The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde | Review | Bookish Favourites

[@figs8261]

The Picture of Dorian Gray is also very special to me. I thought I must read it in English when I first came across it in Chinese. It's my first book read in English, though I haven't finished it yet. It gave me so much peace when I was alone studying in a foreign country for the first time. Love Oscar forever.

[@SpinstersLibrary]

What a lovely memory, thank you for sharing ❤

[@Lililouvre]

This book really is my favorite book of all time. I remember being 15 and trying to dabble into classics and this was the first book I read. I fell in love with Wilde’s writing and I find his writing easier to understand than most classics as well. I even bought multiple copies of this book😭

[@dorrahadrich9431]

One in each color to match the mood i presume

[@puchi1388]

Just finished this book, though it wasn’t a favorite… I definitely appreciate the philosophical thoughts and questions it raised. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[@danecobain]

Absolutely fantastic discussion! Think I pretty much agree with everything you said, although I think I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed his plays. It's definitely not perfect but there's just something about it that kind of haunts you and sticks with you!

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Definitely, haunting is a good way to describe it

[@danecobain]

@@SpinstersLibrary I find it quite hard to put my finger on exactly way, as well!

[@mynameissiddharth]

Henry Wotton, who was much older than Dorian, seduced his mind in such a way that he more or less became his disciple. Gray started to believe that everything that matters in life is pleasure and morality is a joke, a farce. It is absurd to believe that something has an internal beauty because beauty itself exists in the senses, not the metaphysics. It was under Wotton's effect that Dorian wished that his age and actions be reflected in the portrait while he himself remains beautiful and pure. So great a novel it is. Even after fifteen years since I read the book, I still feel its effect.

[@teresamedeiros7312]

I've started this book about 4 times and just couldn't get into it but after watching your video I'm going to have another go at it. Thank you!

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Don't worry if it's just not for you - even though I love this book, I don't think it's required reading for anyone.

[@michellemagriet4439]

Listening to the audiobook whilst reading reeeaaalllyyy helped me get through this! :)

[@vampie5573]

Same... I just couldn't continue it bcz of some unknown reason... I am gonna give it a try again-

[@gelatus_watches]

I recently read the book, and I regard it as a masterpiece. The dialogue, as you noted, is exceptionally well-crafted in English, with a natural flow that feels utterly authentic. The novel's philosophical depth is also quite significant, leaving a profound impression on me long after I turned the last page.

[@annemariepedersen5616]

Just finished Dorian Grey and was feeling a bit confused…but you expressed exactly the issue. I usually love a good story arc and strong characters and these are missing. However the language and the philosophical discussions about privilege, vanity, morals etc was very good. And the quotable lines are littered throughout. Thanks for this review!

[@JD-ij8bz]

dorian didn’t naturally see his painting and realize he wouldn’t always be young . it was lord henry’s influence , henry brought that idea to dorian’s attention

[@preserumcoco]

I LOVE this book, especially Oscar Wilde's writing ❤️❤️

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Yes, it's so beautifully written! I think my next reread will be on audiobook to really savour the language.

[@KourttneyL]

As an American reading this book for the first time, especially in this genre, I am having a BLAST!! I have no clue what these new words mean, and it is so nice to go to the back of the book and read what he meant! I’m loving the book 📖 🥳✨

[@Laocoon283]

Oh kourtney u silly billy

[@KourttneyL]

@@Laocoon283 right 😂😂 little did I know…. It broke me and made me rethink life at some parts 😂🤦‍♀️

[@foolgazer]

Holy cow your hair is sooo pretty.

[@paragoncumulus6636]

Thanks for all your advent calendar. I've really enjoyed hearing about your favorite books. Some I've read, and some have been added to my list to read.

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Thank you, I hope you enjoy your new discoveries!

[@vale.castaneda]

I’m just starting this novel after having it on my shelf for one year and after reading the preface and the first two chapters it also really stood out to me how beautifully written it is. As you say, it is also very philosophical and it’s giving me a lot to think about. Thank you for the great review.

[@BernasBookishAdventures]

I was very late in watching the videos but I had many books added to my TBR by watching your advent calender videos. Thanks a lot! This book is a wonderful study of human nature in many aspects, I love it.

[@elisazouza]

I’m currently reading this and I’m obsessed!!!! I love how fast paced it is and how many quotes I can get from this book❤

[@norah.36]

I have a question, is there any explicit scenes? Or anything that’s over pg 13?

[@elisazouza]

@@norah.36 their wasn’t! only in the uncensored version 💕

[@norah.36]

@@elisazouza so generally would you consider it appropriate? Thanks!

[@elisazouza]

@@norah.36 definitely!!! there’s just gay romance but nothing like that luckily! So pretty good for 13+!

[@norah.36]

@@elisazouza I just checked it out thanks for your help!!

[@westy8318]

oscar did a great job with his angle . definitely structured to keep you questioning . love it.

[@akshatsharma1021]

Beautiful review! Thank you for this!

[@rurumusic4273]

Finally finished this book earlier and I always want to watch this video of yours.😅 Love the book so much!

[@CharlotteKnight-p8s]

I read it last year and was addicted to it, I couldn't put it down. The thing I took away was how it could be read as an allegory of the moral life, in how the painting changes as Dorian's life takes a more debauched turn and as his innocence is corrupted.

[@happywhenreading3283]

Thank you for this advent calendar series. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Happy Holidays🎄

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Thank you, I'm so glad you liked it!

[@maslina4567]

Ok, there is no way to remain silent on this, the one, the only The Picture of Dorian Gray! No idea how you knew I'd be happy with today's choice. ;) ;) Was so hoping it would be this, one of my favourite novels of all time, if not number one! Claudia, your too-short-for-me summary ;) is so thoughtfully and beautifully analyzed. There's just no more that could be said. My supreme joy for this novel is so great that when attempting to discuss it my tongue gets twisted and my throat tightens so the words sort of sputter and spill out rather inarticulately, probably bemusing and confusing people more than enlightening. ;) You are right...it is imperfect yet so unique and couldn't be more Wilde! It's just so...him, his essence forever captured on paper. This is the novel I've decided to be my first of 2020. Each re-read is better than the last, if that's even possible. And now we are forced to wait for a few days for your next video. ;) Happy, Happy Christmas and enjoy a much-deserved break. 🙂

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Haha, your user name gave you away 😂. You're right, every reread reveals something new in this book, and what a good choice to start your 2020 with! I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time rereading it. hope you too have had a restful Christmas break ♥️

[@Jerraleon]

For me it was lacking the amount of sin that I saw mentioned in lots of reviews I've read before buying the book. In the end sure but that's pretty much it. So that made it a bit blend to me. Though from scene to scene it was absolutely beautiful. Perhaps the first time one should read it in his native language and if it fits later on in English. Your English is so good to!

[@nitishpurusram9223]

Love your hair, beautiful colour

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Thank you!

[@WildeBookGarden]

ooooh I agree with that possibly controversial opinion!! I think his plays are so much better written--at least that I've read so far. I completely forgot Lord Henry even HAD a wife since she was definitely not in the book much! yeah I remember feeling very split on the stuff he wrote about theatre and actors: some I loved and some I was like "Oscar you can do better than these stereotypes!" haha this is not my favorite of Wilde's works but it is one I still think about! great video and analysis

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Weirdly his characters feel less like real people in the novel than they do in his plays, even though they are so over the top in the plays

[@user-bv5sq9dy7w]

I feel like the wife hardly shows because they try to show the relationship she had with lord Henry, how they were not as close

[@Dolores5000]

Just finished the audiobook so fantastic

[@otoptip1435]

I love your new glasses 😍😍

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Thanks

[@RJ-xj9ql]

Great review. Thank you

[@insignificantphysicist1295]

I loved the Canterville ghost by Oscar WIlde. It has a lot of humour..

[@alfredm9763]

Very 😍 beautifully put. I too love this book. However some sentences were a little hard to comprehend and in the end I found it did get a bit much to read. However still very beautiful book.

[@norah.36]

I have a question, is there any explicit scenes? Or anything that’s over pg 13?

[@leonardoaguiar5042]

My favourite book..

[@kanupriyapandey2036]

Hi, it would be really really helpful if you could suggest a book, a poem, a short story or anything which is very similar to it. Like, The Oval Portrait is also a Gothic tale with the Portrait as a central idea to it like The Picture of Dorian Grey. I just need one more such example. Please suggest if you know any. Thanks.

[@mynameissiddharth]

Hello, She didn't reply, so may I? Have you read Nikolai Gogol's "The Portrait"? Have you read Henry James' "The Turn of the Screw"? Have you read C. P. Gilman's " The Yellow Wallpaper"? These stories are great.

[@kanupriyapandey2036]

@@mynameissiddharth except for Gogol one. I have read the rest. Thanks for the response! I'll read it too!

[@aronwilliam8547]

This wasn't the cover of the book when I read. Stated illustrated classics with lots of pictures. Being a California born 2k kid I felt the story dope. "Oh he is handsome let's be friends with him" am like Henry stop you sound so gay to me. Nobody goes to work in the book. Those who work either suicide or murdered. Here we are today working out ass off in our jobs. Makes me wonder? Going to job wasn't important in 1800? I still don't know why he killed the painter. He just wished for an age swap, how does Dorian die destroying an artwork? I never understood that. Yes you are 100% right. Not his best shot.

[@HipHop226]

5 star book

[@andreawencker826]

Great Video! Can you suggest a german Translation to it?

[@SpinstersLibrary]

Sorry, I've not read it in German

[@beeto45]

dear @UCzccJ52d8ACSM2nRqkRxT7w, tell us about the premise/plot of the book; i reached minute 5 of this video and i still know nothing of the book in question! ill go see some elses video...

[@jayaybe1]

You reached minute 5! My God!!! The horror! The horror!

[@anshuluniyal2885]

Hey