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seawarrior's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
While some passages in this book were terribly dull to me, Wilde's dazzling language and audacious characters kept drawing my interest back in. I'm fortunate to have just read the works of a few of the philosophers referenced in this book for college, though I'm sure there were several references to other works of literature and ethics systems that went over my head. The edition of the book I had access to did not provide citations of other works Wilde referenced, but I imagine one that did would have only made my reading experience richer.
I'm sure that most of what I can say about this book in regards to its philosophy and history has already been said by someone more knowledgeable that me, so I won't go into my thoughts on those matters. As a horror story I think it still holds up well in the modern day. Dorian's descent into soullessness grows more chilling by the chapter, as his sins culminate and lead to his ultimate end. Wilde's wit and descriptive language made the scenery and characters come alive, and as the book went on I felt it less challenging to make sense of his dense paragraphs and philosophies. I would recommend this book to other readers. It remains a classic not only for Wilde's adept writing, but the controversy it caused at the time of publication.
I'm sure that most of what I can say about this book in regards to its philosophy and history has already been said by someone more knowledgeable that me, so I won't go into my thoughts on those matters. As a horror story I think it still holds up well in the modern day. Dorian's descent into soullessness grows more chilling by the chapter, as his sins culminate and lead to his ultimate end. Wilde's wit and descriptive language made the scenery and characters come alive, and as the book went on I felt it less challenging to make sense of his dense paragraphs and philosophies. I would recommend this book to other readers. It remains a classic not only for Wilde's adept writing, but the controversy it caused at the time of publication.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Misogyny, Suicide, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Antisemitism, and Grief
selmv's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.25
tiene el final perfecto . . da igual q sea predecible, está escrito de una manera q m gusta mucho . .
es super tragico ver la evolución d 1 personaje q empieza siendo tan puro e inocente y "nuevo" y crece para ser (o siendo) alguien taaan corrupto, es 1 concepto muy triste pero a la vez tan interesante . . es mucho mejor q los villanos q son malos d manera innata o q simplemente lo son abiertamente; cuando la gente es mala en secreto me produce 1 fascinación increíble a la vez q mucho miedo pq oh em gee es aterrador - pero justamente de eso carece el libro!!!!!!! no tiene descripciones d lo cruel o corrupto que era dorian durante su crecimiento y tal, sino q nos lo hace entender d maneras muy vagas etece !!!!!!!!!! pero descripciones d cosas banales no faltan :: hubo una parte en la que me enteré d hasta los mas pequeños e inutiles detalles d las telas d damasco y las joyas exoticas y los instrumentos de marrakech con los q dorian tuvo la suerte (o no suerte?) de interactuar d 1 manera u otra Z z zz z zZ z okay rich boy !
en mi cabeza habia escrito 1 reseña tan bien hecha y elaborada expresando lo q pienso del libro pero no sé organizarla ahora q me he puesto en ello . . bueno, tampoco m voy a molestar en ponerle esfuerzo a una reseña d goodreads tee hee ! pero quizás en el futuro edite esto y explique bien mi opinión . . o alome me reservo ese esfuerzo para mi futuro diario de lecturas (q seguramente abandone a medio hacer, como todo lo q hago) aaaaahh necesito leer algo mega devastador algo q m rompa la vida !!!!!!!!!!
es super tragico ver la evolución d 1 personaje q empieza siendo tan puro e inocente y "nuevo" y crece para ser (o siendo) alguien taaan corrupto, es 1 concepto muy triste pero a la vez tan interesante . . es mucho mejor q los villanos q son malos d manera innata o q simplemente lo son abiertamente; cuando la gente es mala en secreto me produce 1 fascinación increíble a la vez q mucho miedo pq oh em gee es aterrador - pero justamente de eso carece el libro!!!!!!! no tiene descripciones d lo cruel o corrupto que era dorian durante su crecimiento y tal, sino q nos lo hace entender d maneras muy vagas etece !!!!!!!!!! pero descripciones d cosas banales no faltan :: hubo una parte en la que me enteré d hasta los mas pequeños e inutiles detalles d las telas d damasco y las joyas exoticas y los instrumentos de marrakech con los q dorian tuvo la suerte (o no suerte?) de interactuar d 1 manera u otra Z z zz z zZ z okay rich boy !
en mi cabeza habia escrito 1 reseña tan bien hecha y elaborada expresando lo q pienso del libro pero no sé organizarla ahora q me he puesto en ello . . bueno, tampoco m voy a molestar en ponerle esfuerzo a una reseña d goodreads tee hee ! pero quizás en el futuro edite esto y explique bien mi opinión . . o alome me reservo ese esfuerzo para mi futuro diario de lecturas (q seguramente abandone a medio hacer, como todo lo q hago) aaaaahh necesito leer algo mega devastador algo q m rompa la vida !!!!!!!!!!
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death and Suicide
laurendenton's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Suicide, and Blood
Minor: Animal death, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury
maddy_s's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Homophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Suicide, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Fire/Fire injury, and Outing
morganrie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Blood, and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Animal death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Suicide, and Violence
icseruk's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Sexism, and Suicide
wthanyell's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
4.25
“A chance tone of colour in a room or a morning sky, a particular perfume that you had once loved and that brings subtle memories with it, a line from a forgotten poem you had come across again, a cadence from a piece of music that you had ceased to play - I tell you, Dorian, that it is on things like these that our lives depend.”
As my first Wilde read, I could not get over how much of a vivid visual experience this book was. Especially in the initial few chapters where we meet the primary 3 characters of the novel; Dorian, Lord Henry & Basil. The description of the gardens and the scene of the initial painting were particularly striking.
There is some plot movement to this story, particularly in regards to the progression of Dorian's portrait but this is majorly an inner turmoil and events that affect the psych of Dorian Gray. Dorian is an absolutely abhorrent character; I couldn't stop disliking him more and more. How did he watch a single 3 hour play and decide that Sibyl was no longer the love of his life? During once particular chapter, Dorian talks of his collections of embroidery, tapestries and jewels which spans for pages. It is quite a drag and maybe has some historical value but it bored and distracted me. I do feel that this was purposeful as it deterred so much from Wilde's momentum; it perhaps imitated ways of distracting himself... "everything that he collected in his lovely house, were to be to him means of forgetfulness, modes by which he would escape, for a season."
I do love how the story ends for Dorian and how many of his evils, vices & sins are implied but still relatively vague as it leaves room for the imagination.
Dorian, Lord Henry & I'm sure of many others are consistently misogynistic and rude. It's so gross to read but I guess that was the ideal of the times? The writing style in this novel is very accessible for a classic written in the 1890s so it's hard to remember that it is VERY old at times, with old opinions in them.
Overall I loved Oscar Wilde's writing style and wouldn't hesitate to possibly pick up another of his writings. Here are some quotes from this book that I liked:
“.. none of us can stand other people having the same faults as ourselves.”
“I once wore nothing but violets all through one season, as a form of artistic mourning for a romance that would not die... I forget what killed it. I think it was her proposing to sacrifice the whole world for me. That is always a dreadful moment. It fills one with the terror of eternity.”
“To get back my youth I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable.”
"Each time that one loves is the only time one has ever loved."
Characters: 9/10 they're so horrid its good
Plot: 7/10
Writing/Style: 10/10
Enjoyment: 7/10
Overall: 4/5
As my first Wilde read, I could not get over how much of a vivid visual experience this book was. Especially in the initial few chapters where we meet the primary 3 characters of the novel; Dorian, Lord Henry & Basil. The description of the gardens and the scene of the initial painting were particularly striking.
There is some plot movement to this story, particularly in regards to the progression of Dorian's portrait but this is majorly an inner turmoil and events that affect the psych of Dorian Gray. Dorian is an absolutely abhorrent character; I couldn't stop disliking him more and more.
I do love how the story ends for Dorian and how many of his evils, vices & sins are implied but still relatively vague as it leaves room for the imagination.
Dorian, Lord Henry & I'm sure of many others are consistently misogynistic and rude. It's so gross to read but I guess that was the ideal of the times? The writing style in this novel is very accessible for a classic written in the 1890s so it's hard to remember that it is VERY old at times, with old opinions in them.
Overall I loved Oscar Wilde's writing style and wouldn't hesitate to possibly pick up another of his writings. Here are some quotes from this book that I liked:
“.. none of us can stand other people having the same faults as ourselves.”
“I once wore nothing but violets all through one season, as a form of artistic mourning for a romance that would not die... I forget what killed it. I think it was her proposing to sacrifice the whole world for me. That is always a dreadful moment. It fills one with the terror of eternity.”
“To get back my youth I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early, or be respectable.”
"Each time that one loves is the only time one has ever loved."
Characters: 9/10 they're so horrid its good
Plot: 7/10
Writing/Style: 10/10
Enjoyment: 7/10
Overall: 4/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Murder
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Blood, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Antisemitism