Queen B’s Decree: I freely admit I haven’t read The Portrait of Dorian Gray. So I really had no frame of reference with this one. And after listening to This Wretched Beauty, I still can’t say I really understand the plot of the original story. Or this one honestly.
I liked the queer spin; Dorian feeling uncomfortable in his male skin, wanting to be feminine. How in wanting to live their most free self, they have to abhor the majority of society and live as a weird recluse (who still hosts wild parties but still). And as an outsider looking in, it felt so obvious how they were taken advantage of, in their quest to live as woman.
But can I say I really enjoyed the story? No, I can’t say I truly did. But the narration—the narration was so amazing it made me keep listening. Jenet Le Lacheur had this wondrous, whispery voice and it really made me feel like I was in this gothic, crumbling mansion. Her intonation matched the vibe of the book so well, that despite not fully grasping the plot, I was all in on listening.
Book: This Wretched Beauty by Elle Grenier
Series: standalone, part of Remixed Classics
Genre: Dark, Historical
Plot Devices/Tropes: retelling, LGBTQ