The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! š
genz_reads_classics's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
First off, the characters are brilliant! (Iām sorry if Iām bad at analyzing character, thatās one of my main weaknesses. This book is very based in human thought and reasoning and i have trouble understanding those sorts of ideas. Which is why Harry is such a riot lmao)Ā
Basil Hallward is probably the best one, heās just so caring! Lord Harry sure loves talking and holy shit his thoughts on women are problematic..
Ā I swear Dorian is the most eerie character Iāve ever seen. He was perfectly calm talking to Harry, as managed to influence him so horribly.
And the second Basil started giving good advice and care for Dorian he gets mad!
The ending was very good. If the book has me giggling and kicking my feet like a little goblin itās a good one!
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Drug use, Suicide, Racism, and Stalking
inoshiiro's review against another edition
- 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
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.Ā
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.Ā
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.Ā
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.
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Drug use and Stalking
kananineko's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Murder, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death, Gun violence, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Stalking, Classism, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Abandonment, Addiction, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Drug use, Infidelity, Racism, and Death of parent
thewritetofight's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, Death, Dysphoria, Murder, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, and Mental illness
Minor: Stalking
1_800_fuck_off's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
i picked up this book on a whim because it had been sitting on my shelf for some time. even though the first two chapters piqued my interest, it wasn't enough to convince me that i had to read the remainder of the book. i did, however, manage to complete all of it on the same day. Ā
the first half was fairly entertaining. i fw lord henry wotton. he was an amusing character, despite the fact that i didn't share many of his theories of life. despite the fact that he only made sporadic appearances by this point, he helped me finish the book's second half without becoming too bored. as amusing as he was, i do think lord henry most likely had a significant impact on dorian's development as the story progressed, though.
basil hallward was a bleeding heart. i liked him because there wasn't much to dislike about himāunless you don't like sympathetic characters, which he frequently presents as throughout the novel. he definitely loved dorian, and not just as a friend. my boy was in love. fortunately, even though i occasionally find these characters to be a bit boring, that wasnāt entirely the case with him. i had more pity for him than anything else, particularly after what became of him.Ā
then, of course, we have dorian gray, who began as a kind, shy, gullible, and curious boy on the precipice of adulthood. ironically, i don't really have much to say about him. dorian gray grew obsessed with beauty and staying young forever. he learned the consequences that came with that obsession. i don't really feel very much about him as a character, other than the possibility that when i get older, i might be able to relate to him more. even now, in terms of appearance, i wouldnāt mind staying young forever, but i donāt quite envy the events that followed after dorian made such a wish.
the book's primary topic is youth. it describes its marvels and the fascination that the rest of the world feels for it. all of its highs and lows. the beauty and the wildness of it. the arrogance one might experience in what could be the prime of their lives and the unfathomable sense of invincibility that goes along with it.Ā
now that i think about it, this book discusses society as a whole quite a bit. everyone has at some point envied youth and wished they could maintain that state of being and beauty forever. the people who are currently experiencing those years, which are frequently a source of envy for the rest of the world, have probably been through what dorian went through. most likely not in a specific way, but rather by being oblivious of the beauty of their youth until it has passed them by. some people have the goodāor badāfortune of having a lord henry wotton in their lives, whose character could also serve as a metaphor for society in general, who encourages them to take advantage of their youth and to focus only on their own needs. basically, to be selfish and chase pleasure in those fleeting years. youths are frequently subjected to the moans of those who long for that era once again or who regret not making the most of that brief period of time.
this book might make you seriously contemplate your present, your past, or your future. it's an intriguing classic, albeit a bit monotonous. especially the second half. even though it was somewhat expected, the ending was a bit of a "oh wow" moment in a positive sense. well, not entirely positive, but iykyk.
anyways. yeah. thought-inducing classic of a book. nice. on to the next book.Ā
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Classism, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Suicide, and Sexism
Minor: Stalking, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, and Death of parent
first classic physically read. š¦¦expected more homo moments. āš½šitās probably just the edition i read though. š„ø will definitely read the uncensored one. š¼rossiell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, Death, Toxic friendship, Suicide, and Stalking
enoemo's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Suicide, Classism, Colonisation, Stalking, Antisemitism, Blood, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Racial slurs, Drug abuse, and Racism
kajasversion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Murder and Stalking
Moderate: Suicide
sophtanda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Classism, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Gun violence, Misogyny, Stalking, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Violence
avocadotoastbee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The plot sounds promising:
Young Dorian Gray wishes that his portrait would age and bear the marks of his sins instead of him. When he realizes that his wish is coming true, he commits all kinds of sins, while keeping his young, perfectly pure appearance.
The execution was disappointing though:
The book starts slowly and then, in the second half of the book, events suddenly overturn. Also, none of the events really follow through. I was disappointed that after each eventful chapter there was another big time jump. I had expected more. Also, it became very predictable as time went on.
The absolute worst thing, however, was the character of Lord Henry Wotton. With Lord Henry, Wilde has created the most misogynistic character ever. But that's not all, The Portrait of Dorian Gray contains many problematic characters and statements. The racism, anti-semitism, and misogyny that were ever-present completely spoiled the reading experience.
But not all of it was bad:
I enjoyed the little bits of wisdom and queerness Wilde sprinkled in.
The underlying exploration of aging, indulging in "pleasures", pain, living with dark secrets and death was well done and endlessly quotable.
āWhat does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose [ā¦] his own soul?ā
Overall, I know Oscar Wilde is a Gay Icon and can do so much more, but The Picture of Dorian Gray just wasn't for me.
Graphic: Antisemitism, Stalking, Racism, Addiction, Misogyny, Drug abuse, Death, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Sexism, Racial slurs, Murder, and Drug use
Moderate: Classism and Blood
Minor: Colonisation