“The only artists I have ever known who are personally delightful are bad artists. Good artists exist simply in what they make, and consequently are perfectly uninteresting in what they are. A great poet, a really great poet, is the most unpoetical of all creatures. But inferior poets are absolutely fascinating. The worse their rhymes are, the more picturesque they look. The mere fact of having published a book of second-rate sonnets makes a man quite irresistible. He lives the poetry that he cannot write. The others write the poetry that they dare not realize.”
― The Picture of Dorian Gray
― The Picture of Dorian Gray
Discovering Russian Literature
— 3013 members
— last activity Feb 23, 2026 06:31PM
Whether you are a newbie or an expert or simply love Russian literature... Welcome! This is a friendly group where you can share your thoughts an ...more
Catching up on Classics (and lots more!)
— 16021 members
— last activity 9 minutes ago
The world is made up of two kinds of people: first, those who love classics, and second, those who have not yet read a classic. Be bold and join us as ...more
The Atheist Book Club
— 1661 members
— last activity Feb 18, 2026 05:59AM
In these gilded halls we shall discuss the presence of the atheistic viewpoint in the written form. Are you a fan of Douglas Adams' scientific view of ...more
David’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at David’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
More friends…
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by David
Lists liked by David












