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fantasynovel's review against another edition
4.0
The first half and the ending were so good, but the middle part just glosses over Dorian's life.
daisyinthebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cgracemcleod's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
luluwoohoo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
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
2.5
The Picture Of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
☀️☀️⛅
I really wanted to like this. A relatively short page count and a fascinating concept should have been enough to make this thoroughly readable, but I struggled from start to finish.
The writing is lovely but there was too damn much of it for this plot. I like purple prose in certain contexts but the novel spent so much time on unnecessary dinner parties and self-congratulatory philosophical discussions that often only vaguely related to the themes of the story that I was pretty much bored most of the time. It took approximately half the book for Dorian's portrait to change, and even after that we were subjected to an entire chapter detailing his many irrelevant hobbies as a way of showing the passing of time before anything else happened.
To its credit, the parts of the book that actually contained plot were well written, and the queer subtext throughout is interesting to examine, but it's difficult to appreciate a book that spends more time describing historical tapestries than on giving the main character, or any character, depth or growth. Harry as a representation of temptation and sin works somewhat but I was so sick of listening to him talk bullshit that I didn't even care by the end. Dorian's downfall was dramatic but not emotionally moving, considering we were barely shown his life and personality beforehand.
With Wilde himself admitting that the book is too wordy, I think I'm comfortable saying that it would have been significantly more successful as a 100 page short that actually spent time on Dorian's psychological failure rather than repetitive societal observation.
☀️☀️⛅
I really wanted to like this. A relatively short page count and a fascinating concept should have been enough to make this thoroughly readable, but I struggled from start to finish.
The writing is lovely but there was too damn much of it for this plot. I like purple prose in certain contexts but the novel spent so much time on unnecessary dinner parties and self-congratulatory philosophical discussions that often only vaguely related to the themes of the story that I was pretty much bored most of the time. It took approximately half the book for Dorian's portrait to change, and even after that we were subjected to an entire chapter detailing his many irrelevant hobbies as a way of showing the passing of time before anything else happened.
To its credit, the parts of the book that actually contained plot were well written, and the queer subtext throughout is interesting to examine, but it's difficult to appreciate a book that spends more time describing historical tapestries than on giving the main character, or any character, depth or growth. Harry as a representation of temptation and sin works somewhat but I was so sick of listening to him talk bullshit that I didn't even care by the end. Dorian's downfall was dramatic but not emotionally moving, considering we were barely shown his life and personality beforehand.
With Wilde himself admitting that the book is too wordy, I think I'm comfortable saying that it would have been significantly more successful as a 100 page short that actually spent time on Dorian's psychological failure rather than repetitive societal observation.
"The body sins once, and has done with its sin, for action is a mode of purification. Nothing remains then but the recollection of a pleasure, or the luxury of a regret. The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it."
andy_reads13's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lena_pls's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
librarypictures's review against another edition
dark
slow-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
greenidmnstr's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful writing and a unique story. Dorian Gray is an example of all things evil in human kind and his picture is a reflection into his soul. The story is a gruesome tale of a young boy who misinterprets the meaning of life and is further haunted by questionable decisions and well deserved misfortune. This is a dark tale, but worth experiencing.
rosies_elfhame's review against another edition
5.0
От толкова много време исках да прочета тази книга, а сега, когато я прочетох, искам да я прочета още веднъж. 🌸
shiqingxuanschild's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
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
5.0