Reviews with content warning for Blood - The Picture of Dorian Gray

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.

Content Warnings

linasbooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious 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

5.0

In tears. I’m crying for how Wilde perfectly depicts his characters. His sentence structures. His parallelism. I’m crying because I’ve never read anything like this before.

In the picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde discusses what consequences eternal beauty and youth have on the life of an individual, who also happens to be easily influenced by his so called “wise” friend, Lord Henry. But we also follow the life of the portrait, painted by the artist Basil Hallward, and how it captures an individual’s soul.

This novel is rich in beautiful prose, imagery and descriptions of the setting and environment that perfectly align with the character’s mood at the time. Every character is so complex in their own dangerous but beautiful way.

“Conscience and cowardice are really the same thing, Basil. Conscience is the trade-name of the firm. That is all.”
“Behind every exquisite thing that ever existed, there was something tragic. Worlds had to be in travail, that the meanest flower might blow…”

And a bunch of other lines that absolutely wretched me.

Every sentence written by the exquisite Oscar Wilde is so well crafted. I am in awe. That is all.
Also, I would’ve absolutely adored a Lord Henry book. I want more of his philosophy.

Content Warnings

emmacartlidge's review against another edition

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dark 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

2.5

Content Warnings

sophyreads's review against another edition

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dark inspiring mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

madyreadsig's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective 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

2.75

Content Warnings

lau_dbs's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense 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

3.5

Content Warnings

localogophile's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense 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

It's a book that demands to be considered---and it certainly ought to be. It can be enjoyed without thought, but it cannot be fully understood without thought.

Content Warnings

cami_y's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective slow-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

3.75

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