Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

27 reviews

bbmaan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Murder, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Blood, Infidelity, Mental illness, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt

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

seanml's review against another edition

dark 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

4.0

I don't know if I completely bought the idea of Dorian's trajectory during the novel. However, I did enjoy much of it, and the ghost story-like ending especially. The novel's best product is Wilde's many many philosophical quotes and musings that pepper the pages - most of them said by the character Lord Henry, as much as I dislike him. 8/10.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, and Sexism

Moderate: Blood and Drug use

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

catjoelle's review against another edition

challenging funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

Fuck Henry fr

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Antisemitism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts

sagelikesscats's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I will definitely return to this book. Great writing, great characters, and an amazing ending. I did find that all of the rich people problems get annoying towards the end, but still a fantastic book about beauty, morality, and heathenism.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Murder, Mental illness, Death, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Addiction, Classism, Drug use, and Infidelity

Minor: Sexual content, Classism, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Suicide

The classism is less of a thing that happens and more of a general presence throughout the book.

ashsparrow's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexism and Gun violence

maess's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Death, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Self harm, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Suicide, Murder, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts

braipointon's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The messages and themes in this piece are so interesting and still relevant today, especially beauty and youth. I didnt expect to love the study of how we influence others as much as I did. Very philosophical which was sometimes hard to get through, but the later half of the book flew by. Also, highly suggest looking into the book’s historical context before reading. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Blood, Antisemitism, Murder, Suicide, and Misogyny

lizardteeth's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

2.5

 "...That a burnt child loves the fire"
"I am not even singed. My wings are untouched."
"You use them for everything except flight." 

• Personal Review
  •  
    'Dorian Gray is a mediocre story, I really don't get the hype. Yeah, I was surprised Basil was killed by Dorian, but the rest was just 'OK'. I definitely see the LGBTQ overtones but that's what makes it uncomfortable. Wilde doesn't really glorify either of them yet it's still awkward especially considering Henry was grooming Dorian and was shocked when Dorian became deranged; like what did you expect? Also the

    antisemitism

    ? I thought at first it was in Dorian's POV, but it was continuous and expansive. I couldn't find concrete evidence Wilde was anti-Semitic but considering its popularity of the time it adds another uncomfortable layer to the mix.'
     

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Body horror, Classism, Suicide, Antisemitism, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Alcoholism

Minor: Addiction and Suicidal thoughts

tmickey's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Suicide