My Recommendation.

Book recommendations are somewhat personal, don’t you think? If someone random in the street asked me for a recommendation I’d be immediately stuck because I don’t know them personally and can’t think of what I’ve read that they might like. I suppose it’s what you’re aiming to get out of a book. I am going to recommend the first book I’ve ever kept permanently on my shelf and go always go back to. This book intrigues and captivates me as a reader, it makes me philosophical as a dreamer, it inspires me as a writer and so I thought it fitting for this blog perhaps.
‘The Picture of Dorian Grey’ by Oscar Wilde.
I’ve always loved Oscar Wilde’s style with his witty epigrams, satire, brilliant characters and original plots and combined into a Gothic novel (my favorite genre) it’s become an obsessive favorite. This book is an observation of ‘art for art’s sake’, a different take on what it means to be creative. The character of Harry is deliciously wicked, and I’ve always thought that if I could create such a vibrant character like him I’ve certainly achieved a goal as a writer. There is a movie of it which isn’t too painful but as always, it is best to read the book first.