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christmaskid's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-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
5.0
kh_chl0e's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
3.5
wutheringheights'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
3.0
kamrynharned's review against another edition
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
2.5
This book won a few awards in my book.
- The most insufferable characters (that aren’t necessarily villains) I have ever read about
- The most underlined yet least enjoyed book
- The most poignant ending in a book with absolutely no plot
This book strikes so many nerves for me - honestly, it stuck nerves I didn’t even realized I had. Corruption of innocence, extreme misogyny, horribly long descriptive paragraphs about random artifacts, and the complete lack of accountability for the sins that Gray commits. But here is where my utter confusion about my feelings towards this book rears its head - I loved the ending. I loved that after all of Dorian’s self-worship and fixation, that he eventually came to ruin by his own hand. He was untouchable by the world, but brought himself to final destruction. In the end, there was justice and reciprocity for his choices - just not in the way you WANT to see. No justice for the people he ruined, but you can’t live an evil life and escape ruin eventually. Idolization is corrupting. Perhaps this book was so upsetting because it was so realistic, because how often do the victims get justice? The evil always fall, but that rarely comes with reparations for those they wronged. I think that’s why we long to see that happen in the stories we read, because we so rarely see it in the world around us. Obviously, I appreciated this book. It made me think, it made me feel (all negative emotions, don’t get me wrong), but I can’t deny it is a masterpiece. My heart wants to give this book a 1 star and my mind wants to give it a 4 star. Therefore, we compromise at a 2.5. I don’t often feel the need to include Brett in my reads, but I couldn’t help but give him a play by play of this entire book, and kept reading aloud quotes to him.
adriana_nicole's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
3.5
connoks's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
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
theimogenjames's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
erivalh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75