Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

358 reviews

libra_sun's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I went into this book with zero knowledge of the plot, and I think it was the right choice. I couldn't put it down, I wanted to know what was happening and I love the way the mystery unfolded. It was an amazing reflective piece on society's obsession with beauty, and it is still wholly relevant, especially with the rise of social media. The idea that being beautiful means you are good. 
My one critique is that there is a bit of rambling in some passages, but it's kind of par for the course in these types of books. 
Anyways, I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, Gore, Death, and Blood

Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny

paigehf's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Death

Moderate: Gore and Suicide

thalia16's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Death, and Murder

lazmataz's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Death

Moderate: Sexism, Infidelity, Classism, Misogyny, Suicide, and Mental illness

olive_lol's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Murder, and Suicide

Moderate: Violence, Classism, Sexism, and Antisemitism

Minor: Blood, Animal death, and Gun violence

catherinedsharp's review against another edition

dark tense fast-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

DISCLAIMER -  I read this text as a set text for university meaning I did not pick this up for myself. It does not necessarily fit my usual reading selection so my review may be rather biased.

Really poetic and interesting reflection. Got a little slow towards the middle but picked up again and was a dark but good read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Classism, Death, Murder, and Suicide

bookishmagpie's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Body horror, and Death

Moderate: Alcohol, Classism, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Antisemitism, and Drug use

tadah's review against another edition

dark funny medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, and Blood

Moderate: Suicide, Murder, and Death

saintmare's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, and Suicide

Moderate: Misogyny and Antisemitism

katharinaamaliae's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.75

I was really close to giving this book five stars, but in the end I didn't mostly because of just a few pages. I absolutely loved Oscar Wilde's writing, it was so beautiful and really easy to read, however a few parts were just kind of boring to me, for example when he talked about different jewels for like three pages. But that is really the only thing I didn't like.
The topics this book deals with are just so timeless and I think that's why it's still important today. I totally understand why it's a classic, and its definitely worth reading. It is also great if you're not used to reading classics and want to start reading them.

And beauty is a form of genius - is higher, indeed, than genius, as it needs no explanation. It is of the great facts of the world, like sunlight or springtime, or the reflection in the dark waters of that silver shell we call the moon. It cannot be questioned. It has its divine right of sovereignty. It makes princes of those who have it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Suicide and Gun violence