noman : 18 : top 10 most controversial books banned through history

       welcome on Top 10 buff today we will talk about top 10 most controversial books banned through history.

Step into the world of literary censorship as we uncover the top 10 most controversial books banned throughout history. From revolutionary ideas challenging societal norms to provocative narratives pushing the boundaries of acceptability, these books have faced suppression and censorship in various parts of the world. Join us on a journey through time as we explore the stories behind these banned books, examining the power of literature to provoke, inspire, and challenge the status quo.

10:  THE CATCHER IN THE RYE, by J.D. Salinger.

Story of Caulden Holfield may not look like something we view in 2016 as vulgar, occult and full of violence and sexuality. But in 70s and 80s it was the most banned book in US high schools. Mr. Salinger takes us on a trip with unlucky student who just got expelled. He decides to have some fun in New York while he has few days before coming home and have interaction with his parents explaining why he has been dropped out, again. Having some fun includes, alcohol, prostitutes, old girl-friends and, surprisingly, old teacher and younger sister. Yes the book has some “hot” words, yes it has some descriptions of activities where 16 years old boy shouldn’t be involved.

9:  A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, by Anthony Burgess.

This book, so famous and popular nowadays, was strictly banned back to mid-80s-late 80s due to it’s “objectionable” language. This is a dystopian novel that shows us ultra violent future world, leaded by protagonist, Alex, a teenager who shows his awful experience of living his hard life. A novel was removed from several schools and libraries, hardly judged by the society.

8:  A FAREWELL TO ARMS, by Ernest Hemingway.

Now we call it classic, but it wasn’t always like that. Book tells us about terrors of World War I, love, duty and fear. The protagonist, American Frederic Henry, serving as a Lieutenant or Tenente, is an ambulance driver in Italy. Frederic falls in love with Catherine Barkley, and two of them are fighting against the terrors of war, trying to save their love.

This book was labeled as a “sex novel” before and strictly banned by schools and libraries. The government of the USA used to think it was dangerous because of some “adult” scenes, but nowadays we must consider the importance of thinking (and talking) about such things as war, peace, love, death (and even sex), cynical soldiers, fighting and the displacement of populations.

7:  ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN, by Mark Twain.

We consider this book almost appropriate for children, so it is strange to think about it being banned due to objectionable language and “racist” terms and content.
It is told in by Huckleberry “Huck” Finn, a friend of Tom Sawyer from “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”. Finn and Sawyer live their lives in a small town near the Mississippi River, observing entrenched attitudes and racism of local people.

“Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is a bit satiric, it colorfully describes people and places, but even more – relationships in society where “one person is much more important than another”. 

6:  LORD OF THE FLIES, by William Golding.

This book was banned by government, schools and libraries of the USA for a bunch of reasons. But mostly because it explained that in extreme conditions every peaceful human being is willing to kill his fellow in order to survive. Though, our main characters are just kids who were unfortunate enough to live on a tropical island after a plane-crash, it just amplifies the violence and struggle to obtain an order that they are facing. This leads to really awful results: murders, violence and man hunting.

5:  BRAVE NEW WORLD, by Aldous Huxley.

This book was banned in U.S. constantly, because it “centered around negative activity, ad strong language, and for supposedly being anti-family and anti-religion”. It tells us about two central characters, Lenina Crowneand Bernard Marx, and also John, a man they found in the desert, who is unable to socialize in the world where “love”, “mother” and “family” are forbidden.

What’s interesting about this story is that A. Huxley foresaw the development of reproductive technology, social influence, and respondent conditioning that combine profoundly to change society, that is also important now. 

4:  THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES, by Ray Bradbury.

Book by famous and almost classical author Ray Bradbury was also banned and challenged due to the “profanity and the use of God’s name in vain”. Sounds funny, at least.
“The Martian Chronicles” are basically chronicles of the colonization of Mars by humans, while Earth is completely destroyed by atomic wars, ecological disasters and lack of resources. Book shows us devastating conflict between aboriginal Martians and the new colonists, when only one nation can survive.
“The Martian Chronicles” are not only fantastic book, it actually brings a lot to one’s mind. Do we have a right to be here? What damage have we already caused?

3:  NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR, by George Orwell.

Nineteen eighty-four is another dystopian novel in our top. It takes us to a world of perpetual war and omnipresent government surveillance. Things like public manipulation are common and are dictated by a political system presented to us as English Socialism. A privileged elite, named the Inner Party is under control of all of this. Probably the most scary part of this terror is an absolute prohibition of an individual and alternative thinking which is viewed by authorities as “thoughtcrime.”

2:  THE SHINING, by Stephen King.

The Shining is a horror novel. Jack Torrance, main protagonist, is a writer and recovers from alcoholism. As Jack is looking for an inspiration, he gladly accepts a caretaker of the hotel position during the off-season in the Colorado mountains. He takes his family as well, wife and little son. They are all alone in the mountains, without any ways to communicate outside world. Soon, after a winter storm leaves them snowbound, strange forces inhabiting the hotel influence Jack’s sanity.

This book was considered undesirable by authorities. It was said that it is full of violence, demonic possession and makes fun of the Christianity, as almost every Stephen King’s book. 

1:  SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE, by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

“Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children’s Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death” is a novel written in a satirical manner and deals with World War II events. This novel is also partially autobiographical, because Vonnegut was the eyewitness of firebombing in Dresden.
This is a story about “consequences of being human”. Chaplain’s assistant who’s name is Billy Pilgrim is a protagonist, a man who doesn’t want to fight, to kill. Billy is alone against coincidences that put him where he is, time, war, mental illness and love.

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