Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

6 reviews

ryyy's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Death and Suicide

Minor: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual violence, and Classism

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

yleavy's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Abandonment

ran_sophia's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense 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

2.0

The author has a pretty good writing style, but I still didn't like the book very much. Descriptions of all the equipment in the house seemed completely useless to me. The only thing I liked was the theme of the book, that every action and decision has its consequences.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Minor: Fatphobia and Sexual violence

fomko's review

dark mysterious reflective 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

5.0

Beautifully written. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Classism

jowmy4's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

3.0

It may have been the fact that I was listening to an audiobook version, but I found many of the long, descriptive paragraphs hard to follow. As it's a Wilde, though, the dialogue was good. There's character development, but not in a 'positive' direction. Social commentary.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Sexual violence

Regarding the violence, death and blood,

The only likable character is murdered by the main character.

Also, there is implied sexual violence.