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

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

 
  • Summary: ☠🤯😈
  • SPOILERS
  • This story was extremely slow to start. 
  • The plot is interesting enough, where Dorian, the main character, strives to stay youthful.
  • Dorian Gray is an unloveable character, which is the point. He is arrogant and selfish, and lustful.
  • He loves Sibyl, an actress, because she acts so well. When she decides that she can longer act because she has real love for Dorian, he breaks off the engagement. He is cruel.
  • His friend Basil painted a masterpiece of Dorian, and as Dorian is supposed to be physically changing as he gets older, the painting instead shows his age, as well as his cruelty.
  • As his cruelty continues, so does the painting’s wickedness. After murdering his friend and evading Sibyl’s brother through a hunting accident, Dorian is driven mad. He tries to destroy the painting, but the painting ends up destroying him instead. 
  • Listen, I think I didn’t like this book because of the time it was written. It’s an older book, and Oscar Wilde is notorious for detailing things instead of getting to the point.
  • It’s not a style of writing that I like to read, but that’s the beauty of books and book reviews in general; these are my opinion.
  • I did enjoy the plot though, I just wish it wasn’t so long-winded.
  • I would be interested in reading a more recent version of this storyline, I’m not sure that exists but it’s worth looking into. 

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