Will Self's Dorian

[Yaminon]

Has anyone else had a chance to read this?

It's a modern retelling of Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. It takes place (mostly) in London during the AIDS epidemic of the 80s and 90s. Most of the main characters are gay and there is a lot of drug use going on. It sort of takes all of the themes in Wilde's novel and exaggerates them. It makes for a much more disturbing story.

[Pecksie]

Hmmm... haven't read it, but it sounds very interesting! Will check it out. ;)

[LitNetIsGreat]

Has anyone else had a chance to read this?

It's a modern retelling of Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. It takes place (mostly) in London during the AIDS epidemic of the 80s and 90s. Most of the main characters are gay and there is a lot of drug use going on. It sort of takes all of the themes in Wilde's novel and exaggerates them. It makes for a much more disturbing story.

Wilde's Dorian Gray is one of my favourite novels so I have been aware of this retelling of the story but I have never read it. I suppose that is because I could only be disappointed in it and I am not sure how I feel about it being remade in such a glaring way. What did you think of it and have you read the original?

[Emil Miller]

Wilde's Dorian Gray is one of my favourite novels so I have been aware of this retelling of the story but I have never read it. I suppose that is because I could only be disappointed in it and I am not sure how I feel about it being remade in such a glaring way. What did you think of it and have you read the original?

Dont bother. Will Self couldn't write his way out of a paper bag. I heard a reading of Dorian on the BBC ( where else ?) and it was overblown rubbish.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Thanks, you have just confirmed what I thought.

[Tallon]

Self seems to me, like a good few contemporary authors, to be quirky for quirky's sake.

[Emil Miller]

Self seems to me, like a good few contemporary authors, to be quirky for quirky's sake.

That's because they have got nothing to say and... "It's better to be talked about than not talked about at all."

[LitNetIsGreat]

Hmm, he does come across a little pretentious in interviews and as for the novel I don’t think I would care to see Wilde’s work reduced to explore gay sex and aids during the 1980’s. I have a problem with the idea of re-writing great works (or in this case at least the very good) just for the sake of it. I’m not even sure how a feel about the plays of Shakespeare adapted to a modern setting, but that’s a different story completely.

[Akeldama]

Dont bother. Will Self couldn't write his way out of a paper bag. I heard a reading of Dorian on the BBC ( where else ?) and it was overblown rubbish.

On a whim I bought Self's "The Great Apes" and was unable to finish it for that exact reason, it being overblown rubbish. Self seems to be very impressed with himself, and therefore writes over-the-top, bombastic, self-congratulatory crap to show the world just how great he is.

Although, considering this quote that I found, my reaction seems to be the one he's aiming for:
"I want to be misunderstood. And the other thing that amuses me is: I don't particularly want to be liked. Nobody goes into the business of writing satire to be liked. Whether I am or am not a nice bloke is neither here nor there. It's not part of the task I've set myself in my art."

[Emil Miller]

On a whim I bought Self's "The Great Apes" and was unable to finish it for that exact reason, it being overblown rubbish. Self seems to be very impressed with himself, and therefore writes over-the-top, bombastic, self-congratulatory crap to show the world just how great he is.

Although, considering this quote that I found, my reaction seems to be the one he's aiming for:
"I want to be misunderstood. And the other thing that amuses me is: I don't particularly want to be liked. Nobody goes into the business of writing satire to be liked. Whether I am or am not a nice bloke is neither here nor there. It's not part of the task I've set myself in my art."

Exactly.

[mortalterror]

I read Will Self's Great Apes for my first class in college along with Lolita and Blood Meridian. It was not as memorable as the other two.