Reviews

El retrato de Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

jessicaarchila's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective 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

4.75

pinyada's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

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

4.75

Amazing concept, great characters who show the complexity of love and hate, the writing was sometimes hard but mostly really enjoyable. Only complaint was the weird section where it was just Wilde yapping for loads of pages, describing furniture etc

alisarae's review against another edition

4.0

This is the first Wilde book I've read. It was very good and I enjoyed it, but not like OMG I HAVE TO READ THIS AGAIN good. It's a classic for a reason. That said, I think I was feeling a lack of side character development, and it appeared that huge jumps took place with very little being said about them.

strawberrygrapejelly's review against another edition

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Lord Henry was INSUFFERABLE, never wanted a character to shut the fuck up more in my life.
Five stars.
I opened this book with high expectations and they were exceeded.
I love a good obvious Christ or Satan figure (hint: it's Satan in this one). 
The book was hedonistic and indulgent in a way only few people could pull off.
Terrible, terrible people but you're still able to pity Dorian for his gradual corruption, even while you're fully hating him and hoping he'll finally get his.
Don't know how I went almost 30 years without reading this. Weird because I know a lot about Wilde.
(Kinda interesting how Oscar Wilde's existence directly contradicts what Lord Henry posits about good artists and their personal lives. And while I know Lord Henry is no true stand in for Wilde, the preface implies he'd probably agree with him on that)
I'm yapping now but just read it if you've been thinking about it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Antisemitism

beem1e's review against another edition

5.0

actually finished it this time

nilsar's review against another edition

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

It's a classic and impressive for the time. But then, you quickly notice how poorly it aged. How women are portrayed throughout the book, the random antisemitism, the annoyingly chauvinistic and flat main characters... it becomes a bit of a chore to read at times and feels longer than it is.

monogatari's review against another edition

4.0

So many beautifully crafted sentences. Gothic. Hedonism. Depravity.

dodobees'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

4.5

captkait's review against another edition

Maybe circle back later
I like Oscar Wildes writing but I don't feel like reading about a dumb pretty man child 
Also wasn't ready for the antisemitism which was in fact jarring 

theorygirl_ftw's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0