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.
Smaller and Smaller Circles webapi.bu.edu
I liked the back story too, on how the priests were able to profile the killer. Father Emil, the priest in Payatas, asked help from Father Gus Saenz to lead them his support in solving the mystery. He not only takes the case carelessly, but leads the people in the wrong direction just to make himself look good and seem in control of the case. There are people who depend on trash as their main source of income. Most of the book centers on the ongoing investigation, but the author manages to weave a great deal of social commentary into her story. The two priests proved their theory and the crime was solved. The scenery-chewing villains in the church and the police department are fun, and the protagonists are amiable enough to root for.
Thematic Analysis: Smaller and Smaller Circles
He throws up a few instances in the book. Saenz, who has spent a decade railing against a priest accused of molesting boys, is on the enemies list of the Cardinal, who protects the molester. . In the story, children about twelve or thirteen whose genitals, faces and hearts were removed are victimized. We're talking about cases that are high-profile because the suspects or victims are famous, and thus reported by the media. The GR description uses the word "eviscerated" which is less graphic than the words used in the book. Her prose is sharp and terse, befitting the crime procedural genre.
Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan
The identity of the author is also revealed too early, i. Those found outside are dead. 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. The movie wastes no time with character development; Saenz and Lucero lead simple, pious lives, and whether they help the secular world out of a sense of justice or pure boredom is left for the viewer to speculate. A Psychologist and an Anthropologist. I waffle between 3- and 4-stars, and because of the prose and also some change in voice throughout, I'll tip to the higher number.
Smaller and Smaller Circles
Filipinos are too warm and friendly for such monsters to emerge in their midst. Since, a remarkable change has happened. Batacan brings the killer home and makes him haunt the comfortable world of Ateneo, Katipunan Avenue, and the small roads of Quezon City. 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. If what she writes is anywhere near "the state of my country, about the callousness, complacency, and corruption that had dragged it there" and I think it was , she had a right to be angry. Augusto Saenz Gus — The old priest who is an expert in autopsy and was the mentor of Fr.
