something different

Out of all the stories that i've read for this class, Smaller and Smaller Circles turned out to be the most interesting novel for me. it certainly set itself apart from the rest by being the only filipino novel that used crime fiction as its genre. It's like The Order (heath ledger) meets CSI. Like those old Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books that I used to read when I was younger.

The story is basically about two priests trying to solve the murders that revolve around the payatas area. I won't be summarizing it or telling the whole thing again in my own words cause its not really the purpose of this blog. What happened to personal opinions and thoughts on the subject? How we interpret the story? Why did we have discussions if in the end, we were only gonna summarize it? You people should know the story already because we've been discussing it in class and we were required to do so (sorry yall. go figure). Anyway yeah.. As i've said, it's a good book but there are parts of it which could've been improved. Let's start with the good -- The idea of using priests as the protagonists of the story is just brilliant. Like kick ass soldiers of God doing good deeds, helping save the world. How the whole thing is relative to what has been happening lately (not so but there are some points). It's like CSI: Quezon City.. How cool is that? I mean who doesn't like watching CSI right? The monologues. It added a little more mystery into it and they're catchy too.

Now on to the needs improvement part.. The story revolves around investigations, therefore hints and clues are provided. It could've had a little more spunk into it. Half-way through the book, you already have a good idea on who it is. The writer gave it away too early. She could've at least added more characters as possible suspects. A couple of more details on them. Secondly, the chapter about the lives of the victims families. It was way too long. It's hella dragging and sad in a way. It's purpose is probably for the readers to empathize and what not but really, we can only have so much of it. It's crime fiction, not sad pity me drama. It may seem like I'm being an ass and all but you have to agree that that part was long.

In the end, it was all worth reading. A brilliant book by a Filipino writer. Unexpectedly witty and funny in a twisted way. Made me appreciate Filipino literature more (i'm just not exposed to it).=p