I've always enjoyed the movie and the underlying story, but to actually read ths was a chore. Long-winded, slowly dragging, there was severe "damage" to the painting after only four years. And then, Dorian's crimes were still not enumerated to give the reader sufficient cause to believe his soul could be so scarred. We see a young man living to excess, but that more a crime to himself than to society. Closer to the end, the reader gets a closer look at Dorian's debauchery and darker nature. This book was too much a commentary on idle English society that droned on and less of the interesting concept that spawned movies. Given the choice, I'd recommend the movie over the book.