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ale15sousa's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really wanted to like it but I didn't. I almost hate read it (with the help of an audiobook) in hopes of liking it or reaching the good part. I'll probably give it another chance in a few years.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, Antisemitism, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation
idlereader's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, and Suicide
booknotesbylia's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Suicide, and Violence
hannibanani29's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Suicide, Blood, Antisemitism, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Classism
cinthiaurora's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The real tragedy of The Picture of Dorian Gray is actually that the most boring character (Lord Henry) speaks throughout most of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Sexism, Violence, and Antisemitism
Minor: Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Suicide, Stalking, and Gaslighting
rusty_moonshadow's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Murder
Moderate: Drug use, Misogyny, and Antisemitism
Minor: Suicide
elizlizabeth's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Exquisitely written, my only critique being maybe the abrupt ending and those five to ten pages of Wilde reading a catalog of fabrics, furniture and artifacts from 1880 to illustrate that Dorian is vain. Also warning: you might get the urge to fling yourself into a chair to express emotion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Racial slurs, Suicide, Blood, and Classism
Minor: Pedophilia
Period typical racial slurs and exoticism. Read with several grains of salt. Also idk if it was just me knowing Wilde's backstory but the idealization of "childlike" youth/beauty kept rubbing me the wrong way.prachi22's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism
merle_bookdragon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Absolutely amazed at the wild time I have had while reading this book. I am absolutely obsessed with Lord Henry and also with Dorian (not as obsessed with Basil but he still deserved better!!). I love how the beginning of the book is really just lots of banter and then it goes downhill VERY quickly.
It's also so interesting because Dorian blames Basil's picture and Henry's book for his downfall but it's really all about HIS own actions. I think it is especially noticeable in contrast to Lord Henry because he also talks a lot about horrible things and philosophizes about every topic but he is not taken seriously and also does not act upon them. Dorian on the other hand takes everything Henry says very seriously and whatever thought he has during his life he simply acts upon, which is what leads him down all these bad roads.
There were of course quite a few moments where it was easily noticeable in what time this book was written and published as quite a few antisemitic and sexist comments are made and not challenged. Additionally, one should be aware that this is in parts a quite heavy book, especially in the passages that contain murder, suicide, death and drug abuse.
All in all, I really want to reread it and also look at the beginning with a different eye but that will have to wait for a later time!
It's also so interesting because Dorian blames Basil's picture and Henry's book for his downfall but it's really all about HIS own actions. I think it is especially noticeable in contrast to Lord Henry because he also talks a lot about horrible things and philosophizes about every topic but he is not taken seriously and also does not act upon them. Dorian on the other hand takes everything Henry says very seriously and whatever thought he has during his life he simply acts upon, which is what leads him down all these bad roads.
There were of course quite a few moments where it was easily noticeable in what time this book was written and published as quite a few antisemitic and sexist comments are made and not challenged. Additionally, one should be aware that this is in parts a quite heavy book, especially in the passages that contain murder, suicide, death and drug abuse.
All in all, I really want to reread it and also look at the beginning with a different eye but that will have to wait for a later time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and Antisemitism
avacronin's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'd just like to note here that I read this book because of school, which explains why the read dates are quite long
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a classic that I think everybody should have the chance to read at least once in their life. It's a powerful story with a magical element to it, and certainly deserves the role as a classic piece of literature. However, it most definitely is not a perfect story, and revolves around the faults of the main characters. Throughout the description of faults is beautifully descriptive paragraphs, which may bore some.
I do agree that some characters in this book (cough cough Dorian and Lord Henry) can be incredibly annoying, however the fact that these characters infuriated me and so many others show that we have morals, unlike those characters. The faults of these characters, and the way in which they are overlooked in the presence of money and power is one of the messages and themes in this novel, and a powerful one it is.
While this book may not be to everybody's taste, I did enjoy the experience I had reading it. I do however suggest reading the trigger warnings before reading, as many things are described in great details.
The Pros
- I know it may not seem like a pro to some readers, but I really did like the brutally honest way in which the lower class areas were described, and how different the descriptions were compared to those of the upper class, taking Lord Henry's house for example. It serves as a way to show how Victorian Era London actually was, the bad parts (like the opium dens) included. However, I did also appreciate the way in which Wilde described most things in this book.
The Cons
- I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed and slightly underwhelming. Although I got part of what I wanted, it just was not as satisfying as I wished it would have been. The only good part about it was that I didn't expect it at all.
I would recommend this book for people to at least try and read once in their life. It carries a deeper message, and if you take anything from it, take the message to never live a life like Dorian
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a classic that I think everybody should have the chance to read at least once in their life. It's a powerful story with a magical element to it, and certainly deserves the role as a classic piece of literature. However, it most definitely is not a perfect story, and revolves around the faults of the main characters. Throughout the description of faults is beautifully descriptive paragraphs, which may bore some.
I do agree that some characters in this book (cough cough Dorian and Lord Henry) can be incredibly annoying, however the fact that these characters infuriated me and so many others show that we have morals, unlike those characters. The faults of these characters, and the way in which they are overlooked in the presence of money and power is one of the messages and themes in this novel, and a powerful one it is.
While this book may not be to everybody's taste, I did enjoy the experience I had reading it. I do however suggest reading the trigger warnings before reading, as many things are described in great details.
The Pros
- I know it may not seem like a pro to some readers, but I really did like the brutally honest way in which the lower class areas were described, and how different the descriptions were compared to those of the upper class, taking Lord Henry's house for example. It serves as a way to show how Victorian Era London actually was, the bad parts (like the opium dens) included. However, I did also appreciate the way in which Wilde described most things in this book.
The Cons
- I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed and slightly underwhelming. Although I got part of what I wanted, it just was not as satisfying as I wished it would have been. The only good part about it was that I didn't expect it at all.
I would recommend this book for people to at least try and read once in their life. It carries a deeper message, and if you take anything from it, take the message to never live a life like Dorian
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gore, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction and Drug use