Classics for Beginners discussion

Start: August 1st, 2014

Anyone is welcome to jump into the discussion at any time! Even if you are behind, just add your thoughts as you read.

When would you guys like to start reading it? Also, do you guys want to set a specific number of chapters to read/discuss each day?

Hi,
I'm pretty easy going - I'm happy to start whenever you are. Also happy with reading to a schedule or at own pace.

I'm ready to start whenever you guys are. I'm also pretty flexible about setting a schedule or just letting the discussion flow as we read. It's kind of hard to tell what are individual reading paces will be.

I'm new - but I just picked this book up yesterday, though I've been meaning to read it for a long while now, so, I'll be joining in.

Alright then, let's just discuss as we read. That way it'll be okay if you miss a couple or so days of reading. Just catch up when you can. Are you guys up for starting on August 1st?

I coincidentally just got this one as an ebook this morning!

I'm good starting on the 1st.

I'd like to join on this one. August 1 is great.

Glad all of you can join us! I'm excited for this one.

Do you mind me joining? I've already read the book, but I'm more than willing to re-read it.

Not at all!

August 1st it is :) I've been meaning to read dorian gray for a while.

I'd like to join

Charlie wrote: "Start: August 1st, 2014

Anyone is welcome to jump into the discussion at any time! Even if you are behind, just add your thoughts as you read.

When would you guys like to start reading it? Also, ..."
This looks like a lot of fun.

I started this one yesterday. All I can say so far is, Wilde could write. Really, really write. I'm in love with the language of this book. Too bad he only wrote the one. I'll probably read his plays and short stories (fairy tales) too.

I'm 36% in and I think I have already highlighted more passages in this book than I have in any other.
Lord Henry is pissing me off though - what a misogynist.

Lord Henry is an interesting character. I like him, but I don't like him. He would be one of those people you enjoy listening to, and probably arguing with, but you would never consider a friend. He's a personality. I also suspect, he is Oscar Wilde. Wilde reminds me of someone who would hang out with the rich and famous, but who would make fun of them too. Henry (and Wilde) were hypocrites.

It's interesting, I've read that Wilde saw himself as all three of the main characters.
I strongly disliked Henry, he goes just on and on and on and on....
I'm hard pressed to think of anyone I did like though? A book about very flawed people.

I've been working on this for days now and I'm only about 34% through.
My biggest annoyance is how whiny Dorian is. And Wilde constantly uses the word "cried" to describe how they talk. I want to make a drinking game for it.

What I love about it, is how animated the characters are. Very much realistic. When it comes to both Henry and Dorian I absolutely adore them as characters, but I'm pretty sure I'd hate them in real life.
Plus, it's kinda nice to spot the parallels with 'Faust'

I finished this morning. For some reason, I enjoyed the first half much more than the second. And by the end the "wittiness" had overstayed its welcome, for me. The language that Wilde used was deliciously rich though, and even with its faults I enjoyed the book and I'm glad I finally read it.

I didn't notice the overuse of the word "cried" but I did definitely notice Dorian's whining. I pictured him as a young Brad Pitt. Like in Interview in the Vampire. Pretty but not much thought.

I actually did like the painter character. But he wasn't as developed as the other two.

I pictured Dorian more like a 19th century Holden Caulfield. Waa waa waa, poor me.

Nienna wrote: "I pictured him as a young Brad Pitt. Like in Interview in the Vampire. "

Whining and having existential issues. Well, yes.

RitaSkeeter wrote: "It's interesting, I've read that Wilde saw himself as all three of the main characters.
I strongly disliked Henry, he goes just on and on and on and on....
I'm hard pressed to think of anyone I di..."

I read the thing about Wilde after reading it. He said something about the artist is who he was, Henry was who the public thought he was, and Dorian was who he wished to be. If I have it right. The first two make sense. But I wonder what he meant by wanting to be Dorian? Maybe he wished to be beautiful like him? The story does seem to glorify youth and beauty. But- and maybe I'm wrong, I took it as satire. I took it as a negative response to how we tend to treat beauty and fame as a society.

Maybe he just wished to be free from social norms and artificial code of conduct? Dorian act on a whim, without much of a thought.

I see several of you are finished. I don't know why I thought I could join in two read alongs, as I don't do well when I try to read more than one at a time. So, anyway, I finished the first August book and will start this one today.
Your comments so far have added to my interest in reading this one.