Yes, I'm still talking about Oscar Wilde

I was listening to Stephen Fry’s April Podgram, which was mainly about Oscar Wilde. Fry is quite the connoisseur of Wilde. I greatly enjoyed this particular episode and thought I would share it with all of you.

The episode can be downloaded for free from the iTunes store. Power search for Stephen Fry and you will get Stephen Fry’s PODGRAMS as a result. Click the subscribe button. If you don’t have iTunes then you can go to the blog section of his Web site for a text transcript, http://stephenfry.com/blog/.

I just noticed that the transcript isn’t up yet. If you want to read the transcript keep checking back from time to time. But, I highly recommend listening to the Podgram. Stephen Fry is an absolute joy.

And The New Book Is...

There are several of us who own copies of the book - feel free to ask!

The next meeting will be on:

Tuesday, May 24

Meeting Place:

Cheese Drip Factory (aka La Charreada)

Time:

To be voted on!

PSH

Interesting notes on Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray

I hope everyone enjoyed Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray as much as I did. From speaking to a few of you, I think we were all reading different editions and publications of the book. I thought I would share some notes from my edition, published by Penguin Books in 1985.

Some critics have identified Wilde entirely with the character Lord Henry “Harry” Wotton. Wilde’s own remarks on the subject in 1894 was, “Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks of me: Dorian what I would like to be — in other ages, perhaps.”

Continuing on the subject of Wilde being compared to his characters, there was an interesting connection made between Gray and Wilde. In my edition of the book, Chapter 12 starts with “It was on the ninth of November, the eve of his own thirty-eighth birthday…” My edition said in the Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine, version of this story, this date was given as Gray’s 32nd birthday, which is a more significant age to Wilde. When Wilde was 32, he engaged in his first homosexual experiences, thus making more of connection between Gray’s sin or guilt and his own.

Several directories are mentioned in Dorian Gray. Knowledge of these directories do not make or break the book, but they are interesting and worth noting. In Chapter Three, Lord Henry tells Uncle George, “Mr. Dorian Gray does not belong to Blu-books.” The Bluebook was the official reports of Parliament and the Privy Council. In Chapter 15, Lady Narborough offers to go through Debrett carefully to find eligible young ladies for Gray. Debrett is short for Debrett’s Complete Peerage of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, which was an aristocratic directory.

And finally, I want to point out one last thing. In Chapter 11, Wilde goes into long detail about Gray’s interests in music, art, tapestries, etc. I will be honest and admit that I skimmed/skipped it. Be honest, many of you did too. In case you were wondering how Wilde knew all of those things, he primarily used Huysmans, and the South Kensington Museum Art Handbook. According to the notes in my edition of the book, some of Wilde’s descriptive passages were taken almost verbatim.

Quotable Wilde

I love Oscar Wilde quotes. I just wanted to take a moment to share my favorites in "The Picture of Dorian Gray."

"The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world. They can sit at their ease and gape at the play."

"Humanity takes itself too seriously. It is the world's original sin. If the cave-man had known how to laugh, History would have been different."

"It is not good for one's morals to see bad acting."

"There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about."

"She behaves as if she was beautiful. Most American women do. It is the secret of their charm."

"It is an odd thing, but everyone who disappears is said to be seen at San Francisco. It must be a delightful city, and possess all the attractions of the next world."

Finished over the weekend...

Dearest IUAA book club ladies,

I finished "The Picture of Dorian Gray" over the weekend. What shallow dandies Dorian and Lord Henry were! I purchased the book from Barnes and Noble, and it had fabulous end notes and explanations of terminology, characters, etc. Thank goodness, or some of the subleties would have escaped me. And what a life Oscar Wilde led! We have a lot to discuss next week. ;)

--Rachael.

Recipe Fictional Book Series

Joanne Fluke is my new "mystery" series favorite author.

I call it "mystery" because it's more or less a no-thinker read for a mystery novel. I read the ninth book in the series (who the heck has the list of books in order when they go to the library? Not me) and really enjoyed it. I copied a few recipes out of it hoping to make one or two this summer.

It takes place in a small town in Minnesota (haha, yes, I am a Minnesotan and like most people, I have to give my home state authors a chance - so post some Indiana authors - I want to read more!) and is totally Minnesotan. Seriously. It's like I'm back home again when I open it.

If you need a no-thinker for entertainment, this is an OK book to read, just don't expect some great mystery novel. It's just entertaining!

Otherwise, I recommend Janet Evanovich - she's a real laugh out loud author!

Patty

I just finished! I'd remembered it being a lot longer than it actually was...

At any rate, I've found some questions about it for book club & have been thinking of some additional ones on my own; if you think of any discussion questions, remember them for our meeting!

Have a great weekend!