Reviews with content warning for Rape - Smaller and Smaller Circles

The author mentioned that she wrote this book feeling angry at the justice system and corruptness present in all Philippine bureaucratic and civil systems. I can feel it, and I can understand it.

What's worse is that though this book was written in the 90s, edited in 2013, and I've read it in 2022, this could have very well been a contemporary novel still set in my current time, or perhaps even in my grandchildren's time. It is the first time I've seen priests being involved investigators in crime novels instead of just witnesses.

Every single character in this book is dealing with decades of moral muck and personal issues and I don't have any poetic words for it. This is a situation that happens every day and I'm too familiar with the helpless, bleak feeling of the Philippines' extrajudicial system to even be surprised at it.

Very honest portrait.

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sincerely_bibliophile's review against another edition

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emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

One thing that makes this novel so good is that it has a very short chapter but each chapter is well written, as if each chapter is like a one episode of a series. Despite of so many characters presented in the story, the author was able to introduce each with enough back story that makes this novel more interesting in every turn of the page.

I loved how the book discusses about poverty, power and injustices. It is really frustrating because Batacan have first written this book in 1996. The problems of our country back then which inspired her to wrote this book is still evident until today (2022)

The diversity of characters and balance between good and evil in this book makes it more interesting. I loved how the author used Father Saenz and Father Jerome as the main protagonist in the story. A representation of light amidst darkness. Hence, I can only hope that someday, more people like Father Gus, Father Jerome and Director Lastimosa are the ones who will be given authority and power over the people so that there will be less opression and that compassion may prevail instead.

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j_mikyla's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

cursedepub's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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