Reviews tagging 'Emotional abuse'

El Retrato de Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

33 reviews

kreglow's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

One of those books where I understand why it's a classic, but it just doesn't resonate with me. Mainly, the story would have been engaging if there was more focus on the plot rather than meandering and focusing on Wilde's philosophies. Honestly, this would have worked better as a stage play, something akin to Wilde's The Importance of Being Ernest.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, and Murder

breezer's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

F*ck around and find out but make it gay and set in the 1800s

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Blood, Murder, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Suicide

reading_on_the_moon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Suicide, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Suicide

evemlacey's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

The Picture of Dorian Gray was a wonderful read- and luckily, I went into it free of spoilers. I was rather satisfied with the ending. I felt as if it could've been slightly more dramatic but otherwise, I found it a logical yet poetic finish to the book.

If I could describe this book in three words, I would say eerie, meaningful, and poetic. Reading this made me realise once again what an incredible writer Oscar Wilde was. I've seen a few negative reviews from the book, but I genuinely enjoyed it.

I think a lot of people assume that Dorian Gray sells his soul to Lucifer, which is not true. I was a little confused at first but essentially, he just makes a wish to stay youthful and the portrait to instead reflect his age. It is unexplained how that works- but I like when the reader has to analyse and come to a conclusion by themself.

Overall, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book. It's a must-read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Blood

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

willow1113's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Antisemitism, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Suicide and Toxic relationship

waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Knowing about Oscar Wilde's past is crucial to reading this novel. It's not just that his gayness was an open secret, but that his targets weren't just men, but also boys. As in actual teenage children. Wilde was also openly Antisemitic and misogynistic in his real life and throughout the novel. What his three main characters do, say, think, and feel very closely mirrors Wilde's own. Much like the titular Dorian, it is clear that Wilde suffered from an inflated ego, was bloated with pride, and had a conscience that weighed him down...but not enough to change, grow, or do better. Trigger warnings abound throughout this novel as we watch Dorian explore the world of vice and sin, leaving a body count in his wake.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

marionhoney's review against another edition

dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, and Classism

Minor: Racism and Antisemitism

zauet's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Body shaming

I loved how you could try reading between the lines, find the limit between fiction and what the author was going through, try seeing beyond the censored love story

a cruel love story, between Dorian and the painter (mostly unilateral), or the women he met, as well as the way his other friend, I forgot his name, is enjoying seeing Dorian, slowly become more corrupted

. The main character is also very passionate about beauty and art, but it slowly get more and more twisted... overall a great classic of litterature, but a very dark one.

magicalb1tch's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug use

doriandelioncourt's review against another edition

challenging dark funny informative mysterious reflective medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism