Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

180 reviews

jackiepreston's review against another edition

dark 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Murder, Death, and Drug use

katie0528's review against another edition

dark reflective 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

3.0

This is such a famous classic I wanted to read it. For me, I think it being so iconic was it's downfall. The premise is exactly what everyone already knows. That is actually very little of the plot, with the rest of the book containing of Dorian Gray's friend and initial corruptor philosophizing about his personal cynical brand of hedonism that causes and conrinaully exacerbates Dorian's fall. However, it gets quite exhausting, especially since everyone is quite horrible.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Toxic friendship, Classism, and Murder

Minor: Drug use

shaleen64's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

3.25

If you’re looking to get into classics this book is a good place to start as it is relativity easy to read. However, I found a few chapters added nothing to the development of the characters or the plot and I found myself scanning through them. Having said that the final third of the book was engaging, with some really good symbolism and unexpected twists that did in the end tie the book together.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Racial slurs, Classism, Misogyny, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Death of parent and Drug use

willow1113's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Violence

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Body shaming, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Mental illness, Antisemitism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Toxic relationship and Suicide

emnime's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Blood, Grief, Classism, Gore, Toxic friendship, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

thelibraryskeeper's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I can't believe I took the majority of my adulthood to read this. It's easily made its way to the top of my favorite books. It's so well written and I mean it when I say Wilde seriously has the most sick burns (a sentence I never thought I'd be writing).

Wilde examines the condition of the human soul, the effect of vanity on the ego, and the results of living a life with no consequences. Wilde has truly treated us to a masterpiece with this book. I was literally yelling for about the last minute or so of the audiobook. If you haven't taken the time yet, let this be your invitation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Murder

Minor: Drug use, Addiction, Misogyny, and Antisemitism

sestout's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

if you think lord henry would hate you, then you're doing something right.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Antisemitism, Classism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Drug use

Minor: Stalking and Suicide

waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

3.0

Knowing about Oscar Wilde's past is crucial to reading this novel. It's not just that his gayness was an open secret, but that his targets weren't just men, but also boys. As in actual teenage children. Wilde was also openly Antisemitic and misogynistic in his real life and throughout the novel. What his three main characters do, say, think, and feel very closely mirrors Wilde's own. Much like the titular Dorian, it is clear that Wilde suffered from an inflated ego, was bloated with pride, and had a conscience that weighed him down...but not enough to change, grow, or do better. Trigger warnings abound throughout this novel as we watch Dorian explore the world of vice and sin, leaving a body count in his wake.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Gore, Alcohol, Classism, Colonisation, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Suicide, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Child death, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, and Toxic friendship

ashmash's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Drug use, Suicide, Mental illness, and Misogyny

evaeyre's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

super well written, and very poetic! in a way, it was a very good commentary on humanity and such qualities as vanity and hubris!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Death

Moderate: Suicide, Sexism, and Misogyny

Minor: Grief, Drug use, and Antisemitism