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bebidocrimes's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I don't know why I always assumed Dorian Gray was the top of this bad influence pyramid scheme, I'd not heard much about Lord Henry before reading. I thought I was gonna be turned off by the philosophical discussions, but it was just banger line after banger line whether or not it was an actually insane thing to say. Only one snooze fest chapter, where is was just 'heres the history of jewels and embroidery and shit'. Kinda miss when characters who symbolize something came with a name to match (Vane wants to kill Dorian, are you kidding me?).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism
noura's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Sexism, Suicide, and Antisemitism
Minor: Drug use and Racism
imjumokay's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
fuck lord henry all my homies hate lord henry. good on victoria for leaving that miserable POS. rich people should have their excesses seized. get a job. my copy of this book was old and withered and musty like dorian gray and his crusty ass. basil <3 bby you didnt deserve what you got <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, and Colonisation
Minor: Infidelity and Slavery
athenian_frog's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I loved the atmosphere as well as the SEVERAL footnotes clarifying all the LGBT references Oscar Wilde made for his time. The ones describing what publishers wanted to change were also hilarious, 90% of it was because Wilde was letting his characters act too gay lmao.
The book kinda lost me around the 70% mark, but I came back around to finish it. I think the page-long moments of people speaking were starting to get to me. Reminded me of Plato’s essays where Socrates will talk for a really long time, and I needed a bit of a break during that RIP.
I definitely recommend reading this, though. There are a lot of interesting things to be said about morality, the value of beauty, and how both can influence our perception (like the halo effect).
The book kinda lost me around the 70% mark, but I came back around to finish it. I think the page-long moments of people speaking were starting to get to me. Reminded me of Plato’s essays where Socrates will talk for a really long time, and I needed a bit of a break during that RIP.
I definitely recommend reading this, though. There are a lot of interesting things to be said about morality, the value of beauty, and how both can influence our perception (like the halo effect).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Toxic relationship
eyesofcrows's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
4.5
It’s a truly extraordinary story of vanity and philosophy. Also it’s a lil gay.
I loved the ways each character contrasted and the prose was beautiful. Basil’s adoration for Dorian in the beginning of the novel is quite romantic. I will say, about Lord Henry,he’s the most pretentious, wannabe profound man who’s thinking is solely to mock others and live as frivolously as he wants: it’s in his constant quoting and “debating” that he makes statements so complicated that it becomes hard to argue against. He shuts others down, basically. No wonder no one can stand him. That man is toxin at its most potent. The slow but sure corruption of Dorian Gray combined with the changing world around him was something to behold. And the way they describe the picture, Dorian’s inner monologue, and just all the analogies they pull out was so detailed. Sure, they make many mentions of stories and characters I know nothing about but the context is provided. If Dorian was talking about romance, I’m going to assume whatever random Greek name he mentions has something to do with that.
Sometimes a dialogue can go on for too long and loop into itself or an internal monologue seems longwinded, but I enjoyed it for the most part. Beauty is skin deep and Dorian’s youth really was a mask on top of the hedonist he became. At one point, yes, he was all that Basil’s painting displayed, but he’d corrupted it thoroughly that even Basil couldn’t recognize his soul. Though, we have to admit, Dorian had the makings of it with his vainness. Influence, and the horrible things it can accomplish.
I loved the ways each character contrasted and the prose was beautiful. Basil’s adoration for Dorian in the beginning of the novel is quite romantic. I will say, about Lord Henry,
Sometimes a dialogue can go on for too long and loop into itself or an internal monologue seems longwinded, but I enjoyed it for the most part. Beauty is skin deep and Dorian’s youth really was a mask on top of the hedonist he became. At one point, yes, he was all that Basil’s painting displayed, but he’d corrupted it thoroughly that even Basil couldn’t recognize his soul. Though, we have to admit, Dorian had the makings of it with his vainness. Influence, and the horrible things it can accomplish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Murder
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Gun violence
lucyatoz's review against another edition
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
3.0
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde is about a rich young man, who sits for an artist who paints his portrait. However, there is a curse attached to the painting and the sitter as the painting will age and the man will not!
This results in Dorian's life ultimately spinning out of control, leading to a suicide of a young woman, who is an actress, and the murder of the one man who could be called his only true friend.
The story sometimes felt like it was stuck in a loop, and although is wonderfully written and deserves it place as a classic in literature, it was a struggle for me to read with some chapters feeling out of place whilst others were deeply engaging and moved the narrative forward.
I borrowed a copy of this book from Taunton Library and listened to it on CloudLibrary. I read this for the 52 Book Club Summer Reading Challenge 2024, for prompt 23, Closing Ceremonies, author who hasn't released a book in the past four years.
This results in Dorian's life ultimately spinning out of control, leading to a suicide of a young woman, who is an actress, and the murder of the one man who could be called his only true friend.
The story sometimes felt like it was stuck in a loop, and although is wonderfully written and deserves it place as a classic in literature, it was a struggle for me to read with some chapters feeling out of place whilst others were deeply engaging and moved the narrative forward.
I borrowed a copy of this book from Taunton Library and listened to it on CloudLibrary. I read this for the 52 Book Club Summer Reading Challenge 2024, for prompt 23, Closing Ceremonies, author who hasn't released a book in the past four years.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, Blood, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, and Alcohol
scrb_oodle's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Drug use, Racism, and Antisemitism
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Antisemitism, and Murder
lenorayoder's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The plot and characters in this book are both really interesting. Dorian’s internal monologue and Henry’s creeping influence are both well done. Unfortunately, Wilde frequently goes on long tangents, often philosophical or referential in nature, that are a real chore to get through and don’t really feel like a part of the story. You don’t have to make your readers suffer to show that a character is insufferable.
If you are planning to read this book I recommend this edition, the notes were informative and provided details about what was censored or changed between the early versions of the novel. It felt worth it to read this once, but I suspect I would like a good adaptation better and will seek one out.
If you are planning to read this book I recommend this edition, the notes were informative and provided details about what was censored or changed between the early versions of the novel. It felt worth it to read this once, but I suspect I would like a good adaptation better and will seek one out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicide, and Murder
broccoli_mmm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Wow wow wow.
Sometimes a piece of art just finds you at exactly the right time in your life. I had no idea what to expect going into this besides the queer subtext but wowww.
The idea of life itself as a form of art is brilliant and beautiful. Dorian’s complete misapplication of that principle is both fascinating and horrifying. Lord Henry is both clever and right and wicked and wrong. There is no room for absolute truth here.
The dialogue is insanely good, the only books ive read that come close are Austen’s. Every Basil and Dorian scene had me floored. sweet Basil </3
I want to read lines from this over and over and over again.
-0.25 because of the chapter listing every gemstone, tapestry, and instrument Dorian owned lol
Sometimes a piece of art just finds you at exactly the right time in your life. I had no idea what to expect going into this besides the queer subtext but wowww.
The idea of life itself as a form of art is brilliant and beautiful. Dorian’s complete misapplication of that principle is both fascinating and horrifying. Lord Henry is both clever and right and wicked and wrong. There is no room for absolute truth here.
The dialogue is insanely good, the only books ive read that come close are Austen’s. Every Basil and Dorian scene had me floored. sweet Basil </3
I want to read lines from this over and over and over again.
-0.25 because of the chapter listing every gemstone, tapestry, and instrument Dorian owned lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Suicide, Violence, and Classism
Minor: Gun violence