Магазинът

by James Patterson, Richard DiLallo, Джеймс Патерсън

Всички пазаруват от „Магазинът”.

В него има всичко, наистина всичко, на цени, които никой друг не може да поддържа. „Магазинът” е най-важната корпорация в Америка и никой не може да избяга от досега с него. Дронове изпълват небесата, разнасяйки безбройните поръчки… и следят всеки и всичко за тяхно собствено спокойствие. И не само.
„Магазинът” знае от какво имаш нужда във всеки един момент. И ти го доставя бързо и евтино. Големият брат никога не е бил толкова привлекателен.

Но Джейкъб и Меган са от малкото хора, които не приемат тази сделка. И се заемат да напишат книга за „Магазинът”. Наемат се да работят за него, като се местят в специално изградено градче за служителите на фирмата… там всичко е съвършено, хората са винаги усмихнати, един истински рай.
Който скоро се превръща в ад.

Може ли една книга да заплаши най-могъщата корпорация в Америка?
И на какво е способна тя, за да се защити?

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Crime

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 14, 2017

About the author

Official US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Reviews

[Laura Wonderchick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite honestly the worst book I've ever read by JP and maybe in all the books I've read total. An idiotic version of The Circle that read like a jr high kid writing a story and making it up as he told it.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Patterson and Richard DiLallo have collaborated on another piece that shines a light on the potential monopoly that could become the world with a turn towards mega-stores in the coming years. Jacob Brandeis and his family live in the ever-moving world of New York City. He’s a struggling writer, seeking to bring home the bacon with whatever small job he can score, but Jacob wants more. He has seen much of his life changed by The Store, a mega-facility that sells anything from fertiliser to chocolate, books to motor oil, and everything in between. With brick and mortar shops unable to compete, they struggle to stay afloat, as America has taken to turning to the mega-store and away from personal shopping. As The Store makes its presence stronger, Jacob and his wife decide to take the plunge and get inside the machine, if only to better understand what it’s all about. Accepting work with The Store in New Burg, Nebraska, Jacob takes his family and is soon witness to just how far-reaching his new employer can be. New Burg is a mix of Orwell’s 1984–complete with surveillance cameras and listening devices—and some Stepford community, where neighbours are devoid of emotion and want to help with everything. Jacob has come to see that The Store seeks to control all aspects and become the solution for the entire population. Not buying into the hype, Jacob begins to pen his own book about the truth behind the curtain, but is fully aware that getting the message out will be difficult, since The Store handles all book publishing too. Sacrificing his personal safety and that of his family, Jacob tries to make his way back to NYC, where an editor friend of his might be able to get the message out. Trouble is, even with a manuscript, how receptive with the public be to something Anti-Store? Patterson and DiLallo keep the reader thinking in this mid-length novel that keeps the questions piling up and forces a degree of self-reflection. Those who enjoy Patterson’s work may like this one, though it does not have the thrill or mystery aspect that I find suits him so well.

Having recently completed a piece about the importance of physical books, I entered this reading experience ready to see some similar themes. Patterson and DiLallo have worked together before and do some amazing work at not only entertaining the reader, but selling their ideas. While not an attempt to push readers (and the public) away from mega-store shopping, it does poke fun at what might be the over-Amazoning that has begun in the world. What was once a place for books can now provide the best condoms at a cheap price (and with drone shipping *flashing sign*). It keeps the reader thinking, if only for a moment, about how this all came about. Jacob Brandeis is an interesting enough character, though he does seem to have a generic sense to him; that man who is always fighting The Man in order to shed light on some evil. Still, the interactions and dialogue he has with both his family and friends helps pave the way to better understand those who are not entirely sold by point and click shopping. Some of the Stepford characters are just that, mindless drone-like beings who serve their jobs and likely go home for their meal pill before turning in for bed. But I think the authors were not looking for strong character connection, but rather a keen interest in the theme of this story. The book sells the idea of emasculating the shopping and owning experience, almost a communist collective where everything is in one store (and all clothes are beige), without pounding too hard into the psyche of the reader. Subtle approaches prove effective here and the authors do well to make their point, without dragging the reader to the trough. I enjoy this quick read and think it would make for an interesting morning filler, though is by no means one to be placed atop any pedestal.

Kudos, Messrs. Patterson and DiLallo, as you have made a wonderful point here and sold me on the concept. Now then, to do some real-life shopping.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[PamG · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Store by James Patterson and Richard DiLallo is a slow-paced and occasionally suspenseful near-future science fiction novel. Jacob and Megan Brandeis write books, but when they can’t get their latest one published, they end up getting jobs with the large, successful, and ultra-secretive Store. However, they get warehouse jobs with the Store in New Berg, Nebraska. Moving from New York to Nebraska is an adjustment for them and their two children. Additionally, they decide to write a controversial book about the Store. However, the Store is always watching.

I started and stopped this novel a couple of times, before I could sit down and read the story. After an engaging start, it faltered. However, it does have some interesting points and picks up the pace at the end. Themes include privacy, family, neighbors, and much more.

Overall, this is predictable, somewhat of a disappointment, and includes an abrupt ending.

I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was August 14, 2017.
---------------------------------------
My 3.13 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.

[Labijose · Rating 2 out of 5]

It could have been a good novel, but I don’t think the authors took upon themselves to write it seriously. Great potential gone to waste. Unbelievable characters, and a too far fetched plot. The message about the direction society and technology is heading was completely lost with such a terrible ending. Pity!

Anyway, the message is clear, The Big Brother is not in the near future. It is now, today, and it is watching us. Be careful!

[Phrynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best Patterson novel I have read but it was entertaining and had moments of tension and excitement. The audio was okay apart from the male reader doing rather strange female voices. That was funny rather than irritating so we got along okay.

I imagine that Patterson and his co writer were trying to make a point about the way we shop and the possible future of companies like Amazon. Presenting it the way they do actually makes it farcical rather than serious so if that was their aim they failed, for me anyway! The ending in particular was weak.

Nevertheless I was entertained and interested enough to listen right through to the end.

[Reeda Booke · Rating 1 out of 5]

To me, this was a poor ripoff of Bentley's "The Store". There was a reason I quit reading Patterson's work a long time ago. I should have stuck to my guns. This guy puts out like 50 books a year (being a bit sarcastic, but not far from the truth), and it shows.
Not recommended.

[Gareth Otton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Seriously, why didn't they just call this book 'Amazon' and save the pretence?

I am not normally one of those people who like to read too much into the subtext of a book because usually at best people who do that sound pretensious, and at worst they are reading too much into something that isn't there and are completely off the mark. However, in this book, it's not so much a subtle undertone that needs deciphering as it is a blatant shout out at the largest book retailer around.

It takes only a 10 second Google search to find out that James Patterson has issues with Amazon and has gone on the record with those issues. Therefore when he writes a book about struggling authors who also have trouble with Amazon... sorry... The Store, and therefore decide to go undercover and write an expose on the giant company, it's not hard to put two and two together. Add this to the fact that 'The Store' is an advocate of using drones for delivery, is taking over multiple markets, and a number of other unsubtle clues, it is so obvious who this author is taking a dig at.

Now, the amazing thing is that I am giving this book a 1-star review even though, by and large, I hear and understand James Patterson's complaints about the company. Amazon is getting to be too big, there is a very real danger that it poses to the literary market, and it is on its way to becoming a monopoly. There are also some very suspect things going on behind the scenes at the company, especially in regards to how they deal with customers data. So, being as I am aware of and interested in all of these story elements, why the one star?

Mainly because this book was about as subtle as a car crash. The extents 'The Store' has gone to in this book to step on human rights and to go past the moral grey area right into evil is ridiculous. I see no immediate future (and this is set in either the immediate future or in present day) where any company could possibly get away with doing what 'The Store' does in this book without there being a massive public backlash of the kind that would accompany a new Nazi order rising to power and setting up new death camps. And that's just the start of how unbelievable this book is.

It is a short novel, if not a novella, that jumps from plot point to plot point in an effort not to tell a story, but to pretend to do so while instead pumping out the author's biases and propaganda. It was not just preachy, it was laughably so.

There's no character development... or any realistic characters for that matter. You never buy into any decisions that are made, any scenarios in the book or...

You know what, let's just stop there because the list could go on and I'm frankly as fed up of writing this review as I was of reading this book. I read to the end of this book because I was fascinated with how far this author has fallen. Remember when he used to write enjoyable fiction novels that were easy reading and gripping? This isn't even the first book where I have noted this exact problem with James Patterson. A couple of years back I read 'Truth or Die', a pro-NSA propaganda piece barely disguised as fiction, and I had all the same issues with that book as I had with this one.

The point I am making through all my ramblings is that James Patterson is a fiction author and he needs to remember that. It's fine for him to have political and personal beliefs, but there's a time and a place for those. If he absolutely has to put those beliefs into his books, then at least he could try to be more subtle about it than he was in this monstrosity of a book. Bashing someone around the head with your beliefs is about as good away to get them on your side as robbing them, something this book is guilty of by promising one thing (an action thriller) and delivering something else.

1-star and that is generous as far as I'm concerned.

[Kari · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't give a book just one star lightly. It really was that bad. I've read a smattering of James Patterson over the past couple decades, and while some are better than others, this one was the worst I've read, by far. It was an interesting idea ~ an Amazon-like company is trying to take over the world! But it wasn't well developed (plot or characters), the progression was awkward, the writing was not good, and there were times it just didn't make sense. It also felt weirdly short - if it was longer maybe the plot and characters could have been better? And yet I'm glad it wasn't longer because it was painful to read.

Side note - It reminded me of The Circle by Dave Eggers that I read a couple years ago (in which a Google-like company is taking over the world). I didn't like that book either, and only gave it 2 stars. But that book at least had a more fleshed out plot and actual characters with personalities.

[Reese Copeland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be incredibly creepy. It reminded me of a combination of the movie "Enemy of the State" and the book "1984". I just loved the book and the extent to which the story seems so real in that could it really happen. The only thing I didn't like about it was, it just seemed like it wrapped up a little too quickly towards/at the end . That was kind of a disappointment. Not the ending per say, just how quickly it came and the manner in which it came.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast pace Thriller. I listen to the audiobook of this book, and I really feel the narrator made the story come to life for me. I have to say well reading/listening to this book I compare the store to Amazon. This book keeps you jumping and guessing. The ending was super fast pace and was fill of twist and turns. I felt the storyline/plot was one I have never read before, and it was really good. The characters I found was ok, and I wish I got to know the characters could be a little bit better. This book was more about the storyline then the characters.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I'm being completely honest, this isn't the world's best book. It's not thrilling writing, it's not full of surprising plot twists, it's really not the kind of book I usually like.

HOWEVER, being a friend and employee of independent bookstores, I love the discourse on websites that take over the world. And the fact that Patterson is one of Hachette's authors who was involved in the Amazon-Hachette debate a few years ago... great.

If you're looking for the next Great American Novel, this isn't it. But if you're not a huge fan of Amazon or other companies that are slowly taking over the world, give this one a chance. It's entertaining and filled with more commentary than you might expect, even if it's not subtle or groundbreaking.

[Kathi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not at all interesting and super predictable. Basically The Store was a lesser version of The Circle.

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not to much to say on this one other than I am disappointed because I really like James Patterson. I think he needs to stop trying to put out so many books a year and get back to serious writing. While this should have been a quick read, it took me a whole 10 days to finish it. Not thought provoking at all. This book should have been titled "Amazon" and we could all have moved on.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a fast paced James Patterson book! The Store knows all.. The Store controls all.. a very entertaining and sometimes scary look at life in the modern world

[Judithrosebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

El libro nos sitúa en un futuro dónde las compras online se han hecho más que con el poder del mercado, La Tienda es la más grande, con los precios más competitivos y que cuenta con una ciudad para sus trabajadores. La Tienda controla el mercado, vendiendo todo tipo de productos a precios bajos, dejando así que las tiendas físicas muy debilitadas y la mayoría en banca rota. Además se ha apoderado de gran poder con los gobiernos, cosa que favorece los precios bajos y competitivos respecto a las tiendas físicas.
Jacob y Megan Brandeis son dos escritores neoyorkinos que no terminan de acostumbrar-se al cambio de vida, totalmente tecnológico y con el cielo lleno de drones, de reparto, de vigilancia... hay cámaras por todas partes.
Deciden ir a New Burg y trabajar para La Tienda, para así escribir un libro. De incógnito y con una estrategia muy elaborada empezarán a escribir la verdad que se esconde detrás del gigante La Tienda.

OPINIÓN: Se lee muy rápido, de una sentada. El libro engancha des del principio y con ganas de saber que pasa en esa empresa y como van a poder publicar el libro los protagonistas. La historia te deja con ganas de más. Me hubiera gustado que hubiera habido más acción pero hay que reconocer que es un libro que merece la pena y que en la época en que nos encontramos y con lo rápido que avanza la tecnología, pronto podemos vernos viviendo en algo parecido, se te ponen los pelos de punta.

[Darinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A powerful retailer, The Store, is slowly taking over. They provide all a person needs, and deliver it right to the door. Jacob, Megan, and their kids move from New York to Nebraska, where The Store is headquartered. Jacob and Megan are writers, but their careers aren't going great, so they take jobs at The Store. Everything seems a little too perfect in their new home, plus they are constantly being monitored. As a journalist, Jacob wants to expose The Store for their illegal activities, but with everyone against him, it proves to more dangerous than he imagined.

Short chapters make for a fast read. The mega-retailer pretty much describes Amazon. The people working for The Store give a very Stepford Wives feel. Entertaining thriller, but not Patterson's best.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

'The Store' is a massive on-line company that controls much of what the US wants to buy with its cheap prices and swift delivery by drones. When Jacob and Megan Brandeis’s latest book is declined by 'The Store', they get the idea of going undercover.

Jacob and Megan are hired by 'The Store' and move their family to New Berg, Nebraska. At first, their new surroundings seem perfect – a smart house, nice neighbours and their two kids are happy at their new school but Jacob and Megan soon realize that their environment has a Stepford-ish vibe. Everyone and everything is too perfect.

This book is creepy because the premise is very real. The convenience of the internet is at our fingertips. We can search and find information on anything online. We can order anything online. But the drawback is that our every step is being tracked and monitored. Every online search tells the world a little more about you. That information can be used against you.

This book is a very easy and fast read, with a quick pace. However, it is rather let down by some rather cardboard characters, it lacked a little malice and whilst the book was creepy and the ending was a bit of a surprise it also felt just a little too neat as if the author's had run out of ideas. Overall OK but no banana.

[Деница Райкова]

Джеймс Патерсън, Ричард Дилало - "Магазинът", изд. "Сиела" 2018, прев. Коста Сивов

Току-що "излязох от" "Магазинът".
Така се случи, че в последно време прочетох няколко трилъра в доста бърза последователност. И честно казано, не мислех да чета този точно сега. Влизаше в плановете, но за по-нататък. Преди два дни обаче посегнах към купчината книги, без да гледам, и чак после видях какво държа. Е, това щеше да е.
Честно казано, не бях сигурна какво ще прочета. Това е първата ми "среща" с Джеймс Патерсън, и признавам, че преди няколко месеца по-скоро тематиката на романа, а не името на автора, ме накара да избера книгата.
Не че темата е непозната. Напротив - тя е застъпена до много голяма степен още в "1984" на Оруел. Също, но в малко по-различен план, и в "Кръгът" на Дейв Егърс. Това обаче по никакъв начин не означава, че Патерсън "краде" теми или че историята звучи изтъркано. Защото общата тема - всеобщото следене - може и да съвпада, но механизмите са съвсем различни. И ако например в "Кръгът" ми трябваше време да усетя нещо зловещо, тук това чувство ме обзе почти веднага. И не ме остави до края.
А има толкова много неща, които на пръв поглед изглеждат ужасно съблазнителни. Кой не би искал всяка сутрин като с магия да открива любимата си закуска, сервирана на масата? Кой тийнейджър не би мечтал за страхотни приятели и готини съученици? Кое семейство не би искало дружелюбни и услужливи съседи? И то само на "нищожната цена" на това, да работи за "Магазинът".
Така изглеждат нещата на пръв поглед. Но, както е написано и в анотацията на книгата, "Магазинът не иска само парите ви. Той иска душата ви". И пълен контрол над всяка частица от живота ви. И когато осъзнаете, че сте попаднали не на дружелюбна компания, а на зловещо чудовище, вече може да е твърде късно за спасение.
Вече посочих очевидните прилики с "1984" и "Кръгът". Аз обаче почти през цялото време правех асоциации и с "Фирмата" на Гришам - същите примамливи перспективи и обещания, със същите зловещи последици.
За мен "Магазинът" е книга, която представя съвършена картина на консуматорското общество. На моменти имах чувството, че всички, които се възползват от услугите му, са не просто купувачи, а поклонници - заблудени поклонници, продали душите си, за да влязат във фалшивия "рай", обещаван от "Магазинът".И доброволно да се оставят да бъдат обсебени.
Не знам колко от читателите на книгата са се чувствали така, но лично аз през цялото време, докато четях, изпитвах силно безпокойство. Защото ми се струва, че реалността на "Магазинът" не е толкова далече от нас. Всекидневно сме "облъчвани" с реклами, които ни внушават, че за пълното ни щастие ни липсва само еди-кой си продукт. И че можем да се сдобием с него единствено чрез ... някой си производител. И друго - много преди да прочета тази книга, още в първите години на интернет, изпитвах по-скоро смущение, отколкото радост от факта колко лесно е вече намирането на информация, пазаруването и още толкова много неща. Струваше ми се някак нередно да мога с натискането на няколко клавиша да се добера до информация, чието откриване преди би ми струвало продължително ровене в библиотеката, или да купя нищо, за което иначе трябва да изляза и да се редя на опашка. И още ми се струва нередно, че пак толкова лесно всеки може да открие информация за всеки.
Краят на "Магазинът" е може би предвидим. Но въпреки това напрежението не спада до края, и лично аз харесах книгата. Това беше първата ми "среща" с Патерсън, но вероятно няма да е последната.
Препоръч��ам книгата.

[~Bellegirl91~ · Rating 1 out of 5]

WARNING: BRUTALLY STRONG HONEST OPINIONS ON THIS BOOK AHEAD....


I'm asleep right now after a stupid sleeping pill BUT finishing this book in one day on audiobook through Overdrive wasn't worth it ugh....

so here's how I'm feeling about it...





Yeah, I'm gonna be harsh and give this one star. I was seriously BORED throughout this whole book. I feel from my perspective three things:

1- IT HAD NO STRUCTURE: it was A MESS. I mean, it was a good idea and concept and all, but it was as if patterson and this other guy didn't KNOW how to write and and so they threw in these random things and the so called "plot twist" of it all wasn't at all exciting. I mean, it did get me thinking "what the heck" but at the same time, it was BLAND. BORING. AND JUST A WASTE OF 5-6 HOURS OF LISTENING TO THIS AND FOLLOWING ON.

2- NO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT/NO CONNECTION: I had NO connection with ANY of these characters whatsoever. they were the same as being BLAND and BORING. I couldn't connect with them, get that feeling they were feeling with the typical "perfect little town, perfect neighbors etc, but there's hidden cameras and recording/listening devices to hear and watch you" and it wasn't as original and the one telling the story was obnoxious.

3- I HATED this book and to be brutally honest here, this is why I LOVE Patterson's NYPD Red series and not his other books/thrillers. now, if you WANT a good thriller author, go read David Baldacci but use his website to see which of his books are part of series. now HE writes a good thriller. The Store however is NOT a thriller, it's a disgrace and should never have been published.

there, I said it. Such a waste... no WONDER it didn't get that many great reviews and can see why. but if you want to read it, go for it. I just personally hated a LOT of things about it, didn't live up to what I look for in a book, and so I'm gonna have to be harsh and give it a 1 star...

[Carol Jones-Campbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book would grab me more, but alas, NO. I really did not like it very much at all. I see from reviews that a lot of you liked it quite well, and I'm a bust.

If I'm being completely honest, this isn't the world's best book. It's not thrilling writing, it's not full of surprising plot twists, it's really not the kind of book I usually like.

What is so scary about this story is it's closer to reality than you would like to believe. They know I'm there every time I shop. This book takes that concept one step farther and has Jacob and Megan Brandeis trying to fight back and educate people that "The Store" is running their lives and nobody seems to care. An elaborate plot by Jacob and his friends to write a book has good intentions but will they live to get the truth out or will the store cover it up with their own version of Jacob's book. I read Patterson off and on when a title catches my attention. I don't recommend this book. This is rare for me, but I don't feel it has the meat that a book of its type would have.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is (a) a completely routine thriller, filled with pedestrian prose, implausible plot twists, and cardboard characters, and (b) a vicious attack on Amazon.com. I'm giving it 3 stars for the thriller, plus an extra star for the paranoid fantasy of an online retailer taking over the world.

[Suzze Tiernan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely not the best ever, but I like how Patterson took on "The Store" (of course it's Amazon).

[Knigoqdec · Rating 1 out of 5]

Наистина си бях обещала да пиша на тази книга две звезди, защото идеята ѝ не е чак толкова лоша (например, някак много странно ми напомня за филми в стила на "Vivarium", каквото знам за него от трейлъра).
Обаче тази книга е тотално, извънземно, извънвселенски зле написана. Като от някакъв психясал амиш (ако беше нормален амиш сигурно щеше да се справи по-добре, човекът). Страшно некадърно изложение на цялата история, а пък "Истината" в края направо ти докарва сълзи в очите от срам и безсилие пред реалната истина, че нещо може да се опропасти така. Книгата иначе имаше надежди да е много приятен трилър, модерна е и би се занимавала сериозно със злободневни теми, но не е имала никакъв, съвсем никакъв шанс. То дори и за сценарий на филм няма да мине. В допълнение: герои идиоти и стила "Америка в сърцето и душата, другите да мрат!!!" - просто... не.
Съмнявам се Патерсън изобщо някога да я е чел, само си е сложил името отпред, писачът ще да е непознатото лице, чието име се появява, когато отгърнеш корицата xD.
Да си кажа истината... петте лева, които човек може да даде за това четиво към момента, са си ги заслужили единствено работилите по българското издание. Рядкост е да попаднеш на качествено оформена и красива книга из тези, които се издават на килограм.

Добре де... Някой младеж, който не си пада много по четенето, би могъл да се впечатли, съвсем искрено го казвам.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is so scary about this story is it's closer to reality than you would like to believe. When I go into the grocery I get a popup for Facebook asking if I'd like to leave a review. They know I'm there every time I shop. This book takes that concept one step farther and has Jacob and Megan Brandeis trying to fight back and educate people that "The Store" is running their lives and nobody seems to care. An elaborate plot by Jacob and his friends to write a book has good intentions but will they live to get the truth out or will the store cover it up with their own version of Jacob's book. I read Patterson off and on when a title catches my attention. This one sure did.

[Stanislav Lozanov · Rating 2 out of 5]

Корицата е феноменална, историята с много потенциал, изпълнението от друга страна нищо впечатляващо!

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy cow what a book!! I was hooked from the beginning and stayed that way til the end. The ending was…WOW!! If you’re a Patterson fan, this is a must read.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit I was a little wary of starting this book as I have often found when James Patterson writes with a few of the different authors, I haven't enjoyed them as much, and I wasn't sure about The Store. What I didn't expect was that I would find myself engrossed in the novel and the whole idea of bringing down The Store after the family was rejected with their Roots of a Music book. Jacob and Megan Brandeis are part of the old world whereas writers they loved libraries and books. Now with the new world, you just log online, and The store will bring you exactly what you need. They know you without having to ask you your interests. Jacob and Megan decide a new book proposal and go undercover as workers for The Store in a new town called New Burg. Their book will be the expose of The Store. As the novel goes along though, it seems that Jacob is having a harder time than his family of adjusting to this new world of being self-reliant when it comes to The Store. It starts to create rifts between his family, and as we get along we wonder whether Jacob should just resign to the life of the Store or continue his mission even if it means putting his family and himself at risk? The Store was a fast-paced novel which gets the readers thinking about the future of the world and how technology has advanced so quickly that eventually this could happen and the world as we know it becomes obsolete as everything can be controlled with a click of a button. I have to admit it seems we are heading that way as recently I saw you can now purchase Smart Beds where the mattresses etc are controlled by your smartphone or device.

[Wonda · Rating 1 out of 5]

1! If you are into a view of what it may look like when Amazon takes over the world...This is the novel for you!! Unfortunately, Disney did this story better with Wall-E! I just couldn't get into this one...

[Sarah Richardson · Rating 2 out of 5]

My mom always said, "if you don't have anything nice to say...", well... nothin to say ☹

[Carol Irvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and 1/2🌟