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sinkinglighthouse's review against another edition
dark
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
3.5
BASIL HALLWARD MY BELOVED
i quite enjoy the premise of this, but personally it also feels as thought there are parts that are unnecessarily descriptive, that doesnt add much to the plot, character , or themes. so it can get a little draggy, chapter 11 especially. it also feels like lord henry gets a little repetitive towards the end.
again, the premise is quite interesting, but i walked into this thinking we'd get to see more of dorian's corruption, etc. which is portrayed, but personally i feel it was quite short as compared to the intro bit (and general descriptive bits). actually honestly the ending was a little rushed idk. i do wish we could've seen more of basil
cool premise, terrible characters, slightly weird pacing. but overall kinda fun, i think.
i quite enjoy the premise of this, but personally it also feels as thought there are parts that are unnecessarily descriptive, that doesnt add much to the plot, character , or themes. so it can get a little draggy, chapter 11 especially. it also feels like lord henry gets a little repetitive towards the end.
again, the premise is quite interesting, but i walked into this thinking we'd get to see more of dorian's corruption, etc. which is portrayed, but personally i feel it was quite short as compared to the intro bit (and general descriptive bits). actually honestly the ending was a little rushed idk. i do wish we could've seen more of basil
cool premise, terrible characters, slightly weird pacing. but overall kinda fun, i think.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Classism
enoemo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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
3.5
This was a good read (you know, apart from the random misogyny and antisemitism that came with the time and do not really add to the story either) and chapter 11. I don't know but chapter 11 was just a lot of rambling in an otherwise exciting book in my opinion. Also, I see how someone would likely dislike this book if deeply flawed characters are not their thing - for one it kind builds the main plot and also there's probably a bit too much Lord Henry in there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Blood, Antisemitism, Stalking, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Drug abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
gwenisnonbinary's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Suicide, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Antisemitism and Classism
ellelockley's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
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
Oscar Wilde's only novel is the dreamlike story of a young man who sells his sould for eternal youth and beauty. This book makes you reflect on literally everything that has happened in your life. At the start, you're a blank slate, and at the end you've completely changed your outlook on life. It was so very interesting to read, and for a classic it wasn't absurdly long. The only reason it's a four is because I think it was way too focused on very minor things some of the time. I did really enjoy it and would recommend it to everyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Alcohol, and Classism
clairanlage's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Antisemitism, Murder, and Classism
jill_m17's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Suicide, Antisemitism, Murder, and Classism
joyolivia's review against another edition
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Suicide, and Antisemitism
Minor: Classism
trintrin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic.
This quote perfectly sums up the exquisitely tragic story that is Dorian Gray's.
The first classic that I have ever voluntarily fully read and oh boy did I love it. The descriptions just seemed so poetic and the writing is so fluid. It almost felt magical and whimsical reading some of those passages despite this book not having any magic at all. My only complaint is no normal person is gonna be spewing formal poetry for two whole pages in a normal conversation lol. I thought this writing style would be hard to read but it flowed really well for the most part. The only section I was actually bored by was in chapter 11 when we get pages long descriptions of Dorian's various new hobbies and interests. I found it too much like an info dump-y Wikipedia copy paste or something. That alone made me put the book down for nearly a week before continuing whoops.
The characters are amazing imo. Dorian started out pretty boring but I started loving him more and more as his character progressed. Lord Henry is... interesting, to say the least. I admire him for the confidence he has in his views and I'm also also scared of finding someone like him irl. Poor Basil got caught up in this mess I feel bad for him. Sybil Vane and her family were more or less there only to further the plot but I didn't particularly mind that. But my biggest question is, how do these people socialise so much? I feel exhausted reading about all the operas and dinners and clubs they go to like everyday. My introverted self could never.
I didn't know what I was thinking the ending would be but it wasn't what I expected. I knew this was going to be tragic but the abruptness of it all it still sort of took me by surprise.
Overall, an amazing book definitely worth the read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Alcohol
Don't listen to anything the literal embodiment of misogyny and sexism aka Lord Henry says please and thank you. Nothing good comes out of that man's mouthzombie4brainz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicide and Grief
kia_y_k's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, and Classism