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redolentsap's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
5.0
robi22's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
3.25
This was a good book, not great but just good. It is a classic so of course the writing isn’t modern. I did find myself reading with an accent. A couple of the chapters felt in needed to the plot or storyline. Almost as if they were there to fill a void that didn’t exist or something was missing that required those points to be made. Besides that & looking past the flaws, the depth & plot was great. Definitely made the book worth reading.
scdominick's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ylloh25's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Holly, what's your favourite book?
THIS, ARE YOU MAD!?!?!?!?
THIS, ARE YOU MAD!?!?!?!?
yourfavvgirl's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
stefhyena's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
It's really well written except for Wilde's inability not to go into supposedly witty sermons of what I assume is supposed to be humour. A lot of casual sexism and racism...you can attribute it to unlikeable characters rather than Wilde's worldview I guess but I just get the feeling I wouldn't like him as a person.
The preface seemed like nothing but a clever word salad. That said the poor bloke did get arrested over this book I think. I am glad I read it because when Halberstram discusses it I like to know what is being talked about. The materialistic, shallow rich white gay stereotypes in the opening scenes probably if anything created that cultural trend.
Wilde's use of understatement is brilliant. I wish more authors would learn from that (I need to learn from that) and if the lesson here is supposed to be about hypocrisy that's quite relatable I think too. Dorian is very much created as the monster that he becomes, he does not actively choose to be it and at various turning points would have been redeemed if not for chance.
I don't like everything about it but there's mastery here.
The preface seemed like nothing but a clever word salad. That said the poor bloke did get arrested over this book I think. I am glad I read it because when Halberstram discusses it I like to know what is being talked about. The materialistic, shallow rich white gay stereotypes in the opening scenes probably if anything created that cultural trend.
Wilde's use of understatement is brilliant. I wish more authors would learn from that (I need to learn from that) and if the lesson here is supposed to be about hypocrisy that's quite relatable I think too. Dorian is very much created as the monster that he becomes, he does not actively choose to be it and at various turning points would have been redeemed if not for chance.
I don't like everything about it but there's mastery here.
namrata_jain's review against another edition
5.0
A lot of stark opinions and a great display of the power of beauty on humans and our perception of morals.
It's unnerving to watch power destroy something innocent and beautiful, which might have thrived in it's absence, or at least had a fair chance.
The witticism in the book and the great word play was a pleasure to read and somewhat made me realize my own dependency on prevalent social opinions in shaping mine. Absolute morals are unattainable - what's wrong for one is right for another - who's to draw the line?
It's unnerving to watch power destroy something innocent and beautiful, which might have thrived in it's absence, or at least had a fair chance.
The witticism in the book and the great word play was a pleasure to read and somewhat made me realize my own dependency on prevalent social opinions in shaping mine. Absolute morals are unattainable - what's wrong for one is right for another - who's to draw the line?