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emersongracef's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
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
4.0
leakleino's review against another edition
4.0
A great classic! Felt quite philosophical and entertaining to me throughout the whole book, a bit sexist but well it was a different time… there were some slow moments in this book but all in all I really enjoyed it! The ending was PERFECT
lucy_fabulous's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
4.5
It’s a great book. Fascinating plot, pokes fun at society (who doesn’t want that?!), funny at points, and really thought provoking. My only issue is that there is quite a lot of filler, slowing it down a fair bit. This can make it a bit challenging, but I’d say it’s worth a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Suicide, and Gore
Moderate: Classism
mollybrabham's review against another edition
3.0
it’s an interesting concept to consider what society would look like without morality, where the only person who could see your true nature is yourself. i suppose in a sense this is true for most people, but i imagine the guilty of having your sins staring you directly in the face, not allowing you to ignore your true reality must do a lot more harm
i’m not sure i was in the mood for a book that raised such questions
i’m not sure i was in the mood for a book that raised such questions
partytie5's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
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
4.75
raymanesque's review against another edition
3.0
Very flowery descriptive prose and interesting characterization, but a slog to get through
heather_m92's review against another edition
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
elenaxhere's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
5.0
yaramarie's review against another edition
3.0
Second review:
That was good especially that ending, the painting taking revenge. I would say this is a 3.5 to 4 star book. Chapter 11 was tedious but everything before that was splendid. The chapters after 11 where written well but not as fun as everything before 11. And who knew that Henry would end up being a better man than Dorian. Very interesting book to reread. I think that with every reread I will understand more and more as I grow older.
First review:
So I’ve finished this and I’m quite confused the first half was spectacular the dialogue the characters I could actually follow it. But from the point of him receiving the book from Henry I completely lost it so many metaphors and new characters it was quite hard to understand. I definitely must read this book again when I’m perhaps a bit older or am joined with some more concentration. It was a nice read but I’ll have to search some explanations online this was to be expected as this was my first classic novel.
I was fascinated by the time this was written and the setting of the book. Dorian Gray’s character was so interesting and fragile. Lord Henry was hard to comprehend but some of the things he said were very interesting it made me wonder if that was how the author viewed things. As for Basil I think he was the oddest with his fascination about Dorian his obsession it was sad he had to die tough.
The way people thought and acted in this era and the writing style really intrigued me.
To sum up the book:
• there was a painter named basil who had a muse called Dorian Gray who was the perfection of youth whenever he painted him he painted well
•then there was Lord Henry a very sceptic man turning Dorian’s innocent brain dark telling him things he shouldn’t have known till he was older himself
•there was Sybil a girl he loved who killed herself because he was done with her
•there was the painting that drove him to madness and I’m not a 100% sure why maybe because he could do whatever he pleased and still get away with it because he looked as young and innocent as ever
•He killed Basil and hid the evidence
•Eventually he dies himself I’m still not sure how but when he dies he’s switched again with the person in the painting.
So for star ratings it might be more of a 3.5 I’m really doubting between a 3 and a 4 star rating I’ll keep it on 3 for now and who knows maybe when I read it again I’ll change it.
Lastly here are the things I highlighted in this book:
“He is some brainless, beautiful creature,”
“When a woman marries again it is because she detested her first husband. When a man marries again, it is because he adored his first wife. Women try their luck; men risk theirs.”
“His name is Prince Paradox,”
That was good especially that ending, the painting taking revenge. I would say this is a 3.5 to 4 star book. Chapter 11 was tedious but everything before that was splendid. The chapters after 11 where written well but not as fun as everything before 11. And who knew that Henry would end up being a better man than Dorian. Very interesting book to reread. I think that with every reread I will understand more and more as I grow older.
First review:
So I’ve finished this and I’m quite confused the first half was spectacular the dialogue the characters I could actually follow it. But from the point of him receiving the book from Henry I completely lost it so many metaphors and new characters it was quite hard to understand. I definitely must read this book again when I’m perhaps a bit older or am joined with some more concentration. It was a nice read but I’ll have to search some explanations online this was to be expected as this was my first classic novel.
I was fascinated by the time this was written and the setting of the book. Dorian Gray’s character was so interesting and fragile. Lord Henry was hard to comprehend but some of the things he said were very interesting it made me wonder if that was how the author viewed things. As for Basil I think he was the oddest with his fascination about Dorian his obsession it was sad he had to die tough.
The way people thought and acted in this era and the writing style really intrigued me.
To sum up the book:
• there was a painter named basil who had a muse called Dorian Gray who was the perfection of youth whenever he painted him he painted well
•then there was Lord Henry a very sceptic man turning Dorian’s innocent brain dark telling him things he shouldn’t have known till he was older himself
•there was Sybil a girl he loved who killed herself because he was done with her
•there was the painting that drove him to madness and I’m not a 100% sure why maybe because he could do whatever he pleased and still get away with it because he looked as young and innocent as ever
•He killed Basil and hid the evidence
•Eventually he dies himself I’m still not sure how but when he dies he’s switched again with the person in the painting.
So for star ratings it might be more of a 3.5 I’m really doubting between a 3 and a 4 star rating I’ll keep it on 3 for now and who knows maybe when I read it again I’ll change it.
Lastly here are the things I highlighted in this book:
“He is some brainless, beautiful creature,”
“When a woman marries again it is because she detested her first husband. When a man marries again, it is because he adored his first wife. Women try their luck; men risk theirs.”
“His name is Prince Paradox,”
floatwiththesticks's review against another edition
4.0
4.5⭐️ LORD HENRY I LOVE TO HATE YOU. Honestly, every character is so unlikeable and I *devoured* it. A gothic tragedy with a lot of sass and fruity undertones.
(Shout out to the audio narration from Edward Petherbridge - Oscar Wilde’s stunning prose and this man’s acting skills
(Shout out to the audio narration from Edward Petherbridge - Oscar Wilde’s stunning prose and this man’s acting skills