The Circle [Hardcover]

I am an avid reader and a book collector. I am also a "Cemetery Dance" girl. That is originally how I was introduced, many years ago, to this author. Once I read his 1995 novel, "University", I was hooked and became a devout fan forever. If you are truly a fan than you know how sick and twisted some of his novel's can be. This novella is no exception. ( So, good that it's bad. Like eating too much candy)......

The novella, are 3 stories, that become intertwined in a small neighborhood cul-de-sac. What goes on is gross, shocking, and at times humorous.......

Remember the good old days where everyone on your block new each other. Every block had that one, dilapidated house, that was an eyesore for the adults. For teens and children, that house came with a scary tale, that no should go there, because of the evil "witch". But do they ever listen............

Now the secret shrine, that the teens find, that will grant them any wish, but this will have strange and dire consequences. It will plunge the entire neighborhood, into one hellish nightmare, that can only come from the dark corners of author, Bentley Little's mind..................

The stories unfold in a unique way, that it starts in the middle, jumps to the beginning, and eventually comes full, "Circle" to the very end..........
Yet, it flows seamlessly. Excellent......

For readers, this is not a long story, it is called a novella, a "Special Edition" or a "Collectible", which also means there are only a limited number of copies. If you ordered it, I wanted to give you a heads up. I don't want you to be shocked when you open the box and find a thin hardcover book. For some they will find that, the price is extremely high for this novella. I agree, but I collect all of his books, so I didn't mind, but I highly doubt you will ever see this in reprint again. When you look for it in the future it will cost way more than this price........

But if you just like reading his books for entertainment, I would borrow it from a friend, or wait for it to maybe released digitally........

Truly try to get your hands on it in some way, because it's author, Bentley Little, at his best................

4 AND 1/2 STARS.

Originally written over ten years ago, The Circle is the kind of book that originally drew me to Bentley Little. It's a dark, fast-paced, adult tale that takes no prisoners. The fact that anything can happen at any time and allowing your main characters to experience a gruesome, untimely death is what separates Little with more mainstream, conservative writers. It is true, however, that in recent years, Little has gone a bit more "Hollywood" with his endings and overall predictability. But The Circle feels a lot more original, spontaneous, and not so planned out.

Three long short stories with different families interconnect this novella, giving the reader different perspectives throughout a single night in a close-knit neighborhood. The Circle is a genuinely entertaining read from cover to cover. It is always refreshing to read when author Little bravely goes to places most writers consider taboo. With many memorable scenes and disturbing descriptions, The Circle is a big recommendation, especially to new readers curious to read Bentley Little as some of his very best.

I tried twice with Bentley Little. The first time was with "The Return." I couldn't finish it. I made it to the part where the artifacts in the museum come to life to shake and jitter out of their display cases. I couldn't force myself to care after that. I tried. Because it was a paperback I bought on the strong recommendation of my longtime friend Stephen and I didn't want to give up. I actually might have the book somewhere.

Anyway, The Circle has some of the same stupidity. I bought "The Circle" as part of a grab bag offered by the publisher Cemetery Dance (they are AWESOME, BTW). And as the offer implies, you don't really know what's in the grab bag at the time of purchase. All I knew was that there would be four special limited editions in the bag. When they announced Bentley Little's "The Circle" was one of them, I had already paid. But I was looking forward to it. I thought I'd give him another chance.

There are two reasons I finished reading all the way through this time: the book is short, and I really wanted to like it. But I so didn't.

The book just made no sense. Imagine the craziest dream you ever had. Add a few elements of horror (maybe a burnt Barbie doll?). Then remove anything in it that could create continuity or reason. Now write it down. Read it. Congratulations, you've just read something better than the Circle. That will be $22, please.

I'm not even kidding. This book just went from one ridiculous scene to the next while building on nothing. It didn't pull or push or tease or intimidate or inspire or create anything. The title should be "WTF?"

A kid craps gemstones. Okay? There. It's not much of a spoiler, since it happens in the first act. Sorry if you feel betrayed. But maybe I saved you some money (or what my former Italian co-workers referred to as "zort." I don't know why, ask them. They'll tell you better stories than "The Circle.")

I don't know how people could rate this anything greater than a two. I think after I post this, I'm going to read some of those glowing reviews and shake my fists at the screen. I'm giving it a two only because I love Cemetery Dance. And the cover is kinda cool. And I don't hate Bentley Little. He's obviously writing something that's fun for him to write. And he's getting paid good zort to do it. Living the dream, that one is. But no thanks. The story here is just non-existent. Okay, the next sentence will contain a SPOILER, so if you don't want the spoiler, just jump to the next paragraph and you'll be fine. But here goes: The main, evil, twisted witch who is revealed at the end--the one who creates all death and mayhem in the suburbs--throws a book and cries when she's confronted. And her skin is transparent. Then the book ends.

I'll give Bentley Little one more chance, I suppose. But it will have to be something I get from the library. Any suggestions?