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_calreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Aging isn't nearly as terrifying as the pursuit of eternal youth.
This book makes an incredible social critic that should be read today. Always relating "beauty" and "youth" with "purity". The deep dive in Dorian's mind and how humans can be so easily influenced by their surroundings. The shift of guilt to aliviate ones mind.
Beautifully written, incredibly immersive.
"Life has been your art. You have set yourself to music. Your days have been your sonnets." I wish i could quote this entire passage by Lord Henry.
This book makes an incredible social critic that should be read today. Always relating "beauty" and "youth" with "purity". The deep dive in Dorian's mind and how humans can be so easily influenced by their surroundings. The shift of guilt to aliviate ones mind.
Beautifully written, incredibly immersive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Violence and Antisemitism
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 mouthrebecca_77's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, and Murder
tesschair's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Suicide, Antisemitism, and Murder
itszosia's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Murder
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, and Antisemitism
brekker_by_brekker's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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
5.0
oh my god
i want to give this more than 5 stars (!!!!) i am never going to stop thinking about this book
i want to give this more than 5 stars (!!!!) i am never going to stop thinking about this book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Antisemitism
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
laurabell19's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism and Suicide
avocadotoastbee's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-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
2.0
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is highly overrated!
The plot sounds promising:
Young Dorian Gray wishes that his portrait would age and bear the marks of his sins instead of him. When he realizes that his wish is coming true, he commits all kinds of sins, while keeping his young, perfectly pure appearance.
The execution was disappointing though:
The book starts slowly and then, in the second half of the book, events suddenly overturn. Also, none of the events really follow through. I was disappointed that after each eventful chapter there was another big time jump. I had expected more. Also, it became very predictable as time went on.
The absolute worst thing, however, was the character of Lord Henry Wotton. With Lord Henry, Wilde has created the most misogynistic character ever. But that's not all, The Portrait of Dorian Gray contains many problematic characters and statements. The racism, anti-semitism, and misogyny that were ever-present completely spoiled the reading experience.
But not all of it was bad:
I enjoyed the little bits of wisdom and queerness Wilde sprinkled in.
The underlying exploration of aging, indulging in "pleasures", pain, living with dark secrets and death was well done and endlessly quotable.
The plot sounds promising:
Young Dorian Gray wishes that his portrait would age and bear the marks of his sins instead of him. When he realizes that his wish is coming true, he commits all kinds of sins, while keeping his young, perfectly pure appearance.
The execution was disappointing though:
The book starts slowly and then, in the second half of the book, events suddenly overturn. Also, none of the events really follow through. I was disappointed that after each eventful chapter there was another big time jump. I had expected more. Also, it became very predictable as time went on.
The absolute worst thing, however, was the character of Lord Henry Wotton. With Lord Henry, Wilde has created the most misogynistic character ever. But that's not all, The Portrait of Dorian Gray contains many problematic characters and statements. The racism, anti-semitism, and misogyny that were ever-present completely spoiled the reading experience.
But not all of it was bad:
I enjoyed the little bits of wisdom and queerness Wilde sprinkled in.
The underlying exploration of aging, indulging in "pleasures", pain, living with dark secrets and death was well done and endlessly quotable.
“What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose […] his own soul?”
Overall, I know Oscar Wilde is a Gay Icon and can do so much more, but The Picture of Dorian Gray just wasn't for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Antisemitism, Stalking, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Blood and Classism
Minor: Colonisation
sarahdoggen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The only reason this book doesn’t get five stars is because it took me about 4 months to finish it. But it amazing and beautiful and wild(e)ly interesting. I love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Murder, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Infidelity