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basedsandwich's review against another edition
4.0
Would've been 5 stars if not for Chapter 11 which felt like a giant flex by Oscar Wilde where he says
"Look how well-read and knowledgeable in history I am!" - the chapter is 16 pages (book was 180 pages and had 20 chapters, so the chapter's size is very disproportionate), and there are pages and pages of references of famous (either from history or from fiction) luxurious gems, clothes and negative characters or historical figures, and the whole purpose of those pages is to show that Dorian became vain and morally bad.
I get it, I don't need to read non-stop descriptions to understand that Dorian became sinful.... Really, there would be two pages full of non-stop (!!!) references, then a small a paragraph about Dorian's life, then another two pages of non-stop references that I didn't know nor cared to know about - and that happened all throughout the chapter. Srsly, the chapter could've easily been cut to 5 pages but it was 16(or 18?).
"Look how well-read and knowledgeable in history I am!" - the chapter is 16 pages (book was 180 pages and had 20 chapters, so the chapter's size is very disproportionate), and there are pages and pages of references of famous (either from history or from fiction) luxurious gems, clothes and negative characters or historical figures, and the whole purpose of those pages is to show that Dorian became vain and morally bad.
I get it, I don't need to read non-stop descriptions to understand that Dorian became sinful.... Really, there would be two pages full of non-stop (!!!) references, then a small a paragraph about Dorian's life, then another two pages of non-stop references that I didn't know nor cared to know about - and that happened all throughout the chapter. Srsly, the chapter could've easily been cut to 5 pages but it was 16(or 18?).
maddytaylor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.0
gensonbenevieve's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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
a_birb's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cinnaglo's review against another edition
4.0
Finished yesterday just as I was ending my little walkie walk - amazing timing
the reason I was confused earlier was because I felt like I was missing details (because the information in my head felt more like it was from a short story than a full novel) - a quick look at sparknotes told me I was not missing anything lol (I think having just finished reading the other gothic classic, Dracula, written just 6 years later taught me to expect an excessive amount of detail - on that same note I think it's safe for me to say gothic literature is one of my new fave genres who saw that coming?)
I have since found out that The Picture of Dorian Gray was Wildes's first full novel after writing a bunch of short stories (which is likely why to me it seemed to be written as one) AND a significant amount of the book had been cut out unbeknownst to him prior to hitting the shelves because it was too ~scandalous~
and then even after all the removal it was /still/ considered too scandalous smh
those saying it was an "immoral book" clearly didn't read the prologue amirite??
that being said I enjoyed and would love to read the full-length version of the Picture sometime in the future
((but my library doesn't have it and it's not free like the other classics on apple books so if anyone knows where I can access a free copy lmk!))
as a treat for listening to my incoherent stream of consciousness, have a meme I reblogged onto my book Tumblr:
hey about your boyfriend...our boyfriend....his personality captivated me so I painted his portrait. and like idk he totally became enthralled in his youth so he made like a deal with the devil to put his sin or whatever?? into the painting. Yeah. I like don't know how to tell you this but like...uhhh he's like. totally living a life of passionful sin now. idk?? sorry??? lmfao
(post by lesbian-doriangray)
the reason I was confused earlier was because I felt like I was missing details (because the information in my head felt more like it was from a short story than a full novel) - a quick look at sparknotes told me I was not missing anything lol (I think having just finished reading the other gothic classic, Dracula, written just 6 years later taught me to expect an excessive amount of detail - on that same note I think it's safe for me to say gothic literature is one of my new fave genres who saw that coming?)
I have since found out that The Picture of Dorian Gray was Wildes's first full novel after writing a bunch of short stories (which is likely why to me it seemed to be written as one) AND a significant amount of the book had been cut out unbeknownst to him prior to hitting the shelves because it was too ~scandalous~
and then even after all the removal it was /still/ considered too scandalous smh
those saying it was an "immoral book" clearly didn't read the prologue amirite??
that being said I enjoyed and would love to read the full-length version of the Picture sometime in the future
((but my library doesn't have it and it's not free like the other classics on apple books so if anyone knows where I can access a free copy lmk!))
as a treat for listening to my incoherent stream of consciousness, have a meme I reblogged onto my book Tumblr:
hey about your boyfriend...our boyfriend....his personality captivated me so I painted his portrait. and like idk he totally became enthralled in his youth so he made like a deal with the devil to put his sin or whatever?? into the painting. Yeah. I like don't know how to tell you this but like...uhhh he's like. totally living a life of passionful sin now. idk?? sorry??? lmfao
(post by lesbian-doriangray)
abigail_bonds's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
mste1163's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
3.75
amare_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
if anyone wants to get into classics, this is the best book to start with. its quite easy to read with great writing, kept me hooked all the way through. honestly the best book I've ever read!!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Blood