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A review by loosetoothfool
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
finally finished this classic. it only took a month but it felt longer tbh. my feelings are complicated about this work. it is one of the most renowned classics yet i found it hard to get through. i did find the writing splendid for the most part, i have many lines and passages underlined for their thought provoking nature and beautiful construction and word usage - but then there were a couple of chapters in the middle that bored me so much that i stopped reading lmao. so i can't say that i loved the writing whole heartedly.
the story was of course intriguing and shocking, but also quite slow at other times, and i must say i was quite confused at times too. all this talk of "sinful" acts that Dorian was doing yet we never were really told what they were, or at least i was too dumb to understand. one has to assume that part of these "sins" was relationships with men, knowing about Oscar Wildes sexuality and how this book was used against him in his trial. I guess it was ambiguous for that very reason. additionally, the character of Alan I think his name was, I don't know if I am right or wrong in assuming that their relationship was romantic/sexual because of how they acted toward each other in the chapter that he is in. of course basil is also stated to have romantic feelings toward Dorian, so that ones more obvious. but yeah I was confused by what Dorian and Henry were talking about when they talked about sins and whatnot.
i found the reappearance of the Vane man, I think that's his name, Sybils brother, to be one of the best plot points in the book. that shocked me.
overall I must say that I do completely understand why this work is so beloved and revered. it is very interesting and thought provoking and shocking and intriguing, but for me it was at times too slow, ambiguous, boring and even too fast moving that it didn't hold my attention and interest through out. nevertheless, I bet I will be returning to read some of the passages I have marked because they are truly amazing.
the story was of course intriguing and shocking, but also quite slow at other times, and i must say i was quite confused at times too.
i found the reappearance of the Vane man, I think that's his name, Sybils brother, to be one of the best plot points in the book. that shocked me.
overall I must say that I do completely understand why this work is so beloved and revered. it is very interesting and thought provoking and shocking and intriguing, but for me it was at times too slow, ambiguous, boring and even too fast moving that it didn't hold my attention and interest through out. nevertheless, I bet I will be returning to read some of the passages I have marked because they are truly amazing.