Scan barcode
juliettereb's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
3.75
deluxebaby's review against another edition
5.0
I know Dorian is a despicable human being, twisted and wicked but somehow I’ve managed to know his thinking I’m not justifying him but is one of the most intersectional characters I’ve known in literature. Good reading with Oscar Wilde.
cancercopia's review against another edition
dark
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
4.0
alexxreadss's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
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
4.5
possumhandler's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.0
alliknight's review against another edition
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
4.75
What a fabulous book! I knew the basic premise, but never having read it was enthralled. Still holds up well today and highly recommend it. Quite a quick one to get through.
is_luly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
liminal_dolphin's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 ⭐️ way closer to 4 than 3 simply for the prose.
I thought the entire book was so incredibly written with beautiful prose. The plot is very interesting and covers a lot of interesting topics such as the philosophies of hedonism, vanity, morality, accountability, and social perceptions. However I found it moved at a slow pace.
I reread the preface and Oscar Wilde said that any form of art (which includes books and paintings) is just art and not moral or immoral. He talks about how when one sees ugliness in beauty they are “corrupt without being charming. This is a fault”. Dorian immediately found ugliness in the painting and didn’t like it even though it was a beautiful piece of art. He was destined to be corrupted from the start. Lord Henry and Basil may have given him pieces of media such as a book and a painting that negatively influenced him, but since art holds no morality, it was always Dorian who was fated for an immoral and sinful life. Lord Henry and Basil did not actually have any influence on him.
I would have liked to see Dorian gradually enjoy his new path in life and see the portrait morph more over time and see at what point he started obsessing over it. Also at the end when he’s confronted really for the first time about his sins from James he suddenly switched back to wanting to be good? It felt so sudden to me. There’s definitely something to be said about morality relying on accountability.
With Basil, it’s interesting to see Dorian be so angry at him and blaming him for his own wish for eternal youth as well as his ego. With Dorian refusing to take accountability for anything he’s done and finally feeling safe from James, it feels very just and satisfying that he is the one to bring justice to all he’s corrupted and wronged by ending his own life, the one thing he truly feared.
I thought the entire book was so incredibly written with beautiful prose. The plot is very interesting and covers a lot of interesting topics such as the philosophies of hedonism, vanity, morality, accountability, and social perceptions. However I found it moved at a slow pace.
I reread the preface and Oscar Wilde said that any form of art (which includes books and paintings) is just art and not moral or immoral. He talks about how when one sees ugliness in beauty they are “corrupt without being charming. This is a fault”. Dorian immediately found ugliness in the painting and didn’t like it even though it was a beautiful piece of art. He was destined to be corrupted from the start. Lord Henry and Basil may have given him pieces of media such as a book and a painting that negatively influenced him, but since art holds no morality, it was always Dorian who was fated for an immoral and sinful life. Lord Henry and Basil did not actually have any influence on him.
I would have liked to see Dorian gradually enjoy his new path in life and see the portrait morph more over time and see at what point he started obsessing over it. Also at the end when he’s confronted really for the first time about his sins from James he suddenly switched back to wanting to be good? It felt so sudden to me. There’s definitely something to be said about morality relying on accountability.
With Basil, it’s interesting to see Dorian be so angry at him and blaming him for his own wish for eternal youth as well as his ego. With Dorian refusing to take accountability for anything he’s done and finally feeling safe from James, it feels very just and satisfying that he is the one to bring justice to all he’s corrupted and wronged by ending his own life, the one thing he truly feared.
kbidd505's review against another edition
5.0
this novel is absolutely fantastic but chapter 11 was the death of me not gonna lie here i had no clue what was going on