Reviews

Portrait of Dorian Gray: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (Reader's Choice Edition) by Oscar Wilde

freja_johansen's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

"He is all my art to me now"

morgcalabs's review against another edition

4.0

this was such a fun read !! the drammaaa i love it, dudes loving dudes

laneybugxcx's review against another edition

4.0

I love this novel for how it portrays Dorian's ideal image to us while hiding his true nature under a portrait. It kept me wondering what would appear before us next--because after all, art impresses most upon the viewer...It also makes me wonder just how much Dorian actually 'did' because we know he murdered Basil, but really...what else was there? We know he has done a bunch of bad things, but what specifically are they? We truly don't know because we are ultimately viewing what he does as wrong as though we are perceiving him as his portrait form. Really loved Wilde's portrayal of this

4 stars only because I am still so incredibly frustrated at Lord Henry's damn paradoxies....

castorpolluxx's review against another edition

challenging mysterious fast-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

3.75

alongapath's review against another edition

4.0

I can say nothing new about this classic - including why did I wait so long to get to it?.

In those first chapters, I was absolutely enthralled with Wilde's incredible description. You could smell the lilacs and the paint thinner. You could judge these men's wealth and status by the cut of their suits. And you could feel the tension ever-building as young Dorian absorbed the dialogue about the fleeting beauty of youth.
Somewhere in the middle - chapter 15-17 - I felt the whole story stalled out. Dorian was indulging in all things vintage and antique, fixated on what happens to 'things' as they age. These chapters became simple lists of objects that meant nothing to me. The action stopped, as did the conversation. I could have done without.
Luckily it all picked up again after this lull and I fell in love once again with Wilde.

jmcglo's review against another edition

4.0

Thought provoking and disturbing, especially these days. So many cautionary tales of classism, cold-heartedness, and inability to be satisfied.

modernprometheus's review against another edition

dark reflective sad 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

4.5

thebeautyofliterature's review against another edition

5.0

LOVED it! I didn't know the plot to this story at all going in, but it blew my mind.
A full Book and Tea talk video coming soon!

rajacookie's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

iinienii's review against another edition

2.0

A great example of show doesn't tell, wilde tells us that Dorian turned bad, but how? Where? I fell cheated of the most important part of the story, and even at the end we don't gind a much changed Dorian, he is still the same proud selfish character from the beginning who exclaim with horror when Harry speak but goes around thinking the same exact thoughts of self important, I will say if it wasn't for the plot of the story this book will have no value at all. The dialog is repetitive and usually goes the same way, the characters have no growth especially Dorian, I would also say I'm not the biggest fan of the way wilde describes people who are not white or and men if you catch my meaning.
A great disappointment.