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

challenging dark mysterious sad slow-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

5.0

I absolutely adored this novel. It was super short, and I felt a strong connection to Wilde's writing and many of the themes he tackled. I think you can tell a good classic if the message and themes they explore still have relevance to today's society. It was also beautifully spooky, which I adored, and really made me blow through the last 100 pages. The beginning to me was interesting as well, but there was a connection in the middle that I missed a little bit. There are definitely outdated aspects of this book with the antisemitism and misogyny. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for an accessible classic! 

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