Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

58 reviews

crufts's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

Dorian Gray is young, rich, and beautiful. What more could a man want? As his friend Lord Henry Wotton tells him, youth is the only thing worth having - and yet it is always doomed to fade. Seeing only decline and decay ahead, what is Dorian to do?

In a moment of desperation, he makes a terrible wish - a wish to remain forever young and beautiful. For that, he declares, he would give his very soul...

It is an absolutely brilliant novel, perhaps even more so for being the only one the author ever wrote. It's gothic horror, but never overly lurid; it's philosophical, but never tedious. The Picture of Dorian Gray is everything I ever wanted from one of Poe's short horror stories, only better, easier to follow, and with a proper ending.

Usually I would object to a writer being long-winded, but not here. The author has this amazing talent for dialogue that goes on at length yet maintains interest, such as when Lord Henry makes the case that youth is the only thing worth having. Instead of getting boring, the writing style is so good that it just gets better and better the more you read - like you're being given time to soak into a rich bath of philosophy.

Another thing I liked about the novel is that it's about horrible people, but it's very aware that they are horrible people, and condemns them for it. For example,

Lord Henry is incredibly offensive and sexist, but this doesn't go unnoticed; people around him are constantly reacting to his revolting comments with shock and disapproval

.

In fact, the overall plot is about the downfall of horrible people and the self-defeating consequences of evil.

The beats of the novel are thrilling and terrifying by turns. Several scenes involve dramatic reveals; these moments are drawn out in a way that maximizes their tension and dramatic impact. Meanwhile, moments of crisis wind so tight that you'll probably be chewing your fingernails as you turn the pages. I never felt that any scene missed an opportunity to be more emotional, electrifying, or explosive.

Something else I enjoyed about the novel is that it's about as gay as it could possibly be without actually being gay. There are passions, obsessions, and captivations between the male characters that are pretty darn romantic. As it turns out, the earlier versions of the story were more obvious and explicit about these references. However, these overt passages were cut by the editor (who didn't tell Oscar Wilde he was doing so) before its publication in 1890. Luckily for us, the uncensored version was uncovered and republished in 2011.

The only thing I don't entirely love about the book is that Lord Henry's dialogue is so overtly quotable. Every few sentences he makes yet another witty remark that seems to be jumping off the page. At first it was charming, but then it gradually started to bother me. His dialogue was so clever and perfect and larger-than-life that it was uncanny, like a photoshopped picture. However, I think this could just be what the author intended, since other characters have the same reaction to Lord Henry - they initially find him charming, but later become disconcerted.

If you can't stand stories about horrible people (even if they do ultimately face the consequences), then you might not enjoy The Picture of Dorian Gray. Otherwise, I absolutely recommend this classic of English literature.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Antisemitism, and Murder

Moderate: Death and Gun violence

Minor: Suicide

Misogyny, sexism: Lord Henry's revolting opinions, although he is often called out for this by other characters.

Antisemitism: Nasty remarks are made by the main characters about a Jewish man.

Murder: Occurs rather gruesomely at a certain point in the novel.

Gun violence, death: A man is accidentally shot during a

hunting party

, not described in detail.

Suicide: Occurs off-screen, and the main characters learn of it.

mitchell_1's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Suicide, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Gun violence and Infidelity

pershie13's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective 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

5.0

Wow. This. Was. Phenomenal. The writing and pacing were good, the story was gripping, and I was wondering how this book was going to end literally until the last sentence. This is my favorite classic I've read so far and easily deserves five stars!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Animal death

_saphyr_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Abandonment

tharini's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexism, Suicide, Antisemitism, and Murder

Moderate: Gun violence

hamarhemmo's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Suicide, Stalking, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Misogyny, Antisemitism, Grief, and Dysphoria

Minor: Outing and Alcohol

thevampiremars's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

I knew of Oscar Wilde, of course, but this was my first time actually reading his work. I found it difficult not to use the book as a means of analysing its writer. He was known for his wit but was he genuinely clever or just good at appearing clever? Maybe there’s no distinction. Maybe it’s foolish of me to try to judge the character of a man by the work he creates. Wilde himself rebuked the idea that art should be taken as autobiography, that works of fiction reveal something about the writer. Then again, he also wrote in a letter “[The Picture of Dorian Gray] contains much of me in it — Basil Hallward is what I think I am; Lord Henry, what the world thinks of me; Dorian is what I would like to be — in other ages, perhaps.” It’s hard not to read the story as a reflection of its author to some extent.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is so much gayer than I expected. Like, it’s difficult to even describe it as subtext. It’s right there, unmistakable despite careful censorship, from chapter one onwards. I have to admit, this kind of pining, withholding, and hinting at queerness appeals to me far more than the uncomplicated “representation” we tend to see nowadays. I acknowledge literature like this comes from a society in which homosexuality was criminalised and deeply stigmatised – the ambiguity I adore wasn’t just a stylistic choice, it was a necessity – but it resonates with me in a way modern queer media just doesn’t.

The story is dominated by the theme of influence (and its inverse, impressionability). It’s handled well for the most part but I don’t really understand the significance of

the book Lord Henry recommends to Dorian. I know that some scholars identify it as an ode to either The Yellow Book or Huysmans’s Against Nature, and that the idea of a “poisonous book” was accentuated in later editions in response to the controversy surrounding this very novel upon its publication. In other words, I know that Wilde was playing with the idea of an immoral piece of literature corrupting (read: queering) young minds. That said, Dorian is already affected by the picture painted by Basil Hallward and the mirror given to him by Lord Henry, not to mention Lord Henry’s words; the addition of the corrupting book seemed to overcomplicate what was otherwise quite an elegant concept.

The Picture of Dorian Gray is good. I wasn’t blown away by it, but the premise is solid and I was pleasantly surprised by how audaciously queer it is. I can see why it’s considered a classic. Definitely worth a read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Sexism, Suicide, Antisemitism, Grief, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation

ale15sousa's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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

3.0

I really wanted to like it but I didn't. I almost hate read it (with the help of an audiobook) in hopes of liking it or reaching the good part. I'll probably give it another chance in a few years. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, Antisemitism, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation

hannibanani29's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Misogyny, Suicide, Blood, Antisemitism, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal death, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexism, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, and Classism

cinthiaurora's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-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

The real tragedy of The Picture of Dorian Gray is actually that the most boring character (Lord Henry) speaks throughout most of it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Sexism, Violence, and Antisemitism

Minor: Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Suicide, Stalking, and Gaslighting