Most Controversial Fiction Book Ever?

Linda · Post by **Linda** » 24 Mar 2007, 23:13

pretty purple? i don't think i've even seen that term used. australians are so amazing. they should sell shirts here "australians do it better"...i'd buy one.

sleepydumpling · Post by **sleepydumpling** » 25 Mar 2007, 02:43

Aww shucks!

What about "Aussies do it Down Under"?

Purple is how you describe writing that is salacious or controversial just for the sake of controversy and titillation. It's not there because it means anything... just for the shock value.

ClickForth · Post by **ClickForth** » 25 Mar 2007, 14:57

How about The Bible? *zing*

sleepydumpling · Post by **sleepydumpling** » 26 Mar 2007, 05:53

Well that depends if the Bible is actually fiction... which we don't know for sure, do we?

part-time reader · Post by **part-time reader** » 21 Aug 2007, 03:20

ClickForth wrote:How about The Bible? *zing*

How good of you - I was thinking this the whole time I was reading.

Alot of the book is actually fiction (fables etc), this was actually said to me by a Catholic Father.

Lets face it though for a lot of people it is fictional and I think the entire controversy comes from the debate of whether it is fact or fiction.

Yvonne · Post by **Yvonne** » 03 Sep 2007, 19:09

The most controversial book I ever read was Johnny Got his Gun by Dalton Trumbo. I read it in the late 1960's when Vietnam was still going strong. I think I was about 14 when I read it. I was aginst the war before I read the book and the book served to make me more vehement in my convictions. I have often thought that if young men and women who had a desire to sign up for the Armed Forces read this book that they would think twice as to what war meant and could mean to them.

Quentin Mark Pierson · Post by **Quentin Mark Pierson** » 07 Sep 2007, 19:34

the most controversial book of fiction hasn't been written yet.

but from the previous posts, i gather that it would denigrate all major religions, such as atheism, and include lots of sex, pedophilia, bestiality, exposed victorian furniture legs, sex on top of furniture, sex with furniture, burning of banned pieces of furniture, and ultraviolence. also, every copy of the book would be urinated on by the author, whilst squatting like a frog on top of an ottoman (what type of ottoman depends upon your peculiar predilection for perversity). pickles.

oh, and it has to be made into a movie, since nobody seems to care until it's mentioned on entertainment tonight. then you can go and hold up signs in front of a theatre and get on the teevee.

unless you are an ayatollah. i don't think he watches entertainment tonight.

hmm. this makes great sense.

hoggerpig · Post by **hoggerpig** » 07 Sep 2007, 22:02

Well, IMO, I can't see where The DaVinci Code was more controversial then Christopher Moore's Lamb; The Gospel According To Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. I think the Code only drew so much criticism because it was made into a movie w/ Tom Hanks. Lamb was so wrong on so many levels! And, yes...I cried at the end of it ( even though I knew the "story").

TheWalrus · Post by **TheWalrus** » 09 Sep 2007, 09:44

Well, IMO, I can't see where The DaVinci Code was more controversial then Christopher Moore's Lamb; The Gospel According To Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal

I love this book. Granted this might have to do with being a devout agnostic (is that even possible) and still having gone through 13 years of Catholic School

PingpongMyTwat · Post by **PingpongMyTwat** » 15 Jun 2008, 21:33

I think the Cider House Rules is controversial.
Though ive only read a synopsis, and seen the movie.
The book seems more controversial than the movie, involving incest and pregnancy as a result, abortions (they were illegal at the time) and orphans ect.
I found it intresting.

blue_diamond21 · Post by **blue_diamond21** » 16 Jun 2008, 04:09

"the most controversial book of fiction hasn't been written yet.

but from the previous posts, i gather that it would denigrate all major religions, such as atheism, and include lots of sex, pedophilia, bestiality, exposed victorian furniture legs, sex on top of furniture, sex with furniture, burning of banned pieces of furniture, and ultraviolence. also, every copy of the book would be urinated on by the author, whilst squatting like a frog on top of an ottoman (what type of ottoman depends upon your peculiar predilection for perversity). pickles.

oh, and it has to be made into a movie, since nobody seems to care until it's mentioned on entertainment tonight. then you can go and hold up signs in front of a theatre and get on the teevee.

unless you are an ayatollah. i don't think he watches entertainment tonight."

I think the Marquis De Sade covers almost everything mentioned, though his work hasn't been made into a movie and I don't think he peed on all his writing (though I wasn't there so I can't be sure

)

Wordsgood · Post by **Wordsgood** » 16 Jun 2008, 16:48

Oooohhh, I love threads like this. Gives the names of new books to read!

I must confess (blush) that I haven't gotten around to picking up the Da Vinci Code yet, (saw movie though), but I clearly remember all the uproar about it. So much ridiculous commentary in the media about it - and around the water cooler. It has always amazed me that well-educated people, many with multiple degrees, can be so darned ignorant! The main point here is that it is fiction!

Though very cleverly marketed, Brown made no claims that he was disputing the bible or history. Yet I spoke with many people, and saw it in TV, who paid lie to their education by claiming the book was heresay and Brown a devil worshipper out to brainwash the young! Perhaps not in those particular words, but it certainly seemed to be a popular take on the book. A friend's new husband, whom I love dearly, but drives me nuts with his "pick and choose" Christianity - (you know, the ones who condemn others for certain actions, only to be frequent perpetrators of it themselves) - even went so far has to have a tantrum when I asked if everyone wanted to play my Da Vince game. The one I'm referring to has NO affiliation to the book or author and is simply a trivia game about medieval & ancient history and myths! He would even let me explain the game's concept. He cut off everyone who tried to speak by shouting over them and flatly refused to listen. I actually had a mental vision of him putting his fingers in his ears and screaming "la, la, la..." over and over again!

In terms what I consider to be the most controversial bood ever, I would have to say the Bible. Without a doubt. And running a close second these days is the Quaran. No offense intended here, but let's be honest, whenever you bring religion into any equation, controversy is sure to follow. It's been my experience that no matter the faith of the person I'm talking to, that if I questioned what appears to be contradictions with what they and/or their faith preaches, against an obviously different reality, they cannot come up with logical explanations. Often they just get hostile, splutter and scream, then finally come up with pitiful responses like I couldn't possibly understand because it wasn't my faith. Again, I am not referring to folks with little or no education, but ones that have a bare minimum of a full high school diploma and generally university degrees to boot! The same thing goes on in the media all the time. I just don't get the mentality.

As for the other books mentioned in this thread, thank you all for sharing! Keep 'em coming please! I plan to check out some, though not the horror ones as they will give me horrid nightmares. (Imagination way too active when sleeping.)

blue_doona32 · Post by **blue_doona32** » 17 Jun 2008, 17:28

People think of controversial books: The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, His Dark Materials Trilogy, Harry Potter, and even classics like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings.

I just see great literature.

I don't understand why people believe these books to be offensive to religion and why they must be banned, boycotted, and even burned. If anything, these books are merely tools designed to either entertain people, create a message through different means, and to inspire others to read.
True, books such as The Da Vinci Code do strick at the Church somewhat, but its FICTION! A mere work of fiction is not something that actually happened, if I'm not mistaken, but I can also see where it would start becoming offensive: the Church is evil, no good joining the "brain washing Church" and other such nonsense.
But when it all comes down to the bare bone, the Church has done some pretty messed up things such as The Crusades and such, but whatever.

I love these books because they create new concepts that inspire new thoughts from me.

SeoulChild · Post by **SeoulChild** » 17 Jun 2008, 21:10

Awesome question, and I have to sort of agree with a lot of the posts that I just skimmed through.

But I would have to say that my own personal idea of a really controversial book is probably Stranger in a Strange Land. A really great fantastic book, but it's hard to "grok" lol (if you have read it...you know exactly what I mean)!

Wordsgood · Post by **Wordsgood** » 18 Jun 2008, 04:42

blue_donna32 said...

I just see great literature.

I don't understand why people believe these books to be offensive to religion and why they must be banned, boycotted, and even burned. If anything, these books are merely tools designed to either entertain people, create a message through different means, and to inspire others to read.
True, books such as The Da Vinci Code do strick at the Church somewhat, but its FICTION! A mere work of fiction is not something that actually happened, if I'm not mistaken, but I can also see where it would start becoming offensive: the Church is evil, no good joining the "brain washing Church" and other such nonsense.
But when it all comes down to the bare bone, the Church has done some pretty messed up things such as The Crusades and such, but whatever.

I love these books because they create new concepts that inspire new thoughts from me.

EXACTLY! Well said indeed blue_donna!