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hannahlouise_'s review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism
avacronin's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a classic that I think everybody should have the chance to read at least once in their life. It's a powerful story with a magical element to it, and certainly deserves the role as a classic piece of literature. However, it most definitely is not a perfect story, and revolves around the faults of the main characters. Throughout the description of faults is beautifully descriptive paragraphs, which may bore some.
I do agree that some characters in this book (cough cough Dorian and Lord Henry) can be incredibly annoying, however the fact that these characters infuriated me and so many others show that we have morals, unlike those characters. The faults of these characters, and the way in which they are overlooked in the presence of money and power is one of the messages and themes in this novel, and a powerful one it is.
While this book may not be to everybody's taste, I did enjoy the experience I had reading it. I do however suggest reading the trigger warnings before reading, as many things are described in great details.
The Pros
- I know it may not seem like a pro to some readers, but I really did like the brutally honest way in which the lower class areas were described, and how different the descriptions were compared to those of the upper class, taking Lord Henry's house for example. It serves as a way to show how Victorian Era London actually was, the bad parts (like the opium dens) included. However, I did also appreciate the way in which Wilde described most things in this book.
The Cons
- I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed and slightly underwhelming. Although I got part of what I wanted, it just was not as satisfying as I wished it would have been. The only good part about it was that I didn't expect it at all.
I would recommend this book for people to at least try and read once in their life. It carries a deeper message, and if you take anything from it, take the message to never live a life like Dorian
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gore, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction and Drug use
bcooper21's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Drug use, Gun violence, and Alcohol
hannahws's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Antisemitism, and Classism
Moderate: Violence
florecita_lectora's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Drug use, Misogyny, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicide, and Gaslighting
rory_john14's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Murder, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism, Confinement, Racism, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting
crisi_books's review against another edition
- 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
Oscar Wilde is wild and blatantly gay for writing this. The homoerotic undertones were severe and despite its vagueness, it’s honestly a wonder how this ever got published in 1890 with how obviously gay it is.
Is it bad to say I almost hated every character in this book, and yet still really enjoyed it? No? Okay.
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a fascinating examination of vanity, greed, and all those things that just make you hate people. The prose is mystical and keeps that feel about it that most gothic novels have, which I’ve learned is difficult to read more than a paragraph of when you’re running on four hours of sleep and the sheer force of will.
I could hardly put this book down despite finding it a difficult to read, which says a lot on how gripping and compelling it is. If I put it down for a second it was all I could think about and so I had to pick it back up. Oscar Wilde has wormed his way into my brain and will probably stay there for a solid while.
A lot of the discussions about aestheticism and philosophy do come off as a little preachy (especially bc Henry Wotton can’t help but spew a paragraph about how lovely youth is and other shit every two pages), and there is sexist and misogynistic commentary, but overall it is thought provoking and intriguing.
Oh, Dorian. Poor Dorian. You dumb, dumb boy.
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Suicide, Violence, and Stalking
zombie's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death and Antisemitism
Moderate: Addiction and Misogyny
Minor: Drug use, Mental illness, and Classism
schivakumaran's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Suicide, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
roosnf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide and Classism