The Picture of Dorian Gray in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Oct 25, 2013 Arianna rated it liked it · review of another edition

shelfnotes.com

Dear Reader,

I was going to start this post by saying that this book was probably my least favorite of Wilde's work, but then I realized that the only things I've read by Mr. Wilde are this novel and his play, The Importance of Being Earnest. I loved that play, so it had a lot to live up to. And Dorian just didn't do it, unfortunately. I had such high expectations, and Wilde certainly is a master writer, but I do feel as if his clever observations of life and quick, bantering wittic shelfnotes.com

Dear Reader,

I was going to start this post by saying that this book was probably my least favorite of Wilde's work, but then I realized that the only things I've read by Mr. Wilde are this novel and his play, The Importance of Being Earnest. I loved that play, so it had a lot to live up to. And Dorian just didn't do it, unfortunately. I had such high expectations, and Wilde certainly is a master writer, but I do feel as if his clever observations of life and quick, bantering witticisms are much better suited to the stage than the page. I suppose that might explain why he didn't write much prose, and why this was his only novel. Still, I certainly am not saying it was awful by any stretch of the imagination. I suppose what I am saying is this: for such a small book, there were long stretches of meandering examinations of the meaning of life, and I didn't really enjoy those sidebars. I did enjoy the story as a whole; it was a very interesting study into humanity and soul and conscience. And I do understand that the book needed both the story and the diatribes to propel it. But...it just wasn't quite my cup of tea. That's all!

I don't believe I need to go too into detail about the actual story of this novel: it's quite famous, if not for the book itself, then for The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, right? But it's definitely not what I expected of the book - there was very little detail about the interactions between Dorian and his painting. There was more about how the painting and the situation came to be. And Dorian was already a pretty wicked man by the time the painting became his conscientious mirror. I had thought there would be more story to the book, but I felt as if the exposition and the story itself were pretty evenly balanced. Which, as I said, I found unfortunate.

Dorian Gray himself was a horrible little man, vain and upsetting in so many ways. His friends and acquaintances were not much better, to be honest. Wilde clearly had a superiority complex when he examined the society of his day. As perhaps well he should have; he was a brilliant man who shunned a lot of the falsity and pandering which was the sentiment of the day. And he did it so CLEVERLY. I can't fault the man. But I am, ultimately, glad that he stuck more to writing plays, which are his true forte.

I ought to go read a few more of them, though, before I can make that statement with any sort of confidence.

Yours,
Arianna ...more

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May 27, 2020 Richard rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I’m glad I finally caught up with this classic. It’s shocking that it stayed a classic for so long since the first half is incredibly gay and the second half is sociopathically brutal. The social commentary even today strikes a satisfying balance between on-the-nose and subtlety. I couldn’t help but think about American Psycho in reading it. I’m glad this story is the kind that we can’t stop telling.

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Jan 19, 2012 Deb rated it really liked it · review of another edition

To say Oscar Wilde has a way with words is just silly... his words tumble out--beautiful, scandalous, confusing, thought-provoking. He's fascinating to read, and although much of his wit and one-liners are disturbing and cynical I still wanted to highlight them, just for their insight into human nature. Read Oscar Wilde... this, or the Importance of Being Earnest. It's a roller coaster ride... :) ...more

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Jun 29, 2018 Sarah rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, lgbtqia, fiction, euro-fiction, uk

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 08, 2012 Felicia rated it did not like it · review of another edition

I picked it up years ago with the idea that it's a classic and I was doing my literary life an injustice by ignoring it. I never finished it. Five years later a group of Twitter friends and I picked it as a group read. It took me 2 months to finish it. When I say I toughed it out I really mean I achingly continued to read it for fear that the "classic" gods rain a lifetime of self loathing upon me. I wish I would have said screw u literary gods. This book is so boring. And I'm all for language a ...more

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Aug 22, 2011 Lori rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio

Darker than I thought it would be at parts. I wish I would have read it when I was younger so I could have compared my take on it then and now. I hope I remember to read it again when I'm older to see if it changes my opinions on anything. I love how these classics expect the reader to actually think about things. Not sure how capable I am of that at the moment but I appreciate the expectation. ...more

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