Reviews - The Star-Child | The StoryGraph

I really enjoyed some of these short stories, they always have a hidden and deeper meaning so it was very reflective. Some of them towards the end were a bit long and repetitive. Ifs clear Oscar wild has a distinct writing style from some of these stories. My favourites were the happy prince and the selfish giant!

paperbacksplease's review

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funny reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

h0eziersleaf's review

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3.0

Humans are the worst and every story in this proves it. I remember reading a few of these stories when i was 7 and this sent be back to the classroom where i read them. The Happy Prince stood out to me then and it did to me this time, i also really liked the selfish giant, and the nightingale and the rose, the rest were alright i guess.

faysantillo's review against another edition

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2.0

somehow I knew all these stories already. more suitable for reading to children

fenvizh's review

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It pains me so greatly to not give this book five stars... But there is one story in this collection that I absolutely did not enjoy and I cannot kid myself about it: The Young Prince. Something about the way it was written made it such a tedious read for me. Had it not been included, certainly I would have rated this perfectly...
Regardless, Oscar Wilde must be, presently, my favorite English author. There are some absolutely delightful short stories (fairy tales) in here, and I'm very much recommending it to everyone. I fear I am approaching the end of Wilde's standard fiction; obviously he only ever had one novel published -- that being Dorian Gray -- and this collection includes the greater portion of his published short stories. I suppose I will move on to his plays and essays, but I am now wishing that he had written more novels...

flissreads's review

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challenging dark inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Complicated

4.75

areykaminsk's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

timmytunter's review

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dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Oscar Wilde’s The Star-Child is a captivating collection of short stories that I found to be a heady mix of bittersweetness, sentimentality, romance, melancholy, and humour. Wilde’s ability to delve into the complexities of human nature is impressive, and his stories often left me reflecting on the value of love and kindness over ambition and vanity.

Two of the standout stories for me were The Happy Prince and The Selfish Giant. These stories are filled with deep emotional resonance and a strong moral core, offering readers a glimpse into the power of love and selflessness. The Happy Prince particularly struck me with its portrayal of a statue who, despite being adored by all for its beauty, finds true fulfillment only in sacrificing itself for the welfare of others. Similarly, The Selfish Giant offers a beautiful allegory on the importance of generosity and how love can transform even the coldest of hearts.

On the other hand, The Young King felt somewhat forgettable. While it contains Wilde’s characteristic wit and social commentary, it didn’t resonate with me as strongly as some of the other stories in the collection. However, this does little to diminish the overall impact of the book.

What struck me most about Wilde’s writing is his ability to articulate the subtle nuances of human behaviour that many of us can relate to. For instance, in The Birthday of the Infanta, Wilde captures the pretensions of human behaviour with a touch of humour:

They did not understand a single word of what he was saying, but that made no matter, for they put their heads on one side, and looked wise, which is quite as good as understanding a thing, and very much easier.

Wilde’s shrewd observations of human foibles are both amusing and insightful, and he often addresses these flaws in clever ways. In The Remarkable Rocket, his satirical wit shines through in the character of the Rocket, who embodies self-centredness and vanity to a comical degree:

‘You are a very irritating person,’ said the Rocket, ‘and very ill-bred. I hate people who talk about themselves, as you do, when one wants to talk about oneself, as I do. It is what I call selfishness, and selfishness is a most detestable thing, especially to any one of my temperament, for I am well known for my sympathetic nature.’

Overall, I rate The Star-Boy 4 out of 5 stars. While not every story is equally memorable, Wilde’s ability to blend humour with melancholy and his keen insight into human nature make this collection well worth reading. You may not always find a happy ending in these tales, but you will undoubtedly be left contemplating the complexities of the human condition and the enduring value of love and kindness.

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