Jean Marie D. reviewed The Picture of Dorian Gray (Barnes Noble Classics Series) (BN Classics Trade Paper) on
Helpful Score: 5
The first half of this book is tedious. Wilde's uses these long monologues to establish characterization which get a bit tiresome. But stick with it. I read the second half in 1 night because it was such a page turner. All the sin that the painting depicts of Dorian is never revealed but we get a sense of how the picture became so grotesque in the second half. I won't give it away but I assure you, if you can slog through the first half the second is that much more rewarding.
Rebecca B. (madshrubbery) reviewed The Picture of Dorian Gray (Barnes Noble Classics Series) (BN Classics Trade Paper) on + 23 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I thought I could handle overwhelming decadence and debauchery, but oh, was I wrong! Excellent read, though!
Esther H. P. (estar) reviewed The Picture of Dorian Gray (Barnes Noble Classics Series) (BN Classics Trade Paper) on + 32 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Dorian Grey is a dark and psychological look at a beautiful boy who goes very, very, bad.
Michelle V. reviewed The Picture of Dorian Gray (Barnes Noble Classics Series) (BN Classics Trade Paper) on
Helpful Score: 3
This is one of my favorite books. The storyline is absolutely amazing and rings true in some aspects in today's world.
Kerri H. reviewed The Picture of Dorian Gray (Barnes Noble Classics Series) (BN Classics Trade Paper) on
Helpful Score: 1
I've heard about this book for years and glad to have finally gotten to it. It left me with a variety of emotions: melancholy, a feeling of creepiness, a sense of vindication, much saddness, thoughtfulness,...
The entire story held moral dilemmas that are timeless. "Beauty above all else is nothing". "your actions will have consequences, maybe not immediately but they will occur." "How easily one can be influenced" or "Is one influenced or did someone bring out what is truly inside of you" And many more ideas flow through this book. But as relevant as they are in 1890's, they still stand true today.
It does have it's dull points. Chapter XI was misery and I skimmed it. Hopefully I didn't miss something! As well, the constant footnotes were distracting. (But that could just be that I'm easily distracted)
The final 1/3 of the book was by far my favorite and I would like to hope that the wheels in my head will keep turning, and I will continue to think about the concepts it brought up.
The entire story held moral dilemmas that are timeless. "Beauty above all else is nothing". "your actions will have consequences, maybe not immediately but they will occur." "How easily one can be influenced" or "Is one influenced or did someone bring out what is truly inside of you" And many more ideas flow through this book. But as relevant as they are in 1890's, they still stand true today.
It does have it's dull points. Chapter XI was misery and I skimmed it. Hopefully I didn't miss something! As well, the constant footnotes were distracting. (But that could just be that I'm easily distracted)
The final 1/3 of the book was by far my favorite and I would like to hope that the wheels in my head will keep turning, and I will continue to think about the concepts it brought up.