Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

151 reviews

evemlacey's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad slow-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

4.75

 NOTE: I am very rare to give a book 5 stars, but I wasn't sure about this one. I think one of the reasons I did not give it five stars was the pacing and some of the misogyny displayed in the book.

The Picture of Dorian Gray was a wonderful read- and luckily, I went into it free of spoilers. I was rather satisfied with the ending. I felt as if it could've been slightly more dramatic but otherwise, I found it a logical yet poetic finish to the book.

If I could describe this book in three words, I would say eerie, meaningful, and poetic. Reading this made me realise once again what an incredible writer Oscar Wilde was. I've seen a few negative reviews from the book, but I genuinely enjoyed it.

I think a lot of people assume that Dorian Gray sells his soul to Lucifer, which is not true. I was a little confused at first but essentially, he just makes a wish to stay youthful and the portrait to instead reflect his age. It is unexplained how that works- but I like when the reader has to analyse and come to a conclusion by themself.

Overall, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book. It's a must-read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Blood

Moderate: Sexism, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, and Misogyny

willow1113's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Violence

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Body shaming, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Mental illness, Antisemitism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Animal death, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Toxic relationship and Suicide

emnime's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Blood, Grief, Classism, Gore, Toxic friendship, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

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

---

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

midnightrain_'s review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, and Toxic friendship

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.

---

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

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!

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Suicide, Sexism, and Misogyny

Minor: Grief, Drug use, and Antisemitism

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

---

Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Blood and Death of parent

corruptednatz's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

I felt more sympathy for the side characters more than Dorian Gray. Alan, Sibyl, James and especially Basil! Lord Harry is something else I have no love for him. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Drug abuse and Toxic friendship

catherinedsharp's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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

DISCLAIMER -  I read this text as a set text for university meaning I did not pick this up for myself. It does not necessarily fit my usual reading selection so my review may be rather biased.

Really poetic and interesting reflection. Got a little slow towards the middle but picked up again and was a dark but good read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Classism, Death, Murder, and Suicide