The Store

Rating:
Summary: Buy it Here, Not at The Store
Review: This is the fifth Little novel I've read. While I didn't enjoy it quite as much as UNIVERSITY or THE IGNORED, I think it easily beats out THE WALKING and THE HOUSE. So I give it a definite thumbs-up. The whole premise is great. If you're somewhat disturbed by the fact that almost every town in the US looks identical--thanks to chain stores like Wal-Mart and Kmart and fast food restaurants--then this book should be right up your alley since it plays into those fears big time.

Like his other novels, his writing just carries you right along--you won't be pulled out of the story by having to get your dictionary out to look up an obscure word. Nothing I've read by Little reads like that. He's not attempting some type of "high brow" horror a la Kathe Koja. He's more concerned with telling a great story, and he does that in abundance, which is a rare thing these days, at least as far as horror fiction goes.

So, if you're looking for a novel that just flows and are more concerned with the story than pretentious themes and obscure language, you won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: A GREAT BOOK!
Review: Though the first book I ever read by Bentley Little, The Revelation, was not very good, I'm glad I gave him another chance. I read the House, then The Store, and let me tell you, it was great! The characters were unique, the plot one of the most original, and the book in general never gets too slow. The story catches your attention at the very start, and leaves you thinking until the end. This was a book I was "stuck" in ever after it was over and I was reading something else. Oh, and it made me look at department stores in a whole new light!

Rating:
Summary: Scary Economics!
Review: Juniper is the perfect American town. It is small, but has a thriving business district and a rich cultural life. It has traditionalist elements, but is essentially tolerant and open-minded. Unlike most places in contemporary America, its people have a serious commitment to preserving the surrounding environment. Then comes The Store--a ruthless super-store corporation obviously inspired by such entities as Target, Walmart, Costco, etc. Corrupt town council officials allow The Store to illegally take over protected wilderness land to build their enormous fortress-like complex. They open for business and purposely sell at a loss in order to drive local businesses under. They provide all goods and services, including a supermarket and a bar. Soon, their complex has completely dominated the local economy. Even illegal economic activity like prostitution and drug trafficing take place within hidden compartments. Downtown is reduced to a a shambles populated by homeless people and there is little employment available for those who are rejected by The Store's harsh employment policies (constant survailace of all employee activities is required; membership in a scary "motivational" cult is mandatory; friendships with non-employees are banned, etc.). As the only real source of capital, The Store is in a position to control local politics. As the plot unfolds, we find that The Store has taken over most of the American countryside and is about to infiltrate the cities. While not as realistic as some fans claim (it IS after all and over the top satire, not a documentary), Little's novel often feels pretty authentic and leads the reader to question the economic power and cultural influence of large chain businesses. Free market mantras won't easily dispell the feeling of dread you get from reading The Store.

Rating:
Summary: Agonizingly insidious, thought provokingly possible!
Review: The Store, to date, is Bentley's most perplexing, realistic work. In this book, Little seeks to examine the ever-present, ever-sentient dark side of commerciality, in this case, the potential virulence that can be brought about when a small town (any small town in fact) decides-more out of want to do away with so-called rusticity than actual necessity-to allow a chain store to open 'shop'. Of course, Mr. Little, in order to get across his most seminal point, tilts this work towards the supernatural...and nails it flat on the head, achieving a piece of work, meritorious in its precise commentary on the commercial glut that is our world, as well as the way in which ordinary folk respond to this 'glut.' The prologue of the novel suceeds in setting that unsettling, dystopian-like air that is to be found all throughout the book: A couple, apparently on a long road trip(said couple in no way related to the town in which the novel takes place),decide to stop for some food at a store-The Store(the actual name of the chain establishment). The man enters the store, and is immediately aware that something is amiss; his nagging feeling of 'wrongness' is propelled into stark certainty as he gets back into his car, and realizes that the the store's proprietor is staring at them through a dirt-caked window...and into the maelstrom of madness the reader will be flung, from the dead creatures found on The Store's construction site, to the odd rules enstated by The Store, to the even odder happenings in The Store at night. As 'quick' as this novel may be, Little does manage to show, and show clearly, the insidious way in which The Store takes over the little, unassuming Town. This wield of control does not just happen like 'that', it takes time, time enough for the residents of the town to have realized that something was not right with The Store; ergo, Little creates a perfect microcosm of ordinary people in their quest for advancement, and how on that quest, they run the gamut of loosing their souls. The protagonist however, proves to be a strong individual, rife with faults, of course, but embodying a great if rare bravery that will enable him to save the town, and most importantly, his daughters-employeess of the store-from the malignant grip of evil commerciality, because you see, once you join The Store, there's no getting out...alive at least. Overall a good book. The ending was a bit jejune(as is the case with all of Little's novels), but I guess the preceding words more than made of for it.

Rating:
Summary: Very Realistic!
Review: This book is about a small discount store that chooses a small, sleepy underpopulated town as its next location. Pretty soon, everyone in the town is falling under its sadistic purposes and doing its bidding. The town is slowly being destroyed, and there is only one man who senses the evil inside The Stores walls. This book paints a frightening picture of how chain stores like Wal-Mart, Target, and H-E-B are taking over corporate america. Once you start this book, it is very hard to stop. You'll find yourself up late at night reading on and on, and when you try to stop, you tell yourself Just one more chapter, and pretty soon, the book is finished! The only bad thing is, the ending is BLAH! Very boring way of having the most evil character killed! Other than that, this is an AWESOME BOOK! I have 2 of Bentley's other books, the walking and the summoning waiting to be read, and i am currently trying to find a copy of the ignored, Dominion, the mailman, and the university. The only book that i have read of Bentleys so far that is a total letdown is The Town. The Town is so boring and i found myself not wanting to continue, but i forced myself to, and it still didnt get better. Bentley Little is an awesome new writer who is going to become very popular once more people discover him. I definetly recommend his books!!

Rating:
Summary: another great bentley book!
Review: This was one of those books that starts out a little slow at first. Eventually the book does pick up the pace, and once it does; you can't put it down. The twist of mind control by chain stores, is thought provoking; considering how popular real chain stores are. This is a must read, for any fan of horror/fiction!!!

Rating:
Summary: Awesome and unique
Review: I have to say this is not the scariest book I ever read but B.L. is the most original author in thei genere. He writes stories that are different. If you have read lots of Koontz and King and such this is a nice change. This is one of the most creative current authors around. Get this book and all his others if you want an interesting fun read!

Rating:
Summary: Great fun! Awesome original idea!
Review: This was my first Bentley Little book I ever read and I honestly had no idea what I was in for. It took me less than a week and even after it was over I was ready for more! Little can weave the strangest of tales and interloop the oddest of events and characters together to make an awesome story. Very original and very scary! Loved it!

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: Kept me on the edge of my seat. Thrilling. Didn't care for the part where Bill had sex with his daughter, otherwise everything else was enjoyable. Also liked the town but did not care for the others. I will read future books.

Rating:
Summary: A Disturbing Bit of Horror
Review: I like Bentley Little. This is the 1st of his books I've read, but I will be hunting the others very shortly. This is a novel of horror, no mistake about that. It's a quiet horror that builds and intensifies throughout the book. And in the end, you realize the horror had no real explanation. There is no ghost, no demon, no Anti-Christ. Little presents his villain and their is no strange rationale for his action. We are left with horrible things happening with no real explanation or reason. Isn't that the most disturbing horror of all? Buy it, savor it, and feel the chills.