The Most Disturbing Books Ever Written (3274 books)

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Did you ever read a book so disturbing that you had to put it down for a week before coming back to it? Are you still grimacing over that book that you read five years ago? If there's a book you've read that you just haven't been able to shake, then let everyone here know!

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1	American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis 3.80 avg rating — 382,626 ratings score: 137,364, and 1,394 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	1984 by George Orwell 4.21 avg rating — 5,772,756 ratings score: 121,288, and 1,247 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	A Story of Yesterday by Sergio Cobo 4.49 avg rating — 24,674 ratings score: 102,325, and 1,024 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Lord of the Flies by William Golding 3.71 avg rating — 3,319,018 ratings score: 98,824, and 1,010 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 793,111 ratings score: 88,497, and 911 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov 3.87 avg rating — 979,916 ratings score: 82,757, and 850 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	A Child Called "It" (Dave Pelzer, #1) by Dave Pelzer (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 467,798 ratings score: 78,689, and 796 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The Holy Bible: King James Version by Anonymous 4.45 avg rating — 329,373 ratings score: 75,315, and 761 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 2,564,743 ratings score: 63,020, and 651 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The Road by Cormac McCarthy really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1,089,783 ratings score: 59,845, and 618 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind 4.04 avg rating — 586,592 ratings score: 55,725, and 582 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
12	It by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.24 avg rating — 1,322,398 ratings score: 54,898, and 566 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 3,560,966 ratings score: 53,226, and 565 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 3.98 avg rating — 2,156,354 ratings score: 52,769, and 563 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Flowers in the Attic (Dollanganger, #1) by V.C. Andrews 3.86 avg rating — 246,927 ratings score: 52,291, and 538 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) by Stieg Larsson 4.18 avg rating — 3,530,187 ratings score: 51,466, and 548 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	The Zombie Room by R.D. Ronald 3.94 avg rating — 45,632 ratings score: 48,175, and 510 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 223,528 ratings score: 47,436, and 491 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	Animal Farm by George Orwell 4.03 avg rating — 4,816,561 ratings score: 47,038, and 493 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Misery by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.22 avg rating — 860,907 ratings score: 43,597, and 456 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Night by Elie Wiesel 4.38 avg rating — 1,404,218 ratings score: 43,432, and 448 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	The Elephant Tree by R.D. Ronald 3.92 avg rating — 45,478 ratings score: 42,971, and 458 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk (Goodreads Author) 3.59 avg rating — 113,388 ratings score: 42,901, and 439 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	In Cold Blood by Truman Capote 4.09 avg rating — 756,715 ratings score: 39,013, and 414 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	The Shining (The Shining, #1) by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.28 avg rating — 1,770,885 ratings score: 38,259, and 402 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks 3.76 avg rating — 115,572 ratings score: 37,697, and 402 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
27	Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1,283,214 ratings score: 37,318, and 392 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 3.97 avg rating — 2,995,360 ratings score: 36,704, and 395 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
29	The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold 3.86 avg rating — 2,490,015 ratings score: 35,986, and 374 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
30	Dark Places by Gillian Flynn (Goodreads Author) 3.94 avg rating — 869,406 ratings score: 35,170, and 379 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (Goodreads Author) 4.18 avg rating — 664,812 ratings score: 35,012, and 383 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
32	The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka 3.91 avg rating — 1,563,875 ratings score: 32,487, and 343 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
33	Room by Emma Donoghue (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 849,299 ratings score: 32,294, and 340 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 239,968 ratings score: 30,971, and 335 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
35	The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins 4.36 avg rating — 10,289,123 ratings score: 30,160, and 318 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank 4.20 avg rating — 4,335,376 ratings score: 29,314, and 314 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
37	Pet Sematary by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 734,445 ratings score: 29,115, and 310 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
38	House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 213,625 ratings score: 28,726, and 297 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy 4.14 avg rating — 246,333 ratings score: 26,982, and 278 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
40	Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi 4.06 avg rating — 156,729 ratings score: 25,969, and 274 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 850,333 ratings score: 25,569, and 270 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
42	Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (Goodreads Author) 3.85 avg rating — 915,410 ratings score: 25,432, and 269 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
43	The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (Goodreads Author) 4.36 avg rating — 3,614,711 ratings score: 25,191, and 267 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
44	The Exorcist (The Exorcist, #1) by William Peter Blatty 4.21 avg rating — 283,358 ratings score: 25,018, and 268 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
45	Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh 4.12 avg rating — 186,443 ratings score: 24,562, and 271 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
46	Red Dragon (Hannibal Lecter, #1) by Thomas Harris 4.07 avg rating — 384,971 ratings score: 24,460, and 268 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
47	Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 696,008 ratings score: 23,965, and 252 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
48	The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum 3.91 avg rating — 60,477 ratings score: 23,362, and 243 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
49	The Collector by John Fowles 3.97 avg rating — 101,778 ratings score: 22,896, and 248 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
50	The Silence of the Lambs (Hannibal Lecter, #2) by Thomas Harris 4.26 avg rating — 602,341 ratings score: 22,520, and 244 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
51	Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 797,223 ratings score: 22,051, and 234 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
52	A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 649,534 ratings score: 21,689, and 230 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
53	The 120 Days of Sodom: A Classic of Extreme French Literature by Marquis de Sade 3.05 avg rating — 15,672 ratings score: 21,237, and 222 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
54	No Exit by Taylor Adams (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 229,069 ratings score: 20,987, and 223 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
55	The Last Thing He Told Me (Hannah Hall, #1) by Laura Dave (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating — 1,214,631 ratings score: 20,976, and 223 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
56	Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck 3.90 avg rating — 2,955,216 ratings score: 20,934, and 230 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
57	The Yellow Wall-Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman 4.06 avg rating — 388,085 ratings score: 20,486, and 217 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
58	Requiem for a Dream by Hubert Selby Jr. 4.12 avg rating — 70,159 ratings score: 20,244, and 222 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
59	Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo 4.22 avg rating — 50,980 ratings score: 20,098, and 209 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
60	Final Girls by Riley Sager (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 284,684 ratings score: 20,047, and 213 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
61	The Only One Left by Riley Sager (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 740,772 ratings score: 19,814, and 211 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
62	Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 1,095,542 ratings score: 19,426, and 206 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
63	Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris (Goodreads Author) 3.96 avg rating — 802,241 ratings score: 19,372, and 206 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
64	The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena (Goodreads Author) 3.80 avg rating — 746,668 ratings score: 19,349, and 206 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
65	The Bone Collector (Lincoln Rhyme, #1) by Jeffery Deaver (Goodreads Author) 4.20 avg rating — 199,790 ratings score: 18,988, and 203 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
66	Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis 3.62 avg rating — 106,984 ratings score: 18,557, and 205 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
67	Carrie by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 885,448 ratings score: 18,486, and 205 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
68	Home Before Dark by Riley Sager (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 345,864 ratings score: 18,409, and 196 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
69	Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks (as "Anonymous") 3.73 avg rating — 296,692 ratings score: 18,245, and 193 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
70	Blindness by José Saramago 4.19 avg rating — 364,816 ratings score: 16,974, and 181 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
71	Battle Royale by Koushun Takami 4.26 avg rating — 89,045 ratings score: 16,963, and 179 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
72	The Giver (Giver, #1) by Lois Lowry (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 2,906,786 ratings score: 16,895, and 182 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
73	One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey 4.20 avg rating — 796,379 ratings score: 16,732, and 193 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
74	The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 1,006,987 ratings score: 16,727, and 181 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
75	Sybil: The Classic True Story of a Woman Possessed by Sixteen Personalities by Flora Rheta Schreiber 3.99 avg rating — 91,456 ratings score: 16,456, and 176 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
76	Push by Sapphire (Goodreads Author) 3.88 avg rating — 60,677 ratings score: 16,397, and 172 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
77	Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby Jr. 3.96 avg rating — 34,186 ratings score: 16,138, and 176 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
78	The Stranger by Albert Camus 4.03 avg rating — 1,530,497 ratings score: 15,897, and 175 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
79	Naked Lunch: The Restored Text by William S. Burroughs 3.46 avg rating — 100,924 ratings score: 15,533, and 164 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
80	Gray After Dark by Noelle W. Ihli (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 141,662 ratings score: 15,209, and 160 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
81	Crash by J.G. Ballard 3.65 avg rating — 34,620 ratings score: 15,032, and 167 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
82	The Long Walk by Richard Bachman (Pseudonym) 3.98 avg rating — 312,617 ratings score: 14,848, and 160 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
83	Beloved by Toni Morrison 3.99 avg rating — 515,200 ratings score: 14,840, and 161 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
84	Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley 3.92 avg rating — 2,006,021 ratings score: 14,795, and 169 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
85	The Girl Who Played with Fire (Millennium #2) by Stieg Larsson 4.26 avg rating — 1,006,451 ratings score: 14,791, and 164 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
86	Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë 3.89 avg rating — 2,296,867 ratings score: 14,766, and 167 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
87	The Color Purple by Alice Walker 4.28 avg rating — 773,753 ratings score: 14,735, and 169 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
88	Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, #4) by Stephenie Meyer 3.76 avg rating — 1,917,733 ratings score: 14,341, and 149 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
89	Those Empty Eyes by Charlie Donlea (Goodreads Author) 4.13 avg rating — 118,397 ratings score: 14,258, and 150 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
90	The Roommate by Kiersten Modglin (Goodreads Author) 3.76 avg rating — 14,680 ratings score: 14,170, and 149 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
91	Think Twice (Myron Bolitar, #12) by Harlan Coben (Goodreads Author) 4.22 avg rating — 55,481 ratings score: 14,095, and 149 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
92	Geek Love by Katherine Dunn 3.95 avg rating — 75,335 ratings score: 13,753, and 146 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
93	Captive in the Dark (The Dark Duet, #1) by C.J. Roberts (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 75,542 ratings score: 13,368, and 142 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
94	Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk (Goodreads Author) 3.99 avg rating — 154,480 ratings score: 13,332, and 146 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
95	Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky 4.29 avg rating — 1,160,568 ratings score: 13,234, and 146 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
96	Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli (Goodreads Author) 4.07 avg rating — 303,845 ratings score: 13,233, and 140 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
97	The Club by Ellery Lloyd (Goodreads Author) 3.28 avg rating — 131,699 ratings score: 13,187, and 139 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
98	What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall (Goodreads Author) 3.94 avg rating — 218,754 ratings score: 13,183, and 139 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
99	Look Closer by David Ellis 4.13 avg rating — 187,952 ratings score: 12,957, and 136 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
100	The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 3.80 avg rating — 4,015,993 ratings score: 12,816, and 148 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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3,274 books · 11,713 voters · list created July 9th, 2009 by Alexander Supertramp (votes) .

Tags: disturbing, horror, queasy, shocking, squirm

3123 likes · Like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.

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Alexander 68 books
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Comments Showing 1-50 of 279 (279 new)

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message 1: by Lobstergirl (new)

Jul 31, 2009 12:55PM

My books are disturbing for very different reasons. Some should not be read, some are amazing and must be read.

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message 2: by Bella (new)

Dec 22, 2009 11:21AM

I love Night, by Elie Wiesel, but it is disturbing. It is a must read about the Holocaust, and you will remember it...

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message 3: by Tess (new)

Jan 05, 2010 12:53PM

The Blood Confession should be on this list, that one was quite a ride :)

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message 4: by Amber (new)

Jan 21, 2010 08:16PM

"Mister B. Gone: A Novel" by Clive Barker

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message 5: by jessi (new)

Feb 25, 2010 01:08PM

Bella wrote: "I love Night, by Elie Wiesel, but it is disturbing. It is a must read about the Holocaust, and you will remember it..."

If you want to read a disturbing book about WW2, read The Painted Bird. Most disturbing book I have read so far.

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message 6: by jessi (new)

Feb 25, 2010 01:09PM

Also, I can't believe The Girl Next Door was not on this list until I just voted it on.

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message 7: by Waaaa (new)

Mar 31, 2010 02:07AM

I love that the lds bible is on here

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message 8: by Erin (new)

Apr 08, 2010 03:26PM

I think that it is ridiculous and completely sacrilegious that someone would put the bible on this list! It doesn't matter if you do not agree with their religion or not things like this are just rude.

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message 9: by Caroline (new)

Apr 25, 2010 10:55PM

In the Miso Soup should totally be on this list

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message 10: by Shalimar (new)

Apr 26, 2010 03:03PM

Can't believe 'Shutter Island' is not on this list.

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message 11: by Eleanor (new)

May 11, 2010 04:00AM

I think 'Diceman' by Luke Rhineheart should be on the list, its pretty screwed up for many reasons.

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message 12: by Xenophon (last edited Jun 26, 2010 04:00PM) (new)

Jun 23, 2010 07:25PM

So far as I can recall, The Bible is the only book that has disturbed me badly enough that I had to quit reading for a period of time. (Correction: a guide to The Bible for children had the same effect, but I can't remember its name.) So The Bible being on my list is not a troll, nor is it intended to be impolite.

PS: I don't intend to specifically list the LDS version, but that is the version that is already on the list.

PPS: After letting it stew in my subconscious for a while, I remembered the name of the Bible guide: Listening to the Great Teacher.

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message 13: by Ana (new)

Jun 26, 2010 03:28AM

I personally liked the Twilight Saga.. but it's just my opinion, of course ;)

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message 14: by [deleted user] (new)

Aug 19, 2010 06:30PM

Its listed as disturbing because of how old fashioned it is that's why the King James bible is listed and not a book that just says bible on it or the story of Jesus

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message 15: by Lance (new)

Sep 08, 2010 06:44PM

nice list

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message 16: by [deleted user] (new)

Sep 08, 2010 07:53PM

Monkeypaw wrote: "nice list"

couldn't agree more with you :)

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message 17: by Devan, Sarcasm Expert (new)

Oct 09, 2010 07:31AM

The only book I was displeased with seeing on here was Go Ask Alice because well she was on drugs so there's not much to expect. Ok so drug addicts do act like Alice, but I didn't find it surprising. Maybe I don't find this book disturbing because I live in a city, but I could also be that maybe some people have forgotten a few things from highschool health class.

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message 18: by Arne (new)

Nov 16, 2010 08:03AM

No 'Blood Meridian'? In my opinion there are more disturbing books than the ones to be found in this list. At least 'Cows' is on it.

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message 19: by Jackie (new)

Dec 06, 2010 03:50PM

So much Paliniuk (or however you spell his name). Couldn't we just put all his works as one? They're all the same anyway. Nihilism bores me after awhile.

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message 20: by Amanda (new)

Dec 08, 2010 11:13AM

what the french toast is the ENTIRE twilight series doing on here? Ugh these books are getting so annoying I think I want to sell my copies.

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message 21: by Spooner113 (new)

Jan 06, 2011 07:48PM

The Twilight Series. Needs.To.Get.off.This.List.

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message 22: by Xenophon (new)

Jan 07, 2011 04:47PM

I've noticed that some Twilight fans have become unusually irrational and believe that their opinions about the quality of their favorite should carry more weight than the opinions of others. They even appear to be worse than Harry Potter fans in that way.

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message 23: by Chris (new)

Jan 26, 2011 12:09PM

American Psycho, Sections of Toni Morrison "Beloved", Dracula Bram Stoker, and Schindler's List.

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message 24: by Storm (new)

Feb 08, 2011 01:42PM

American Psycho is f***** brilliant!!!!

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message 25: by Chase (new)

Feb 11, 2011 02:21PM

Erin wrote: "I think that it is ridiculous and completely sacrilegious that someone would put the bible on this list! It doesn't matter if you do not agree with their religion or not things like this are just rude"

the description is most DISTURBING books ever written. And I gotta say the bible definitely belongs up there. This isn't about sacrilege. I mean, Have you ever read it? Genuinely disturbing.

On a loosely related sidenote: Not that I give two shits what people say about the Bible, There are some pretty awesome books that are extremely disturbing. Though the bible isn't one.

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message 26: by Chase (new)

Feb 11, 2011 02:24PM

Xenophon wrote: "I've noticed that some Twilight fans have become unusually irrational and believe that their opinions about the quality of their favorite should carry more weight than the opinions of others. They..."

Amen to that. I mean I definitely liked them but even I can admit that it was A: diturbing, B: cliched, C: Very sappy, and D: many other things causing others to dislike it (not the least of which being annoying and overrated).

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message 27: by Kevin (new)

Feb 13, 2011 01:38PM

Hi.I dont understand why American Psycho is number 1.I found less than zero to be far more disturbing.

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message 28: by Ellen (new)

Apr 01, 2011 01:20PM

I found In the Cut by Susanna Moore to be deeply disturbing. It's been years since I read it and it continues to haunt me.

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message 29: by Carla (new)

Apr 11, 2011 09:57PM

Amanda Pearl wrote: "what the french toast is the ENTIRE twilight series doing on here? Ugh these books are getting so annoying I think I want to sell my copies."

HaHa! I liked the series but wouldn't call them disturbing.

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message 30: by Carla (new)

Apr 11, 2011 10:01PM

Helena wrote: "Erin wrote: "I think that it is ridiculous and completely sacrilegious that someone would put the bible on this list! It doesn't matter if you do not agree with their religion or not things like th..."

Thankfully, being sacrilegious is a choice.

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message 31: by Ellen (last edited Apr 12, 2011 07:43AM) (new)

Apr 12, 2011 07:43AM

I would agree that Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West is a disturbing book.

I think (as a Christian) the Bible should be disturbing-it should make people stop & think about their lives & maybe question everything they thought they knew!

Disturbing doesn't have to mean "bad" or "gross." That which disturbs water makes it move.

The Bible should move us to change.

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message 32: by Amanda (new)

Apr 13, 2011 01:27AM

How is twilight disturbing? More annoying than anything.

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message 33: by louise (new)

Apr 28, 2011 11:40AM

"Of Mice and Men"? That never seemed disturbing to me.

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message 34: by Lulu (new)

Jun 25, 2011 05:06PM

Amanda wrote: "How is twilight disturbing? More annoying than anything."

Possibly it is disturbing that it is so popular?

I think it says a lot about how inaccurate this list is by the fact The End of Alice is #38. Or perhaps just means that more people should read it.

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message 35: by Carla (new)

Jul 01, 2011 07:59AM

Lulu, prompted by your comment, I have started reading The End of Alice and YES! It is actually the most disturbing book I have ever read. It is disturbing in ways I never imagined possible.

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message 36: by Shacoria (new)

Jul 12, 2011 03:22PM

I actually found Animal Farm to be somewhat humorous and not disturbing at all. Living Dead Girl was very disturbing.

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message 37: by Storm (new)

Aug 04, 2011 02:56PM

I agree with what some of you are saying, American Psycho was not as disturbing as it was shocking; though I deeply enjoyed it. I'm actually starting to read "In The Cut" and putting off Anna Karenina lol.

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message 38: by [deleted user] (new)

Aug 24, 2011 04:46PM

I don't see why some of the dystopian novels are on here. Disturbing? Not really... well, I suppose I can see where some people are coming from with most of them, but really, they aren't that bad. Now, the ones that definitely DO NOT BELONG is the Twilight saga.

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message 39: by Jessie (new)

Nov 17, 2011 06:48PM

Why is The Hunger Games on here?

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message 40: by Emy (new)

Nov 22, 2011 11:44AM

The book I found the most disturbing is one that people have rarely heard of, so I thought I'd share it here for fans of the genre who might be interested:
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Stories That Scared Even Me
by Alfred Hitchcock

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message 41: by Lἕè ƐӜӞ ♥ (new)

Dec 10, 2011 05:05PM

finding it very disturbing that twilight books make it onto every f######g list available on good reads. i liked the books but come on!

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message 42: by Storm (new)

Jan 08, 2012 03:21PM

Ellie wrote: "I found In the Cut by Susanna Moore to be deeply disturbing. It's been years since I read it and it continues to haunt me."

i read it and i felt it was pretty weaksauce. still entertaining, but nothing i have read has disturbed me yet.

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message 43: by Carla (new)

Jan 08, 2012 06:39PM

Storm - have you read The End of Alice?

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message 44: by Lulu (new)

Jan 08, 2012 07:00PM

Clawde wrote: "Storm - have you read The End of Alice?"

Haha, you jumped in just before I could! Exactly what I was going to say - together, we'll up it's popularity as a truly disturbing book, clearly!

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message 45: by Storm (new)

Jan 09, 2012 02:24PM

Lulu wrote: "Clawde wrote: "Storm - have you read The End of Alice?"

Haha, you jumped in just before I could! Exactly what I was going to say - together, we'll up it's popularity as a truly disturbing book, cl..."

Clawde and Lulu, no i havent even heard of it, but i will definitely check it out and add it to my list to-read. I have 3 library books to get through atm but i'll read it eventually.

Thanks!!

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message 46: by Brandon (new)

Jan 27, 2012 01:04PM

Jessi wrote: "Also, I can't believe The Girl Next Door was not on this list until I just voted it on."

I agree. By far my top vote for most disturbing book. The things they do ti her are just wrong, man.

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message 47: by Teresa (new)

Feb 02, 2012 04:58PM

Some of these books are disturbing in a good way...they make you think. Others are just sick. I could not finish Dave Pelzer's book.

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message 48: by Gabriel (last edited Feb 06, 2012 10:36AM) (new)

Feb 06, 2012 10:30AM

Spooner113 wrote: "The Twilight Series. Needs.To.Get.off.This.List."

Twilight seems to be on almost every list here on Goodreads. Apparently, the Twihards have infiltrated our ranks.

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message 49: by Shawnthered (new)

Feb 27, 2012 06:58PM

The Twilight series is disturbing only because of it's popularity. The Hunger Games? Come on. Try Babi Yar or the White Hotel. Disgrace or hell, even Perfume. The Hunger Games is NOT disturbing. It's a kids book.

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message 50: by Shawnthered (new)

Feb 27, 2012 06:58PM

Mein Kampf anyone?

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