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imjumokay's review against another edition
- 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
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
shaleen64's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
However, I found a few chapters added nothing to the development of the characters or the plot and I found myself scanning through them.
Having said that the final third of the book was engaging, with some really good symbolism and unexpected twists that did in the end tie the book together.
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Drug use and Death of parent
lottebluebird's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Addiction and Suicide
Minor: Child death and Death of parent
kirjakimalainen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Antisemitism, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Blood and Death of parent
sagelikesscats's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Infidelity, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, and Classism
The classism is less of a thing that happens and more of a general presence throughout the book.kananineko's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Stalking, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Colonisation
seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Death of parent
1_800_fuck_off's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
i picked up this book on a whim because it had been sitting on my shelf for some time. even though the first two chapters piqued my interest, it wasn't enough to convince me that i had to read the remainder of the book. i did, however, manage to complete all of it on the same day.
the first half was fairly entertaining. i fw lord henry wotton. he was an amusing character, despite the fact that i didn't share many of his theories of life. despite the fact that he only made sporadic appearances by this point, he helped me finish the book's second half without becoming too bored. as amusing as he was, i do think lord henry most likely had a significant impact on dorian's development as the story progressed, though.
basil hallward was a bleeding heart. i liked him because there wasn't much to dislike about him—unless you don't like sympathetic characters, which he frequently presents as throughout the novel. he definitely loved dorian, and not just as a friend. my boy was in love. fortunately, even though i occasionally find these characters to be a bit boring, that wasn’t entirely the case with him. i had more pity for him than anything else, particularly after what became of him.
then, of course, we have dorian gray, who began as a kind, shy, gullible, and curious boy on the precipice of adulthood. ironically, i don't really have much to say about him. dorian gray grew obsessed with beauty and staying young forever. he learned the consequences that came with that obsession. i don't really feel very much about him as a character, other than the possibility that when i get older, i might be able to relate to him more. even now, in terms of appearance, i wouldn’t mind staying young forever, but i don’t quite envy the events that followed after dorian made such a wish.
the book's primary topic is youth. it describes its marvels and the fascination that the rest of the world feels for it. all of its highs and lows. the beauty and the wildness of it. the arrogance one might experience in what could be the prime of their lives and the unfathomable sense of invincibility that goes along with it.
now that i think about it, this book discusses society as a whole quite a bit. everyone has at some point envied youth and wished they could maintain that state of being and beauty forever. the people who are currently experiencing those years, which are frequently a source of envy for the rest of the world, have probably been through what dorian went through. most likely not in a specific way, but rather by being oblivious of the beauty of their youth until it has passed them by. some people have the good—or bad—fortune of having a lord henry wotton in their lives, whose character could also serve as a metaphor for society in general, who encourages them to take advantage of their youth and to focus only on their own needs. basically, to be selfish and chase pleasure in those fleeting years. youths are frequently subjected to the moans of those who long for that era once again or who regret not making the most of that brief period of time.
this book might make you seriously contemplate your present, your past, or your future. it's an intriguing classic, albeit a bit monotonous. especially the second half. even though it was somewhat expected, the ending was a bit of a "oh wow" moment in a positive sense. well, not entirely positive, but iykyk.
anyways. yeah. thought-inducing classic of a book. nice. on to the next book.
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexism, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, and Death of parent
first classic physically read. 🦦expected more homo moments. ✋🏽😔it’s probably just the edition i read though. 🥸 will definitely read the uncensored one. 😼elihrus's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Well. It's complicated.
I won't talk about the blantant antisemitism and horrible mysoginy, but damn that made it hard to read. I understood that Henry *is* a bad influence, but it was unhinged.
The first half of the book was pretty slow, nothing really happend. But the middle and second part? That was something, and it made the overall experience much much better.
I loved the psychology in this book, it reminded me little bit of The Cremator - how much you can influence one.
I also loved the flower symbolisms throughout the book.
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Drug abuse, Suicide, Antisemitism, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Classism
adrionmacaron's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Suicide and Murder
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent