wombat_88's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
csdaley's review against another edition
3.0
A fairly good collection of short stories. My main problem was that the book was wildly uneven. Some stories were great and some stories were really poor. You will find yourself picking and choosing the stories you want to finish.
austinstorm's review against another edition
1.0
Read the first two, and then three that were mentioned on the back cover as highlights. One out of the five was good ('Bob'), but the other four seemed pretty dependent on shock value. RL Stein for pervs.
This guy breaks it down: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/11699314
Little's main problem seems to be that he's never had an idea he didn't turn into a story. Any idea at all, like "Isn't it funny how serious people get about recycling?" can be turned into a short story - just add rape, incest, torture and cannibalism.
It's like a mediocre sketch comedy show (much of MAD TV, Key & Poole, Portlandia). Take an idea, any idea, and then run it out to absurdity. The end. The repeat.
This guy breaks it down: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/11699314
Little's main problem seems to be that he's never had an idea he didn't turn into a story. Any idea at all, like "Isn't it funny how serious people get about recycling?" can be turned into a short story - just add rape, incest, torture and cannibalism.
It's like a mediocre sketch comedy show (much of MAD TV, Key & Poole, Portlandia). Take an idea, any idea, and then run it out to absurdity. The end. The repeat.
selucas89's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those novels that make me wish we had a half star system because really it's a 3 and 3/4 stars novel. Some of the stories are disturbing enough to stick with you for days, like The Sanctuary and Llama but others fall flat. From the sexually perverse to just downright creepy, Bentley Little touches on a little of everything (no pun intended lol) in the genre of horror. This is probably not the book for die-hard horror fans but for those who like a good scare once in a while it may hit the spot.
paulopaperbooksonly's review
4.0
Having read The Association I started reading this book. Then I read The Walking and then The Resort. All of them I made reviews and strangely or not I gave the first book 8,5 then 8, then 7.5 and finnally 5. You can read them here. It's falling down. I have more three books by him and I really hope this doesn't mean anything because I like the novels but something doesn't feel right in them.
Now this one...
This is a collection of short stories. Some are good some are not and some are so so... There are historical stories, horror stories, satirical stories, religious etc... I thing Bentley Little grabs everyday things and turns into something... else? It's quite good. Look at his books... Who had thought of things like The Policy? The Association? A good writer he is...
The most famous story is the Washightonians in which a man finds a letter where it says George Washinghton was a cannibal (eating children) and there are still people following that cult. It became so famous that an episode in Masters of Horror was made. (It was a little different than the story but good nevertheless). Colony is the other "historical" novel where things are not what they seem. USA is still a British Colony but nobody knows with the exception of a few key people. Then there is another war for indepedence.
Confessions of a Corporate Man is about the disagreements of several departaments in a company. But involves murder and betrayal. It's quite good.
The Sanctuary is a religous story that deals with Cal and his family. His mother sometimes enters a stage called "The Rage". It's quite good and ends beautifully.
Then we've got some other excelents stories like the The Phonebook Man (Paranoia just goes another level), Comes the Bad Time, The idol, Pillow Talk (What does it "thinks"?) and The Show (This one has a good twist in the end). Another good story and one of my favourite is Life with Father. Recylcing just goes another level. And not a particular good one.
There are in all 32 stories. Must of them are pretty good if you want to read bizarre stories. Not all of them are of Horror. Some just make you shake your head and laugh a little...
I enjoyed them. They are the reason I don't give up on Bentley Little even if the last two books were not of my liking.
Now this one...
This is a collection of short stories. Some are good some are not and some are so so... There are historical stories, horror stories, satirical stories, religious etc... I thing Bentley Little grabs everyday things and turns into something... else? It's quite good. Look at his books... Who had thought of things like The Policy? The Association? A good writer he is...
The most famous story is the Washightonians in which a man finds a letter where it says George Washinghton was a cannibal (eating children) and there are still people following that cult. It became so famous that an episode in Masters of Horror was made. (It was a little different than the story but good nevertheless). Colony is the other "historical" novel where things are not what they seem. USA is still a British Colony but nobody knows with the exception of a few key people. Then there is another war for indepedence.
Confessions of a Corporate Man is about the disagreements of several departaments in a company. But involves murder and betrayal. It's quite good.
The Sanctuary is a religous story that deals with Cal and his family. His mother sometimes enters a stage called "The Rage". It's quite good and ends beautifully.
Then we've got some other excelents stories like the The Phonebook Man (Paranoia just goes another level), Comes the Bad Time, The idol, Pillow Talk (What does it "thinks"?) and The Show (This one has a good twist in the end). Another good story and one of my favourite is Life with Father. Recylcing just goes another level. And not a particular good one.
There are in all 32 stories. Must of them are pretty good if you want to read bizarre stories. Not all of them are of Horror. Some just make you shake your head and laugh a little...
I enjoyed them. They are the reason I don't give up on Bentley Little even if the last two books were not of my liking.
mjreutman's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
innae's review
4.0
I am not quite done with this book (on April 21, 2008)(one more tale to read) - however, it has proven to me, yet again, that horror writers are off their rocker. There are several stories I enjoyed ALOT, and several that were just odd, and a few more that were downright creepy. Over all, a pretty quick read, as Bentley Little is a very readable author, even the weird tales were quick to get through.