I was so upset with "Mr. Murder" that after 80 pages, I got up in the middle of the night, in my PJs, and threw it in the outdoor trash.  It was nothing but blood and guts for no apparent reason, and yet it was written by one of my favorite authors.  To me, he really hit a pothole with this one.  He should have thrown it in the trash first, IMHO.

Maysied

  I got Twilight and gave it away after reading three pages.

James Patterson's "Zoo." It was so simple-minded I was angry at myself for expending the energy to get it from the library, then the hour I spent on reading it---and yes, I think I did finish it, always in hope something would get better. Wrong wrong wrong.

I've read a couple other books lately that were so awful---the writing, the concept always sounds OK---it's astounding to me they get published, but those are titles I tend to forget.

OTOH, if you're talking about offended, as in sex or language, then nope, that is not what offends me. Stupidity, however, does, big-time.

For me it was Smonk by Tom Franklin. I'm not easily offended at all, but this book was sick. About 1/3 of the way through I just gave up. This author also wrote Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter which is one of my favorites so I was looking forward to reading more of his work.

The Boy In the Striped Pajamas.  Hated, hated, hated it.  I think I actually offended some people by saying I hated it, but I truly found the book offensive.

The Girl with the Botticelli Eyes by Herbert Lieberman.  It sounded interesting until I got into it.  The villian [and he truly is evil] was more than I could stomach.  I didn't get past the first few chapters.

skimmed it in the library one day about 10 years ago - nauseating

It is the last Orson Scott Card Book I ever listened to.  I loved OSC, was totally hooked on the Ender Series, and liked some of his other books as well: Treason, Magic Street.

But after listening to Empire I decided to no longer support him in any way.  It deeply offended the liberal in me.  OSC was alright while he stuck to Science Fiction and other than Robert Heinlein, I don't think there is a finer sci-fi writer out there.  But when he decided to write a totally politically biased 'sci-fi' book' I had it. No more OSC for me.

Lolita.  I know it is good literature, but the awfulness of everyone in that book was just too much for me. 

Though I'm not sure I should put it on this list, because offended is really the right word for my reaction to that book, now that I think about it.  Maybe disgusted would be better. 

I agree with Ann; I don't get "offended" by sex or violence or language.  I did find Thirteen Reasons Why totally disgusting and reprehensible.  Its about a high school age girl who kills herself and before her death sends recordings to the thirteen people in her life who are the reasons why she did it.  Not her parents, teachers, family.  Not anyone who's responsibility it was to help her and protect her, but to her schoolmates who (while some bullied her) didn't "reach out to her".

I'm with Greg, American Psycho. 

Interesting reaction to Thirteen Reasons Why, sevenspiders. I found it true to the way kids at that age think and it has spawned several very good conversations about bullying. Bullying isn't just about the bully and the victim; there is a whole circle of people involved in any bullying incident and the actions of any of those people can change the outcome. 

Bullying isn't just about the bully and the victim; there is a whole circle of people involved in any bullying incident and the actions of any of those people can change the outcome.

True, but 13RW implied that someone can be considered culpable for another's actions because he or she let a friendship fade or flirted with the person but never made a move.  It may be true to the way teenagers think, but its still emotional blackmail.

Seven- I took that book as a good thing for teens to read and SEE WHY that way of thinking is bad.  I very good mom/daughter book, so mom can point out the unhealthy mind set of that teen, how blaming others or expecting others to save us is not the way to go.  I am surprised by the number of teens who agree with that book. It's a good book club book for teens IF lead by a level headed healthy minded adult.

 My book is Wetlands by C Roach.. Just written to gross people out and try to be hip.  Just gave me the chills and new bathroom fears.

We Need to Talk about Kevin: I don't recall the name of the author and that is due to how much I was offended. I read about 1/4 of it when the character started talking about how she would feel if the baby was born with an  imperfection which the result would be to reject the baby. I know that may be an honest reaction but to me this a conceited reaction. As if you're too good for life to touch you. 

I don't think it's a matter of taking the writing personally because I think it is possible to be offended without taking it personally. I just could not keep reading it, that's all.

Seven, I haven't read 7RW, and probably won't : it sounds too depressing for me to enjoy. But I do think that suicide is always a kind of, 'the Ultimate in Emotional Blackmail', and when commited by a teenager, who hasn't outgrown a selfcenteric world view, even more so. Don't you think so? I would be offended if I felt the author felt that someone could be responsible for another's action just by flirting or letting a friendship grow cold - but not if I felt the character felt so. There's a huge difference to me.

I can't think of the name of the book, but it was written by two different authors, I think.

It was about a serial killer who picks up a hitchhiker, who is also a serial killer. I thought it was a great concept.

Unfortunately, it was just too graphic for me. I didn't get very far. I checked the reviews and got the idea that it would be like the the whole way through, so gave it up.

I wish I could remember the name of the book. I think it was free for Kindle a couple of years ago.

Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison.

Story of a little girl horribly abused by her stepfather. Her mother does nothing to stop it. I threw the book at the wall.

Pam

Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison.

Story of a little girl horribly abused by her stepfather. Her mother does nothing to stop it. I threw the book at the wall. 

Well, Pam, this might offend you even more.  That book is an autobiographical novel.  Much of it actually happened to Dorothy Allison.  Now that's truly offensive!  Anyway, that is actually one of my favorite books and was made into a very good HBO movie.  For some reason, I love dysfunctional childhood books.

A book that I recently found offensive?  You Got Nothing Coming - Notes From a Prison Fish by Jimmy A. Lerner.  As I was reading it I loved it.  Found the author funny, witty, etc.  I was all rightously indignent as to how he could have been convicted and sentenced to such a long prison term based on the events of the crime HE was putting forth.  Afterward, I googled the author.  Yea, he put quite a different spin on his crime versus what really happened.  I don't find him so funny after all...........

I agree about the boy in the stripped pjs. one that my sister warned me about was the kite runner and knowing me it would upset me. So I never did read it but I did throw it out.

I have to agree about The Kite Runner.  I disliked the main character so much I couldn't get past the first few chapters.  A truly offensive boy....

One of the few books, along with the one I mentioned previously, The Girl with the Botticelli Eyes, that I could not finish.

The Girl Next Door was very disturbing.

The Girl Next Door was very disturbing

Another novel based on fact.  I read the true account of Sylvia Lykens(sp)  which read almost identical to the novel.  That whole case was just completely bizarre and disturbing.

Bastard Out of Carolina was hard to take as was Running with Scissors.  I've heard other people say how gruesome American Psycho is, so I've never been tempted to try it. I was, howere, intrigued by the book title "Smonk" - shared by louieg.  The premise is interesting.  I went onto Amazon and you definitely have some people who agree with you - - - too much.   I found the beginning so raunchy I couldn't get involved in the characters or their stories. ” Marilyn Phelps | 5 reviewers made a similar statement  - well, darn it!