I had high expectations going into this since many of those in the #classicscommunity rave about this book. After reading it, I now understand why this is so highly rated and beloved because Oscar Wilde truly snapped!
 
From the very beginning, I was instantly intrigued with and connected to the characters. They were all entertaining, refreshing, and had so much to say about life, death, and everything in between. I had a genuine interest in all of the philosophical and religious elements incorporated throughout the story – which is something I was a bit nervous about since these older books tend to harp on them so much due to the time period. But all of that was definitely needed for the story.
 
The first half of the book was slow, but once we got to the middle, everything was *chef’s kiss*. It’s always so fascinating, yet heartbreaking to me to see someone go from being naïve, kind-hearted, and a ray of sunshine to someone who has hardened because they were introduced to the ‘real world’ (or in Wilde’s/society’s way of thinking; temptation) in some capacity. Every time Dorian did something ‘immoral’ I was constantly searching for his old self, hoping he’d snap out of it and see the harm he wasn’t just causing to others but also, himself.
 
I think everyone who reads this can take away so many lessons on vanity, what it means to age, living a double-life, immortality and so much more. It’s clear that there is a lot of social commentary in here. It was so cool to see how things operated in 19th century London, with certain modes of thinking that transcended to today’s time period.

This book is absolutely perfect to read in the Fall. From the horrifying, melancholic, and unsettling imagery Wilde painted to the crazy plot twist and even crazier ending solidified this as a must-read for the season.