The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde - UPDATED REVIEW

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde  Genre : Classics Blurb (on back of book) : Oscar Wilde’s only novel is the dreamlike story of a young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty. In this celebrated work Wilde forged a devastating portrait of the effects of evil and debauchery on a young aesthete in late-19th-century England. Combining elements of the Gothic horror novel and decadent French fiction, the book centers on a striking premise: As Dorian Gray sinks into a life of crime and gross sensuality, his body retains perfect youth and vigor while his recently painted portrait grows day by day into a hideous record of evil, which he must keep hidden from the world. For over a century, this mesmerizing tale of horror and suspense has enjoyed wide popularity. It ranks as one of Wilde's most important creations and among the classic achievements of its kind. UPDATED REVIEW MY OPINION : ****** I would like to start out this review by stating that this is undoubtedly m...
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The Outsiders - S. E. Hinton

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
Image result for the outsiders bookGenre: YA Realistic Fiction

Blurb (on back of book): Ponyboy is fourteen, tough and confused, yet sensitive behind his bold front. Since his parents' death, his loyalties have been to his brothers and his gang, the rough, swinging, long-haired boys from the wrong side of the tracks. When his best friend, Johnny, kills a member of a rival gang, a nightmare of violence begins and swiftly envelopes Ponyboy in a turbulent chain of events.

 MY OPINION: *****

Amazing story!

I read this book, and was amazed by the writing. S. E. Hinton was a very young teenager when she wrote this book. It is so interesting how she managed to write a book like this, with such realistic events, and realistic characters at such a young age. This book was made into a film and is widely-known and popular in English classes.

Ponyboy is a part of a group called the Greasers. Their rivals are the Socs (Socials), the "rich" people on the other side. Ponyboy is a strong character with real emotions and feelings. His actions are good-hearted, although they not be the best things that a teenaged boy should do. Ponyboy endures a lot of violence and sees things that most young boys should not see.

The whole message of this book is to "stay gold". This basically means that you should keep your innocence and youth for as long as you possibly can. Ponyboy is a part of a gang that has already lost their gold, so they all give out the message to him to try his best to keep his innocence, since he is so young. Ponyboy is a nice kid, and he isn't like the other Greasers. Ponyboy tries his best to be tough, but in reality, he is more of a child than anyone there, and that is a good thing.

I was "forced" to read this book. If I was not, I never would have picked up this book. I, sadly, would have judged this book by the cover. But what I think now that I have finished it, is that I am SO GLAD I got to read this book! It was so amazing! I can't believe that I was SO close to missing out on this book!

Overall, I would recommend this book to preteens and teens. This book is good for anyone looking for a good read with lots of action and a message that stays gold the whole way until the end :)

Main Character: Ponyboy Curtis
Sidekick(s): Darry Curtis, Sodapop Curtis, Dally, Two-Bit Matthews, Johnny Cade, Steve, Cherry, etc
Villain(s): Socs, losing your gold, misunderstandings, etc
Realistic Fiction Elements: This can happen, though it does not necessarily mean that it will. Also, if it can happen, it most likely happened a very long time ago, probably in the 1960s, when the book it set.

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