We would like to send you notifications on the latest Product Review Club offers.

5.0/5
4 reviews
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde Reviews
#254 in Books

    Reviews and Ratings

    100% OF CHICKS DIG IT

    Good - 0
    Average - 0
    Poor - 0
    Terrible - 0
    5.0/5
    Lust Factor

    Staying Power

    Value / Valeur

    Recommended? You Betcha!
    Anonymous
    November 25, 2016

    This is the most beautiful book I have ever read.

    The writing in this book is captivating and the philosophy is interesting. I was enraptured immediately, impressed by the world that Wilde presented to me with such detail. His use of language is amazing, and the book deserves to be read slowly and with great attention so that no detail is missed. The ideas presented by each of the characters are interesting, and they do not need to be agreed with in order to be appreciated.

    The characters are interesting ones. Their philosophies provide the story with a cause for the events that unfold, and provide us with many things to ponder. The dialogue is intriguing when it involves discussions of life theories, and is amusing when wit is used in social conversations. Watching Dorian move from an innocent man to a hedonistic one is fascinating, and the way the writing changes from describing his youthful innocence to describing his decadent lifestyle is skillfully done. Basil's fascination and obsession with his best muse is engaging, and Lord Henry's influence supplies the story with what it needed to begin.

    Lord Henry's character is just as interesting as Dorian's, if not more so. Dorian tries to live the life that Henry glorifies, falling prey to his words as he tries to imitate everything the older man seems to praise. But he himself does not engage in any of the degeneration that he lauds, instead encouraging the youth while he remains safe in his hypocrisy. In the end, despite his negative influence on Dorian and his views on life, he was the only one that remained both unaffected and safe.

    Even though the story is about the characters - their philosophies and the way Dorian falls from grace because of them - the way the book ends is satisfying in terms of plot. It wraps up Dorian's adventure in the only way that it rightfully could: with the destruction of his painting and his own death.

    I can't say enough about the beautiful writing and the philosophies presented; the way everything is described is so detailed that all my imagination needs to do is live in the world shown to me. The theories that the characters have about how life should be lived is fascinating, and it is captivating to see the rise and fall of a character that latches onto the hedonistic way of life so well.

    This beautiful book is definitely worth reading and rereading; to me, there is no other work of fiction that would rank higher than this one in terms of aesthetic charm and philosophical appeal.

    Flag as Spam
    5.0/5
    Lust Factor

    Staying Power

    Value / Valeur

    Recommended? You Betcha!
    September 15, 2016

    If you are a lover of fiction and fantasy of any kind, I'm sure by now you've heard of The Portrait of Dorian Gray. Though the tale has been told in many ways, and the character adapted frequently across several mediums, the original will remain a true classic for the ages.

    Although Oscar Wilde penned many scripts and poems, this is the sole novel in his collection. If you can find a version of the book that has a detailed foreword, I would highly recommend reading it. There's a lot of interesting trivia on the backstory of Oscar Wilde and how this novel was extremely controversial in its time.

    This is a spectacular tale of vanity, corruption, obsession, and immortality. The fact that it has already had suchan enduring legacy speaks to the quality of the writing and just how relevant its allegories are. Dorian Gray has become a pop culture icon unto himself.

    Even if you find older books more difficult to read, this one is still very accessible. Its style is not overly verbose or dated, like some other books written around the same time. It's a short book, so you'll burn through it quickly!

    Flag as Spam
    5.0/5
    Lust Factor

    Staying Power

    Value / Valeur

    Recommended? You Betcha!
    July 23, 2016

    I loved the word choice and the author's ability to put me in the scene. It's hard not to quote Lord Henry in everyday life- so cheeky and sarcastic. The ending is popular so it's not like I'm spoiling anything- but it can be a little gruesome. I would recommend this to teenagers on the older side, and any adult.

    Flag as Spam
    5.0/5
    Lust Factor

    Staying Power

    Value / Valeur

    Recommended? You Betcha!
    March 31, 2016

    This is my all-time favourite book. If you're the type who hates decrepit, gruesome, corrupt and polluted concepts and ideas, then steer clear from this novel. On the other hand, if you don't mind the grit, vulgarity and tainted ness, then I openhandedly welcome you to discover your likings for this read. It not only has complex, embellished and intricate ideals, but it showcases the contrasting views from what we know as the good side, to what can overcome us on the dark side.

    Flag as Spam

    These reviews are the subjective opinions of ChickAdvisor members and not of ChickAdvisor Inc.