Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'

El retrato de Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

315 reviews

starbuck1210's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I can't believe I took the majority of my adulthood to read this. It's easily made its way to the top of my favorite books. It's so well written and I mean it when I say Wilde seriously has the most sick burns (a sentence I never thought I'd be writing).

Wilde examines the condition of the human soul, the effect of vanity on the ego, and the results of living a life with no consequences. Wilde has truly treated us to a masterpiece with this book. I was literally yelling for about the last minute or so of the audiobook. If you haven't taken the time yet, let this be your invitation.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Murder

Minor: Drug use, Addiction, Misogyny, and Antisemitism

sestout's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

if you think lord henry would hate you, then you're doing something right.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Antisemitism, Classism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Drug use

Minor: Stalking and Suicide

waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

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

3.0

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

yellowbinge'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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, and Suicide

Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, and Antisemitism

evaeyre's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

super well written, and very poetic! in a way, it was a very good commentary on humanity and such qualities as vanity and hubris!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Death

Moderate: Suicide, Sexism, and Misogyny

Minor: Grief, Drug use, and Antisemitism

kari_g's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

FANTASTIC!!!!!! Actually my new favorite book. I highly highly recommend it.

Oscar Wilde is actually a genius and I cannot believe this book was submitted as evidence against him in court because this novel, nay THIS MASTERPIECE, evokes nothing but joy, enthrallment, and general all around good times. Wilde masterfully weaves general sweeping rationalizations about life and the mysteries of humanity while describing the mundane. 

WARNING:::: I KNOW IT IS TEMPTING BUT AESTHETICISM, NIHILISM, AND ABSOLUTISM IS NEVER EVER THE WAY TO GO. I KNOW LORD HENRY IS CHARMING AND WHEN YOU READ IT YOURE LIKE WOOOWWWW BUT DONT BELIEVE IT THE WHOLE POINT OF THE BOOK IS DO NOT BELIEVE MY BOY HARRY AT ANY COST. 

No but seriously, let me level with you a moment, I don’t reread books. There’s over 250 books in my want to read pile and it grows by the second. I have always firmly believed in getting to them before I read what I’ve already read. BUt I am LOOKING FORWARD to rereading this hook actually next month. It is phenomenal. It is show stopping. If you want to keep living in close-minded, mediocre little world, then I implore you, never read this book. But if you want to taste the very nectar of the gods and see the very colors with which nature paints and feel beauty as a part of your soul forever, I present to you your very next read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Classism, and Death

Moderate: Gore, Suicide, Antisemitism, Drug use, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: Homophobia and Outing

kattila's review against another edition

dark sad tense 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Antisemitism, Racism, Violence, Sexism, Murder, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Death

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Blood and Death of parent

marionhoney's review against another edition

dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Classism, Drug abuse, Suicide, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Antisemitism and Racism

joey_estrada's review against another edition

dark 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

4.25

I've heard people say this is predictable and to not read it for the plot. I actually enjoyed the plot very much and I didn't find it predictable because when I read, I just stay present and don't think ahead of try to "solve" anything. It was very good and easy to read for a classic.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Suicide and Antisemitism

liamray's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Sexism

Moderate: Drug use and Antisemitism