akiii's review
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/
Check out the rest of my review here:
https://benisons.wordpress.com/2021/08/23/smaller-and-smaller-circles/
thatbookwormylady's review
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
vance_31's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve been looking for a copy of this book for more than a year. I’m so happy when I finally had one.
Smaller and Smaller Circles is a mystery/thriller book. I was intrigued by its premise. Honestly, I was expecting this to be kind of boring because of the details that I always expect in this genre. But this book is not boring. It’s gripping, chilling, and beautifully written. A page-turner. I love the pacing. I wouldn’t put the book down if it wasn’t for the need of my body to sleep. Lol.
The main characters are fleshed-out. The relationship between the two priests is superb. The author didn’t show them as holy men that mostly talks about religious/godly things. They are just like two men having fun in the company of each other. My personal favorites are those scenes when the two are taking each other’s food. Of course, aside from these fun instances, their characters also work together harmonically whenever they’re on the job of finding the serial killer. They are a perfect match to be in a same novel.
The other characters are also good. Lastimosa, Arcinas, the parents of the victims, all of them. They feel very human. The emotions that are in them are just... so real. I almost cried when Alex’s parents were in the scene. I really felt their pain.
And of course, there’s the antagonist you can’t just completely hate. I never encountered an antagonist as fascinating as this one in any book that is written by a Filipino author.
I also love how the author captured the situation of our country. The poverty, abuses, injustices, all that stuff. This novel showed that everything that happened in the story is also likely to happen in real life.
Overall, I really, really love this book. This is officially my new favorite book written by a Filipino author. F.H. Batacan did an excellent job on this one. I’m hoping to read more of her fictional works.
----------------------------
I watched the movie, and I believe they did a decent job on bringing the novel to the big screen. It was really graphic. I’m actually scared to watch this because of all that autopsy scenes and stuffs (I’m necrophobic), but I had the stomach to keep watching. lol.
You can watch it on Youtube for free. The whole movie is uploaded by TBA Studios.
Smaller and Smaller Circles is a mystery/thriller book. I was intrigued by its premise. Honestly, I was expecting this to be kind of boring because of the details that I always expect in this genre. But this book is not boring. It’s gripping, chilling, and beautifully written. A page-turner. I love the pacing. I wouldn’t put the book down if it wasn’t for the need of my body to sleep. Lol.
The main characters are fleshed-out. The relationship between the two priests is superb. The author didn’t show them as holy men that mostly talks about religious/godly things. They are just like two men having fun in the company of each other. My personal favorites are those scenes when the two are taking each other’s food. Of course, aside from these fun instances, their characters also work together harmonically whenever they’re on the job of finding the serial killer. They are a perfect match to be in a same novel.
The other characters are also good. Lastimosa, Arcinas, the parents of the victims, all of them. They feel very human. The emotions that are in them are just... so real. I almost cried when Alex’s parents were in the scene. I really felt their pain.
And of course, there’s the antagonist you can’t just completely hate. I never encountered an antagonist as fascinating as this one in any book that is written by a Filipino author.
I also love how the author captured the situation of our country. The poverty, abuses, injustices, all that stuff. This novel showed that everything that happened in the story is also likely to happen in real life.
Overall, I really, really love this book. This is officially my new favorite book written by a Filipino author. F.H. Batacan did an excellent job on this one. I’m hoping to read more of her fictional works.
----------------------------
I watched the movie, and I believe they did a decent job on bringing the novel to the big screen. It was really graphic. I’m actually scared to watch this because of all that autopsy scenes and stuffs (I’m necrophobic), but I had the stomach to keep watching. lol.
You can watch it on Youtube for free. The whole movie is uploaded by TBA Studios.
aecy's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
hidrnick's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
b00kw0rm113's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
a murder mystery with a little bit of forenics involved (i wanted more forensics) solved by two priests (that mystery was never solved. why r everyone priests?) who cared about poor boys dying in a dump. its a thriller book, but it didnt hv me that hooked. nonetheless, it was nice.
mezzythedragon's review against another edition
4.0
It's a 3.5. The pacing could have been better, and perhaps even the motive could have been explained better, but it's a solid novel nonetheless. I like how Batacan explores the corruption of the Catholic Church, especially since the Philippines is heavily Catholic. Nice that Fathers Gus Saenz and Jerome Lucero are those who refuse to turn a blind eye to some of the Church's reprehensible crimes, particularly the child molestation cases it tries so hard to sweep under the rug.