Review by Alexis, age 17

This book is a a classic but it’s also about a really gorgeous guy. Find out what Alicia thought of it...

Beauty is one of the main qualities a person notices when they first meet someone. It is usually what first attracts people to each other. Practically everything in this world is about beauty. Beautiful fashion models hypnotize men and set women on anxiety attacks. Everywhere you look, you see products that help you look more beautiful and younger.

I think in this age many people would like to sell their souls to the devil like Dorian Gray did.

According to Oscar Wilde, however, beauty is not all that important. He even wrote a book, The Picture of Dorian Gray, to make his point. I had always heard about this book, but I had never read it. I finally decided to read it because the plot really intrigued me.

The book is about a young aristocrat living in the rich section of England in the mid-1800s. There is really not much different about him from all the other rich and well-connected men in his social circle. But one thing does make him very special and admired by all: his beauty.

Dorian is so convinced that his beauty is the most important thing in the world that he strikes a bargain which makes time stand still -- at least for his outward appearance. Everyone thinks Dorian Gray is such a great kid because he's so handsome. After years start flowing by, however, and he remains young, people began to gossip about him and fear him.

He himself grows tired of his appearance and wishes he could just grow old along with his friends. As time marches on, he betrays friends and lovers to keep up the facade until he can no longer live with the ugly soul that lies beneath.

This book... shows that the inside is really what counts.

I think in this age many people would like to sell their souls to the devil like Dorian Gray did. They would love to remain young and attractive.

In my opinion, it is fun to be young, but after some time I think it seems more pleasant to just sit around and enjoy the closeness of your family and, hopefully, look back on your life with a smile.

In the preface of the book, Oscar Wilde wrote about art. He argues that art by itself is useless. A painting is not beautiful unless the person looking at it thinks it is beautiful. It is the same with people. Sometimes you only look at the outside of a person and, because that person seems ugly to you, you never bother to get to know him or her. However, someone who does take the time to get to know that person might realize that the person is beautiful in the inside.

This book is a great example of how beauty is not what matters the most. It shows that the inside is really what counts. Oscar Wilde is an amazing writer. He was able to enter his protagonist's head and display all his thoughts and feelings to the reader. The Picture of Dorian Gray was Oscar Wilde's first and only novel, and I think he managed perfectly to make it a memorable and valuable piece of art. I only wish he had written some more novels.