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dark
inspiring
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
this was the first of oscar wilde’s work that i have ever read and i was not disappointed! even though i did get a little bored towards the middle/later half of the book, wildes writing never failed to impress me. i found it so beautifully tragic that basil, the relationship he had with dorian, and of course, his painting of dorian, was a measurement for his descent into corruption. i found it just as terribly frustrating how with each conversation between henry and dorian, he so easily succumbed to his influence until it was to late to repair the damage to his soul. wildes commentary on the nuances of aestheticism was a highlight of the book and i thought the quote “It had taught him to love his own beauty. Would it teach him to loathe his own soul?” was a really interesting question that would get readers thinking.
here were some of my favorite quotes from the book (there is a lot):
“I knew that I had come face to face with someone whose mere personality was so fascinating that, if I allowed it to do so, it would absorb my whole nature, my whole soul, my very art itself.”
“A rose shook in her blood, and shadowed her cheeks. Quick breath parted the petals of her lips. They trembled. Some southern wind of passion swept over her, and stirred the dainty folds of her dress. "I love him," she said, simply.”
“What the worm was to the corpse, his sins would be to the painted image on the canvas.”
“I worshiped you too much. I am punished for it. You worshiped yourself too much. We are both punished."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, Murder
challenging
dark
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Suicide, Blood
Minor: Misogyny, Stalking
dark
emotional
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
I mean the book is for sure frooty y’all can’t tell me Henry and Basil don’t have MAJOR crushes on Dorian like-
Dorian why do you have to be such a self-absorbed bastard? Your little murder freak out was wild…my man Basil Hallward didn’t deserve that. Henry really ruined you huh…you had potential to be normal 💔 But then again the commentary on how being too self-absorbed in looks and materialism is extremely self-destructive and can be seen as a form of self-sabotage is lovely. Oh and poor gurl Sibyl, it was for sure your fault Dorian…feel bad.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
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
I remember enjoying this more when I first read it years ago - perhaps it works better on the page than in audiobook form. Certainly didn't care much for the narrator, who was serviceable but a little dull, but unfortunately this was the only version available from my library. I suppose it's either Wilde's style or the style of the times, but there were sections where the plot and characters are dropped temporarily in favour of a long essay on the themes of the book, which makes for a strange sort of novel. Don't get me started on the strange Jewish manager character.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Suicide, Murder
Minor: Drug use, Violence
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Literally the blueprint. Wish there was more hot, gay sex, but he got away with what he could.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
Moderate: Suicide
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i’ll start by saying that i 100% understand why people are obsessed with this book. there’s something about it that is endlessly quotable and the fact that this book ended up being used against wilde in his trials adds this ominous mystique to it as well.
my overall review is: it wasn’t what i was expecting it to be at all.
i think maybe i would have loved it more had i read it earlier but there’s a language barrier and cultural sensitivity barrier that i think ruined the reading experience for me. this book wasn’t written for a queer black woman in the 21st century to read and it shows.
i do absolutely find the book fascinating and i’m glad to have read it. wilde’s characters felt so real and cemented in their identities here and i could almost see them in front of me. i knew some aspects of the story but i don’t think this is a story you can spoil because the true plot is in minute details - the underlying eroticism in basil’s infatuation with dorian, henry being a catalyst to dorian’s terrible character development even though it all sounded like a joke and then dorian himself starting off gentle and unspoiled and ending with killing himself out of vanity.
i find it fascinating just how many ‘rules for life’ henry could throw out to the world all for the plot and how he never expected anyone to actually take it seriously. i also found being in dorian’s head fascinating in a morbid sort of way, the way he could instantly detach himself from the tragedies he had created. him referring to basil’s body as a thing will live on in my mind for a while.
one of my main criticisms (outside of the weird way jewish or non-white people are discussed), is how so many things were left unanswered or not elaborated on.
- what were the crimes that caused basil to finally confront dorian?
- who is the woman from the tavern?
- what happened when they found dorian’s’ gross body?
as a reader, it was an at times frustrating experience but i would highly recommend listening to ben barnes narrating it.
my overall review is: it wasn’t what i was expecting it to be at all.
i think maybe i would have loved it more had i read it earlier but there’s a language barrier and cultural sensitivity barrier that i think ruined the reading experience for me. this book wasn’t written for a queer black woman in the 21st century to read and it shows.
i do absolutely find the book fascinating and i’m glad to have read it. wilde’s characters felt so real and cemented in their identities here and i could almost see them in front of me. i knew some aspects of the story but i don’t think this is a story you can spoil because the true plot is in minute details - the underlying eroticism in basil’s infatuation with dorian, henry being a catalyst to dorian’s terrible character development even though it all sounded like a joke and then dorian himself starting off gentle and unspoiled and ending with killing himself out of vanity.
i find it fascinating just how many ‘rules for life’ henry could throw out to the world all for the plot and how he never expected anyone to actually take it seriously. i also found being in dorian’s head fascinating in a morbid sort of way, the way he could instantly detach himself from the tragedies he had created. him referring to basil’s body as a thing will live on in my mind for a while.
one of my main criticisms (outside of the weird way jewish or non-white people are discussed), is how so many things were left unanswered or not elaborated on.
- what were the crimes that caused basil to finally confront dorian?
- who is the woman from the tavern?
- what happened when they found dorian’s’ gross body?
as a reader, it was an at times frustrating experience but i would highly recommend listening to ben barnes narrating it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism, Cultural appropriation
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
My opinion shifted as I read, but overall, I thought this was fantastic. It had stunning prose, a powerful message, and an incredible ending that made up for the slow chapters I didn't connect with. I see this becoming a favourite of mine. Some comments in the book were unpleasant, but as with any classic, l view it as a product of its time while still being critical. What struck me was Basil feeling like he put part of himself into his art. If art reflects its artist's soul, The Picture of Dorian Gray reflects Oscar Wilde's. I felt like I could sense his spirit within it. I felt his love & heartache, desires & fears, virtues & faults. It's more than fiction; it's a glimpse of his time, worldview, and emotions. The characters felt real because they contained a piece of Wilde. Their internal struggles were real because they reflected Wilde's own. It takes bravery to bear a piece of your soul to the world. He was a true artist.
There's a line between self-love and narcissism; Dorian Gray crossed it. He was more than his youth or beauty, but he couldn't see that. Obsession with beauty corrupted his soul. He was in love with his youthful appearance, leaving him unable to love another because he only cared for the superficial. Sybil loved Dorian. Basil loved Dorian. Dorian loved only himself, so he destroyed those foolish enough to love him. He destroyed lives because he lacked virtue & decency. He swayed others onto a path of vice just as Henry did to him. This book is a warning about untamed vanity, selfishness, and valuing pleasure above all else. The messages are even more relevant in the internet age.
Dorian kept his youthful, innocent appearance, even as his soul rotted. I had both loathing and enjoyment for his character. I wanted to see him change, be better, and find peace. Dorian Gray was selfish, hedonistic, and cruel... yet I felt bad for him. In the beginning, he was just a boy. His worldview was still evolving when it was tainted. Throughout, I found myself feeling deeply sad about his corruption. Was it Henry's influence that ultimately corrupted Dorian? Could the beauty of his soul have been saved, even by someone like Basil? Was he always doomed to realize that youth and beauty fade, and to lose himself to this? I felt like Dorian had an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other, with each of his friends swaying him in different directions. Ultimately, negative influence won, but it could've gone the other way. It was heartbreaking.
The idea of the painting showing not only age but also moral corruption of his soul was pure genius from Wilde. The ending left me stunned. Dorian realizing the depth of his corruption made my heart ache. Not even his insistence that he could be "good" was enough to save him. His fate, perhaps, was sealed from the beginning; it was tragic, but inevitable.
The idea of the painting showing not only age but also moral corruption of his soul was pure genius from Wilde. The ending left me stunned. Dorian realizing the depth of his corruption made my heart ache. Not even his insistence that he could be "good" was enough to save him. His fate, perhaps, was sealed from the beginning; it was tragic, but inevitable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Misogyny, Classism
Minor: Drug use, Racism, Grief, Alcohol
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Suicide
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a beautifully written exploration of vanity, morality, and the darker sides of human nature. Wild's prose is lush and evocative, creating a vivid atmosphere that pulls readers into the world of Dorian Gray. The characters are fascinating, each embodying complex ideas and relationships. Dorian's descent into corruption, Basil's tragic idealism, and Lord Henry's manipulative wit make up a compelling cast that keeps the philosophical themes alive.
However, the novel isn't without its flaws. The actual plot of the novel felt quite thin compared to the description once you realize how much of the book is filled with lengthy descriptions and chapters where nothing is done to advance the plot that is discussed in the synopsis. The descriptions while beautifully written were often unnecessary in my opinion and often slowed the pace of the novel. Despite, the few issues I had with the novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray is a thought provoking piece of literature that leaves a lasting impression.
However, the novel isn't without its flaws. The actual plot of the novel felt quite thin compared to the description once you realize how much of the book is filled with lengthy descriptions and chapters where nothing is done to advance the plot that is discussed in the synopsis. The descriptions while beautifully written were often unnecessary in my opinion and often slowed the pace of the novel. Despite, the few issues I had with the novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray is a thought provoking piece of literature that leaves a lasting impression.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Misogyny, Antisemitism
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Death, Drug use, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Gun violence, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Classism