Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Picture of Dorian Gray

This reread didn't quite hit as much as I thought it would. I'd always said The Picture of Dorian Gray was one of my fave classics, after studying it at school, but maybe it was the English teacher, and more recently the stage adaptation in London featuring Sarah Snook, that made the story really pop.

This was still a great read, with lots of philosophical musings on life to mull on, but a lil' summin' summin' was missing for me. Oh, and I got really bored during one particular section in the latter half. It started off well, and I appreciated the conceit of the segment, but then it felt like it went on for too long.

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sestout's review against another edition

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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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heycloehere's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.5

Damn boy I was not expecting that ending. Also the quotes in this book are🤌🤌🤌

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bbmaan's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.5

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waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

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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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