Reviews - The Picture of Dorian Gray

41.2k reviews for:

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde

4.08 AVERAGE

tfelmet's review against another edition

5.0

dark mysterious reflective fast-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

I think this was my favorite classic I’ve read so far this year. I had to stop myself from finishing it all in one sitting. The conversations around beauty, art, and intellect are all very fascinating and timelessly relevant. The idea of living life through your senses- chasing sensation and stimulation- is enticing. So much of our actions are dictated through fear, of society or of God as it is put by Lord Henry. What would we do with our lives if we truly lived them without fear? It is a slippery slope to a life of decay like Dorian Gray’s, but is it worth the risk?

zhort's review against another edition

4.5

dark funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I know this book is literally named after Dorian Gray but my god is Lord Henry the most fascinating character. At first I just wrote him off as a wild boomer caricature but after he opened his mouth for the third time to go on some off-tangent rant I was bewitched.

I don't think there is any need for me to dive into the plot summary for this wildly popular classic, so just know that there is a reason this is a classic and honestly everyone should read this book just to experience the man that is Lord Henry. Much like the titular character, this book may be old as fuck but still remains beautiful and a prime example of morals and narcissism.

There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.

heather_g's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

For a short book, this took me longer then expected. Was an interesting tale of a painting that takes the age and illicit activities wear & tear while Dorian remains young, handsome and vibrant. Not sure how no one figured it out after 18 years but still premise is very interesting. His death was interesting too, poetic that he was his own hand of death!

sincerelynkechi's review against another edition

4.0

dark reflective fast-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

I thought Lord Henry was reprehensible so Wilde did a great job writing him as intended.

I would've definitely eaten this hedonism philosophy up in undergrad.

tora's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I had heard some things about this book before I started to read it, though I didn't have in mind the story or the meaning that it had. I liked it but at the same time thought it was too slow, I think that this was a mistake of mine, of reading this when I wasn't truly ready and also... in the summer.

The meaning behind the book is super interesting and I completly fell in love with the concept, truly a great work by Oscar Wilde even though it didn't have me hooked all the way. Henry needs to stop talking (this is mostly a joke, because I understand that it was clearly one of the important points in the book) and chapter 11 was something that I really was not prepared for, I read it all and altough I didnt understand everything it was great! Great book, very impactful ending and 4 stars only because of that hooking, which I will add was more on my part!