A review by linasbooks
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-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

5.0

In tears. I’m crying for how Wilde perfectly depicts his characters. His sentence structures. His parallelism. I’m crying because I’ve never read anything like this before.

In the picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde discusses what consequences eternal beauty and youth have on the life of an individual, who also happens to be easily influenced by his so called “wise” friend, Lord Henry. But we also follow the life of the portrait, painted by the artist Basil Hallward, and how it captures an individual’s soul.

This novel is rich in beautiful prose, imagery and descriptions of the setting and environment that perfectly align with the character’s mood at the time. Every character is so complex in their own dangerous but beautiful way.

“Conscience and cowardice are really the same thing, Basil. Conscience is the trade-name of the firm. That is all.”
“Behind every exquisite thing that ever existed, there was something tragic. Worlds had to be in travail, that the meanest flower might blow…”

And a bunch of other lines that absolutely wretched me.

Every sentence written by the exquisite Oscar Wilde is so well crafted. I am in awe. That is all.
Also, I would’ve absolutely adored a Lord Henry book. I want more of his philosophy. 
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