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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Rilla of Ingleside - L.M. Montgomery

Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Image result for rilla of ingleside
Blurb (on back of book): Anne's children were almost grown up, except for pretty, high-spirited Rilla. No one could resist her bright hazel eyes and dazzling smile. Rilla, almost fifteen, can't think any further ahead than going to her very first dance at the Four Winds lighthouse and getting her first kiss from handsome Kenneth Ford. But undreamed-of challenges await the irrepressible Rilla when the world of Ingleside becomes endangered by a far-off war. Her brothers go off to fight, and Rilla brings home an orphaned newborn in a soup tureen. She is swept into a drama that tests her courage and leaves her changed forever.

MY OPINION: *****

This is my second or third time reading this book. For some reason, it completely slipped my mind that I hadn't written a review yet so here I am now.

I first read this series when I was around seven, I believe. I love Anne with all my heart. I've read all of the books, watched the movies, the TV show, and completely love the characters. However, this one is my favorite of the series besides the first one.

It's the most depressing of the series for sure. Anne is now a mother and has an entire family of children. The protagonist of this novel is Rilla, Anne's youngest daughter. It is set in the time of World War I. I just finished my AP Euro unit on WWI so this was a nice refresher for the test.

Rilla starts out being very flightly, spoiled, and immature. One of my favorite scenes from the novel is the dance at the very beginning before the war has been announced. Here we are introduced to the hopeless romantic vibe from Rilla. She has her eyes on a handsome boy, Kenneth Ford, who (lo and behold) asks her to dance. They spend the night together and it's a happy, optimistic vibe despite Rilla feeling completely insecure the entire time.

However, that is when the war is announced and so begins the devastation that is World War I.

Rilla's friends and brothers go off to the war and we see Rilla starting to take more responsibilities to try to help those at the front. The romance between her and Ken slowly blossoms and I truly loved it, because it provided some happiness despite the awful terrors of the war.

By the end of the novel, Rilla has grown into a woman and has matured and become more independent. She takes in a soup tureen baby and this really helps her become responsible.

I loved this novel through and through. It was not only historical and romantic but it was also real. I truly felt the pain that many women felt when they found out about their husbands and sons and brothers away at the war.

I would recommend this book to readers looking for a historical and romantic novel.

Main Character: Rilla
Sidekick(s): Jims, Susan, Faith, Meredith, Una, Walter, Ken, etc
Villain(s): War, death, etc
Realistic Fiction Elements: This book is very real to life.

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