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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
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
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!
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.
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.
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Classism, Drug abuse, Suicide, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Antisemitism and Racism
joey_estrada's review
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.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide and Antisemitism
liamray's review
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Sexism
Moderate: Drug use and Antisemitism
ilovebooks1967's review
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Fantastic book. Very poetic is beautifully written. However, I will say there was a bit of anti-semitism in the book, however this might be due to the fact that the main character is meant to have bad morals, however this doesn’t get challenged by the author is any way. I found that aspect of it difficult to love.
Content Warnings
Minor: Antisemitism, Xenophobia, and Adult/minor relationship
gvstyris's review
dark
emotional
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
The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion. It is not he who is revealed by the painter; it is rather the painter who, on the coloured canvas, reveals himself. The reason I will not exhibit this picture is that I am afraid that I have shown in it the secret of my own soul.
The Picture of Dorian Gray derives its power from being both timeless and a time capsule: simultaneously a window into the superficiality of Victorian aristocracy and an eerily relevant tale of our society's enduring obsession with youth and beauty. Dorian's moral degradation is subtle and poignant, arguably amplifying following Sybil's death and as a result of Lord Henry's influence. This novel is a series of character studies, with each arc's resolution suitably poetic -- particularly those of Dorian and Basil. I also think it's worth acknowledging that the perspective in this book is deliberately very white, British and male, making it an interesting commentary on masculinity. I would argue that much of the misogyny shown on the page is deliberate and plot-relevant.
This was my first time reading anything by Oscar Wilde, and I was surprised by how overt the queer undertones were. I've similarly found Wilde's commentary on his relationship to his characters to be one of the more interesting takeaways here, with him noting that "Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be—in other ages, perhaps.” Much to research, anyways -- it's clear that this novel is inseparable from Wilde himself.
I've knocked off some points for the odd painfully overwritten section (Chapter 11, for example) which hindered my enjoyment throughout. I definitely had to push through at times, but am glad to have finally read this one.
This was my first time reading anything by Oscar Wilde, and I was surprised by how overt the queer undertones were. I've similarly found Wilde's commentary on his relationship to his characters to be one of the more interesting takeaways here, with him noting that "Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be—in other ages, perhaps.” Much to research, anyways -- it's clear that this novel is inseparable from Wilde himself.
I've knocked off some points for the odd painfully overwritten section (Chapter 11, for example) which hindered my enjoyment throughout. I definitely had to push through at times, but am glad to have finally read this one.
Those who are faithful know only the trivial side of love: it is the faithless who know love's tragedies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Misogyny and Suicide
Minor: Antisemitism and Racism