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jonscott9's review against another edition
5.0
This book comprises a believable tragedy of errors. A dialogue lover's dream, Dorian Gray is packed with Uzi-style exchanges between English debutantes of the late 1800s. The Wilde Thing's style is crisp and upbeat, just as fresh 115 years later as it was in the days when he penned it.
This is the ultimate read for studying human self-absorption, depravity and the lengths that one will go to save one's reputation or, perhaps better put, to simply save one's face. Witness what a difference one chance encounter, one wee conversation in a wee garden, has on the impressionable, fresh-faced Dorian Gray when he encounters Lord Henry Wotton, a crony of Basil Hallward, the painter whose most inspired, best work is a detailed portrait of Dorian, his friend who serves as the muse for his art.
This book begs the question, What is more important: beauty or goodness? What wonders and horrors await the youth (and the reader) when a whimsical prayer for eternal youth becomes the curse that may eat him in the end. This book is a brilliant study in the glaring differences between the pleasures that one seeks and the treasures that one needs. It is rich in language and scope, abounding in supernatural intrigue, and ripe with the verbal volleying among three striking characters--Dorian Gray, Lord Henry and Basil Hallward. Dorian Gray is simply a delight of an observation, if an intensely cruel one.
The embattled author was near-perfect with this book. It really just has to be read.
This is the ultimate read for studying human self-absorption, depravity and the lengths that one will go to save one's reputation or, perhaps better put, to simply save one's face. Witness what a difference one chance encounter, one wee conversation in a wee garden, has on the impressionable, fresh-faced Dorian Gray when he encounters Lord Henry Wotton, a crony of Basil Hallward, the painter whose most inspired, best work is a detailed portrait of Dorian, his friend who serves as the muse for his art.
This book begs the question, What is more important: beauty or goodness? What wonders and horrors await the youth (and the reader) when a whimsical prayer for eternal youth becomes the curse that may eat him in the end. This book is a brilliant study in the glaring differences between the pleasures that one seeks and the treasures that one needs. It is rich in language and scope, abounding in supernatural intrigue, and ripe with the verbal volleying among three striking characters--Dorian Gray, Lord Henry and Basil Hallward. Dorian Gray is simply a delight of an observation, if an intensely cruel one.
The embattled author was near-perfect with this book. It really just has to be read.
short_circuit's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.5
warriorsheart41's review against another edition
3.0
I like this book far more than I thought I would. Oscar Wilde is a splendid writer...sometimes a little flowery, but he kept my attention throughout the story. I was pleasantly surprised. It is sad that this is his only novel.
friendlyflamingo's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Dull, too much waffle and pontification. Should have been a short story.
xcelesteva's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
roxysho's review against another edition
2.0
Un libro que demuestra que la vanidad es el peor de los pecados, que no importa que tan hdp unos sea, tarde o temprano se pagan los las malas acciones. Dorian era un chiquillo joven y voluble que siguio los concejos de alguien machista y superficial, el llego a imitarlo y arruinar asi su vida. Para mi Harry es el villano de la historia. El dicho "dime con quien te juntas y te dire quien eres" nunca queda mejor que en este caso.
Me gusto? No se, lo sentí muy extremista, como una fabula infantil.
Nos hace reflexionar sobre muchas cosas, y hacer teorías de ¿Y si Dorian no le hacia caso a Harry? Huera sido otro hombre? Menos hdp, arruinado menos vidas? Tal ves si, tal ves no.
Como siempre en estos casos, si Dorian hubiera ido a un buen psicólogo a tiempo, nada de estas complicaciones hubieran ocurrido, el hubiera solucionado su problema de Papi y la figura paterna inexistente y tal ves el cuadro jamás hubiera cambiado, capas se le hubiera dibujado una gran sonrisa en la cara y en ves de sangre goteando podría haber liberado ases de luz, estoy divagando...
En fin, aun sigo procesando...
Me gusto? No se, lo sentí muy extremista, como una fabula infantil.
Nos hace reflexionar sobre muchas cosas, y hacer teorías de ¿Y si Dorian no le hacia caso a Harry? Huera sido otro hombre? Menos hdp, arruinado menos vidas? Tal ves si, tal ves no.
Como siempre en estos casos, si Dorian hubiera ido a un buen psicólogo a tiempo, nada de estas complicaciones hubieran ocurrido, el hubiera solucionado su problema de Papi y la figura paterna inexistente y tal ves el cuadro jamás hubiera cambiado, capas se le hubiera dibujado una gran sonrisa en la cara y en ves de sangre goteando podría haber liberado ases de luz, estoy divagando...
En fin, aun sigo procesando...
kweb6's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0