Smaller and Smaller Circles is a mystery novel by Filipino author F.H. Batacan, which tells the story of two Jesuit priests, Father Gus Saenz and Father Jerome Lucero, who team up to investigate a series of gruesome murders in the slums of Manila. The novel delves into the complex and often troubled lives of the characters, as well as the social and political issues facing the Philippines in the 1990s.
One of the main characters in the novel is Father Gus Saenz, a forensic anthropologist and one of the few people in the country with expertise in this field. Father Saenz is a smart and dedicated man, who is deeply troubled by the murders and determined to find the truth. Despite his expertise, Father Saenz is also plagued by personal demons, including a troubled relationship with his estranged father and a deep sense of guilt over his own past mistakes.
Father Jerome Lucero is the other main character in the novel, and he serves as a foil to Father Saenz. While Father Saenz is serious and analytical, Father Lucero is more laid-back and easy-going, with a mischievous sense of humor. Despite his carefree demeanor, Father Lucero is also a deeply religious man, who is deeply committed to helping the poor and marginalized people of the slums.
The novel also explores the lives and motivations of the various suspects in the murders, including a corrupt politician, a wealthy businessman, and a group of radical activists. Each of these characters is complex and multifaceted, with their own hopes, fears, and secrets.
Overall, the characters in Smaller and Smaller Circles are well-developed and believable, and their struggles and challenges help to drive the plot of the novel. Through the investigation of the murders, the novel explores themes of justice, morality, and the search for truth, making it a thought-provoking and engaging read.
Why 'Smaller and Smaller Circles' Is the Film We All Need To See
Oh well, what can I say? A particularly comedic side-story is Fr. The Rat: Alex Carlos is the resident dentist-slash-serial killer in this fast-paced novel. Benjamin Arcinas â The lawyer and the one handling the police force in seizing the suspect from his multiple serial killing. The broad shape of the ending is predictable; by the time you get to it, you could probably write the final confrontation yourself. The portrayal here is harsh but spot on, law enforcement agencies and officers are not only incompetent but also corrupt. Two Jesuit priests are being consulted over a series of murders in the slums of Manila. Together with his protĂ©gĂ©, Father Jerome Lucero, a psychologist, Saenz dedicates himself to tracking down the monster preying on these impoverished boys.
Review: Smaller and Smaller Circles
Almost because the irritating phrases in different languages spoken by one of the secondary characters are proven, in the end, to have no purpose but for Batacan is she a polygot? Father Emil, the priest in Payatas, asked help from Father Gus Saenz to lead them his support in solving the mystery. Lucero assist the NBI the National Bureau of Investigation with a string of grisly murders taking place in and around a poverty-stricken area surrounded by a municipal trash dump. The tall man, he knows. He defaces his victims, and excises the genitals, signs that there is a sexual conflict and a need to rid off the identity of the kids, much like what happened to Alex Carlos himself. Another important issue raised by the book is child labor. I don't make much time for thrillers because I find myself with other things in front of me, so this was a rather huge departure from my usual fare.
Smaller & Smaller Circles
So when you find a good fiction novel written by a Filipino, it's definitely a nice surprise. Like I said, I was already too immersed with Dexter, Criminal Minds, and CSI to really enjoy the novelty of Smaller and Smaller Circles. I will write a review but I want to ask Clarisse some questions about life in the Philippines before I do so I don't make any ridiculously untrue comments. Batacan is a journalist who originally wrote this book in 1996, but updated it in 2013 to reflect the continued "complacency and corruption" that takes place in her home country. He has a perfect attendance record. A crime novel set in the Philippines featuring two priests as the good guys trying to solve the serial gruesome killings of poor young teen boys. It's a short read, and I liked that I did not feel shortchanged with the story.
Smaller and Smaller Circles
Literature plays an important role not only in highlighting something people already know but are too numb to feel, but also in ensuring that a record is kept for the future so that the generations to follow would not commit the same kinds of atrocities and mistakes. She, who now resides in Singapore, made a breakthrough with this book as it proved that Filipinos do read and appreciate good books outside our usual genres: love, romance, family drama, humor, politics and comics. It's not just a crime novel, but one that fits perfectly in the Philippine setting. The pacing is odd, the intonation is awkward, and the big emotional moments are hacky and general. However, this is also one of those times when the prologue really works.
Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan: 9781616956639
In it she writes: The first time I wrote this bookâin 1996, when I was in my mid-twentiesâI was angry: angry about my job, about the state of my country, about the callousness, complacency, and corruption that had dragged it there. Ravaged by unknown beings in the darkness. Is that the general summary of the smaller and smaller circle? We can also see the struggles of Fr. The anger comes through. Those found outside are dead. Awful vapors rising lazily with the heat: wet paper and rot and excrement mixing in a soup of odors around them, above them. Smaller And Smaller Circles 2019.
