Authors, Writers, Publishers, and Book Readers

How much do you think controversy sells?

Ask someone to name a banned or controversial book. I guarantee that Catcher in the Rye, Clockwork Orange, American Psycho, or Lolita will be mentioned.

Since I've read a lot of things, I know that there are works out there that make even American Psycho fall down a few notches, but they pass under the radar because nobody kicked up a huge storm about it.

Do you think that a book getting the attention of someone who storms onto the stage of Fox News and screams about it being "harmful to minors", "the filthiest book I have ever read", "too much whining" and such is a good thing?

To me, it's just free publicity. If anything I write causes a few uproars and sales skyrocket, I'll write a letter of thanks to everyone that made a huge stink and give them a signed copy of the book just to drive them mad.

What are your thoughts on controversial media?

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kay Elizabeth on February 27, 2011 at 9:57pm

I think much of it depends on the timing of a book as it does the content. What's considered acceptable today may not have been 50 years ago or vice versa.

I was watching an old Andy Griffith Show episode on DVD the other day for example. Now you can't find anything much more wholesome than Andy and the small town life of Mayberry. Still, it got on my nerves because it was about Ellie running for the local council and all the men being up in arms because she was a woman. Then when Ellie backed down, I was really irritated! This is the storyline to it. (Source:IMDB)

When Ellie wonders why there are no women running for the city council and doesn't like Andy's answers, especially his use of the word silly, she decides to run herself. The town quickly divides into two camps, with the men cutting off their wives charge accounts and the women refusing to cook and clean for their husbands. Ellie decides to quit the race when she sees the uproar she has caused but Andy, realizing he was wrong, tells everyone there is no good reason for her not to run.

Now this old series ran from 1960-1968, not that long ago really yet if you tried to broadcast an episode like that now the feminist groups would complain. That's a diluted example of course but the point is, today's controversy can be tomorrow's shrug of the shoulders. It depends on the era. What's banned when is a sign of the times.

People will buy a book if it's controversial that they may otherwise have ignored, I believe that. Look at all the fuss The DaVinci Code kicked up when it was released. Would it have done so well without that publicity? Now that's the question.