"It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors." 
 This classic story blends light paranormal elements within robust prose and dense gothic atmosphere. 
 The premise is as simple as it is elegant: A beautiful but depthless and naive young man falls in love with the perfection of his own youth, and essentially trades his own soul to retain his physical appearance. With immortality splayed out before him, Dorian's narcissism flourishes under the ego-stroking of one "friend" and the hedonistic promptings of another. And as he seeks out his own pleasure, he leaves destruction in his wake. 
 There is no denying, Oscar Wilde had a remarkable way with words. He also held a delightfully snide sense of humor and a dark way of conveying intensity. I've honestly never highlighted so many amusing/memorable/pithy quotes in any singular piece of literature. That's not to say I necessarily agreed with the contents of said quotes--as most were derived from the dialogue of Dorian Gray's amoral pseudo-philosophical mentor, Lord Henry. But they display the sort of silver-tongued charm that both reveals his worldview, and affects Dorian's when he takes the man's words to heart. 
 *"Punctuality is the thief of time." 
 *"Men marry because they are tired; women, because they are curious: both are disappointed." 
 *"Women represent the triumph of matter over mind, just as men represent the triumph of mind over morals." 
 *"When one is in love, one always begins by deceiving one's self, and one always ends by deceiving others. That is what the world calls romance." 
 *"A grande passion is the privilege of people who have nothing to do." 
 The book is skillfully written, with vivid characterization and a depth of ethical commentary that compels readers to introspection. Wilde concerns himself more so with the accurate capture of humanity's darkest shortcomings than presenting his audience with any truly sympathetic characters. (My personal regret is that I couldn't bring myself to care much about anyone--or, subsequently, what happened to them.) The middle 1/3rd of the story did seem to drag on longer than would be considered needed in more modern literature, but the author eventually comes back around to his point and wraps up the moral quandary in an efficient and satisfying manner. 
 And it all comes down to a very old question... 
 "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" -Matthew 16:26