What's the most controversial book you've read recently?  I just read http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/9780140178920-Nude+Men

It's about a man who is seduced by an 11 yo and the young girl's mother approves because her child is capable of making those decisions.  Don't worry, no graphic scenes thank goodness, but WOW, it's a thought-provoking book.

Share your crazy, controversial, books of twisted morals here.

For me, that would probably be  The End of Alice by A.M. Homes.  http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/9780684827100-The+End+Of+Alice

 Not for the weak stomached...

Both of those have been added to my RL and will hit my WL as soon as I have room!!

Controversial recent reads??  Hmm.  Nothing recently, that I recall.  Let me think on that one and I'll come back...

This month I've read Middlesex, White Oleander, and Little Altars Everywhere (the last two are on my bookshelf) and all had controversial themes within.  Incidentally, I liked all of them (pretty much in order of preference above).

I've recently read Middlesex and Fahrenheit 451 

I don't think I've read anything controversial lately, although I'm sure others would disagree.  I'll just say, I haven't read anything lately that's on a banned book list.

That would defidently have to be Story of O http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/9780345301116-Story+of+O on a recent trip to oregon.

I stumbled upon it in powells used books, thought the plain white cover innocent enough, and started reading it while waiting for my coffee in the cafe.

I couldn't stop and ended up buying it.

I was surprised I liked this book...I never read anything "erotic", not even romance novels, the closest Ive gotten were the vampire chronicals by anne rice. But I found this books highly absorbing, the characters complex and layered, and the philisophical elements facinating.

However, it is a shocker and defidently not for the weak-stomached.

Nabkov's Lolita & Burgess' A Clockwork Orange, really liked ACO, Lolita was interesting but I wouldn't read it again in a hurry

I don't think I've read any controversial book recently, but I am about to re-read Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.  I read it for the first time about a year ago, and will be re-reading it for a March book club meeting.

Unfortunately, I can't tell you what makes this book controversial, because that would be spoiling the plot of the book!  Those who have read the book know.

Should be a lively book group discussion!

ETA:  Ooh, just thought of one I read recently!  I read The Road in December 2007, which is about a father and son surviving in a very dark post apocalyptic world.

Glad you liked ACO Vanessa :-)

I ordered it a few weeks ago during my "distopian streak"...I read 1984, brave new world, etc.

I havent read it yet but can't wait to start talking in NADSAT (LOL)

I'm currently reading white oleander Monica...I had no idea it was "controversal"...hadn't gotten that far yet lol.

It's very well-written so far though...and now im curious about the contrversy. ;-)

The Kiss by Kathryn Harrison

http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/9780380731473-The+Kiss

A memoir, disturbing content.

I guess the most controversial book I've read recently is Middlesex. It was excellent!

Alison, I won't give away the "controversial" twist, but you should see it when you get there...

I guess that in 'The Pearl Diver', a historical fiction novel of a Japanese leper column, there was some controversy within.  It was a very good read.

I read Everlasting Love by Ian McEwan and it disturbed me so much that I would have to put it to the side and pick it up 2 weeks later.

I haven't read anything controversial recently, but I have The Pearl Diver on Mt TBR and I'm looking forward to reading it.

Monica,

I think I might have gotten there today. "Uncle Ray" was it? Yes, that was disturbing...but I still find the book well written and can't wait to finish...I wonder what the auther will think of next!

I read His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman's trilogy, late last year. It had been on my TBR pile for years, and the controversy over the Golden Compass movie prompted me to dig it out.

My opinion is that Christians have nothing to fear from these books. Pullman's arguments against organized religion are rather juvenile, and his plot lines are not thought out well at all. He also commits character assassination on his most appealing character (Lyra). I enjoyed the first book but loathed the second and third.

[Hijack]

Felicia, I just finished Pullman's The Amber Spyglass last night. I agree that Christians have nothing to fear from these books.

But Lyra character assassinated? I don't see it. What do you mean?

And I thought the most appealing character was Iorek Brynison, which is funny because I resisted these books for years because I thought armored polar bears were a silly concept.

I liked the first book and the second. The third, not so much.

Yep Alison, that's what I was referring to.  The book is great - definitely NOT a happy tale, a very dark (and interesting!) tale.

Bob:

What I meant was, Lyra was such a strong, independent-minded character in the first book. I felt Pullman reduced her to Will's sidekick in the second and third books. She even abandoned her own quest to help Will find his father. She became a follower instead of a leader. That, to me, was character assassination. She wasn't the same Lyra.

I really liked Iorek in the first book, but he just made cameo appearances in the second and third.

[Hijack over]

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver.  Wow.  No other words to describe this.  To say this is about teenage shootings is barely scratching the surface.  I was sobbing at the end, and this book is the first and only book I've ever read that made me reconsider having/raising children.

I guess The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie is the most controversial book I've ever read.  It would be better enjoyed however if a person has some knowledge of the Islamic religion. It amazes me that this man received death threats because of his work of fiction.  Just goes to show you how powerful literature can be.

It's been dubbed as the most famous book most people will never read. 

I simply cannot read books involving pedophilia or incest since I have seen the devastating effects left on children.