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oceanwriter's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Dorian Gray wishes to sell his soul in an attempt to maintain perpetual youth. The catch: His painting bears the marks of time and the scars of an immoral life. He keeps the portrait hidden away as he continues living a life solely for his own pleasure.
I find myself enjoying summaries and the general idea of this book more than the book itself. I also enjoyed a discussion of it that I found on YouTube. As for the actual reading experience? I was bored. There was so much that I could skim and stop whenever the story was being pushed forward.
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Antisemitism
anemonima's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Misogyny
larvaeya's review against another edition
3.0
Also - misogyny and sexism.. yay
Enjoyed the first third of the book, the middle was meh and the last third was pretty good.
Still hard to read and will not read again
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
fe_aye's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Suicide, Blood, and Classism
keelia_swafford1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Antisemitism, and Murder
Minor: Suicide
hocuscrocus's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Drug use, Misogyny, and Classism
Moderate: Racism, Suicide, Antisemitism, and Toxic friendship
3mi1y's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
sagelikesscats's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Infidelity, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, and Classism
The classism is less of a thing that happens and more of a general presence throughout the book.kananineko's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Stalking, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
dellydoos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
In true gothic literature, this classic was a delight to read, with its rich and detailed prose and very homoerotic imagery. From the way the words rolled off the pages, to the way the characters spoke to each other in such adoring fashion. The book's satirical humour was also a refreshing surprise. It often danced on the edge of the absurd, poking fun at the hypocrisy and superficiality of the society it portrayed. Wilde’s wit shone through, bringing a lightness to the otherwise sombre themes that underpinned the narrative. A brilliant contrast.
I also couldn’t deny how darn smart I felt when reading this. I felt a certain sophistication, a kind of literary camaraderie with all those esteemed enough to have read this book. I came away wanting to speak how the characters spoke in the book, “Ah, my dear Basil. How Mr Gray got the better of you.”
Ah, the themes that flow through these pages! Life, death, morality, vanity, and the beguiling allure of beauty – all masterfully woven into a tapestry of thought-provoking contemplation. Dorian Gray's inner monologue was a journey of its own. It was wild, unpredictable, and often disturbingly captivating. Through his thoughts, we were given a glimpse into the complexities of human nature, the struggle between desires and morality.
However, there were patches where my enthusiasm waned. Some conversations seemed to stretch on unnecessarily, detracting from the narrative's momentum. The beginning, for all its lush prose, left me a bit bored as the story found its footing.
A glaring flaw lay in the treatment of women in the story. Their roles were limited and often relegated to the sidelines, a reflection of the societal norms of the time. It's also impossible to ignore the presence of antisemitism within the narrative, a dark reminder of the prejudices that marred the era. This inclusion was jarring and unsettling and marked my reading experience.
Even so, this classic is certainly a classic, and the sub-text of Mr Oscar Wilde’s own personal life really leant itself into the narrative of this book. Read up on his history if you haven’t, and things will begin to make even more sense for you. 3.5 / 5 stars.
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, and Antisemitism
Minor: Suicide