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avacronin's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I'd just like to note here that I read this book because of school, which explains why the read dates are quite long
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a classic that I think everybody should have the chance to read at least once in their life. It's a powerful story with a magical element to it, and certainly deserves the role as a classic piece of literature. However, it most definitely is not a perfect story, and revolves around the faults of the main characters. Throughout the description of faults is beautifully descriptive paragraphs, which may bore some.
I do agree that some characters in this book (cough cough Dorian and Lord Henry) can be incredibly annoying, however the fact that these characters infuriated me and so many others show that we have morals, unlike those characters. The faults of these characters, and the way in which they are overlooked in the presence of money and power is one of the messages and themes in this novel, and a powerful one it is.
While this book may not be to everybody's taste, I did enjoy the experience I had reading it. I do however suggest reading the trigger warnings before reading, as many things are described in great details.
The Pros
- I know it may not seem like a pro to some readers, but I really did like the brutally honest way in which the lower class areas were described, and how different the descriptions were compared to those of the upper class, taking Lord Henry's house for example. It serves as a way to show how Victorian Era London actually was, the bad parts (like the opium dens) included. However, I did also appreciate the way in which Wilde described most things in this book.
The Cons
- I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed and slightly underwhelming. Although I got part of what I wanted, it just was not as satisfying as I wished it would have been. The only good part about it was that I didn't expect it at all.
I would recommend this book for people to at least try and read once in their life. It carries a deeper message, and if you take anything from it, take the message to never live a life like Dorian
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a classic that I think everybody should have the chance to read at least once in their life. It's a powerful story with a magical element to it, and certainly deserves the role as a classic piece of literature. However, it most definitely is not a perfect story, and revolves around the faults of the main characters. Throughout the description of faults is beautifully descriptive paragraphs, which may bore some.
I do agree that some characters in this book (cough cough Dorian and Lord Henry) can be incredibly annoying, however the fact that these characters infuriated me and so many others show that we have morals, unlike those characters. The faults of these characters, and the way in which they are overlooked in the presence of money and power is one of the messages and themes in this novel, and a powerful one it is.
While this book may not be to everybody's taste, I did enjoy the experience I had reading it. I do however suggest reading the trigger warnings before reading, as many things are described in great details.
The Pros
- I know it may not seem like a pro to some readers, but I really did like the brutally honest way in which the lower class areas were described, and how different the descriptions were compared to those of the upper class, taking Lord Henry's house for example. It serves as a way to show how Victorian Era London actually was, the bad parts (like the opium dens) included. However, I did also appreciate the way in which Wilde described most things in this book.
The Cons
- I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed and slightly underwhelming. Although I got part of what I wanted, it just was not as satisfying as I wished it would have been. The only good part about it was that I didn't expect it at all.
I would recommend this book for people to at least try and read once in their life. It carries a deeper message, and if you take anything from it, take the message to never live a life like Dorian
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Blood, Classism, Death, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction and Drug use
madinhoa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gore, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, and Stalking
florecita_lectora's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Classism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Suicide, and Gore
rory_john14's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Blood, Addiction, Antisemitism, Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Stalking, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, and Infidelity
Minor: Confinement, Alcoholism, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Grief
crisi_books's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
4/5 ⭐️
Oscar Wilde is wild and blatantly gay for writing this. The homoerotic undertones were severe and despite its vagueness, it’s honestly a wonder how this ever got published in 1890 with how obviously gay it is.
Is it bad to say I almost hated every character in this book, and yet still really enjoyed it? No? Okay.
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a fascinating examination of vanity, greed, and all those things that just make you hate people. The prose is mystical and keeps that feel about it that most gothic novels have, which I’ve learned is difficult to read more than a paragraph of when you’re running on four hours of sleep and the sheer force of will.
I could hardly put this book down despite finding it a difficult to read, which says a lot on how gripping and compelling it is. If I put it down for a second it was all I could think about and so I had to pick it back up. Oscar Wilde has wormed his way into my brain and will probably stay there for a solid while.
A lot of the discussions about aestheticism and philosophy do come off as a little preachy (especially bc Henry Wotton can’t help but spew a paragraph about how lovely youth is and other shit every two pages), and there is sexist and misogynistic commentary, but overall it is thought provoking and intriguing.
Oh, Dorian. Poor Dorian. You dumb, dumb boy.
Oscar Wilde is wild and blatantly gay for writing this. The homoerotic undertones were severe and despite its vagueness, it’s honestly a wonder how this ever got published in 1890 with how obviously gay it is.
Is it bad to say I almost hated every character in this book, and yet still really enjoyed it? No? Okay.
The Picture of Dorian Gray is a fascinating examination of vanity, greed, and all those things that just make you hate people. The prose is mystical and keeps that feel about it that most gothic novels have, which I’ve learned is difficult to read more than a paragraph of when you’re running on four hours of sleep and the sheer force of will.
I could hardly put this book down despite finding it a difficult to read, which says a lot on how gripping and compelling it is. If I put it down for a second it was all I could think about and so I had to pick it back up. Oscar Wilde has wormed his way into my brain and will probably stay there for a solid while.
A lot of the discussions about aestheticism and philosophy do come off as a little preachy (especially bc Henry Wotton can’t help but spew a paragraph about how lovely youth is and other shit every two pages), and there is sexist and misogynistic commentary, but overall it is thought provoking and intriguing.
Oh, Dorian. Poor Dorian. You dumb, dumb boy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Classism, and Death
Moderate: Gun violence, Gore, Infidelity, Violence, Suicide, and Stalking
schivakumaran's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
Exquisite work. Very thought provoking on morality, religion, cynicism, the decay of rich people when they have all the choice and options in world yet chose to be depraved. Very sordid tale of what only living for your own pleasure can do you. It's almost introspective where I think every human would think what would I do if there was no consequence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Addiction, Gore, Death, and Blood
drmblu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Misogyny, Gore, Murder, and Death
Minor: Antisemitism and Toxic friendship
woahnelly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.25
This used to be a 5* baby for me, but alas upon reading it the second time, I found a lot of it rather annoying. Well, more specifically, Lord Henry is an absolute knob and I find his paradoxical manner totally tosh - I know it's the point of his character though (to consistently utter sayings that sound meaningful, but in actual fact, are bloomin' balderdash). Wilde was a fan of aestheticism, and hence this character has reason for being in the novel, for the mere fact he has no reason at all (oh, would you look at that - I'm being a paradoxical piece of poop) - the novel doesn't intend to be moral, or immoral, or serve any purpose other than to exist as art, and certainly the poeticism and lyricism of the contents solidify it as such, but pfft it still grinds my gears! Anyways, I do recommend this and it is enjoyable - you've just got to put up with some complete trashtalk and middle-class poppycock. Wilde is undoubtedly a talented author, though (or "was", rather... RIP), and is quite probably one of my favourites - I think I've just grown more critical in my old age, but yeah, give it a go!
p.s. don't get me wrong, this book still slaps and touches on some very interesting and *mysterious* (ooo) topics of the Victorian era. Now that I think of it, I might've been a tad harsh
Oh....but if I remember rightly, there was some casual antisemitism in there so pfft suck it!
(Actually I've revised my review overall, boosting it from a 3.75 becauseeee I can't get it out of my mind - it's quite profound in its nothingness, but its being simply art).
p.s. don't get me wrong, this book still slaps and touches on some very interesting and *mysterious* (ooo) topics of the Victorian era. Now that I think of it, I might've been a tad harsh
Oh....but if I remember rightly, there was some casual antisemitism in there so pfft suck it!
(Actually I've revised my review overall, boosting it from a 3.75 becauseeee I can't get it out of my mind - it's quite profound in its nothingness, but its being simply art).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Blood, and Gore
century's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Drug use, Gore, Blood, Grief, Murder, Suicide, Classism, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
ambdocksey22's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
4.5
The only reason I am not giving this book 5 stars is because of the racially insensitive language throughout the book. I understand the time that it was written but I hated reading through every passage that contained a slur or some kind of racial hatred.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Antisemitism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Gore, Gun violence, Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence