Reviews

The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays by Oscar Wilde

jenna_wolf1204's review against another edition

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funny reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is such a great collection of Wilde's plays. The notes and intro are very insightful and help to contextualize parts of the plays that either don't make sense without knowing the context or would get lost on a reader not from that time period. My favorites were definitely The Importance of Being Earnest and A Woman of No Importance. Wilde's use of dramatic irony is masterful and makes for a very compelling play. Also his hints of criticism of the aristocracy, the very audience his plays were for, make me laugh -- he really knows how to write a ridiculous rich person. I also love his almost "feminist" view of women's issues -- acknowledging the double standards that existed between men and women and almost flipping them, especially in 
A Woman of No Importance when the mom ultimately comes out on top and it is the father who is shamed, the opposite of how society would view them
. Overall definitely recommend giving this one a read. 

annboooksss02's review against another edition

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funny relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

maireisles's review against another edition

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5.0

Wilde’s plays didn’t become classics for nothing.

Wonderfully funny, unexpected and full of one liners that will stick with you long after you put the book down.

I highly recommend reading with notes as there are lots of references or words we modern day readers wouldn’t pick up on normally, but which make it even more entertaining a read!

chloeyasheckie's review against another edition

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4.0

bro algernon was cracking me the hell up

whereissamy's review against another edition

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5.0

Best writing ever! Literally slayed

nnyam33's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

3.5

My favourite is the only first two story, Wish I could see all the play irl where I live. I strongly believe that this book isn't meant to be read but rather meant to be seen as a play as that's more easier to comprehend.

thelena's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

wen's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

2.5

amertine's review against another edition

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fast-paced

5.0

dorito3d's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5