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bjork5ever's review
4.0
A great pocket read! And a treat to read out loud, as always with Oscar Wilde. Very interesting rhyming devices. The main poem is amazing, and is darker and more apathetic than Wilde's usual work.
beth_jwilliams's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
If you’re looking for the theme of bittersweet love.
spacestationtrustfund's review
2.0
"The Ballad of Reading Gaol" is the best poem in this collection by a lot. The others are solidly mediocre.IHe did not wear his scarlet coat,
For blood and wine are red,
And blood and wine were on his hands
When they found him with the dead,
The poor dead woman whom he loved,
And murdered in her bed.
oliii_24's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
It’s a great book of poems, I’m completely in love with Wilde. But he does reference A LOT of things I had to look up (especially Greek mythology, which was super fun).
Also he’s obsessed with Endymion, a Greek man that fell in love with Selene the moon, and viceversa, so it was interesting and a bit repetitive. BUT I think Wilde would have loved watching Sailor Moon and that makes me happy.
Also he’s obsessed with Endymion, a Greek man that fell in love with Selene the moon, and viceversa, so it was interesting and a bit repetitive. BUT I think Wilde would have loved watching Sailor Moon and that makes me happy.
oliviavukovics's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
prosewhore's review
3.0
Perhaps because I lack references, a lot in the poems in this book didn't appeal to me as much as I thought they would.
There is a lot of repetition throughout this book and I wonder if it was done purposefully (as to create some kind of continuity..).
I did very much love "The ballad of Reading Gaol", which is of course the main point of focus here, what a beautiful, crushing poem. And to think that he was imprisoned for having homosexual relationships makes this all the worse. Going through this, for loving another human being... I can barely fathom the horrors of prison in these times.
There are other poems in this book that I loved of course, just to name a few: "The grave of Keats", " Silentium Amoris", "Fantaisies Decoratives".. None of which are even on the same level as "The ballad" though.
There is a lot of repetition throughout this book and I wonder if it was done purposefully (as to create some kind of continuity..).
I did very much love "The ballad of Reading Gaol", which is of course the main point of focus here, what a beautiful, crushing poem. And to think that he was imprisoned for having homosexual relationships makes this all the worse. Going through this, for loving another human being... I can barely fathom the horrors of prison in these times.
There are other poems in this book that I loved of course, just to name a few: "The grave of Keats", " Silentium Amoris", "Fantaisies Decoratives".. None of which are even on the same level as "The ballad" though.
olio's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5