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A review by j_j_max
The Uncensored Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
3.0
(Disclaimer: I have not read the original, uncensored version.) I don’t think this was book was bad by any means, but it was just okay. There were horrifically boring parts (especially the beginning) that I found myself fighting to push through, but other parts I flew through with interest.
My biggest complaint for this novel is that there could’ve been more development over time of Dorian, instead of what seemed to be a switch being flipped on - not the most believable in my opinion. In addition, as another reviewer said, there’s reference to other events and people that we know nothing about. I think expansions on those would have helped with that character development I am struggling with.
Regardless, I think the themes of youth, beauty, and influence were easy to grasp and were a good discussion on them/impactful/applicable. Those themes just would have hit harder with more expansion. I also loved the hints of queerness throughout the novel, though as others have stated, the introduction kind of blue balled us with expectations.
My biggest complaint for this novel is that there could’ve been more development over time of Dorian, instead of what seemed to be a switch being flipped on - not the most believable in my opinion. In addition, as another reviewer said, there’s reference to other events and people that we know nothing about. I think expansions on those would have helped with that character development I am struggling with.
Regardless, I think the themes of youth, beauty, and influence were easy to grasp and were a good discussion on them/impactful/applicable. Those themes just would have hit harder with more expansion. I also loved the hints of queerness throughout the novel, though as others have stated, the introduction kind of blue balled us with expectations.