Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

523 reviews

thiskiwi03's review

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challenging dark informative slow-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

4.0

Definitely an interesting read. I think there are themes of vanity, mental illness, ambition, addiction, and the consequences of all of these.
While it wasn’t the most riveting book in terms of writing (i think there were parts that dragged on), it caused me to stop and think on many occasions, hence the 4 star rating. 

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tamarakraljevic's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Knowing about Oscar Wilde's past is crucial to reading this novel. It's not just that his gayness was an open secret, but that his targets weren't just men, but also boys. As in actual teenage children. Wilde was also openly Antisemitic and misogynistic in his real life and throughout the novel. What his three main characters do, say, think, and feel very closely mirrors Wilde's own. Much like the titular Dorian, it is clear that Wilde suffered from an inflated ego, was bloated with pride, and had a conscience that weighed him down...but not enough to change, grow, or do better. Trigger warnings abound throughout this novel as we watch Dorian explore the world of vice and sin, leaving a body count in his wake.

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yellowbinge's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25


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ashmash's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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moanareads's review against another edition

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reflective 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

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evaeyre's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

super well written, and very poetic! in a way, it was a very good commentary on humanity and such qualities as vanity and hubris!

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kari_g's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

FANTASTIC!!!!!! Actually my new favorite book. I highly highly recommend it.

Oscar Wilde is actually a genius and I cannot believe this book was submitted as evidence against him in court because this novel, nay THIS MASTERPIECE, evokes nothing but joy, enthrallment, and general all around good times. Wilde masterfully weaves general sweeping rationalizations about life and the mysteries of humanity while describing the mundane. 

WARNING:::: I KNOW IT IS TEMPTING BUT AESTHETICISM, NIHILISM, AND ABSOLUTISM IS NEVER EVER THE WAY TO GO. I KNOW LORD HENRY IS CHARMING AND WHEN YOU READ IT YOURE LIKE WOOOWWWW BUT DONT BELIEVE IT THE WHOLE POINT OF THE BOOK IS DO NOT BELIEVE MY BOY HARRY AT ANY COST. 

No but seriously, let me level with you a moment, I don’t reread books. There’s over 250 books in my want to read pile and it grows by the second. I have always firmly believed in getting to them before I read what I’ve already read. BUt I am LOOKING FORWARD to rereading this hook actually next month. It is phenomenal. It is show stopping. If you want to keep living in close-minded, mediocre little world, then I implore you, never read this book. But if you want to taste the very nectar of the gods and see the very colors with which nature paints and feel beauty as a part of your soul forever, I present to you your very next read.

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nicolelilac's review against another edition

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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

3.5


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ella_elizabeth66's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I was worried after such a great story there wouldn’t be a satisfying end, but one was delivered.

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