Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

139 reviews

ibadella's review against another edition

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

3.75

this book could have been an email but i guess that’s not the point

idk
i had fun but also i really did not

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Racism and Antisemitism

Minor: Violence

willow1113's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Violence

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Body shaming, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Mental illness, Antisemitism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Toxic relationship and Suicide

emnime's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Blood, Grief, Classism, Gore, Toxic friendship, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

nadia's review against another edition

dark tense slow-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

3.75

This reread didn't quite hit as much as I thought it would. I'd always said The Picture of Dorian Gray was one of my fave classics, after studying it at school, but maybe it was the English teacher, and more recently the stage adaptation in London featuring Sarah Snook, that made the story really pop.

This was still a great read, with lots of philosophical musings on life to mull on, but a lil' summin' summin' was missing for me. Oh, and I got really bored during one particular section in the latter half. It started off well, and I appreciated the conceit of the segment, but then it felt like it went on for too long.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Violence and Gun violence

sestout's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

if you think lord henry would hate you, then you're doing something right.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Antisemitism, Classism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Drug use

Minor: Stalking and Suicide

heycloehere's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

Damn boy I was not expecting that ending. Also the quotes in this book are🤌🤌🤌

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Violence, Suicide, and Misogyny

bbmaan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Blood, Infidelity, Mental illness, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt

waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Gore, Alcohol, Classism, Colonisation, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Suicide, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Child death, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, and Toxic friendship

kari_g's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Classism, and Death

Moderate: Gore, Suicide, Antisemitism, Drug use, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Homophobia and Outing

kattila's review against another edition

dark sad tense 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Antisemitism, Racism, Violence, Sexism, Murder, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Death

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Blood and Death of parent