madisenmc's review against another edition

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4.0

I loved how every single character was so unrealistic and exaggerated. I liked how in the end everything was resolved.

I really liked Algernon’s character because he had so many great one-liners that sounded quite to modern.

I can tell that it was originally a play, as the dialogue was the most important piece, but the book still flowed nicely.

isabela06's review

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

4.0

vacanthungarian's review

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A great little novel version of the famous play. 
Largely revolving around two men, both having invented a person as an excuse to get out of terribly dull social engagement and take some time out of their mundane lives.
It all goes horribly wrong. Everyone is really opinionated and dramatic.
Two things I took from this story is that middle class society really talked some absolute drivel on philosophy and young women had absolutely no expectations beyond the superficial.
Perhaps it was Wilde's satire on the middle class.
Excellent plot twist at the end.

maddelleine's review against another edition

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3.0

The play focuses on the situational comedy, turning Jack's alibi into his trouble with the "help" of his friend, Algy. With some twists and turns a bit forced, "The Importance of Being Earnest" still manages to be an enjoyable read, making you drop a laugh here and there.

Being quite short, it doesn't lose its charm and it doesn't get to be boring or tedious. I'd recommend it :)

pecasauria's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.75

jai_martin's review

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

5.0

cameliarose's review against another edition

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5.0

This is a novelized version of Oscar Wilde's play, The Importance of Being Earnest. It's laugh-out-loud funny. Very Oscar Wilde. The era that breeds these characters is long gone. The characters become hardly relatable for an average modern reader. Yet, the essence remains.

One of my favorite quotes:
"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his."

daphne2000's review against another edition

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5.0

This is completely identical to the play, so don't go into this expecting any additions to the original story. However, that also means that this book is as funny as the play as all the original dialogue is kept in tact. Though nothing can beat seeing the play live, this is a really nice edition of The Importance of Being Earnest to own since it's much nicer to read prose than stage directions.

michaeldennis's review

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3.0

Don't get me wrong: I love The Importance of Being Earnest. It is witty, it's absurd, and most assuredly it's trivial. But I did hope for more in this novelization than merely Wilde's brilliant dialogue interspersed with a few "he replied" or "he thought a moment and said" and a few minor stage directions. I was kinda hoping for maybe some clever additions that might make the play even more enjoyable or enjoyable in a new way.

The most obvious way to enjoy the original work is to see it on stage. The audio performance by L.A. Theatre Works (live "radio-type" performance) is near perfect in every way. This performance is available in audible.com's "The Oscar Wilde Collection" and I highly recommend listening to the plays this way. Next, the 1952 film covers the play pretty well.

If a reader has difficulty reading the format of a play, this book is at least an entree into this work and so for that reason, it probably has a valid place.

cameliarose's review

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5.0

This is a novelized version of Oscar Wilde's play, The Importance of Being Earnest. It's laugh-out-loud funny. Very Oscar Wilde. The era that breeds these characters is long gone. The characters become hardly relatable for an average modern reader. Yet, the essence remains.

One of my favorite quotes:
"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his."