Reviews tagging 'Suicide attempt'

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

12 reviews

bbmaan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

waytoomanybooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

3.0

Knowing about Oscar Wilde's past is crucial to reading this novel. It's not just that his gayness was an open secret, but that his targets weren't just men, but also boys. As in actual teenage children. Wilde was also openly Antisemitic and misogynistic in his real life and throughout the novel. What his three main characters do, say, think, and feel very closely mirrors Wilde's own. Much like the titular Dorian, it is clear that Wilde suffered from an inflated ego, was bloated with pride, and had a conscience that weighed him down...but not enough to change, grow, or do better. Trigger warnings abound throughout this novel as we watch Dorian explore the world of vice and sin, leaving a body count in his wake.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

thestrangebeingyouare's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Drug use, Misogyny, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism

the story is strange and beautiful, but the main characters are all extremely flawed. there are also some aspects of misogyny and antisemitism that are unrelated to the plot, so i do warn you to be aware of the authors prejudices so you can critically read the story.

lizziaha's review against another edition

reflective

4.0

I do think this book is mostly Oscar Wilde taking the opportunity to poke fun at anything and everything while trying to be absolutely charming. I did not agree with every little quip or moral that the book had to offer but I suspect that I am not supposed to. I do find Wilde’s treatment of women to be a little sus, as always. But the Faustian bargain—the main crux of the story—is intriguing. I think I might appreciate the book more upon rereading it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, and Classism

Minor: Animal death

cturn's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Murder

wormgirl's review against another edition

dark 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Antisemitism, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Blood and Toxic friendship

lis4so's review against another edition

This book reminded me of the reason I why I hate classics

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism

Minor: Pedophilia, Suicide, Antisemitism, and Suicide attempt

ambdocksey22'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

4.5

The only reason I am not giving this book 5 stars is because of the racially insensitive language throughout the book. I understand the time that it was written but I hated reading through every passage that contained a slur or some kind of racial hatred. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Dysphoria

bhavya_is_reading's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

 

“To define is to limit.”

~ Rating- 5 stars ~

Content/ Trigger Warnings- Ableism, Misogyny, Suicide, Murder

Note- I have tried to include all the content warnings that I noticed, but there is no guarantee that I haven’t missed something.

-No Mention of these in the review-

“The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.”

Dorian Grey is a youthful and attractive man, who trades his soul for the eternal youth of his portrait. Dorian, who has no regard for his soul and is full of vanity, ego and pride, lives just to satisfy his desires, and completely disregards his immoral behaviour toward others in the process. The Picture of Dorian Grey is a story about a young man who becomes a victim of devilish influence and has his soul corrupted. It is Dorian's struggle to accept the consequences of his own wicked actions, and Wilde's social commentary on how the mind can be swayed so easily to do cruel things. It explores the age-old question that everyone must ask themselves; Do I aspire to be good? And, more importantly, can I refrain from being bad?

“I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.”

The Picture of Dorian Grey, in my opinion, is a truly admirable piece of literature. Before reading the book I wasn't sure what it was about. The only thing I knew regarding the book was that it was one of Oscar Wilde's best work, and that it was a 'must read classic', which is why I picked it up. I definitely wasn't prepared for the dark, atmospheric tone of the book, accompanied by Wilde's mesmerizing flowery writing. I wasn't prepared to have my mind blown away.

“Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing.”

There is no denying the superiority of Wilde's work. The Picture of Dorian Grey was my first Oscar Wilde read, and if this book is any testament to Wilde's excruciating talent, then I am really looking forward to reading more of their work. This book is a great reflection of how we do things we don't mean to, and the kind of impact it has. It lets us see the twisted parts of our minds that we ignore, and makes us question our beliefs. Its also a good representation of how other people often influence all our deeds and decisions, and they way they affect our self-perception and world-view.

“Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul.”

Audiobook Comments-
The audiobook was narrated by Ben Barnes, and the narration was wonderful! I would highly recommend, especially for beginners. (Audiobook rating- 4.5/5 stars)

“The world is changed because you are made of ivory and gold. The curves of your lips rewrite history.”

Overall, The Picture of Dorian Grey was an impactful read and I really enjoyed it. It made me reconsider a lot of things and offered a new perspective on life. I'm waiting to re-read it in the future.

“Words! Mere words! How terrible they were! How clear, and vivid, and cruel! One could not escape from them. And yet what a subtle magic there was in them! They seemed to be able to give a plastic form to formless things, and to have a music of their own as sweet as that of viol or of lute. Mere words! Was there anything so real as words?”

Review written & uploaded on 2nd February 2022.

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DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.

How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite


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My mind has been blown away. RTC. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Murder

jackyjoojoo's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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

4.0

could be boring at times but otherwise amaizing :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Toxic friendship