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graciegrace1178's review against another edition
3.0
I love Wilde. I love him for his absurdity and his characters existing as very specific vehicles for social commentary. He's a clever fella, and I admire that about him and his work. HOWEVER! my main reason for loving Wilde is his Silliness, which we just don't see as much of in this one. Not really my cuppa tea, but I get the Dorian Gray pop culture references more now.
shinkomii'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
5.0
stayupnaddie's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
wtfsaturnx'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
5.0
solitary's review against another edition
3.0
a lot has already been said about this book, that’s the thing with classics. personally, i didn’t think there was absolution for dorian gray even in the end. throughout the book, he demonstrated passiveness and a lack of accountability for his actions. he insists the making of his own corruption to his victims, so severely to the point of borderline delusion.
“sibyl killed herself — too bad! you know what’s worse? that ONE bad performance she gave me even though i watch her act so well every night!”
“oh god i killed basil. that’s all right, look at what HE DID to MY LIFE!”
the portrait is dorian’s only awareness of the life that he leads. he knew he was sinned, that he was corrupt, that his soul was literally dying alive, because the portrait tells him so. he did not even realize the cruelty of his words until he saw the minimal change in the portrait. he was sensitive to that — his looks, his beauty, his form — but not his doings and its harmful effects to others. his decay spreads while his vanity stays intact.
the concept of beauty and the power it yields was indeed evident, especially how basil refused to believe the rumors of dorian’s debauchery because of his youthful beauty, as much as because he was his friend. but i don’t think this book examines “the lengths we would go through for beauty” as i often see in reviews. dorian did nothing but say a thoughtless wish for the portrait to bear his aging. he did no attempt to preserve even its beauty once he knew of its mechanism.
that is why i believe his final act was not for atonement, but vanity and desperation
all in all this would’ve been a great study of morality and philosophy (i suppose it is, being a classic and all) but it could’ve been better with a better titular character to represent it
ps. i will miss harry’s great detachment from human emotions and his unserious conversations with spineless dorian
“my fiance just died after i broke up with her—“
“i wish someone died FOR ME!”
“sibyl killed herself — too bad! you know what’s worse? that ONE bad performance she gave me even though i watch her act so well every night!”
“oh god i killed basil. that’s all right, look at what HE DID to MY LIFE!”
the portrait is dorian’s only awareness of the life that he leads. he knew he was sinned, that he was corrupt, that his soul was literally dying alive, because the portrait tells him so. he did not even realize the cruelty of his words until he saw the minimal change in the portrait. he was sensitive to that — his looks, his beauty, his form — but not his doings and its harmful effects to others. his decay spreads while his vanity stays intact.
the concept of beauty and the power it yields was indeed evident, especially how basil refused to believe the rumors of dorian’s debauchery because of his youthful beauty, as much as because he was his friend. but i don’t think this book examines “the lengths we would go through for beauty” as i often see in reviews. dorian did nothing but say a thoughtless wish for the portrait to bear his aging. he did no attempt to preserve even its beauty once he knew of its mechanism.
that is why i believe his final act was not for atonement, but vanity and desperation
all in all this would’ve been a great study of morality and philosophy (i suppose it is, being a classic and all) but it could’ve been better with a better titular character to represent it
ps. i will miss harry’s great detachment from human emotions and his unserious conversations with spineless dorian
“my fiance just died after i broke up with her—“
“i wish someone died FOR ME!”
martinaruffov's review against another edition
4.0
La primera parte del libro se me hizo algo tediosa y larga. Sin embargo no me molesta pues es necesaria para entender el desarrollo y la decadencia de Dorian Gray.
La segunda; en cambio, me la comí en horas. Sabrosa, emocionante, atrapante y con los sentimientos a flor de piel. Un final que hace valer la pena toda la obra.
La prosa y palabras de Oscar Wilde para contar lo que quería contar en maravillosa y hermosa. Un artista de las letras. Estoy ansiosa por poder leer mas cosas de él.
La segunda; en cambio, me la comí en horas. Sabrosa, emocionante, atrapante y con los sentimientos a flor de piel. Un final que hace valer la pena toda la obra.
La prosa y palabras de Oscar Wilde para contar lo que quería contar en maravillosa y hermosa. Un artista de las letras. Estoy ansiosa por poder leer mas cosas de él.
krisipetiova's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mervindean's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
4.25
wtfsaturnx's review against another edition
4.0
A versão que eu li era um resumo e por isso não posso opinar no livro original, porque muita coisa foi cortada, mas a versão resumida é boa e me deu mais vontade de ler o livro inteiro, tanto que eu comprei um exemplar.
mirani's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5