Some of these much-lauded tales contain pretty bleak content. For this list, we’re looking at pieces of fiction with sinister or cheerless storylines and themes. We’re really honing in on novels, so plays and poems won’t be considered. That means no Shakespeare and no “Paradise Lost!” In terms of what we’re considering to be a classic, it’s more based on the work’s literary merit and reputation than the year of release, so there are a couple of more modern picks here. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Darkest Classic Novels.

There are books that have been forbidden for good reasons, but the reasons behind these book bans are just absurd. From “Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret”, to “Slaughterhouse-Five”, to “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” these famous banned books and the reasons why are bizarre. WatchMojo counts down ten books that were banned for ridiculous reasons.

Surprisingly you wouldn’t believe some of these celebrities have been shot! We all know that Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson has been shot nine times and survived, but did you know that other famous people such as Bob Marley, Andy Warhol, George orwell, Lil Wayne, Oliver Stone, Kelly Preston, Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Akon have also taken a bullet? Though you may already know about some of the rappers on this list being shot by guns, we’re sure that some of the names that appear may surprise you with their gun shot wounds and tales of surviving a shooting! Whether they were accidental shootings or attempts at murder, we cover them all on this list of famous people who have been shot and lived to tell the tale.

It takes a lot of talent to write something worth reading; but it's a sure-fire sign of genius if your work is being read for years to come. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Classic English-Language Authors.

They're the people that keep blowing our minds via the written word. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Iconic Figures in Sci-fi Literature.

Its original title was “Animal Farm: A Fairy Story.” Welcome to WatchMojo.com and in this installment of Mojo Notes, we’ll be exploring 10 things you should know about George orwell’s “Animal Farm.”