Rating: 
Summary: Absurd
Review: This book is so bad, it is insulting to the reader. Little must have been half asleep/drunk or just dashing the plot together. I can not believe it ever got past a publisher. Worse yet, it is his lengthiest book (438 pages of drivel).
Rating: 
Summary: Totally enjoyable
Review: After waging war with my own homeowner's association, I found this novel to be extremely entertaining. I have read all of Bentley's books (yes, including "Death Instinct")and this ranks up with the best... "The Mailman" and "The Ignored". The pace of this book is lightning-fast and the stakes are raised in every chapter. I can't wait until next Halloween for another treat from the true master of horror.
Rating: 
Summary: Little is one of the best storytellers
Review: Bentley Little has probably better storytelling ability than most writers, as good as Stephen King, at least in style. This book was a pretty good one, not as good as The Town, but you can better beleive not to cross the Association as he has it painted. The plot is a little timeworn, but his characters are full blooded people, and I enjoyed the atmosphere of fear that Little does so well. Good book, not his best, but still recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Straight Is The Gate
Review: It is always an unpleasant surprise when an author you though had considerable talent turns out a novel that is a ringer. Bentley Little, with several successful novels and a Bram Stoker award to his credit is a writer I would normally believe was a dependable writer of inventive horror. But his latest work, "The Association," badly misses the mark.The plot is quite straightforward. Barry Welch, a horror writer, and Maureen, his wife, a successful tax accountant, have decided to escape their Southern California urban lifestyle and move to the gated community of Bonita Vista, Utah. One of the things that make Bonita Vista special is that it is on unincorporated land, and, as such, has great latitude about its rules and bylaws. Considerably more latitude than Barry and Maureen ever could have expected. Unfortunately, from that little tidbit of description, one can pretty much guess the entire plot. For some 400 pages, the Welch's go from one confrontation with the Association to the next. The Bonita Vista board of directors moves from dirty tricks to mayhem and beyond in an ever-escalating and predictable whirl of sadistic behavior. From premise to grand finale, Bentley Little seems fixated on endless repetitions of the same plot device. The Welch's attempt to deal with the latest confrontation, a sense of hope is allowed to develop and is then smashed down by the next malicious application of the rule book. At a certain point (about page 100) I found the reading excruciating, and had to force myself to finish that book. Perhaps Little created "The Association" out of a desperate need to fulfill a publishing contract. My personal theory is that he was driven to write this as an attempt to get even with his own association. Whatever the reason, I'm afraid many readers will find this novel a great let down. Little himself seems to have been half-hearted in the writing. Even obvious opportunities to generate scares and physical horror are barely exploited. Outside of the limbless 'stumpies' that wriggle through the woods occasionally, there is nothing that is horrible or frightening. Little could have done better, even with the shallow plot with which he chose to work. Instead, we are given a work where the strongest reactions will be frustration and pulse-pounding tedium. Marc Ruby for The Mystery Reader.com
Rating:
Summary: The Abomination
Review: This is the first novel I have read from this author, and it will be the last. The concept is interesting (lots of people have experience with meddling homeowner's associations), but the execution is dreadful. Horror as satire just doesn't work for me. Awful, awful stuff. The main characters are unbelievably foolish. This novel is completely contrived and works at no level at all. (...) Avoid this at all costs.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: I have always been a fan of Bentley Little's, his ideas for horror novels are imaginitive and endless! I can't wait until the next one comes out!
Rating:
Summary: Another winner!
Review: People seem to either love Bentley Little or hate him. There's no middle ground. I happen to think he's one of the most original and daring authors working today. He's not afraid to tackle big topics or contemporary issues and he's not afraid to take a stand. Like THE STORE, his amazing satirical novel about the Wal-Martization of America, THE ASSOCIATION is a stunning work that addresses the fascistic bent of homeowners' associations. Keep 'em coming, Bentley!
Rating:
Summary: The association
Review: The writer has good potential but this attempt was poor. Probably the subject of a homeowners associaion gone wild was a weak choice for material. The plot unfolded slowly and then gained momentum at the right point. After this, the book became completely unbelievable. Most of the critical moments were left unexplained with no follow-up. The climax was messy and made no sense at all. Obviously Mr. Little had no idea how to end it and tie up loose ends.
Rating: 
Summary: It Reminds Me of Swiss Cheese
Review: This book was the first book that I've read by this author and though I thoroughly enjoyed it, there was a lot of little things that affected the book in its entirety. It reminded me of Swiss cheese. While the story line was superbly developed, the plot delicious with suspense, the final execution of it was a little off. For one thing, Little does not develop some of the characters well and some of the scenes in the book, concerning Audrey's "little box" and a few others, threw the reader for a loop. I mean, I understand that the author's major point was the show the reader the underlying, dark tones of the seeming gated paradise, yet, it was as if he just threw it in there to shock and not to add to the novel experience. Origins of some of the characters would have made the book a little bit more interesting instead of leaving a blank at the end of the book. And the climax and the end of the book were a little hurried to me as if the author were just trying to hurry and finish up. Like I said, even though I enjoyed the story and some of the developed character, there were still little gaps within it, that, had they been filled, would have made the novel a great deal more interesting.
Rating:
Summary: The Real Association is Bentley Little equals total terror!
Review: Bentley Little, the modern master of horror is back at his
subversive self in the creepy and terrifying tale, The Association.Remiscent of The Store, this novel is about Barry and his wife, Maureen made the fatal mistake of buying a house in exclusive neigborhood and joining the Bonita Vista homeowners's association.They soon will regret their decision as the find out the Association controls all of the homeowners with
long list of rules and those who break those rules are subject
to heavy fines, brutal intimidation and worse! Barry and Maureen
find out the hard way that no one fights the Association as they
see their friends terrorized and murdered by the fascist Association.Your blood will run cold as you watch what happens to those who defy the Association. Some of the people are murdered and some meet even more terrifying fate, becoming a stumpy! If you want to find out what I mean read the book!What makes this novel so frightening is that Little starts his story slowly as Barry and Maureen discover the sinister power of the Association and how they wield it with ruthlessly. The Association watches it's inhabitants with hidden cameras, armed guards and they decide who are your friends and gays and minorities are not allowed and the townies are subjected to having their pets poisoned and their children brutally murdered! While many horror authors retread plots with same old vampires, demons and serial killers,Little's novels are all original.The only thing they have in common is that they are all terrifying! So pick up the book find out with Barry and Maureen welch all of the deadly secrets of the Association it's journey guaranteed to chill your blood!
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