We talk a lot about “disturbing” media, whether we’re discussing books or movies (but especially movies), people love to dive into things that really challenge them. Recently, a forum user narrowed things down a bit more, requesting suggestions for “the weirdest or most repulsive book you’ve read.” They gave examples of some of their favorites including Katherine Dunn’s Geek Love and Chuck Palahniuk’s Choke as guideposts, and others took it from there.
1. Child of God by Cormac McCarthy
Child of God follows the exploits of Sevier County, TN killer, Lester Ballard. At no point are readers meant to root for Ballard, making getting through Child of God even more difficult. With each turn of the page, another of the killer’s horrific actions awaits to shock and distress the reader. Making matters worse is McCarthy’s quality writing, which kind of forces you to continue even when you want to call it quits and leave Lester Ballard behind.
2. Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
Some of the worst and most repulsive stories are pulled right from reality. Augusten Burroughs’ Running with Scissors follows the true story of a boy whose life was anything but conventional. Raised amidst questionable characters, including an especially heinous individual living in the backyard shed, the young boy lived a trauma-filled life that’s painstakingly detailed in this memoir. You’ll swear it’s fiction, but Burroughs’ kept true to his life experiences.
3. 120 Days of Sodom by Marquis de Sade
Two respondents suggest what may be the most famously repulsive book of all time by the man who may be the most controversial author of all time: The 120 Days of Sodom by Marquis de Sade. The story follows four men who are seeking the limits of pleasure by taking a group of teenagers and four madams to an isolated castle and forcing the teens to engage in various horrifying acts. Be forewarned. This book has practically every imaginable trigger.
4. Filth by Irvine Welsh
Irvine Welsh is likely most famous as the author of Trainspotting, but many of his works push the envelope. In fact, three books (including Trainspotting) by Welsh appear in the suggestions, but only one appears twice: Filth. Filth follows Detective Sergeant Bruce Robertson as he engages in a multitude of cruel and salacious acts against the people around him and himself. The novel’s all the more upsetting because it’s told in first person, one of the respondents recommending it said they were not okay after reading it.
5. Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z Brite
Two comments suggest the novel Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z Brite, a vile novel you’ll want to remove from memory. Exquisite Corpse follows a serial killer who’s also a cannibal and a necrophiliac. Despite that though, Brite (who now goes by Billy Martin) has brazenly described it as “a love story.”
6. Rant by Chuck Palahniuk
One commenter, perhaps in direct response to the requestor’s specification of Choke as one of their favorites, suggests Rant, also by Chuck Palahniuk. The novel is a fictional oral history of the titular character nicknamed “Rant” and his impact on the people in his life. A life that included playing with animal organs, seeking out bites from rabid animals, and destructive games focused on crashing cars.
7. Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
Three different respondents highlighted Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs as one of the weirdest and most repulsive books ever written, and based on a brief description, you’ll see why. The novel is told in chaotic vignettes primarily focused on sex and drugs as relayed by the character William Lee, who makes his way through the fictional space known as “Interzone.” The non-linear narrative is jarring, which lends to the aura of discomfort left by Lee’s exploits.
8. Veniss Underground by Jeff Vandermeer
Jeff VanderMeer is perhaps best known as the author of Annihilation, which was itself picked as one of the most disturbing science fiction stories, but he’s written over a dozen books. One commenter highlights Veniss Underground as the weirdest book they have ever read, and it’s not hard to see how that would be the case. The novel draws from the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice and Dante’s Inferno but places these classical inspirations into a dystopian world full of mutilated and horrifically transformed cybernetic humans.
9. Gone To See The River Man by Kristopher Triana
One respondent went as far as they could, at least with their description, by recommending what they called the messed up (in curse words) Gone to See the River Man by Kristopher Triana. The novel follows a young woman obsessed with a sadistic serial killer and is thrilled when he gives her a task: to deliver a key to “The River Man.” The journey takes her through various horrifying experiences that certainly earn the description offered by the respondent.
10. Lapvona by Otessa Moshfegh
Several people agreed that Lapvona by Otessa Moshfegh, only released in 2022, already counted as one of the most repulsive books ever written. The story follows a disabled thirteen-year-old boy during medieval times who is given to the sadistic lord of the town after he commits a crime. While that may not sound like the setup for anything good, it’s a favorite amongst readers.
11. The Troop by Nick Cutter
In a somewhat hilarious but perfectly reasonable move given the suggestions requested, one person suggested a book they said they did not finish: The Troop by Nick Cutter (pen name of Craig Davidson). The novel follows a troop of Boy Scouts who, in an attempt to put their survival skills to the test, have journeyed to an isolated island and cut themselves off from the mainland. It doesn’t take long before they realize there are more than the cold and hunger that are dangerous as they come into contact with deadly tapeworms and discover that one of their own is homicidal.
12. The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
Someone says there is an “easy” answer to the question: The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks. The cult classic novel centers on teenager Frank who lives with his father on a remote Scottish island and fills his time with rituals and animal abuse, and as the story goes on, we learn that he’s done far more than hurt animals. It’s a novel that’s been controversial since its release in 1984, not least because it places the reader in Frank’s point of view.
Source: Reddit.
Film and TV Critic, Pop Culture Writer
Expertise: Horror, Animation, Queer Film
Education: Master’s Degree in Philosophy from Boston College, Dual Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Political Science from Boston College
Organizer of Queer Film Challenge on Letterboxd
Over 200 reviews, essays, articles, and lists across various sites
Experience: Kyle Logan has been writing about film since studying film and philosophy as an undergraduate at Boston College. Kyle began writing about film professionally in 2020 and has written for many sites including Screen Anarchy, Film Stories, and Fangoria. Kyle has also organized the Queer Film Challenge on Letterboxd since 2020, highlighting the queer history of film and bringing attention to rising queer filmmakers. Kyle now works full time with Wealth of Geeks, contributing lists, reviews, and podcast appearances on topics as varied as film, travel, and Halloween candy.