The Picture of Dorian Gray

3.5-- I'm between "liked" and "really liked". The Picture of Dorian Gray exceeded my expectations in some ways, but didn't quite live up to them in others. No doubt, Wilde's novel is full of quotable one-liners-- insightful bits of wisdom about life, youth, passion, art, and more. Ironically, a lot of sage advice comes from a despicable character who Wilde expertly crafts in such a way that the reader can only come away with a love/hate relationship. However, the reader's relationship with the story's protagonist is likely more one-sided-- his depth of character doesn't match his good looks. In the end, the reader can choose to be put off by Dorian's instability, or to view his malleability as a fascinating study of fickle human nature.