2017 Reading Challenge discussion

This folder is for books that are controversial in some way.

A controversial book is not necessarily a book that has been banned or challenged, though the two categories do overlap.

Please share your suggestions, or any resources you've used to help find your book for this category in this thread.

I have decided to read "The Pact" by Jodi Picoult.
Other suggestions:
Lolita
The Da Vinci Code
Tampa
Handle with Care

Brave New World

Agatha Christie's book The Murder of Roger Ackroyd created controversy when it came out. It was controversial for its ending, but then, it was acclaimed as a book that helped shape the genre. Sounds like a winner for me.

Valerie, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is one of my favorite Christie's book! I get why the ending may be controversal, but it's what makes the book so brilliant. It's a good choice for this category!

D. H. Lawrence
Anything my this author is probably challenged, however many are classics now including "Lady Chatterly's Lover" and "Sons and Lovers"

Teresa wrote: "Brave New World"
Oh< I forgot about that one :>

I would think Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee would be a great fit for this category if you have not read it yet. So controversial last year! I read it last year and loved it! It's the follow up novel for "To Kill a Mockingbird". Definitely read these 2 in order or "Go set a watchman" will not make any sense.

Somehow, I still have never read The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. So sad that I have missed this classic! This is my year to read it and it most definitely is considered controversial! :)

The Catcher in the Rye - I was always curious about this established American literature and read it for the first time last year. Short book, easy to read and I enjoyed the simple narrative from a teenager's view point.

Susan wrote: "The Catcher in the Rye - I was always curious about this established American literature and read it for the first time last year. Short book, easy to read and I enjoyed the simple narrative from a..."

Another classic that was banned.

Valerie wrote: "Agatha Christie's book The Murder of Roger Ackroyd created controversy when it came out. It was controversial for its ending, but then, it was acclaimed as a book that helped shape the..."

I love that book. In my humble opinion, it was Dame Agatha's best. Had no idea about the controversy.

Melissa, Go Set a Watchman really sounds like a great entry for this category. I've had it in my kindle since publication, but I have not got to
it yet, it definitely would be a good choice for this one.

I've been wanting to re-read Catcher in the Rye for ages. Might do too!

It may all come down with the definition of controversial. My original choice was By Bloodby Ellen Ullman. I don't really know whether this book itself is/was controversial or not, but I read the blurb about this book and I knew I had to read it: a university professor starts listening to his psychotherapist neighbour's sessions with patients. I am a psychotherapist, and I would be absolutely horrified if that would happen to me. So the morality of it, definitely controversial!

Slaughterhouse Five/ The Sirens Of Titan/ Player Piano/ Cat's Cradle/ Breakfast Of Champions/ Mother Night

Nearly all of his books are challenged or banned.

Their Eyes Were Watching God
Also listed a controversial.

A Prayer for Owen Meany
Another book club that I am in is reading this. I have read it and loved it so I just may "have" to read it again.

@Margo, why do you think A Prayer for Owen Meany is controversial? This is great idea for me in this category. I am embarking on a personal project to reread some books that were very meaningful and influential to me when I was younger to see how they stand the passage of time. John Irving is either my favourite author or among the top 5. Re-reading A Prayer for Owen Meany would be awesome for this category, but I don't fully get why it would be controversial. Was it because it's critical reception or something?

I have slotted Go Set a Watchman for this one. Actually I started it last year but never got very far....so I will try again.

I decided to change my controversial book to Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut. This is an American Banned Book Classic! I really need to read it.

So many of the books mentioned here are books that I want to read (or should read). However, I'm going to go with Teresa's idea and read a book about a controversial subject: Is Heaven real? Is our consciousness a result of chemical reactions in our brain? What happens when we die? Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife

Wow - that seems like a heavy subject. Let us know how it went.

Teresa wrote: "@Margo, why do you think A Prayer for Owen Meany is controversial? This is great idea for me in this category. I am embarking on a personal project to reread some books that were very meaningful an..."
Frankly I have no idea why it is controversial except perhaps that Owen can see into the future ? Also maybe because their is a negative stance on war - though that is not unusual. It has been a while since I read it. All I can say is that the feeling has stayed with me.

@Margo, thank you for that. I have to say that I do not fully remember huge chunks of the book, only the enormous impression it had on me when I read it. And yes, because the stance on war and faith I can see the potential controversy. It is a great entry.

Jessie said: "I'm going to go with Teresa's idea and read a book about a controversial subject: Is Heaven real? Is our consciousness a result of chemical reactions in our brain? What happens when we die? Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife"

Wow! This must be the most controversial topic ever.
However, I would be as skeptical about finding "proof" about something like this as I am of finding a "cure" for anything on a self-help book. I would be reading your review for it with great interest, Jesse.

Jessie wrote: "So many of the books mentioned here are books that I want to read (or should read). However, I'm going to go with Teresa's idea and read a book about a controversial subject: Is Heaven real? Is our..."

I listened to that book, and really found it very interesting!!

I have read The Help last year but I think it's also controversial.

@Margo: Wow - that seems like a heavy subject. Let us know how it went.

I made a new topic and posted some thoughts there. Love to hear your ideas.

@Teresa: I listened to that book, and really found it very interesting!!

I agree!!

@Teresa: However, I would be as skeptical about finding "proof" about something like this as I am of finding a "cure" for anything on a self-help book.

I was definitely skeptical--probably for different reasons, but anyone with an outrageous claim like that one is really going to have to work to convince me. However, I do believe that personal testimony is one of the most convincing avenues. Especially personal testimony of someone with nothing to gain and an awful lot to lose.

I love the different interpretations of the categories in this group. I agree that a controversial book and a banned or challenged book are very similar. For this category I am considering reading the Slap, by Christos Tsiolkas. The premise of the book is to look at how different characters react to a man slapping a child who is not his own.

I read The Bell Jar for this task. I loved it!

I'm considering "A Casual Vacancy" by J.K. Rowling for this category. Wondering if it fits...
There was quite a lot of fuss after it was first published. Thoughts?

Erin wrote: "I'm considering "A Casual Vacancy" by J.K. Rowling for this category. Wondering if it fits...
There was quite a lot of fuss after it was first published. Thoughts?"
I think it fits perfectly for this category, Erin, it did received a lot of mixed reviews, so it's controversial in a way.

Natália, thanks!! The reviews are quite mixed. Seems like 'loved it' or 'loathed it' with few in between.
Did you read it?

I did, Erin. I had a lot of mixed feelings about it. I always enjoy JK's writing, but I had trouble liking the characters and the plot. Idk, I liked but at the same time I didn't, if that makes any sense. It's not a book I would re-read, though.

I read "Pit Bull" by Bronwen Dickey. She has had tons of backlash over the topic, due to people being fearful of the breed. I would have read this book anyway (I bought it as soon as it came out as I am a giant dog fan) but it happened to fit right into this category for me.

I decided to read Zealot after reading some of the above comments above re:faith/interpretations and controversy. It is controversial not only due to subject matter, but there is debate regarding some historical accuracy/the author using outdated information. It is allegedly a good read regardless.