*A neutral alternative to "notable"
What is an appropriate term to use when describing a polarising book (or other work) which has received widespread attention, indicating both its importance and controversial nature without "taking sides" about its merits.
influential, notable, important, significant - All seem to imply a positive evaluation or an established consensus about its merits.
widely-read - May or may not factually apply in such a case.
controversial - Does not clarify whether it's merely a work's content or its reception that are the subject of controversy, e.g. "A controversial, little-known book."
One can get by with some hedging combination of the above, but I wonder if a more precise term doesn't exist.
Widely-debated, since you didn't seem to mind the hyphen in widely-read.
Much-debated is more widely used, but could refer to intensity of debate rather than its renown.
Or merely renown as used above if the "debated" aspect is nonessential.
Maybe prominent.
The best near-synonym I can come up with is much-publicized. This does not seem to carry positive or negative connotations. Indeed, early Google hits include
'The much publicized Spa and indoor pool' and
'John Gotti, New York's much publicized organized crime leader of the 1980s'.
Contentious
- tending to argument or strife; quarrelsome: a contentious crew.
- causing, involving, or characterized by argument or controversy: contentious issues.
- Law. pertaining to causes between contending or opposing parties.
(dictionary.reference.com)