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The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde

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What Members Thought

Mar 09, 2009 El rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1001-books-list, 19th-centurylit-late, modern-library-list-top-100-fiction

Unless you've lived under a rock your entire life it's likely that you know what this book is about. But on the off-chance there's someone out there who is on a rumspringa and stumbles across this book I'll give a run-down anyhow.

Dorian Gray has his portrait painted by Basil Hallward. Through Basil (but against Basil's wishes), Dorian meets Lord Henry, a persuasive man with extreme opinions and world-views. Dorian becomes infatuated with Lord Henry in return and his life is forever altered by th ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Mar 24, 2008 Sera rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own, classics, 1001-books

I really enjoyed this book, especially the pacing. The first half starts off slowly, then the next part builds, and then the rest of it becomes more intense and faster-paced until it concludes. It's the old story about one selling his soul to the devil for eternal youth and the book examines the choice of whether the trade off was worth it.

This book is well-written and Wilde's observations on life, men versus women, youth versus age, and many other issues are still relevant today. Wilde constant ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 06, 2012 Dawn rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, classics

I often read books defined as classics just because they are defined as such. I know many do. Sometimes, this works out in a positive way. I find a book I love. Not this time.
I read this. I read the coles notes to try and understand it. I don't get it. I mean, I do understand the concept of the story but I don't understand the appeal. Not for me anyway.
...more

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Oct 01, 2013 Heather(Gibby) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: august-15-challenge, 1001-to-read

I read this book shortly after reading The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and they have a few similarities in that they explore the darker side of human beings and the danger of letting temptations take over. However I found Oscar Wilde's writing style to be more engaging. This book has humour and horror all nicely balanced. It was the first thing I have read by him, and I definitely will read more.

Although the comments on women's place in society really pushed my buttons at times, at ...more

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Aug 13, 2013 Jen rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio, 1001-books, 2014-reads, sci-fi-fantasy-dystop, gothic-and-horror

I enjoyed this greatly. At times it seemed more like I was reading Bartlett's Quotations...! A lot of fun and very stylish writing.

Wilde makes obvious references his writing and applies explicit moral overtones. It's a style that works well here, in this most moralistic of stories. Beautiful language and a page turner, to boot. This must have been a sensation in its time.

It's not surprising to me that he's best known for his plays. I expect that he is even better suited for writing for the sta ...more

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