2026 January & February - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde > Likes and Comments

Enthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life, indulging his desires in secret while remaining a gentleman in the eyes of polite society. Only his portrait bears the traces of his decadence. The Picture of Dorian Gray was a succès de scandale. Early readers were shocked by its hints at unspeakable sins, and the book was later used as evidence against Wilde at the Old Bailey in 1895.

I've read the intros and first chapter and loving it so far. Excited for this.

I am definitely in for this one.

I love this book. Not sure I will reread, but will keep an eye on the thread.

I have read both the original edition (published in 1890) and the revised edition (published in 1891). Liked them both but the revised one is much better, in my opinion.

I'll start this soon. Not sure if I have the original or revised edition. Is there a big difference?

I tried to read this a year or two ago, but didn’t get too far in before I lost interest. I think I'll give it a second chance because I think I wasn't in the mood for it at the time.

I hope it works for you this time, Kim. I've read it twice.

Book Nerd wrote: "I'll start this soon. Not sure if I have the original or revised edition. Is there a big difference?"

What's published now is the revised edition. I'm sure that's what you have. That's what I have as well. If my memory serves me right, the revised version has more chapters and some of the original chapters were rewritten. As a story, it is the better one.

Rosemarie wrote: "I hope it works for you this time, Kim. I've read it twice."

Thanks, Rosemarie. I'm going to try it on audio to see if that's a better fit.

Piyangie wrote: "What's published now is the revised edition. I'm sure that's what you have. That's what I have as well. If my memory serves me right, the revised version has more chapters and some of the original chapters were rewritten. As a story, it is the better one."
Thanks

I'll join this reading too. 😊Don't know what to expect... I'm not used to reading horror. 😱

Belem wrote: "I'll join this reading too. 😊Don't know what to expect... I'm not used to reading horror. 😱"

You'll be fine, Belem. I don't read horror. But I read this one twice, thrice if you count the original version. I didn’t even know it came under the horror genre until I saw Book Nerd's list. :)

Belem wrote: "I'll join this reading too. 😊Don't know what to expect... I'm not used to reading horror. 😱"

It's not a typical horror story. Most of the book is regular fiction.

It's not really scary, it's just a scary idea, I guess you could say.
I'm about halfway through. It reminds me of Faust in a lot of ways.

it's indeed very Faustian. I believe I have never thought about it in this way

I really liked it. The ending was perfect. Henry's inverted morality could get pretty comical.

I will start reading it soon after finishing the book I am currently reading.

Mimi wrote: "I will start reading it soon after finishing the book I am currently reading."

Great!

Mimi wrote: "I will start reading it soon after finishing the book I am currently reading."
Hope you like it.

Piyangie wrote: "Belem wrote: "I'll join this reading too. 😊Don't know what to expect... I'm not used to reading horror. 😱"

You'll be fine, Belem. I don't read horror. But I read this one twice, thrice if you coun..."

I've read 20%, and I'm loving it. 😍

I'd read it in November (Polish translation), than listened to English audiobook in December - it's one of my favourite classics, even though I wouldn't put it in horror genre :) It's a great study of a narcissist who have all the means to indulge in his hedonistic urges, while facing no consequences.

This is up next for me as an audio book. I found I could access the book through kindle prime and audio came with it.

Belem wrote: "I've read 20%, and I'm loving it. 😍"
The writing's great, isn't it?

Barbara wrote: "I'd read it in November (Polish translation), than listened to English audiobook in December - it's one of my favourite classics, even though I wouldn't put it in horror genre :) It's a great study of a narcissist who have all the means to indulge in his hedonistic urges, while facing no consequences."
But when the consequences catch up with him it's pretty horrifying.

Catherine wrote: "This is up next for me as an audio book. I found I could access the book through kindle prime and audio came with it."
Enjoy.

Book Nerd wrote: "I really liked it. The ending was perfect. Henry's inverted morality could get pretty comical."

Agree :) Finished last night. Mostly enjoyed and I say mostly only because I think I was reading at times in a distracted state so I don't feel a fair judge. But generally, I find it a great blend of witty, entertaining, with great writing and surprising story. Interesting thoughts on society, art, morality, and sensual pleasure. I would be curious to read more from Wilde after this experience.

I managed to finish it this tine around. I didn’t dislike it, but I think it dragged in places. I get that I'm not a nineteenth century gentleman of London, so I can't understand the stuffy lifestyle that being of that class and notoriety would entail. However, the long passages followed by near endless dialogue bored me at times. The action and conflict, when they did occur, were a welcomed reprieve. Overall, it ebbed and flowed, dragging on at times. I think 'overhyped' is the best word to describe my overall feelings.

Kim
I started to read this a long time ago and found it to be the same.
Have to give you credit though for finishing it...I did not.

Kim wrote: "I managed to finish it this tine around. I didn’t dislike it, but I think it dragged in places. I get that I'm not a nineteenth century gentleman of London, so I can't understand the stuffy lifesty..."
Well, it's good that you gave it a try and enjoyed it to a point.

Kelly_Hunsaker_reads wrote: "I love this book. Not sure I will reread, but will keep an eye on the thread."

Same! Loved this one but no plan to read again. I'm excited to see what everyone thinks about it.

Bernard wrote: "I am definitely in for this one."

I read this a while ago and I'm really looking forward to seeing what others think of it.

Indeneri wrote: "I read this a while ago and I'm really looking forward to seeing what others think of it."
As I said, I liked it. I thought the writing was great and the ending was perfect.

I liked it as well-it had a fitting ending.