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infinite_kay's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t feel like I have anything new to say about this book – clearly, scholars well versed into classic literature have written about it which much more insight than I ever could – but I still wanted to write something down for my own records. And I have to say, I loved it.
Going into a classic I haven’t yet read once, there’s always a feeling of apprehension. I expect to read something amazing, which stood the test of time, so obviously expectations are high. Yet this book still managed to surpass them.
First, I absolutely loved the writing. Each page is filled with quotable prose, each word having been chosen carefully. It’s a short book, but it took me twice as long as it should have to read it because I kept going back and rereading passages, again and again and again.
The story is dark and slow, and there’s a subtlety to it I really appreciated. It’s not horror as we know it today, which was actually refreshing to me, but it still managed to make me feel deeply unsettled.
This book definitely feels like it came from an another time, another place (some of the comments regarding gender will definitely remind you that you’ve stepped back in time!), but it didn’t keep me from connecting to it. I was fascinated by its unlikable characters, loved every word and thought the story had a lot to offer too, still today. This is not only one of my best read this year, but now one of my favorite books.
Going into a classic I haven’t yet read once, there’s always a feeling of apprehension. I expect to read something amazing, which stood the test of time, so obviously expectations are high. Yet this book still managed to surpass them.
First, I absolutely loved the writing. Each page is filled with quotable prose, each word having been chosen carefully. It’s a short book, but it took me twice as long as it should have to read it because I kept going back and rereading passages, again and again and again.
The story is dark and slow, and there’s a subtlety to it I really appreciated. It’s not horror as we know it today, which was actually refreshing to me, but it still managed to make me feel deeply unsettled.
This book definitely feels like it came from an another time, another place (some of the comments regarding gender will definitely remind you that you’ve stepped back in time!), but it didn’t keep me from connecting to it. I was fascinated by its unlikable characters, loved every word and thought the story had a lot to offer too, still today. This is not only one of my best read this year, but now one of my favorite books.
aleadle6's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
solitary's review against another edition
3.0
a lot has already been said about this book, that’s the thing with classics. personally, i didn’t think there was absolution for dorian gray even in the end. throughout the book, he demonstrated passiveness and a lack of accountability for his actions. he insists the making of his own corruption to his victims, so severely to the point of borderline delusion.
“sibyl killed herself — too bad! you know what’s worse? that ONE bad performance she gave me even though i watch her act so well every night!”
“oh god i killed basil. that’s all right, look at what HE DID to MY LIFE!”
the portrait is dorian’s only awareness of the life that he leads. he knew he was sinned, that he was corrupt, that his soul was literally dying alive, because the portrait tells him so. he did not even realize the cruelty of his words until he saw the minimal change in the portrait. he was sensitive to that — his looks, his beauty, his form — but not his doings and its harmful effects to others. his decay spreads while his vanity stays intact.
the concept of beauty and the power it yields was indeed evident, especially how basil refused to believe the rumors of dorian’s debauchery because of his youthful beauty, as much as because he was his friend. but i don’t think this book examines “the lengths we would go through for beauty” as i often see in reviews. dorian did nothing but say a thoughtless wish for the portrait to bear his aging. he did no attempt to preserve even its beauty once he knew of its mechanism.
that is why i believe his final act was not for atonement, but vanity and desperation
all in all this would’ve been a great study of morality and philosophy (i suppose it is, being a classic and all) but it could’ve been better with a better titular character to represent it
ps. i will miss harry’s great detachment from human emotions and his unserious conversations with spineless dorian
“my fiance just died after i broke up with her—“
“i wish someone died FOR ME!”
“sibyl killed herself — too bad! you know what’s worse? that ONE bad performance she gave me even though i watch her act so well every night!”
“oh god i killed basil. that’s all right, look at what HE DID to MY LIFE!”
the portrait is dorian’s only awareness of the life that he leads. he knew he was sinned, that he was corrupt, that his soul was literally dying alive, because the portrait tells him so. he did not even realize the cruelty of his words until he saw the minimal change in the portrait. he was sensitive to that — his looks, his beauty, his form — but not his doings and its harmful effects to others. his decay spreads while his vanity stays intact.
the concept of beauty and the power it yields was indeed evident, especially how basil refused to believe the rumors of dorian’s debauchery because of his youthful beauty, as much as because he was his friend. but i don’t think this book examines “the lengths we would go through for beauty” as i often see in reviews. dorian did nothing but say a thoughtless wish for the portrait to bear his aging. he did no attempt to preserve even its beauty once he knew of its mechanism.
that is why i believe his final act was not for atonement, but vanity and desperation
all in all this would’ve been a great study of morality and philosophy (i suppose it is, being a classic and all) but it could’ve been better with a better titular character to represent it
ps. i will miss harry’s great detachment from human emotions and his unserious conversations with spineless dorian
“my fiance just died after i broke up with her—“
“i wish someone died FOR ME!”
bluereen's review against another edition
4.0
"We degenerate into hideous puppets, haunted by the memory of the passions of which we were too much afraid, and the exquisite temptations that we had not the courage to yield to. Youth! Youth! There is absolutely nothing in the world but youth!"
***
The amount of vanity in this book is insane. You wouldn't think someone so absorbed like Dorian Gray could exist in this world, but he did. All because Wilde made it possible. The prose is so lovely and there were plenty of great quotes! I'm glad I finally got around to reading this book. The characters' mindsets are unlike any I've ever read before, so it was interesting to read their unique outlook on life.
***
The amount of vanity in this book is insane. You wouldn't think someone so absorbed like Dorian Gray could exist in this world, but he did. All because Wilde made it possible. The prose is so lovely and there were plenty of great quotes! I'm glad I finally got around to reading this book. The characters' mindsets are unlike any I've ever read before, so it was interesting to read their unique outlook on life.
readbyisle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
jessicaarchila's review against another edition
challenging
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
4.75
pinyada's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Amazing concept, great characters who show the complexity of love and hate, the writing was sometimes hard but mostly really enjoyable. Only complaint was the weird section where it was just Wilde yapping for loads of pages, describing furniture etc
alisarae's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first Wilde book I've read. It was very good and I enjoyed it, but not like OMG I HAVE TO READ THIS AGAIN good. It's a classic for a reason. That said, I think I was feeling a lack of side character development, and it appeared that huge jumps took place with very little being said about them.
strawberrygrapejelly's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Lord Henry was INSUFFERABLE, never wanted a character to shut the fuck up more in my life.
Five stars.
I opened this book with high expectations and they were exceeded.
I love a good obvious Christ or Satan figure (hint: it's Satan in this one).
The book was hedonistic and indulgent in a way only few people could pull off.
Terrible, terrible people but you're still able to pity Dorian for his gradual corruption, even while you're fully hating him and hoping he'll finally get his.
Don't know how I went almost 30 years without reading this. Weird because I know a lot about Wilde.
I'm yapping now but just read it if you've been thinking about it.
Five stars.
I opened this book with high expectations and they were exceeded.
I love a good obvious Christ or Satan figure (hint: it's Satan in this one).
The book was hedonistic and indulgent in a way only few people could pull off.
Terrible, terrible people but you're still able to pity Dorian for his gradual corruption, even while you're fully hating him and hoping he'll finally get his.
Don't know how I went almost 30 years without reading this. Weird because I know a lot about Wilde.
I'm yapping now but just read it if you've been thinking about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Blood, Antisemitism, and Murder