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The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde,

Robert Mighall (Introduction)

Start date: January 1, 2026

Finish date: February 28, 2026

Discussion: The Horror of it All

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The Horror of it All

* 2026 Horror Reading Schedule
By Book Nerd , Purple Book Horse · 4 posts · 16 views

last updated 19 hours, 39 min ago

* 2025 Horror Reading Schedule
By Book Nerd , Purple Book Horse · 4 posts · 120 views

last updated Aug 21, 2025 07:16AM

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What Members Thought

May 23, 2017 Ashleigh rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I did not LIKE this book at all, but can't stop thinking about it and trying to figure out why I found it so disturbing.

This book was beautifully written, a luminous setting with all that is beautiful about Victorian times. Orchids, tapestries, gardens with fluttering bees and butterflies, elegant house parties and art. Refined gentlemen and ladies. Dorian Gray is a young, beautiful youth of 20 when he sits for a portrait that changes the lives of both himself and the artist forever. He sees th ...more

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Jun 18, 2010 Mary rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

"All art is quite useless."

I kept this sentence in my head as I read, and I'm still pondering it...

So, I enjoyed this book immensely. Most of all, I was fascinated by the character of Henry Wotton, "Prince Paradox", as Dorian nicknamed him. I think he was a man who loved to hear himself speak, to the point where he would contradict himself in a single conversation. To use his own words, repetition makes an art, in which case Henry turned speaking into one. But I feel repetition also drains a t ...more

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Jan 20, 2017 Tara rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, classics

I really enjoyed this book. The prose as well as swiftness of the plot was so enjoyable to read- like slipping into an abyss each time.

These two quotes stood out for me:

"I consider that for any man of culture to accept the standard of his age is a form of the grossest immorality." pg 78.

'We women, as some one says, love with our ears, just as you men love with your eyes, if you ever love at all" pg 202.

I really don't know why I put off reading this- Highly recommended.
...more

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Jan 05, 2011 Robert Falck rated it really liked it · review of another edition

As I read I thought more about the author than I usually do.
A large personality.

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Apr 07, 2025 t.s. cronenberg rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

One of those things you hear is gay all your life but always figured its in a metaphoric, vibey way but no this is deeply rooted in the gay world almost exclusively in a way that makes it remarkable it has mainstream appeal at all. Really fascinating how eternal the social dynamics remain, felt more akin to watching Boys in the Band than anything i expected based on reputation

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