound of the truck he had made specially for going and it sounds like others were fascinated too as it turned into a talking point wherever he went.

As he sets off I knew there was one part that I loved more than the others and that was his sidekick Charley.  I have never had a dog but I understand that owners see them as people sometimes. This is the same as Charley. I fell in love with Charley from the first page and Steinbeck was funny with his stories of him. Many a time he argued with Charley as though he were a real person and more often than not Charley got his own way just by giving him a look. If I was ever to have a dog I would want it to be like him.

The travel aspect was interesting and he did see a lot of country side and meet lots of people from all walks of life. Most people were happy to talk to him although everyone was reluctant to share their political views. Steinbeck clearly likes people and does his best to understand them. This shows when he is given a recently vacated room to clean up in in Chicago. Instead of getting washed he begins investigating who the person was that had the room before him.

As the book nears it's ending Steinbeck has clearly had enough of travel and just wants to be back in his own home with his family. He doesn't hold back on how he feels there and for that I admire him. My only criticism of the book is that I didn't come away with a better understanding of America. There wasn't enough interaction with others as it mostly contained Steinbeck's thoughts and feelings. Not that that wasn't interesting but I would have liked more about the areas he visited as well as the people he met.

A fabulous book all the same and I can see myself reading it again in the future. On that note I am now only one book review behind, woo hoo!

June Round Up/ Month Ahead

A very slow month for me reading wise although June itself seems to have passed far too quickly. Where did all those weeks go? Anyway, I didn't get much read so here is my list.

1. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - Muriel Spark
2. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - John LeCarre
3. Flowers For Algernon - Daniel Keyes
4. Fifty Shades of Grey - E. L. James
5. Travels With Charlie - John Steinbeck
6. The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

The easiest one to list is my least favourite. Fifty Shades of Grey is one of the worst books I have ever read. I don't understand why everyone loves it. It's just so badly written. I have reviewed it so I won't go on about it. It is hard to pick just one favourite though so I am not going to try. All I will say that it is between Steinbeck, Keyes and Spark. I still haven't caught up with my reviews but I am only two behind. Whilst I am still on placement I have finished essays and exams so I should have time to do that.

Challenge Overview

 Once again I loved the book I picked out for the classics challenge. I finally got round to reading Scottish classic, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark. It was a wonderful read and I got a real sense of Edinburgh as well as the decade it was set in. Alas, I once again didn't take part in the prompt. I am allowed to miss three though and so far that's two. Fingers crossed I manage the next one. For July's choice I am now reading The Leopard by Guiseppe Di Lempedusa. Another recommendation from my classic loving friend. Enjoying it so far and it makes a nice change reading a translated classic.

 I am loosing will power on this challenge even though I don't have far to go. I have just read The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and I'm sorry but I just don't like it. Will review it soon but I did try with it. I have the Phantom of the Opera coming up too and I have to confess it's another re-read and another I didn't enjoy the first time. If I leave it to last though I know I will definitely not finish the challenge.

 June's category was crime and for that I picked out a spy novel. I read Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John LeCarre which I quite enjoyed. Was surprised by that although it did lose me a few times. Wouldn't say no to trying some more by LeCarre. Next category is horror and I am cheating with this one because my mind has drawn a blank for new authors. I have seen Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs as horror in only one place. It's a vague link but I am going to go with it.

I went with the group choice this time and read Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes. Glad I did because it was a fantastic read. I think even non sci fi fans would enjoy it. For July I am going to brush the dust off a book I've had sitting there a while. Going to read Century Rain by Alastair Reynolds. I do like him so I am looking forward to it.






I also have London by Edward Rutherford on the go. It's over 1300 pages so it's one I have been reading at home. I am loving it though. No other plans as to what I am going to read next. Has everyone else had a good reading month?

Fifty Shades of Grey - E. L. James

Anastasia Steele is about to graduate from University. Her friend runs the student paper and has managed to get the chance to interview young businessman Christian Grey. She's sick though and Anastasia reluctantly steps in. Ana believes it to have gone badly but there is something about Grey that has her intrigued and then he turns up at her work. Grey wants to spend time with her and Ana wants that too. She just might not be prepared for the kind of thing Grey has in mind.

Believe it or not I didn't know what this was when I picked it up. I actually thought it was some kind of crime novel about a stalker. Honestly, I did. That was a good few months ago before the general public started reading this like they read twilight (which is funny since it was originally written as a twilight fan fiction). Had I known I probably wouldn't have bought it. I don't do romance or erotica novels.

Anyway, this is probably the worst book I have ever read. It's just badly written from page one. It's from the point of view of Ana and we are given every unimportant detail of her life. Yep, it's one of those ones that the author finds hard to not share everything because she is using the voice of the main character. The dialogue is even worse and to be honest the characters have no personality at all. The book badly needs an editor.

The fact that it was originally a twilight fan fiction in no way surprises me. She's a poor girl who believes herself to be plain. He's a rich, enigmatic young man (supposedly enigmatic) who is extremely controlling. Then of course there is the literature thrown into the mix. They both have an obsession for Tess of the D'Urbevilles and are continuously quoting from it and placing each other in certain characters. Oh, and there are a few others in there who are clearly in love with Ana too. I could go on about all the similarities.

In the end the story is really about the sex between the two and whether or not she will submit to him as he tries to have a real relationship. Very boring really and the bad writing isn't amusing enough to keep me going. I will not be reading the others in the series.

Flowers For Algernon - Daniel Keyes

 Charlie has the mind of a child but desperately wants to learn. He has felt this desperate need since he was a child. Now a grown man he works in a bakery where he has lots of friends. In the evening he goes to school where he has learned a little writing and reading. As the most eager student his teacher has put him forward for a new trial. This trial could increase his intelligence. To Charlie this is a dream come true and he only hopes he passes all the tests so that he can learn to read and write properly. As the doctors proceed little does Charlie know that intelligence doesn't mean everything. It changes Charlie's life in ways he didn't expect and not necessarily for the better. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

For some strange reason I thought the film, Lawnmower Man, was based on this. Apparently not although it is similar in that a simple man is given intelligence (Lawnmower Man is very loosely based on a short story by Stephen King).

The book is written as a series of reports from Charlie as he begins his quest to be able to learn. From these reports we see his slow progress. Progress that Charlie doesn't even notice at first. It begins with his spelling and grammar which he struggles to correct. Very quickly though he is able to discuss issues with university students and eventually surpasses the university professors. It's easy to become caught up in Charlie's excitement as he realises the treatment has worked and he is able to process so much information.

We also see at the start just how much Charlie loves working in the bakery and loves making his very dear friends laugh. Of course the reader realises that his so called friends are in fact making him the butt of their jokes and taking advantage of the fact that he doesn't understand. It's easy to see from these first few pages that if the treatment works Charlie is going to realise this himself. Which indeed he does and he unfortunately doesn't have the emotional intelligence to deal with it.

In fact emotional intelligence is a big problem for Charlie. He is now conflicted a lot of the time and is unable to empathise with his so called peers. He has a hard time adjusting to discovering women. As his IQ piques his bitterness does also and he is no longer the happy go lucky person we know from the start of the book.

I'm not going to say too much more about the story as it will give away the ending if you haven't guessed yourself. It was very well done though. The changes in Charlie's reports were at first subtle as were the changes in Charlie himself which of course speeds up. Despite the report format I was able to feel for him as he discovers that he was probably happier in his ignorance. I was expecting this to be a rather sad story and it was. A classic sci fi which I would recommend to everyone. It doesn't have any space flight if that's not your cup of tea. And the sciencey gobbledigook is kept to a minimum. In other words I think even the non-sci fi fans would get something out of it.

I read this as part of the Sci Fi challenge hosted by Ellie of Curiosity Killed the Bookworm. This was this months book choice. I decided to go with that since I had been wanting to read the book for a while now. You can see what others read here.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - John LeCarre

George Smiley was once a spy for a the British. A man who did his job well despite personal problems with his wife and one was trusted by the boss, control. Control became obsessed with flushing out a spy and his obsession ended with a good man being shot. On his downfall George Smiley was taken out with him and now he spends his retired life worrying about his estranged wife and avoiding the people he once worked with. The old life is dragging him back in however. That spy may very well not have been part of Control's imagination after all. Behind the backs of the upper echelons, George is called back to duty to get all the information he can and entrap the traitor once and for all.

I actually read this a good few weeks ago now so I apologise if I am vague on the details. My dad is a huge fan of John Le Carre but I could never quite understand the appeal of spy novels. I can now thankfully. This one was very well done. I got the impression that this isn't the first novel starring George Smiley but I wasn't made to feel that I was missing out on an important tale or details. For me it came across as a stand alone story. Although, we don't get my information on George. He has marital problems which in the end is a big part of the story otherwise I don't think we would have learned about it. George comes across as a man who likes to keep thing close to his chest. Which works since he is investigating on the sly.

The writing is done well too. It draws you into the story and enough is happening to keep you interested. It flashes between present and past scenes in order to give the bigger picture. Nothing to do with the writing but there were times that I found that I wasn't sure what was going on. I don't know if that was deliberate or if it was just me. Despite being lost I was still enjoying it which is new for me. It did all come together at various points and obviously tied up at the end. Glad I picked it up and I am sure I will try more of the authors books another time.

I read this as part of the mixing it up challenge for the crime category. This challenge is organised by Ellie of Musings of a Bookshop Girl. You can see the list of categories here and the list I am doing here. My dad is a huge fan of Le Carre and we have had a few arguments as to whether it should be classed as crime or not. In my bookshop days we shelved them in crime. Plus it has guns, people being shot and countries betrayed. To me that's crime. I will watch the film when I have the chance as it would be interesting to see how it translates onto the big screen.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - Muriel Spark

Miss Jean Brodie is a teacher at an all girls school in Edinburgh. She believes in teaching her girls about art and culture and literature. The curriculum is an inconvenience to her and she tends to ignore it. Only her style of teaching will make her girls the creme de la creme. As a result she is considered a rogue element in the school and the head mistress would love nothing more than to be rid of her. Her girls however, are fiercely loyal to her even after they move on to the high school. They become known as the Brodie set, each famous for something. Miss Jean Brodie continues to have prominence in their lives as she teaches them her own personal beliefs and involves them in her personal life.

I have been putting off writing this review. Every time I have sat down to do it I have set the computer aside. Basically, I don't think that I could do this book justice. From the first page I was in love with the book. Miss Jean Brodie is seen through the eyes of one of the set years later. This girl is a rather strong character who has quite and impact on Brodie's life. Yet the strength of Jean Brodie's character still shines through.

We also learn about each of the girls as the book continues. In reality none of them are actually that special or outstanding. What really makes them special is their association with Jean Brodie as they move through school. As school nears it's end that association becomes less important to each of them. Sandy is the one girl we learn the most about as she is the one reflecting back on those years. Sandy is the most dedicated to Brodie but the one who is more aware of her flaws. I have to be honest that I'm not sure I liked Sandy but then I don't think I was really meant to.

It is wonderfully written. I have the advantage of living near Edinburgh and have been there many times. So I suppose it is easy for me to get lost in those pages and imagine myself there. However, I do think the writing has a big part to play in it. I believe that I would be able to imagine just as easily had I never visited the city. Jean Brodie comes across as one of those teachers we would all love to have so long as we are one of her chosen girls. In a short space of time the book is able to show how much she is loved by the girls for that reason to showing all her flaws. It was certainly well done.

I haven't seen the film version but after this I do want to. I love Maggie Smith and I would like to see how she portray's Jean Brodie.

I read this book mainly because as a Scot I feel I should have done so already. I always meant to but it was actually a review by Sophia of Page Plucker that got me to finally pick it up. Thank you Sophia, it was a wonderful read. I also read it for the classics challenge which is hosted by Katherine of November's Autumn.  The prompt for this one is a visual tour. As it relies on quotes (and I hate quotes) I am unsure whether I will take part in it or not.

Oh, and you will notice that for once my classic choice does not have a vintage cover. Instead it is by Penguin Essentials and I have to say I quite like it.