Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray

FANTASTIC!!!!!! Actually my new favorite book. I highly highly recommend it.

Oscar Wilde is actually a genius and I cannot believe this book was submitted as evidence against him in court because this novel, nay THIS MASTERPIECE, evokes nothing but joy, enthrallment, and general all around good times. Wilde masterfully weaves general sweeping rationalizations about life and the mysteries of humanity while describing the mundane.

WARNING:::: I KNOW IT IS TEMPTING BUT AESTHETICISM, NIHILISM, AND ABSOLUTISM IS NEVER EVER THE WAY TO GO. I KNOW LORD HENRY IS CHARMING AND WHEN YOU READ IT YOURE LIKE WOOOWWWW BUT DONT BELIEVE IT THE WHOLE POINT OF THE BOOK IS DO NOT BELIEVE MY BOY HARRY AT ANY COST.

No but seriously, let me level with you a moment, I don’t reread books. There’s over 250 books in my want to read pile and it grows by the second. I have always firmly believed in getting to them before I read what I’ve already read. BUt I am LOOKING FORWARD to rereading this hook actually next month. It is phenomenal. It is show stopping. If you want to keep living in close-minded, mediocre little world, then I implore you, never read this book. But if you want to taste the very nectar of the gods and see the very colors with which nature paints and feel beauty as a part of your soul forever, I present to you your very next read.

Content Warnings

peggy_racham's review against another edition

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4.75

"The sin we had done once, and with loathing, we would do many times, and with joy."

I really liked the censored version without knowing much about it. This was so much better, more complex and more queer.

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yleavy's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

I would let Oscar Wilde say devastating things to me all day. I wonder what he’d do with meme culture. This book is darker, deeper, and funnier than I even expected it to be. Relatable to anyone who’s ever had a crush or made a deal with the devil.

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katewhite77's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative mysterious sad tense slow-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

5.0

A queer classic

I can't remember a book that has surprised me so much with all its twists and turns. Elements of the super natural also appear.

This is my first time reading Wilde and it won't be last. There are so many famous quotes in this novel alone.

There are some racial slurs which are of their time. The internalised hemophobia drips off most pages but that is why it is such an important book to read now.

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