The Picture of Dorian Gray is one of those books that I knew the idea behind without ever reading the text. It's the one where a guy has a painting of himself that keeps aging while he stays young forever. I believe it's good practice to actually read the books we're all only tangentially aware of.
As it turns out, the painting reflects the nature of Dorian Gray. As his actions and attitudes become more and more twisted, so too does the portrait. This is a far more interesting idea than just the aging aspect of the novel.
The characters in the book are well drawn and memorable, particularly Dorian Gray and Lord Henry.
Oscar Wilde writes with a grace that is enviable. There's a poetry to the book that I appreciated.