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Picture of Dorian Gray
Picture of Dorian Gray | Oscar Wilde
This Prestwick House Literary Touchstone Edition? includes a glossary and reader?s notes to help the modern reader contend with Wilde?s many allusions and his complex approach to the human condition.Oscar Wilde?s only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, first appeared in 1891. Dorian Gray, a handsome young man, falls in with a group of ?friends,? whose amoral philosophies he finds quite appealing. After he has his portrait painted, his frivolity and general demeanor degenerate into wickedness, but only the portrait bears the effects of his descent into decadence and serves as a powerful symbol of Gray?s internal ruin. Dorian himself, however, remains as young and unspoiled as the day he first sat for the painting. Wilde?s exploration of life without limits or consequences shocked its late-Victorian audience and remains highly un-settling to modern readers. We, like Dorian, are forced to reconsider whether total freedom and absolute knowledge are really worth their costs.
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Reia
Mehso-so

Maybe my expectations were too high, or maybe it wasn't for me, but this short read felt like a drag almost the whole way through. Characters appeared and disappeared with no real consequence, the plot was a fine thread that barely runs the course of the whole book. There were certain passages that dealt with things in very interesting ways, but they were lodged between long rants about some drape or another.

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AroundTheBookWorld
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Lying on the floor was a dead man, in evening dress, with a knife in his heart. He was withered, wrinkled, and loathsome of visage. It was not till they had examined the rings that they recognised who it was.
#ThePictureOfDorianGray #OscarWilde #lastline #closingline #book #books #bookworm #bookworms #bookwormlife #bookwormproblem #bookwormproblems #Classics #Fiction #Horror #Fantasy #Gothic #Literature #Novels #Audiobook #LGBT #19thCentury 💗💗💗

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OriginalCyn620
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PuddleJumper 🖤🖤 2mo
28 likes1 comment
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EllanaRose
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It has taken me a few years but I'm finally out of my reading slump. I hope to be active again here, but in the meantime I'm rereading a favorite book

BookmarkTavern Welcome back! 🎉🎉🎉 2mo
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psalva
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Pickpick

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a marvelous October read! It was challenging at times- passages of dense, florid language, and the encyclopedic descriptions of Chapter 11. Nonetheless, I found this to be a page turner. There were several quite shocking twists (I gasped at one point), and the philosophical discourses appealed to me. I even found myself often amused by Lord Henry‘s waggery! This is one that will stand up to a reread in future.

Kenyazero I haven't read this yet because I don't read classics very often, but it's been on my list for a while. What makes it a perfect October read? 2mo
psalva @Kenyazero I guess for me it was just the atmosphere of it. It wasn‘t overtly Halloween-like; it hung on the edges of horror and suspense. I don‘t have a great answer I suppose beyond feeling like it was the right time of year for me. (Also it‘s early morning for me and I haven‘t had coffee 😩- apologies) (edited) 2mo
Kenyazero @psalva sorry, I wasn't trying to question your description, I was just curious. I realized after reading your response that I've never read the description for this book 🤭 I read it now. 2mo
psalva @Kenyazero no worries. I didn‘t think you were questioning it :) it‘s one of those classics that I feel doesn‘t get discussed as much sometimes so, while I knew the premise before I read it, I didn‘t have a lot of expectations, which made me enjoy it more I think. 2mo
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psalva
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“…and there were several very courteously worded communications from Jermyn Street moneylenders offering to advance any sum of money at a moment‘s notice and at the most reasonable rates of interest.”

Some things never change…

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dabbe
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Eggs Brilliant 🧡 3mo
dabbe @Eggs 🩶🧡🩶 3mo
52 likes2 comments
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JudeCC
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Bailedbailed

I couldn‘t get into this one. I really tried. Not for me.

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nanuska_153
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Pickpick

This was an interesting read, I read Melmoth the Wanderer some years ago (the book that inspired this one), and I think the idea is much better executed here. There's a lot to be said about how the obsession with appearances and staying young forever is so relevant today, but so much so that there's no need to get into that. The dialogues were a bit too witty, seamed unbelievable because everything the characters said was so profound ⬇️

nanuska_153 but it's a good complaint to have when reading a book. I'm also sure that this is a book that grows in details with re-reads, so I know I'll revisit it in the future #24in2024 @Jas16 5mo
PurpleyPumpkin I really enjoyed reading this book many years ago. I don‘t think I realized that it had a predecessor. 🤔Adding Melmoth the Wanderer to my tbr. 📚 5mo
Jas16 A book I own that I still need to get to. Your review is inspiring me to move it up my TBR. 5mo
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nanuska_153 @PurpleyPumpkin yes,the author of Melmoth was Wilde's great uncle and he was quite fascinated by it,so much that while exiled in France he lived under the name Sebastian Melmoth.It's an interesting read,but mostly because it fascinated so many authors and you can see references to it.It's quite a long Gothic styled book, full of detailed descriptions, so you have to like the dark themes and it's "a story within a story book" which can feel heavy 5mo
nanuska_153 @Jas16 that's good to hear, it's a good read and not very long, it had been sitting on my shelf for a while too. I'm happy I got to it this year 5mo
PurpleyPumpkin And now I‘m fascinated! Thank you for all of this background info. So interesting! 5mo
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kellock
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Pickpick

I enjoyed it even if it did take me a while to finish the serial read.

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Ididsoidid
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Mehso-so

Finally got round to reading Dorian Gray. I think it suffered by being such a well known story and even for all Wilde‘s humorous and often quoted quips, it couldn‘t meet my expectations. Still, its originality shines! 6/10

bumpinthenight Beautiful cover! 2mo
8 likes1 comment
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Awk_Word_Smith
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But we love ya, Paul!

BookmarkTavern LOLOL 5mo
21 likes1 comment
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nanuska_153
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To me, Lord Henry is the most unethical character of the book, but "One should never do anything that one cannot talk about after dinner" is quite a good ethical rule to follow.

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LiteraryChanteuse
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It‘s time for me to get a #classic off my tbr list .

dabbe Ooh, you're in for a treat! 🤩 7mo
LiteraryChanteuse Thanks @dabbe I‘m looking forward to it. 7mo
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peanutnine
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Pickpick

I had only read Wilde's 'The Importance of Being Earnest' before (a fav), and I was worried going in that this would be a more serious & therefore drier read. I should have had more faith in his writing. While definitely more serious, this was just as engrossing & fascinating. His character descriptions are so detailed & you can't help but be drawn into the devastating story
#LGBTQ2024 published before 2000 @Kenyazero
#bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 8mo
PaperbackPirate I‘ve been meaning to read this for so long! Thank you for the reminder to bump it up the list! 7mo
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Kitta
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Inspired by @TheAromaofBooks I bought myself my favourite book in this beautiful copy by Chiltern Classics.

So pretty! 😍

I think I own 4 copies of The Picture of Dorian Gray now, but always love a new cover.

peanutnine Gorgeous! 😍 8mo
tpixie Absolutely beautiful 😍 8mo
dabbe 🤩🤩🤩 8mo
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TheAromaofBooks It's hard to resist those gorgeous Chiltern Classics!!! Always happy to influence others to buy pretty books 😂 Whatever you do, don't visit this website - https://beautifulbooks.info/ - which has loads of special/very pretty editions of everything haha 8mo
Kitta @TheAromaofBooks oh no I clicked it!! 😂 8mo
TheAromaofBooks Danger!! 😂 I've been particularly obsessed with the reprints of Agatha Christie's books, which are lovely little hardbacks with beautiful end papers. https://beautifulbooks.info/illustratedbibliographies/illustrators-and-authors/a... 8mo
Kitta @TheAromaofBooks oh wow those are lovely. I‘m quite taken with quite a few of the options and am eyeing these up: https://beautifulbooks.info/beehive-illuminated-editions/ and https://beautifulbooks.info/signature-gilded-editions/ 8mo
TheAromaofBooks Oh no, those are amazing!! I may have to indulge in the Gilded edition of Little Women - that's my book that I find myself owning far too many copies of! 8mo
bumpinthenight This is a beautiful cover! 2mo
Kitta @bumpinthenight isn‘t it?! 😍 2mo
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Rachel.Rencher
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Happy Sunday, Littens! 📚

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kellock
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Rejoining serial reader. Might make me stop working through lunch!

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Bookworm54
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Pickpick

It took me a few chapters to get into it (and boy were all these men dramatic!) but overall I enjoyed it. Like with a lot of the classics I think more is left to the imagination than adaptations would have you believe (Jekyll and Hyde, Dracula etc all fall into this category). It is atmosphere more than shock value.
Also why are 90% of the book covers and adaptations of a black haired Dorian Gray when he has golden hair? 🤔

#Roll100 #DoubleSpin

TieDyeDude I remember really enjoying this book! If I have seen any of the adaptations, they haven't been very memorable 😜 11mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 11mo
PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 11mo
44 likes3 comments
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Bookbuyingaddict
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Happy 😃 Halloween 🎃 finally gotten around to reading this after blowing the dust off !
#halloweenreading #spookyreads
#octobertbr #bookbingo
#doublespin

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Pip2
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Pickpick

A dramatic presentation and further proof that the soul is connected to the body, you can be vain and desirable on the outside but neglecting on what is on the inside can inhibit one from a life that is meaningful and beyond reproach which can have negative consequences to those around you. Throwing issues under the rug will further perpetuate a toxic complex as your innate self will not be able to disband from an unsettled issue that has meaning.

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AroundTheBookWorld
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IndoorDame
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Eggs Brilliant 🎶🎶 1y
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HeatherBookNerd
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Pickpick

Finally getting around to reading this classic. I‘ve read several of Wilde‘s plays but had missed his only novel. And boy it‘s a doozy. It kicks off with Wilde‘s trademark wit and verbal sparring. Then it starts to take a turn and just gets darker and darker. Completely enthralling.

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SpeculativeFemale
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Eggs Perfect 👌🏼 1y
38 likes1 comment
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AroundTheBookWorld
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The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light summer wind stirred amidst the trees of the garden, there came through the open door the heavy scent of the lilac, or the most delicate perfume of the pink-flowering thorn.
#ThePictureOfDorianGray #OscarWilde #firstline #openingline #book #books #bookworm #bookworms #bookwormlife #Classics #Fiction #Horror #Fantasy #Gothic #Literature #Novels #19thCentury #LGBT #Audiobook 💘💘

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Blueberry
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A favorite that popped up on my FB memories 😉

TheBookHippie 😂😂😂 1y
dabbe Awesomeness. 😎😍😀 1y
53 likes2 comments
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TheSpineView
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Eggs 🖤🎼🩶 2y
63 likes2 comments
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RileyEvans
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BarbaraJean
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It‘s a rainy day today, and I‘m working from home, so I‘ve made myself a lovely pot of “Dorian Gray” tea. Thinking of @TheBookgeekFrau with my mug choice!

TheBookgeekFrau Love it!! 💞😁 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love your mug ☕️ 2y
Tea_and_Starstuff A most excellent mug 2y
51 likes3 comments
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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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This cover is so cool that it‘s got me wondering if I want to read it, actually?

Rissreads So did you? I loved this book so much more than I thought I would. 13mo
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @Rissreads, I haven‘t and I feel like other media has kind of given away the entire story - so it‘s not really a priority, even with such a dashing cover. 13mo
47 likes2 comments
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dabbe
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#MarchMagic
@Eggs
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
#BkBasedonPainting

I know I'm stretching this, but it's all I could think of!

Eggs 🖤🤍🖤 2y
54 likes1 comment
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anna.campmans
This post contains spoilers
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Pickpick

Dorian Gray is a young man, and has his portrait painted by a great painter. He realizes his beauty in the portrait and wishes that he would always look the same, and that the portrait would age instead. After dumping his girlfriend, he notices that the painting looks more harsh. He hides the painting as it grows hideous with his age.

anna.campmans Eventually, he slashes the painting. The police come and find the painting in perfect condition, but Dorian with a knife in his chest.

If you like classic English literature, you would like this book.

One theme in this book is the observation of human nature. Dorian‘s friend tells him about psychology and he spends the rest of his life observing those around him and thinking carefully about morals.
2y
MissYaremcio Nicely done Anna! If you enjoyed this one, you might enjoy Man of Feeling (it's on my bookshelf)! 6/6 2y
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abookdragonsretreat
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Pickpick

Such a lush and gothic classic filled with philosophical quotes and an intriguing narrative. I loved the plot and how it gets darker as the novel progresses. Definitely one of my favourite classics!

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GatheringBooks
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Eggs Perfect 🖤🤍🖤 2y
Bklover 👍👍 2y
52 likes1 stack add2 comments
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VioletMoonBooks
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Cazxxx
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#manicmonday #letterp @CBee

📕 Tagged
✍️ Poe
🍿 Philadelphia
🎤 Pantera
🎵 Paradise City

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VioletMoonBooks
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Ddzmini
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Love these from Litjoy beautiful 📚🥰

TheNeverendingTBR Love these editions! 😍 2y
Ddzmini @TheNeverendingTBR yes there great and there‘s illustrations 🤗📖 2y
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VioletMoonBooks
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Gizmo86
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A leaving gift I got from a great colleague today as I start a new job 😁❤️🤓

rockpools How lovely! And congratulations 🥳 2y
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Dmo77
Pickpick

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TheAromaofBooks

Hey #LMPBC #GroupV - Just checking in as I haven't heard anything in a while!! I haven't received a book from @jimfields3 yet and thought I would make sure that it hasn't gone astray!! I know that @Fredthemoose received the tagged book, but wasn't sure where all the rest were in the process 😂 @BeckyWiththeGoodBooks

fredthemoose I sent Slaughterhouse Five off to Becky a week or so ago and got through Dorian Gray faster than expected so will get that out soon as well. 2y
jimfields3 I‘m behind but will send out Scarlet Pimpernel in the next few days. Sorry! 😬 2y
BeckyWithTheGoodBooks I‘m behind as well! I‘m sorry! I will send out the The Bell Jar in the next few days. 2y
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TheAromaofBooks @fredthemoose - Thank you for the update!!! @jimfields3 @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks - No worries, I just mostly wanted to make sure no books were lost in transit, which has definitely happened to me with #LMPBC books before!!! 2y
BeckyWithTheGoodBooks @fredthemoose @jimfields3 @TheAromaofBooks I am so sorry, friends, but I have Covid (for the second time), and am in insolation through Sunday. I will plan to mail The Bell Jar on Monday as long as I‘m feeling better. 😞 2y
TheAromaofBooks @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks - No worries!!! Life happens, especially with Covid 😑 Hopefully you are on the mend!!! 2y
jimfields3 I wish you a speedy recovery, @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks !! 2y
TheAromaofBooks Hey everyone!! I know this is a really busy time of year, but I was just curious as to where all our books are lol I received, read, and mailed The Scarlet Pimpernel but have never seen The Bell Jar or Slaughterhouse Five. Any thoughts? @jimfields3 @Fredthemoose @BeckyWithTheGoodBooks 2y
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BarkingMadRead
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August #bookspin done!! I‘m a month behind but I‘m determined to catch up!! #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Oooo I love your edition! I just read this one last month and I'm still thinking about it lol 2y
BarkingMadRead @TheAromaofBooks the cover is pretty and it‘s got nice big words lol but I‘m pretty sure it‘s the abridged version although the listing on Amazon didn‘t say it was 🤷🏻‍♀️ it was really good! 2y
TheAromaofBooks The edition I read was saying that Wilde originally published the story as a serial, then when it was published as a full book he actually did a lot of editing and added multiple chapters. So maybe your version is the original instead of Wilde's updated version?? 2y
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BarkingMadRead
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For my neighborhood book club!

Mccall0113 I need a new neighborhood! 2y
56 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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kkuester

“Because to influence a person is to give him one's own soul... He becomes an echo of someone else's music, an actor of a part that has not been written for him.“ - page 20