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dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's a classic for a reason. Despite a few flaws, it's a page turner that sticks with you.
My main criticism is that the dialogue is frequently rambling and repetitive. A character doesn't have to make the same point 15 times. Another is that some supporting characters are not well-written and their interactions with others and reactions to events come off as uncomfortably odd and unnatural.
Given that this book was written in the 1800s by a man who was not interested in women and contains characters meant to be "wicked", it's not surprising there is a lot of negativity towards women. It does start to get annoying after a point.
Lastly, it's a much too easy to figure out where each plot point will go. The story is engaging enough that it doesn't take away from the enjoyment, though.
At just 250 pages it's well worth the time it takes to read.
My main criticism is that the dialogue is frequently rambling and repetitive. A character doesn't have to make the same point 15 times. Another is that some supporting characters are not well-written and their interactions with others and reactions to events come off as uncomfortably odd and unnatural.
Given that this book was written in the 1800s by a man who was not interested in women and contains characters meant to be "wicked", it's not surprising there is a lot of negativity towards women. It does start to get annoying after a point.
Lastly, it's a much too easy to figure out where each plot point will go. The story is engaging enough that it doesn't take away from the enjoyment, though.
At just 250 pages it's well worth the time it takes to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Suicide, Murder, Gaslighting
Moderate: Drug use
dark
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, Classism
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Antisemitism, Murder, Classism
Minor: Biphobia
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A very interesting story. Many sentences were beautifully written and others a tad redundant. Overall enjoyed the story. A few parts dragged on with the descriptions of w.e. was happening. Good points to learn from the greediness some have with youth and the obsession to be considered "interesting".
Vanity is rampant in almost every character.
Henry can kick rocks. He's an asshat.
Vanity is rampant in almost every character.
Henry can kick rocks. He's an asshat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Antisemitism
Minor: Drug use, Classism
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed reading this. It's obviously very well written and I kept telling my friends about it.
The scene where Dorian kills Basil was so terrible and good at the same time. After the murder, the body is never called "Basil". The narration kept referring to it as 'the thing' which really shows the mental distancing of the reality that he killed his friend.
However I really didn't like the way the women were portrayed. The women were just props for the men to interact with or to give some extra information sometimes. With the stylistic choice to switch perspectives, we could also have seen a more nuanced depiction of Sibyl for example. I know it's important to look at a story within its historical context but especially in comparison with Frankenstein (which was published around 60 years earlier) 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' gave me the impression of a book written by a gay man FOR other men.
I'm also undecided concerning the moral message of the story. On one hand the message is pretty clear: immoral actions lead to harm around and within the 'sinner'. Maybe you can escape your moral failings for a short time, but eventually they will come back to you and maybe even spread. but then, the story isn't truly consistent with it's messaging. Dorian dies without anyone learning of his sins and his terrible actions will go undiscovered. He doesn't even want to kill himself. It happens on accident!! This really annoyed me. We got 3-4 pages of ramblings about gem stones and then Dorian gets do die within half a page!?!
But maybe that is the grim message of the story in the end. No matter how bad your actions are and how many people got hurt, sometimes the 'bad guys' get to die without ever having to stand up for their crimes.
tl;dr: Frankenstein is better. Still happy I read this classic novel but won't reread.
However I really didn't like the way the women were portrayed. The women were just props for the men to interact with or to give some extra information sometimes. With the stylistic choice to switch perspectives, we could also have seen a more nuanced depiction of Sibyl for example. I know it's important to look at a story within its historical context but especially in comparison with Frankenstein (which was published around 60 years earlier) 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' gave me the impression of a book written by a gay man FOR other men.
I'm also undecided concerning the moral message of the story. On one hand the message is pretty clear: immoral actions lead to harm around and within the 'sinner'. Maybe you can escape your moral failings for a short time, but eventually they will come back to you and maybe even spread. but then, the story isn't truly consistent with it's messaging.
But maybe that is the grim message of the story in the end. No matter how bad your actions are and how many people got hurt, sometimes the 'bad guys' get to die without ever having to stand up for their crimes.
tl;dr: Frankenstein is better. Still happy I read this classic novel but won't reread.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Death, Drug use, Suicide
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Murder
Moderate: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Antisemitism
Minor: Body horror, Drug use, Blood
dark
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, Blood, Antisemitism
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the plot twists were crazy and unexpected, and the ending was just… omg.
great read
great read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Sexism, Classism
Minor: Drug use, Suicide, Gaslighting, Alcohol
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow. What an asshole. I'm glad I read this classic now rather than high school - I see what Wilde is doing in the grotesque descriptions of food, drink, and conversation. The twist here is part of the anglophone zeitgeist, but how we get there is not, and Wilde takes his sweet time in classic Wildeian plotlessness. You don't read about Gray's Jekyll & Hyde-esque philandering, but you sure sense its effects, and the damaging of "reputation" is as damning as Victorian England could get. Intensely homoerotic as to be expected, and I'm very glad I finally read it during a cold camping weekend over Thanksgiving.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Murder
Moderate: Blood, Toxic friendship
Minor: Drug use, Antisemitism