Reviews

Smaller and Smaller Circles, by F.H. Batacan

rishvergara's review against another edition

4.0

I wish F.H. Batacan writes more books because this was so good. I loved the writing and the story because the issues. discussed were just so timely.

katsuobushi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

keeley_allen's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-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

3.0

kermetanoia's review against another edition

4.0

In times of busyness, I rarely can finish a book. But this one is an exception. It was beautifully written that with every page, I found myself wanting more.

How F.H. Batacan wrote about the everyday Filipino is so accurate. Though this is written sometime in the late 90s, a lot of the descriptions -- especially about the slum areas and the investigative bodies -- still ring true. I especially loved how she captured poverty and politics in the Philippines.

My biggest complaint is that the culprit is too easily identified and so early on. I felt that the first half to two-thirds was so hyped up that the unfolding in the final third left me disappointed. (You know, those "wait, that's it?" moments.) Be that as it may, there is no denying that this book brought me some delight.

iffer's review against another edition

4.0

Although the ending *did* seem a bit pat, I really enjoyed this. The language was straightforward to read, but effectively conjured the setting and characters for me. Perhaps it was mostly because this book is set in the Philippines and by a Filipina author, but it felt different enough to feel refreshing, while still containing all the characteristics of crime fiction that make it so widely appealing. Some of the descriptions of the side characters' situations interrupted the story. I can see why other readers might mind these, but I liked the way in which it provided a look at a cross-section of those living in the Manila/Quezon City part of the Philippines. I really enjoyed the two priests as investigators, wish that this were a series.

marblemenow's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

berthe33's review against another edition

4.0

A good introduction to the Phillipine "way". The interaction of government and police AND the Catholic Church was intriguing. Well written and well paced.

akiii's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-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

2.5

kishelreads's review against another edition

3.0

FH Batacan is the first Filipino author to have written the only English contemporary detective novel in Philippine Literature. That alone is already a huge accomplishment – what a great nudge for local writers of today. This book took years to create and the author had to leave it for a time before she eventually came around to finishing it. The best experience I’ve had in reading this was the ease of imagining the scenarios. I read and the words would unfold before my eyes – the culture, the attitude, and the exchange between characters. It’s a book that every Filipino reader could relate to, maybe.

Check out the rest of my review here:
https://benisons.wordpress.com/2021/08/23/smaller-and-smaller-circles/

thatbookwormylady's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0