Hello fellow bibliophiles,
I recently finished reading Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray." While I appreciated the intricate prose, deep themes, and the haunting story of Dorian's moral decay, I found it quite challenging to get through. As someone relatively new to reading and looking to dip my toes into classic literature, this was a tough but ultimately rewarding experience.
Wilde's exploration of vanity, the supernatural, and the consequences of a hedonistic lifestyle left a lasting impression on me. However, I am now looking for recommendations that might be a bit easier to read while still being engaging and thought-provoking.
I'm open to many genres, whether it be modern fiction, mystery, fantasy, or anything in between. Ideally, I'd love to find books with compelling characters, intriguing plots, and perhaps a touch of the moral or philosophical dilemmas that I found so fascinating in Dorian Gray.
Any suggestions for a budding reader looking to explore more accessible yet captivating literature?
Thanks in advance for your recommendations!
by Diligent_Tension1
2 Comments
Go back in time and read forward, including translations. There are so many great classics to read before your linguistic tastes are spoiled by more modern writers
E.g. French author Honore de Balzac used to be quite well known. Tres amusant
Or, for action-packed, you could go to Dumas’ “The Three Musketeers” (not so action-packed, “The Count of Monte Christo”)
And if you’re really adventurous, you could get into James Fenimore Cooper’s “The Last of the Mohicans”
The Secret History is long but surely easier to read and fascinating