Rating: 
Summary: Hilarious
Review: Bentley Little was an enigma to me until a few weeks ago, when I thumbed through a few of his novels at the local bookshop. Despite the name association I made with the neighbor from "The Jeffersons," the books looked interesting and I decided to take a crack at a few of them. "The Store" is the first one I decided to read and I am glad I did. What caught my eye were the somewhat cheesy cover and the hilarious description on the back cover. As I read the book, I discovered that the humor goes well beyond skin deep.What surprises me about many of the reviews here is that they miss the biggest point of the story, namely, the humor. This is a wildly funny book. I alternated between chuckles, guffaws, snickers, giggles, hoots, bellows, knee slapping, gut busting, and roaring laughter with this gem of a novel. At first, I wondered if the book is supposed to be funny. I quickly decided that it is supposed to induce laughter. What Bentley Little is writing here is black comedy and satire on an epic scale. One event after another brought me to tears. There are horrific elements here, several which are decidedly unfunny. But overall, this book is the height of amusement. You know a book is good when you laugh out loud later, at weird times and places because you're thinking about the book. You learn to ignore the stares. It's difficult to explain what is funny in a short review. It is the cumulative effect The Store has on Juniper that brings out the chortles. "The Store" takes place in Juniper, Arizona. Juniper is a podunk town out in the boonies. People have to drive to Flagstaff or Phoenix to visit a mall or a discount retailer. All of that changes when The Store arrives. The Store is a national discount chain, along the lines of Wal-Mart or Kmart. About the only person in town concerned about the new store is Bill Davis, a work at home writer who has plenty of time to poke his nose into what's going on in town. Davis has problems with The Store right from the start. The Store violates town rules by destroying the environment on the construction site. Then the dead animals start showing up, along with a transient that dies on the site. Davis is horrified to discover all of this carnage and quickly discovers that The Store is getting special treatment from the city government. When The Store is finally built, even more ominous behavior begins to emerge. The Store uses its clout to run other businesses out of town. Unemployment begins to increase, as does The Store's influence in town government. The Store starts to sponsor activities in town, and they take over city services. People that are hired at the store begin to exhibit cult-like behavior. Bill is horrified when his daughter Samantha takes a job at The Store, followed by his other daughter, Shannon. Bill gets fed up with the increasingly fascist activities of The Store, and decides to confront its CEO, Newman King. The book really builds up to what should be an awesome climax. Unfortunately, the ending is rather anti-climatic. Too many things go unexplained. Who is Newman King? Who are the Night Managers and how do they become what they are? The only conclusion I drew from the story is that The Store and its minions are related to some type of voodoo ritual. But that is never confirmed in any way, shape, or form. Like other reviewers have said, it seemed rushed. It does contain the most shocking scene of the book, however.
The characters in this book are marvelous. They are well drawn and sympathetic figures. I especially enjoyed Shannon, Bill's youngest daughter. Her spunky attitude and cynical observations are a joy to read. She reminded me of a girlfriend I once had years ago. Samantha, the other daughter, serves to put a human face on the degeneracy of The Store. It is through her eyes that we see the grueling application process, the cult-like devotion to The Store, and how The Store disciplines workers who break the rules. Bentley Little's goal in this book is to expose the dependence Americans have on retail stores. In his view, Americans will sell out the very ideals of democracy in exchange for cheaper goods. Small towns are especially vulnerable to this type of corporate control because they lack access to bigger markets in a country that thrives on consumerism. These corporations can corrupt even their most dogged opponents, as seen in the book through Bill's meeting with Newman King. It seems that most of us recognize the danger of monopoly and unfettered corporate control. What Little does here is to take that idea and inject it with a huge dose of steroids, and then beat you over the head with the results. This is masterful comedy, so sharp that it could put out your eye. I can't wait to read his collection of short stories and his other book, "The Association," about an out of control homeowners association (which promises even more chuckles). I hope you find "The Store" as entertaining as I did.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as "The Mailman;" better than "The Association"
Review: This was my third Bentley Little book. I have been picking his books up sporadically since I first stumbled across him. Being a huge Stephen King fan and a moderate John Saul reader, Bentley Little's novels have intrigued me. When I first read about "The Store," I too thought it was going to be a retread of King's "Needful Things" (which I liked), but "The Store" is definitely different. I did like the book. I read it in a few days and it was a book I couldn't wait to get back to. However, I did have some problems with it, hence my rating of only 4 stars. The parts I liked the best were the scenes that took place inside the Store. I couldn't wait to see what weird product would be displayed next or what strange situation a customer would get into with one of the salespeople. I wish that there had been more of this. I agree that the scene with the new mother who was late on her microwave payments was disturbing, but I actually wish this and other incidents had been developed more. I liked the characters, especially Sam, although I wish we could have gotten into her head more. It didn't make much sense to me that she would have gone through the initiation rituals she was subjected to. But it was believable how she got sucked more and more into the diabolical influence of the Store and I wanted to see more about her. There is a scene at the end that is shocking, and unexpected, but is not played out enough, and we are left unaware of what happens to Sam. Speaking of the ending, I agree with some that it was too rushed. After such a huge buildup it was really quite anticlimactic. Although, I admit I don't know how I would have ended it differently. Maybe more of a supernatural nature was needed. I don't know. I would have liked to have found out more about what Newman King really was and why he did what he did. That seemed to be left unresolved. And I had some other questions, as well, that were not answered:
What exactly caused the animals (and some people) to die on the site? Was the Store really made out of blood? I didn't quite get that. Also who else comprised the Night Managers and what exactly were they? I hope I am not giving much away here with my review. One last thing, I really liked the wrap-around Prologue and Epilogue; it begins and ends the book so well. Watch out for The Market... Well, next for me is "The Ignored" or "The House;" see you on the flip side.
Rating:
Summary: Another round of gratutious violence!
Review: The Store is another fine example of great horror fiction! It is riddle with turns and twists that you can't possibly forsee. The plot goes around a Wal-Mart type store that comes into a small town and kind of takes it over in very weird ways. If you have ever lived in a small town (or currently do), you can understand this book. This is definately worth a read. Also check out his other books. The Association is along these same lines.
Rating:
Summary: We are all Consumers.
Review: This is only my second Little novel (the first being the rather mediocre "The House"), and I must admit that I was pleased with it throughout. Not only does the book work as a wonderful horror tale, but it serves as a scathing satire of big business as well as the rampant capitalistic greed that is destroying the American Dream. In many ways, the horror of what The Store is doing to the town of Juniper in a perfectly mundane and nonfantastical way (the preferential treatment granted by the city to the Store, the destruction of small-town business) is more sinister than the supernatural events occurring. And I believe that's what Little was striving for. Scary zombie-like "Night Managers" are creepy, sure, but the real fear I believe that is generated in the store is the fear of being socially and economically displaced....of being forced, in this case by big business, into becoming automated drones in the socioeconomic machine. To consume and be consumed by greed. The most frightening thing of all is how seductive that can really be. But enough of that....all you really need to know is that this is a rather fine work of horror by an author I am coming to greatly enjoy and respect. The main criticism of this novel seems to be that the ending was rushed, and I think that's a fairly valid point (hence only 4 stars). I would have also perhaps enjoyed a bit more explanation as to Newman King...who he is (what he was) and what exactly were his true motivations... But overall I believe the book comes together nicely. It's a wonderful work of horror, and I highly recommend it. Definitely worth owning.
Rating:
Summary: Is this Wal-mart?
Review: The Store was my third Bentley Little book I have read. Similar to The Walking and The Association, The Store moved fast and was filled with intriguing characters facing those little evils of everyday life gone haywire. The Store often times reminded me of [large discount store] moving into a little town and destorying everything the town had going for it. A move from an all-american down home apple pie to the cold world of corporate greed and evil. The Store follows a similar storyline to that of the Association but instead of dealing with a home owners association your dealing with a discount store. The caracters were believable though I was hoping for a little more interaction with other town folks. The only major complaint I had was the undertone of an possible incest scene between the father and daughter (too long to explain). This was truly uncalled for, did nothing to enhance the story and should have been left out. Other than that one major flaw, the story was a good read and a worthy shot. It will make you wonder the next time you drive by that dicount chain in your town.
Rating:
Summary: Well written, but a little too much contrast
Review: This is the second Little I read, and I have a good feeling about this book. As mentioned in another review, I also expected a "Needful Things", however at a larger scale. But's it is something different. What I liked so much is difference in ambience between scenes which takes place outside the Store (very ordinary), and those who take place inside the Store (very creepy). For example you just "feel" that new employees won't be in that easy. And indeed, they have to pass some initiation-tests from the sadistic Mr. Lamb. Although it is an original and unsettling story, I found the last part a little disappointing. From the point where Bill takes his stand against the Store, the story gets way too weird and unrealistic according to the first parts. Finally, there are some strange things and a big missing link. An 18 year old manager?? What are the Nightmanagers? A recommendation!
Rating:
Summary: Formulaic But Fun
Review: While on my recent horror kick, I rediscovered Bentley Little. I read The House a few years ago but don't remember being overly impressed. However, reading The Association recently changed my mind about Little and I became a believer. The Store, like The Association, is a great deal of fun to read. Little has a gift for making the reader uncomfortable and he uses this gift to great effect. The plot - discount chain opens a store in small town Arizona and strange things begin to happen - is simple enough but very creepy. Little capitalizes on reader's fears of the horrible taking place in everyday life, in everyday settings. The Store is not as good as The Association (and if you're wondering why I keep making the comparison, read both and you'll find out) however The Store has a more satisfying ending. This is not Nobel-winning stuff but it sure is fun!
Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down!
Review: This was a very good book, I could not put it down. I have read The House and The Town, I'm now reading The Walking. This writer has a fantastic imagination, he has been added to my favorite authors. I look forward to reading all his books. If you like stange, this author is for you.
Rating:
Summary: BUY BENTLEY...AND GET HOOKED!!!
Review: Great book, great writer. These stories just jump right off the page, and boy, do they move. The Store gets right to the point, from the get-go, and never lets up. The imagery is stunning, and you'll find yourself racing through this book, unable to put it down. This guy has some imagination. Once you finish The Store, I suggest you just keep going...these books of his are addictive, and I think you'll be hard pressed to find a more entertaining read in the horror genre.
Rating:
Summary: THE STORE
Review: THIS WAS THE FIRST BENTLEY LITTLE BOOK I READ, AND NOW I'M HOOKED. IT IS VERY ORIGINAL. AGAIN IT IS A MUST READ, BECAUSE YOU TOO WILL BE HOOKED.
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