July 30, 2008

What I'm reading today

 

Today's Bible Reading Isaiah 54–58

I'm also reading:
The Picture of Dorian Gray   Oscar Wilde
A Hedonist in the Cellar   Jay McInerney

 

Just a note on The Picture of Dorian Gray. This is a fabulous book. I can't imagine the uproar it must have caused when it was written. Lord Henry Wotton, one of the main characters, is a fountain of excellent quotes—some quite positive, some amusing, and some so terrible that I have found myself laughing in an uncomfortable way. Here's an example as Lord Henry is speaking to the young Dorian Gray about his newfound love interest (an actress who Dorian has said is a "genius"):

My dear boy, no woman is a genius. Women are a decorative sex. They never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly. Women represent the triumph of matter over mind, just as men represent the triumph of mind over morals.

If you have not read this classic book by Oscar Wilde, you need to. It really is a well-written and fantastic book. And Barnes & Noble has it in their classics section in hard cover for 30% off of the retail price—continually—which makes it just slightly over $7.00.

8 comments:

  1. I thought some of my blogging friends would enjoy that quote.

    :^)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I was getting ready to leave a quote, Richard, but thought I had better wait until it could be said charmingly! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Richard, btw, there is a gal out there whose name is "Lynne." I am not that commenter. I see you've taken to spelling my name with an "e" at the end.

    I didn't care, until I noticed the other commenter on blogs you frequent, so just to say I'm "Lynn," and not to confuse me with "Lynne."

    ReplyDelete
  4. Karen - Thanks for your restraint. But don't be mad at me. It was Lord Henry who said it. I'm just the messenger.

    ;^)

    Lynn (with no "e") - I'm sorry. I realized that a couple of days ago when someone asked her about her religious background and it didn't fit you. Sorry about the misspelling (and now I have to try to keep you two straight in my head - not an easy task when I have trouble just keeping up with myself.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh - and, Karen, you are always charming (and usually have something to say, in spite of what Lord Henry thinks).

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hey, Richard, all these posts about wines and puns about whining remind me of the limerick you made about Lynn and gin.

    And then this quote you kindly posted about women . . . "charming" "whining," . . . it's inspiring a limerick:

    A fellow named Richard is known
    To post quotes just to make the gals groan
    But sound an alarm
    And he'll turn on the charm
    So he won't hear us all whine and moan.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love it! I think you and I may share some of the same genes. I have always had a fondness for silly limericks and annoying puns.

    And then Richard read Oscar Wilde
    And the book made him grin like a child
    He read it straight through
    And posted a quote or two
    And blamed it all on being beguiled

    ReplyDelete

No personal attacks. No profanity.

Please keep your comments in good taste. Leave a name so we know who you are. Your comments are welcome, but anonymous flames and sacrilege will be deleted.