The Picture of Dorian Gray

Thought provoking, relevant to today. Oscar Wilde is cheeky

One chapter was super random, otherwise good, some things not fleshed out/loose ends

This book was able to captivate me despite my dislike (?) for the main character Dorian. I had a certain view of this book coming into it, but it turned out to be a different tone than expected. Still, I enjoyed the flowery writing and the suspense, and although the ending was predictable, it was satisfying. In a way, it’s a Greek tragedy, a character ruined by his own best trait. And my poor Basil.. <3

I really enjoyed the Victorian aesthetic and supernatural elements to this novel as well as how the novel went against every Victorian expectation. The plot was very intriguing to me and was what pushed me through the novel along with my general love for Oscar Wilde. Despite this, I am giving it only three stars because although the plot drew me in the novel did take a while to get me to want to read it. Although I know the point of Lord Henry's character was to be unlikable, I found it hard to force myself to read through his hypocritic philosophical rants. It was also hard to force myself to get through the many pages where nothing happened plot wise and it was just Wilde going on and on about Victorian life and art. So for me, the book having an interesting plot mixed with the more boring tedious parts of the novel equals 3 stars. I am glad I read the book but I would not reread it.

Overall I liked it but it wasn't extraordinary 3.75/5. The ornate prose is not overdone like Dicken's third person pov but IMO It isn't the most exclusive feature of this book, also judging it only by its prose is kind of shallow which our man Wilde doesn't approve of. Chapter 11 was a bit like a summary of some years of Dorian's life. I would've liked more elaboration on his hedonism tbh :hmmmmmmm: Victorians were too fussy about many normal things. I liked the philosophical exploration or art, aesthetic along with morality but it wasn't that spellbinding, the main theme was confined to that issue only and at this point in modern times, after reading so much about Faustian bargains or the horrible limits people can go on to preserve their outer appearance. It didn't seem like some great discovery. Btw Wilde's occasional incorporation of witty dialogues was great!!
Now some life lessons self-proclaimed intellectual, Andy has learned from this book- people really need to wake up from the notion of associating only aesthetics and beauty with a scale of morality and how pursuing it only limits not only their intellectual growth but restricts them from opening up their true selves with others around them, creating a paradox of lies and deception.
Considering all of these I would say it was pretty nice but I just wasn't particularly impressed by it, it is on my mid-level radar