"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde

I read this book in about 6 hours. Which just goes to show how much I thought of it. While I was reading it, I was thinking, "Ok, why did he have to put in 50 pages of the things that Dorian bought?" I was waiting to see if it was like "League of Extraordinary Gentleman", where he was cursed to not be able to see his own portrait. Sadly, I was disappointed in that respect. By the time I had finished reading it, I was thinking, "Ummmm, that was weird". But then it happened. I couldn't get that dumb book out of my head! I'll explain why: The concept is something that's so fascinating that I was trying to apply it to my life. Basically Dorian wishes that his portrait could age for him. He was very innocent and untainted from the world when he said this, and so that is how he stayed. However, his portrait aged for him. It didn't just age naturally, it showed his true self. He began committing crimes because he knew he could get away with it. Nobody believed that someone with a face like that could do anything wrong. However, his portrait knew. And it showed it.

So do I recommend it? Only if you want to stay up wondering what your portrait would look like.

"Dracula" by Bram Stoker

So I just finished Dracula.. it was pretty awesome. I liked how I really didn't know how it was going to end until the second to last page. When books give away the ending I have a hard time finishing them.

The style of the book was kind of difficult to get. The characters told the story through journal entries and letters to each other. After I got past that, it was quite enjoyable. I just didn't like that they started each entry with "Oh, woe is me, woe is me!" stuff. Because then the bad things that happened in that journal entry never caught you by surprise.

But one thing is for sure.... Twilight doesn't make any sense after reading this. Vampires are disgusting and don't make any sense. Why would anybody think that is attractive? Yes I know I liked Twilight back in high school, but now I'm renouncing it.

"Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo

So I actually finished the book on Tuesday... but with Austin graduating and Alyse and Tommy here I haven't had time to blog about it. I can sum it up in 3 words... OH. MY. GOSH. I was freaking out after reading it, and my mom told me that's why they're called classics. Because they're amazing. So now I want to read other classic books, and Brandon and I are going to collect them and put them on our measly 2 shelf bookshelf in our apartment. So far we have "Three Musketeers", "Man in the Iron Mask", and "Dracula" between the two of us. I'm going to buy Les Miserables as soon as I can to add to the collection. .

Ok so even after seeing the play and movie so many times, I still had a hard time not crying at the end of the book. I KNEW it was coming! Why did I want to cry so badly? Who knows. It was touching though, the scene of redemption between Jean Valjean and Cosette.

Overall, the play stuck with the book pretty well. The plotline was exactly the same, just without a whole lot of the details. It was so complicated I don't think that COULD be reproduced in all its entirety.

Here is my favorite song from the whole play... Fantine is the best. Even though she doesn't always make the right choices, such as selling herself on the streets. That's frowned upon in all of society.

I also had a crush on Enjolras. However you pronounce that. I'm buying the 10th year anniversary on DVD this summer, so Brandon can watch and enjoy it with me as well. Here is the whole play on youtube... I will be watching so much. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io-nhN0XMUE

This is my favorite quote from the whole book. It is so powerful and symbolic!

"Jean Valjean, my brother, you belong no longer to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I am buying for you. I withdraw it from dark thoughts and from the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God!"