geesammy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
3.25
carryontam's review against another edition
5.0
to date still one of my favourite classics I have read so far.
I am not sure how to describe this book because it took me quite some time to even process it after finishing, but I enjoyed this a whole lot. It has many motifs and themes to analyse and think about.
I am gonna read the uncensored version soon and maybe come back to write a proper review about my thoughts at some point
I am not sure how to describe this book because it took me quite some time to even process it after finishing, but I enjoyed this a whole lot. It has many motifs and themes to analyse and think about.
I am gonna read the uncensored version soon and maybe come back to write a proper review about my thoughts at some point
instantlatte's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
3.75
odpeppiatt's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.0
**new favorite
I have never enjoyed dialogue so much. I found Lord Henry's ideas and sentences exciting to read, like little dopamine hits. Also really enjoyed the exploration of the limits of hedonism (Daisies -esque.. sidebar: I always thought I liked stories of hedonistic women because of the feminist themes/commentary on misogyny/patriarchy, but I enjoyed this just as much and in the same way I enjoyed those other stories. so I guess I just have some attraction to the idea of hedonism in general?)
points off for the rambling passages of descriptions of material things (I understood their purpose but thought it could've been cut down. I'm guessing these are the passages Deron was referring to when he said Wilde just gets bored and tries less near the end of his novels) and for the insanely misogynistic portrayals of women.
I have never enjoyed dialogue so much. I found Lord Henry's ideas and sentences exciting to read, like little dopamine hits. Also really enjoyed the exploration of the limits of hedonism (Daisies -esque.. sidebar: I always thought I liked stories of hedonistic women because of the feminist themes/commentary on misogyny/patriarchy, but I enjoyed this just as much and in the same way I enjoyed those other stories. so I guess I just have some attraction to the idea of hedonism in general?)
points off for the rambling passages of descriptions of material things (I understood their purpose but thought it could've been cut down. I'm guessing these are the passages Deron was referring to when he said Wilde just gets bored and tries less near the end of his novels) and for the insanely misogynistic portrayals of women.
kmariek's review against another edition
Before I read this, I was under the impression that the only reason the painting would change would be for aging, so the other ones were all thrilling. I liked comparing Dorian's relationship with Lord Henry and Basil, and the funny little details like a woman moving like a wild bird and leaving the room smelling of frangipani (a noun I've only heard used on Great British Bake Off). Some of the long discussions between groups of people were interesting and some were really hard to pay attention to, especially when Lord Henry was involved since he speaks almost entirely in extreme generalizations and seems like one of those people who thinks they understand everybody but is actually a bad judge of character. I can already feel it that the next time I realize I've done something shitty, I'll be imagining a picture of my face, but with a non-photogenic smile and visible snot up my nose.
Unrelated to the writing, I was enraged for awhile because even though I successfully avoided learning the ending of one of the most well known books of all time by age 30, just before starting it I read one sentence of the summary on the back cover to see I was also enraged because when I was halfway through, I learned there's an abridged version, and the version I have doesn't say whether it is or not. I've never been happy to learn the book I'm reading has an abridged version. Oh got it, so this is the version somebody cut a bunch of details out of for some reason, nice.
Unrelated to the writing, I was enraged for awhile because even though I successfully avoided learning the ending of one of the most well known books of all time by age 30, just before starting it I read one sentence of the summary on the back cover to see
Spoiler
"this ends in a murder suicide!"inoshiiro's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The Picture of Dorian Gray has always been on my TBR, and has been collecting dust since I purchased the Penguin Classics version sometime around 2020. This year, for an English course concerning literature in the fin de siècle, I was given the excuse to finally read the novel when it appeared in the course readings.
I think my reading was likely a bit coloured by the literary/societal concepts we were learning about alongside the texts. The mentions of degeneration, aesthetes, and cultural biases were jumping out at me when I read the text, highly influencing the way I approached its themes. I feel like if I read this novel earlier in my life, I would likely have had a very different viewpoint on it.
I think the themes of homosociality and queer sexualities are prominent, but I felt more drawn to the way the characters and its story embodied the prevailing ideas about degeneration, social-Darwinism, and the role of the arts.
As a femme reader as well, the attitudes towards women were of course, unappealing. I wasn't put off the story or anything--and I very well know that the attitudes are definitely a product of their time--but that didn't stop me from feeling baffled at.
Despite this, I did enjoy the book. The storyline was something I vaguely already knew about due to the plots prevalence in pop culture, and the fact that the book was recommended to me by an ex-highschool friend. However, the way the novel unfolded, as well as the more intimate details were unknown to me until I was actually sitting there and reading. I finished the thing in two sittings, well before we had to discuss it in class.
My rating of 3.75 stars can be concluded like this: The book was entertaining and I found myself looking forward to the plots progression. That being said, it is still a book about men and their morals, which isn't exactly my cup of tea. And the fact that I had to write a 2500 word comparative essay about it for class probably didn't boost my enjoyment either.
I think my reading was likely a bit coloured by the literary/societal concepts we were learning about alongside the texts. The mentions of degeneration, aesthetes, and cultural biases were jumping out at me when I read the text, highly influencing the way I approached its themes. I feel like if I read this novel earlier in my life, I would likely have had a very different viewpoint on it.
I think the themes of homosociality and queer sexualities are prominent, but I felt more drawn to the way the characters and its story embodied the prevailing ideas about degeneration, social-Darwinism, and the role of the arts.
As a femme reader as well, the attitudes towards women were of course, unappealing. I wasn't put off the story or anything--and I very well know that the attitudes are definitely a product of their time--but that didn't stop me from feeling baffled at
Spoiler
Lord Henry's remarks about female intelligence, and sympathetic to the the OTT cruelty towards Sybil VaneDespite this, I did enjoy the book. The storyline was something I vaguely already knew about due to the plots prevalence in pop culture, and the fact that the book was recommended to me by an ex-highschool friend. However, the way the novel unfolded, as well as the more intimate details were unknown to me until I was actually sitting there and reading. I finished the thing in two sittings, well before we had to discuss it in class.
My rating of 3.75 stars can be concluded like this: The book was entertaining and I found myself looking forward to the plots progression. That being said, it is still a book about men and their morals, which isn't exactly my cup of tea. And the fact that I had to write a 2500 word comparative essay about it for class probably didn't boost my enjoyment either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Drug use and Stalking
leahreadsstuff's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
Sharply and caustically witty. The use of language is lovely, descriptive and vivid. There were so many things that I wanted to highlight or write down, so many moments of astute social commentary and so many beautifully worded one liners. It’s an elegant, considered piece of writing.
The vapidity and lack of purpose in the environment creates a sense of unease that eats at the mood like mold. The dehumanization of Dorian Gray by Henry at the beginning is distinctly uncomfortable, and reveals some interesting thoughts on the idea of beauty and morality. Youth and hedonism are the fixation, and it colors every element of the book.
The characters are fascinating, and incredibly flawed. The callous narcissism, cruelty and manipulation, as well as the total disregard for humanity was striking. Each person was formed vividly and in some cases, terrifyingly.
I was more disturbed by this book than I thought possible. It lingered with me after I came to the end. The incredible use of language and the creeping horror of this story were masterful, and the ending was perfect.
The vapidity and lack of purpose in the environment creates a sense of unease that eats at the mood like mold. The dehumanization of Dorian Gray by Henry at the beginning is distinctly uncomfortable, and reveals some interesting thoughts on the idea of beauty and morality. Youth and hedonism are the fixation, and it colors every element of the book.
The characters are fascinating, and incredibly flawed. The callous narcissism, cruelty and manipulation, as well as the total disregard for humanity was striking. Each person was formed vividly and in some cases, terrifyingly.
I was more disturbed by this book than I thought possible. It lingered with me after I came to the end. The incredible use of language and the creeping horror of this story were masterful, and the ending was perfect.
axlaru's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
3.0
bendoverxoxo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0