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cschmi46's review
4.0
So fascinating! As a fan of both classic literature and the true-crime genre, I really enjoyed reading this one. A great way to learn about Oscar Wilde's life in an interesting way. The author seamlessly blends his fictionalized account with actual primary sources. A really great way to write historical fiction.
ind24's review
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
An astoundingly brilliant piece of writing. The way each scene plays out on the page, you cannot help but visualize the whole thing. What was most intriguing to me is the fact that the Oscar Wilde I knew until I read this book was Oscar Wilde: the court jester, the wordsmith, the magician, but the Oscar Wilde on these pages is a very serious, almost broken artist, practically a worshipper of aesthetics and beauty. The Oscar Wilde in the courtroom, it seems to me, was definitely not lacking hubris but was also imbued with an idea to have the souls of all of the humankind sing with stunning beauty of art. He seems to be pushing this idea that people need to question the purpose of art and artists, in general, and that was truly fascinating to me! Can you separate the art from the artist? And how far are you willing to go to define this separation? What is “morality” in the space of art? Those are the questions.
annathechaoticreader's review
5.0
This was one of the best plays I have read in a long time. The writing was beautiful as was the depiction of Oscar Wilde, the scenes were so impactful and I’d LOVE to see it performed! If you’re interested in Queer art history and want to get into reading plays, I’d highly highly recommend this one!
casspro's review
4.0
I like this project for Kaufman infinitely better than The Laramie Project (sorry fans). It's not overly done, it's straightforward, it's poignant and its beautifully written. I was a bit hesitant when it was described as Brechtian, but all the styles seem to fall away once you begin reading it. The characters become actors, the actors become people.
Also, it's really amusing to read it as if it's one big, long saga of a Law & Order: SVU episode. You can practically hear the "Dun dun" after the prologue.
Also, it's really amusing to read it as if it's one big, long saga of a Law & Order: SVU episode. You can practically hear the "Dun dun" after the prologue.
marsm0th's review
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Simply a blast to read. Kaufman's adaption of the Wilde trials brings life to Wilde's timeline for those who were not there (obviously). The narrative is witty and fast paced at first, then spirals down to a deeper emotional understanding of the situation. Kaufman makes you experience Wilde's magnetic appeal in a way that's almost hypnotic just before stripping him down to his basics at the very end of his prime.
alyssabookrecs's review
4.0
At first I wasn’t sure about the concept of using Wilde’s old letters to help dramatize his trial, but this ended up being an intricate and fascinating look at one of the most important writers of all time.
rhiannon_ling_'s review
challenging
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.25