Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

8 reviews

anne_espoir's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia

whumper's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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i wish lord henry would shut the fuck up

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Minor: Pedophilia

asrasher's review against another edition

3.0

challenging funny mysterious medium-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

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While dotted with funny moments and pithy witticisms, the book is really haunted by the author. It's difficult to ignore his transparent interest in underaged boys, and assuredness in his own intellect. But it's still a very interesting read, especially as a somewhat unconventional gothic novel. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Antisemitism, Murder, Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic friendship

joshkiba13's review against another edition

3.5

dark mysterious reflective slow-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

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I read this for ENGL 202 at UW. I loved all the passages in Dorian's mind as he grappled with conflicting desires of youth and beauty versus his darker interior. Lord Henry was well characterized---a constant annoyance to me with his incessant philosophies on life. The different evil developments throughout the story interested me, and as Dorian's mind was truly corrupted there were some great descriptions.

What brought it down for me was my inability to relate to 19th century rich men; countless references to plays, poems, art, and just the overall vibe of richness made some passages unbearable---especially Chapter 11 when Dorian is seeking every worldly pleasure in order to distract himself.

That said, it was a good slow-burn story with surprising developments, and a very open-ended and intriguing ending.

Also RIP Basil; he was the only character in the whole book I could stand

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Murder

Minor: Drug use, Pedophilia

waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

3.0

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

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

lis4so's review against another edition

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This book reminded me of the reason I why I hate classics

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism

Minor: Pedophilia, Suicide, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt

elizlizabeth's review against another edition

3.5

dark reflective tense 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

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Exquisitely written, my only critique being maybe the abrupt ending and those five to ten pages of Wilde reading a catalog of fabrics, furniture and artifacts from 1880 to illustrate that Dorian is vain. Also warning: you might get the urge to fling yourself into a chair to express emotion.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Racial slurs, Suicide, Blood, Classism

Minor: Pedophilia

Period typical racial slurs and exoticism. Read with several grains of salt. Also idk if it was just me knowing Wilde's backstory but the idealization of "childlike" youth/beauty kept rubbing me the wrong way.

spookystag's review against another edition

1.25

dark mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Violence, Antisemitism

Minor: Pedophilia