Buy a Book and Save a Tree

Better World.com offers bibliophiles with a grand opportunity; it's a triple threat cause defender. By offering used books for sale via the web, Better World allows people to protect the environment, support literacy and save money. In short, they are a socially, environmentally and financially responsible resource for people wanting to purchase books rather than read them on the web or via a mobile reader device. They also offer free shipping in the US.

Dorian Grows Up & Remains Oblivious: Chapters III--VI

Dorian Gray continues to be the object of Lord Henry's attentions, so much so, that Lord Henry's wife seeks him out in order to get a look at the man for herself. However, Dorian remains oblivious to the fact that Lord Henry may be a bit overly solicitous where he is concerned. This is partly due to his previously mentioned vapidness ( maybe Wilde intend it to be youthful naivete), and in part to his new love/infatuation with an equally beautiful young stage actress.

Lord Henry is amused and intrigued by this new development in Dorian's psyche. He views it as an outward sign of the social maturity he's been cultivating in the young man. The object of Dorian's affections, the aptly named Sibyl Vane, could be described as Dorian's equal opposite, dark to his fair, a stage dweller, where Dorian begins as a somewhat introverted frequenter of private salons.

During the next series of events, Dorian becomes engaged to Sibyl. Sibyl's brother, who is departing for Australia promises to kill Dorian, unbeknownst to him, if he should cause any harm to befall Sibyl. It's a right proper dose of melodrama and a foreshadowing of the darkness soon to enter young Dorian's life. To be honest, I'm still waiting for the horror to hit.

Visit We Read Big Books for this week's discussion questions.

A Horror Bromance Revealed: The Picture of Dorian Gray Chapters I--III

The first three chapters of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray provides an extended and highly quotable introduction to the main characters of the novel. Basil Hallaward, a painter, has discovered a living muse in the form of Dorian Gray, a relationship which is quickly growing into obsession. Lord Henry, a visiting friend, finds Basil's affliction intriguing and over stays his welcome in order to meet Dorian. Thus, the triangle of obsession between the three is formed.

After, an extended conversation with Lord Henry prior to and during his sitting for a portrait being painted by Basil, Dorian Gray goes from being merely vapid to being vain and vapid. Lord Henry is himself enthralled by Dorian's physical attractiveness, golden hair and true blue eyes, scarlet lips and unblemished fair skin, the usual list of late 19th century attributes of beauty. He remarks, "Youth! Youth! There is absolutely nothing in the world but youth!," as he cautions Dorian to make the most of his beauty, because it's destined to fade. Dorian comprehends this when he views the finished portrait of himself and foresees the coming betrayal of time. He exclaims that he would give his soul to forgo the tragedy of losing his beauty.

Later , we learn that he is the son of starcrossed lovers, a wealthy beautiful woman, who ran off and married a soldier. Her father plots to reclaim her by nefarious means, the soldier dies in a duel which was apparently a set-up. Dorian meets Lord Henry for lunch as agreed during the portrait sitting; he is enthralled by his wit and his apparent understanding of LIFE itself, the way of the world if you would. This lunch concludes as the small salon with Basil, Lord Henry and Dorian did, with Dorian trailing behind the more worldly Lord Henry.

I never realized that The Picture of Dorian Gray was a horror/ bromance. I've always seen or heard the story referred to in terms of horror, like in the film,The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and he was always depicted as irresistible to the fairer sex. Go figure. This is going to be interesting.

Join the discussion at We Read Big Books.

Introducing Friday Classics at A Conservatory of One

"We can forgive a man for making a useful thing as long as he does not admire it. The only excuse for making a useless thing is that one admires it intensely. All art is quite useless." Oscar Wilde from the Preface of The Picture of Dorian Gray

In honor of Halloween, I'll be reading The Picture of Dorian Gray a bit at a time for the remainder of this month via my email subscription at DailyLit.com. This website provides visitors with a section of the book selection of their choice at intervals by email or RSS feed. Read a chapter a day, every other day, or once a week. You set up your subscription to reflect your preference. If you're itching to read the next chapter, that's easy to remedy. Login to manage your subscription and request the next chapter. Registering is free and many classic works of literature are available for subscription for free as well. Some, more recent works, are available for a nominal fee.

My plan is to read, or revisit a classic a month. I started my personal read the classics campaign a while ago with Vanity Fair. I'll be honest. I haven't read that much Vanity Fair (considering its length, it probably wasn't the best first choice), so I'm making myself accountable (and picking a shorter book). I'll list my current classic reads in the right hand column of this blog and post a bit of my thoughts about the classic of the month each Friday. Feel free to take DailyLit.com for a spin and read along with me. I look forward to your comments. The ongoing book discussions will take place at my other website, We Read Big Books.

Banned Books Week Sept. 29--Oct. 6: Walk the Edge, Read a Book that Changed the World

Say it with me, "I read a banned book." Whether it's true or not, just saying it feels liberating. If you've read a book that others decried as too risque, politically incorrect or inappropriate for your age (before you were legal), it probably gave you a bit of a thrill. You were walking the edge, challenging social expectations and more importantly, challenging your intellect. Some of the classics of the western canon belonged to the banned book list at one point or another. Take some time to checkout the list of most challenged books of 2006, and visit the American Library Associataion's website to learn more about banned and challenged books. They also provide a listing of Banned Books Week events in your area.