The Picute of Dorian Gray - A Book Review

It is August, the 23, 2009 @ 1:48 PM. I finished "The Picture of Dorian Gray" last night. My book club does not discuss this book until October, therefore I am presetting the post date for this blog at that time. I want to write about it now, while it is still fresh in my mind.

(I did write this blog in August, but when I went to the next book club meeting, they decided to post-pone Dorian Gray, so I guess this blog will go up even later than planned, as of now we are reading "The Witch of Blackbird Pond").

I had heard about the book of Dorian Gray a long time ago (as I stated in a previous blog). I originally thought it was a book about a man who kept his photo in a closet, and it ages while he stays young. That is sort of true, but not really.

It is a story of a young man who's portrait is painted. As time goes by, he notices that the portrait changes due to the change in his soul. It is a tragic tale. Most of the characters in the book are pretty shallow and vile. You hope that the main character will learn and change his ways, but will he?

Someone in my book club asked me when I was about half-way through this book what I thought of it. Did I like it? My answer was I think so..., but I honestly did not know whether I liked it or not. I have to say, after reading the book, I am still not really sure if I liked it or not. There was one chapter I thought was a bit overdone. Going on and on, about all the riches he had seen. It was very detailed, but a little too much. I wondered if the whole book was going to go on like that. Luckily, it only went on for one entirely long chapter. A chapter, that I could have skipped most of the pages on. Eventually, it got back on track.

I did think it was a good book. It does make one think. The concept is interesting. Is it likable? I don't know.

My notes after going to book club:

Well, this book stirred up quite a discussion! For one, there were two versions of the book, the original was shorter, and I guess more controversial. The second version, which I read, was tamed down. I cannot say, since I only read the second version (most of us in book club did). One lady apologized for suggesting the book, another person hated the book, another person loved the book! The book does have a lot to think about. I wound up having to present the book (due to changes in the book club), and that went well. I did find it interesting that we had our meeting on Friday the 13th, since the book is a horror novel.

Even though it may not have been one of my favorite books, I still think it had a good concept, and it teaches how one should not be so self absorbed that it makes everyone, including themselves, miserable.

Only On Halloween...

Can you be seated by a black cat, served by a homeless person, as you watch "The Count" from Sesame Street serve drinks to the other tables around, and various other costumes walk by, like the Wicked Witch of the East... or West.... not sure which one... (the one crushed by the house?) at The Old Spaghetti Factory in Tacoma. A fun lunch for today.

My New Car!

Okay... so it is not the beautiful Lamborghini, as seen above, which I saw outside of work one day. I really do like the car above, but I needed something a little more practical than that. ...and in my price range?

My mind was pretty much set on a Toyota Corolla. I even looked around at a local dealer about 3 months ago. Nothing really felt, like: "This is it!" I was worried I was going to have to settle.

My friend, Trina said she was looking into a Toyota Corolla as well, and we decided to go car shopping together. She said the 2009 cars were about the same price as some of the used ones I had been looking at. That sounded like a deal.

She wound up going before me, and unfortunately, they had no more 2009 cars. She got a nice, new 2010 car, at a higher price. Then, she went with me, while I decided on something different. Her advice was very helpful, and having her there, with me, made the process a whole lot easier.

I wrote in a previous blog about how I paid a significant amount of money back to my grandfather, and in return, he put a significant down payment on my last car that I had: A 17 year-old car, that I owned for 15 years. I have to admit... despite all it's problems (in latter years), especially in winter, I really loved the car.

• My old car leaked, so much that I had a portable swimming pool riding around the spare tire.

• It froze inside and out during winter, making it nearly impossible to get into it, until later in the day (scraping the inside of my sharply sloping window while sitting inside the car, was no picnic either).

• The horn blared, without me touching it.... (I had to get that removed).

• The radio went out. That was long after I got a tape stuck in the tape player.

• Sometimes in the summer the key would not turn in the ignition, but it always ran well. I never had trouble with that.

So, fortunately, I was able to sell it. Amazing. I was going to donate it to charity, but someone decided to buy it from me. I am happy, because I think even though I am not giving it to charity, it is going to someone who might appreciate it, instead of being turned into scrap metal.

I really hope it does not give the new owner too much grief. It was very comfortable to sit in - I was noticing as I drove home from work on Friday, but I knew it was time to say, "goodbye."

Purchasing a car has been a totally new experience for me. Thanks to some of my friends and family, bits and pieces of advice, plus TONS of research. It all helped me find the exact car I wanted for the price I was willing to pay. I hate the fact that I am in debt again. I don't like it. I have managed to avoid it most of my life, but I suppose, sometimes it is unavoidable. Maybe even worth it.

So, here is my new 2007 Honda Civic. It looks just like the newer cars at the place I work at (for the drivers there, except without the decals). Since I used to be a driver, I am somewhat familiar with this car (though I never got one of the newer ones - only got to borrow for special deliveries!). I am excited, and a little overwhelmed. It is the nicest car I have ever had.