Oscar Wilde came up with a lot of expressions that we use today. Like "I can resist anything except temptation" and "Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing". I think this book was just an excuse to spout off his way of thinking. He used the sympathetic characters to say the more PC of his thoughts and the evil ones to say what would have been shocking in his day. My favourite quotes were: "Her dresses looked like they were designed in a rage and put on in a tempest" (oooh... burn!) and "I'd do anything to bring back my youth except get up early, take exercise or be respectable" (you and me both, brother). What a writer.
When I read this book, I realized that he was a bit of a misogynist and an egotist with a touch of xenophobia thrown in for flavour. And so hilarious. This is supposed to be a "horror" book but it was so talky and clever that I couldn't help but look past the scary bits. Which, for a book that was written in the 1890s, wasn't really all that scary to begin with. So I recommend that you read it. I was surprised by how many times I laughed out loud. If you read it, be prepared for some flowery language and some meandering around the plot but you'll enjoy it.
kxx
2 comments:
All the older authors were wordy (I found), I think that is because people were more wordy. I mean now we say 'sup? But then they would be more likely to say Mayhaps there is something new in your life you would like us to know about? (Ok maybe not that exactly but you get my drift) But I loved that book.
Janet
I applaud you, Karen. I read Under the Dome this summer. Oh - and Duma Key. Oh - and Poisonwood Bible, God of Small Things...and 3/4s of the way through The Lacuna. I am proud to say that, after almost 9 years of obsessing over children, I AM BACK AT THE BOOKS (not all good books, but books nonetheless...).
Thanks for the post!
Kathleen
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