Scan barcode
elihrus's review against another edition
- 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
Well. It's complicated.
I won't talk about the blantant antisemitism and horrible mysoginy, but damn that made it hard to read. I understood that Henry *is* a bad influence, but it was unhinged.
The first half of the book was pretty slow, nothing really happend. But the middle and second part? That was something, and it made the overall experience much much better.
I loved the psychology in this book, it reminded me little bit of The Cremator - how much you can influence one.
I also loved the flower symbolisms throughout the book.
Graphic: Violence, Death, Grief, Misogyny, and Blood
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Suicide, Antisemitism, and Drug abuse
Minor: Classism, Child abuse, and Death of parent
sinkinglighthouse's review against another edition
- 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
i quite enjoy the premise of this, but personally it also feels as thought there are parts that are unnecessarily descriptive, that doesnt add much to the plot, character , or themes. so it can get a little draggy, chapter 11 especially. it also feels like lord henry gets a little repetitive towards the end.
again, the premise is quite interesting, but i walked into this thinking we'd get to see more of dorian's corruption, etc. which is portrayed, but personally i feel it was quite short as compared to the intro bit (and general descriptive bits). actually honestly the ending was a little rushed idk. i do wish we could've seen more of basil
cool premise, terrible characters, slightly weird pacing. but overall kinda fun, i think.
Moderate: Classism and Drug use
enoemo's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Suicide, Classism, Colonisation, Stalking, Antisemitism, Blood, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Racial slurs, Drug abuse, and Racism
gwenisnonbinary's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Toxic friendship, Suicide, and Murder
Moderate: Classism and Antisemitism
ellelockley's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Homophobia, Death, Alcohol, Classism, Infidelity, and Misogyny
clairanlage's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Moderate: Antisemitism, Addiction, Classism, and Murder
jill_m17's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Moderate: Misogyny, Antisemitism, Infidelity, Death, Suicide, Murder, and Classism
joyolivia's review against another edition
4.75
Moderate: Addiction, Antisemitism, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Classism
trintrin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Behind every exquisite thing that existed, there was something tragic.
This quote perfectly sums up the exquisitely tragic story that is Dorian Gray's.
The first classic that I have ever voluntarily fully read and oh boy did I love it. The descriptions just seemed so poetic and the writing is so fluid. It almost felt magical and whimsical reading some of those passages despite this book not having any magic at all. My only complaint is no normal person is gonna be spewing formal poetry for two whole pages in a normal conversation lol. I thought this writing style would be hard to read but it flowed really well for the most part. The only section I was actually bored by was in chapter 11 when we get pages long descriptions of Dorian's various new hobbies and interests. I found it too much like an info dump-y Wikipedia copy paste or something. That alone made me put the book down for nearly a week before continuing whoops.
The characters are amazing imo. Dorian started out pretty boring but I started loving him more and more as his character progressed. Lord Henry is... interesting, to say the least. I admire him for the confidence he has in his views and I'm also also scared of finding someone like him irl. Poor Basil got caught up in this mess I feel bad for him. Sybil Vane and her family were more or less there only to further the plot but I didn't particularly mind that. But my biggest question is, how do these people socialise so much? I feel exhausted reading about all the operas and dinners and clubs they go to like everyday. My introverted self could never.
I didn't know what I was thinking the ending would be but it wasn't what I expected. I knew this was going to be tragic but the abruptness of it all it still sort of took me by surprise.
Overall, an amazing book definitely worth the read.
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Blood, Death, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Gaslighting, and Infidelity
Minor: Alcohol, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Drug use
Don't listen to anything the literal embodiment of misogyny and sexism aka Lord Henry says please and thank you. Nothing good comes out of that man's mouthzombie4brainz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Murder, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicide and Grief