the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A classic in so many ways with poignant reflections on youth, beauty and what makes a good person. There are also so many layers of queerness in each of the characters and their relationships.
It is certainly a product of its time, with several sexist comments and some antisemitic portrayals. Readers should be aware of this before beginning to read
It is certainly a product of its time, with several sexist comments and some antisemitic portrayals. Readers should be aware of this before beginning to read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Death, Murder, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, and Blood
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Antisemitism
passionatereader78's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-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
3.5
I love the movie Legend of Extraordinary Gentleman which has a great Dorian Gray character. I have always wanted to read the book that was the bases for that character. This was interesting. I enjoyed the overall plot. Dorian Gray is Basil's muse. He is introduced to Lord Henry by Basil who is an artist. Dorian and Lord Henry become friends. Lord Henry influences Dorian's decisions. Lord Henry remains me of chaos. He's there to cause problems and watch the fall out. Basil paints a perfect picture of Dorian. Dorian believes he is in love with an actress named Cybil. As the years pass Dorian doesn't age, however,his portrait does. The portrait reflects the decisions Dorian has made throughout his life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Suicide
bblanka's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Drug use, and Death
ckavella's review against another edition
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Addiction, and Murder
colin_s'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
4.25
Quote:
“Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”
Setting:
The Picture of Doian Gray is set in a fictional Victorian English city. I found the city itself to be full of life and a bit of a character on it's own, full of sin wherever the reader went.
Plot:
Our story follows a young Dorian Gray as he get's his portrait painted by Basil Hallward. The name sake of the book comes out amazingly, Basil's best work. Soon enough Dorian wishes the painting would grow old and he would stay young. However one should be careful what they wish for as Dorian is soon to find out.
Writing:
Oscar Wilde's writing is tough to handle at times. I will admit a large part of that is when it was written and the changes in language since then. Previous to this attempt I had tried to read this book 4 different times and the first part was tough to get through, around the half way point I found myself used to this writing style and didn't mind it nearly as much.
Characters:
There isn't a wide array of cast in this novel, and I found myself sort of hating each character in their own way and for their own reason. I feel this actually does this novel well as it has a message and it is best deliveried due to this dislike of each character.
Pros:
A solid story with a message
Excellent character study
Cons:
Writing is tough to start
Ending feels quite rushed
Recommendation:
This novel likely needs no introduction. It is a Gothic classic in every sense and deserves a read. That took me 4 attempts so my biggest recommendation is don't force it. Try reading the book and if you can't break through take a break, put it down. Then after some time try again. I promise it's worth a read and wasn't what I expected exactly even knowing the premise ahead of time.
“Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”
Setting:
The Picture of Doian Gray is set in a fictional Victorian English city. I found the city itself to be full of life and a bit of a character on it's own, full of sin wherever the reader went.
Plot:
Our story follows a young Dorian Gray as he get's his portrait painted by Basil Hallward. The name sake of the book comes out amazingly, Basil's best work. Soon enough Dorian wishes the painting would grow old and he would stay young. However one should be careful what they wish for as Dorian is soon to find out.
Writing:
Oscar Wilde's writing is tough to handle at times. I will admit a large part of that is when it was written and the changes in language since then. Previous to this attempt I had tried to read this book 4 different times and the first part was tough to get through, around the half way point I found myself used to this writing style and didn't mind it nearly as much.
Characters:
There isn't a wide array of cast in this novel, and I found myself sort of hating each character in their own way and for their own reason. I feel this actually does this novel well as it has a message and it is best deliveried due to this dislike of each character.
Pros:
A solid story with a message
Excellent character study
Cons:
Writing is tough to start
Ending feels quite rushed
Recommendation:
This novel likely needs no introduction. It is a Gothic classic in every sense and deserves a read. That took me 4 attempts so my biggest recommendation is don't force it. Try reading the book and if you can't break through take a break, put it down. Then after some time try again. I promise it's worth a read and wasn't what I expected exactly even knowing the premise ahead of time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Suicide
Minor: Drug use
nanamikento's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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
4.0
babe dorian if you need something to combat youth, in the modern day you just need a good sunscreen! no need for a whole portrait from basil who offered you unrequited love, no years of corruption by lord henry told in an extraneous chapter of luxury disguised as culture, no , no crime coverups. just a good spf50 pa++++ reef-safe sunscreen with some retinol or vitamin c and you'll have a guiltless young face.
this book is a nice read if you want to let go of the obsessions to youthfulness and vanity. also nostalgia maybe.
Spoiler
murdersthis book is a nice read if you want to let go of the obsessions to youthfulness and vanity. also nostalgia maybe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Murder
lydia_books's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Suicide
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
“Words! Mere Words! How terrible they were! How clear, and vivid, and cruel! One cannot escape from them. And yet what a subtle magic there was in them! They seemed to be able to give a plastic form to the formless things, and to have a music of their own, as sweet as the viol or of lute. Mere words? Was there anything so real as words?”-The Picture of Dorian Gray
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Murder, and Sexism
katewhite77's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
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
A queer classic
I can't remember a book that has surprised me so much with all its twists and turns. Elements of the super natural also appear.
This is my first time reading Wilde and it won't be last. There are so many famous quotes in this novel alone.
There are some racial slurs which are of their time. The internalised hemophobia drips off most pages but that is why it is such an important book to read now.
I can't remember a book that has surprised me so much with all its twists and turns. Elements of the super natural also appear.
This is my first time reading Wilde and it won't be last. There are so many famous quotes in this novel alone.
There are some racial slurs which are of their time. The internalised hemophobia drips off most pages but that is why it is such an important book to read now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Murder
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Blood, Body horror, and Suicide
hello_lovely13's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Antisemitism, Misogyny, and Sexism