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A review by _snarkysharky
Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan
5.0
Smaller and smaller circles will linger in my thoughts for the rest of my life, and I fear I don’t have the right words to fully express my deep appreciation for it.
This book is not for the faint-hearted, yet I believe it MUST be read for it contains truths that, while not everyone will encounter in their lifetime, should be acknowledged and understood nonetheless.
To me, this psychological thriller reads like an open letter to the Philippines. Its depiction of the justice system, the church, and the poverty-stricken landscape was frustratingly precise and painfully accurate.
The police system in third-world countries operates quite differently from what's depicted in Western movies, and I value the exploration of the system's inadequacies—ranging from funding shortages and turf conflicts between agencies to the padrino system, as well as issues with record-keeping and available technology.
When Saenz, a Jesuit priest specializing in forensics, initially proposed his theory of a serial killer being at work, he was mocked by a police general. He challenged this skepticism with this question:
While reading this, the "why" presented a bigger mystery to me than the "who." Those brief insights into the perpetrator's mindset added so much depth to the story. I appreciate how, even amidst all this darkness, there remains a glimmer of humanity. It's both compelling and horrifying how the story unfolds to reveal the roots of this evil.
In the author’s acknowledgment, she said:
This book is not for the faint-hearted, yet I believe it MUST be read for it contains truths that, while not everyone will encounter in their lifetime, should be acknowledged and understood nonetheless.
To me, this psychological thriller reads like an open letter to the Philippines. Its depiction of the justice system, the church, and the poverty-stricken landscape was frustratingly precise and painfully accurate.
The police system in third-world countries operates quite differently from what's depicted in Western movies, and I value the exploration of the system's inadequacies—ranging from funding shortages and turf conflicts between agencies to the padrino system, as well as issues with record-keeping and available technology.
When Saenz, a Jesuit priest specializing in forensics, initially proposed his theory of a serial killer being at work, he was mocked by a police general. He challenged this skepticism with this question:
"What makes you think the Philippines is so blessed by God that we would be exempt from this kind of evil?"Lino Brocka once noted, "life in the Philippines is cheap." And it was only through the unwavering persistence of Saenz and Jerome that justice was sought for the victims.
While reading this, the "why" presented a bigger mystery to me than the "who." Those brief insights into the perpetrator's mindset added so much depth to the story. I appreciate how, even amidst all this darkness, there remains a glimmer of humanity. It's both compelling and horrifying how the story unfolds to reveal the roots of this evil.
“I and the public knowI've never felt such a strong desire to hug a fictional character, wishing deeply that they could have had a better life.
What all school children learn,
Those to whom evil is done
Do evil in return.”
In the author’s acknowledgment, she said:
"The first time I wrote this book - in 1996, when I was in my mid-twenties - I was angry: angry about my job, about the state of my country, about the callousness, complacency, and corruption that had dragged it there.It's 2024, and I don't think things have improved much. I share this book review with you all, hoping that one day, these words will no longer hold truth. That real change has arrived, and my country is in a far better state than it was back in 1996.
The second time I wrote this book - in 2013, in my forties, having moved back home with my infant son - I found myself even angrier: about the state of my country, which seemed even worse than it was in 1996, and about the callousness, complacency, and corruption that kept it there."