EL 116- CONTEMPORARY, POPULAR, AND EMERGING LITERATURE

Final Requirement
Submit a comprehensive literature review of any of the following novels:

A Comprehensive Literature Review of

SMALLER AND SMALLER CIRCLES
by F. H. Batacan
F.H.'s Smaller and Smaller Circles The Carlos Palanca Grand Prize for the
English Thriller in 1999, the National Book Award in 2002, and the Madrigal-
Gonzalez Award in 2003 are just a few of the literary honors that the Filipino
crime novel Batacan has received.

Battacan paints a realistic image for her readers of what it is like to be

impoverished and helpless in the Philippines. It's hard to remain unmoved and
incensed by the state of society. I was surprised to find that when a poor person
goes missing, their family members choose not to contact the police since they
are aware that they would not receive assistance from them. Instead, they make
a radio broadcast to the community to ask for assistance in locating their loved
one.

All of the story's characters are outstanding. Father Saenz and Father Jerome
are likable priests who enjoy upsetting the status quo, don't get along with the
powerful, and advocate for the underprivileged. They don't come out as preachy
or sanctimonious either. Another one of my favorite characters in the novel is the
reporter, Joanna Bonifacio; she is educated, ambitious, and not easily deceived
by those in positions of authority.

On the plus side, reading novels about locations I've been is usually enjoyable for
me. I've traveled to Manila and have gone to several of the locations the book
mentions.

The story is passable. Although it isn't ground-breaking, it grabbed my interest

and left me wondering what would happen next. It's also rational and convincing
how Father Saenz and Father Jerome resolve the problem. To point them in the
correct path, they examined the trends in the timing of the killings.

Another unpleasant aspect of her portrayal of society's many social classes was.
The underprivileged are referred to as trash scavengers and are easily abused.
Rich people donate to charities, but they don't care to check where their money
actually goes. The middle class, however, is engaged in a never-ending race to
outsmart their rivals in order to advance. There wasn't much room to downgrade
or upgrade each class.
Two intelligent Jesuit priests assist the investigations into a string of horrifying
killings of young boys at the Payatas Dumpsite. Father Jerome Lucero, a former
student, and forensic anthropologist assists Father Gus Saenz in solving the
crime. It appears that all of the murders take place on the first Saturday of each
month, and that the victims' faces are torn off, along with their hearts and
genitalia.

Members of the media and corrupt and honest NBI agents are included in the
cast of characters. Politics and bureaucracy cause the two priests, who are
acting with good intentions, to be delayed. The mood and surroundings are
described in a recognizable and uniquely Filipino manner. The Philippines' flawed
legal system is accurately portrayed. The two priests make every effort to
apprehend the culprit. Although the serial murderer doesn't emerge until the very
end of the novel, the character struck me as seeming... flat. Although the reason
for his acts was made clear, I thought he might have been "explored" and
"developed" further.

ANOTHER:

The fact that a father with a criminal record can't get employment bothered me as
well. So, in search of food to bring home for the family to eat, his children visit the
municipal dumps.

Not just the Philippines ignores its underprivileged citizens. Additionally culpable
is the United States. However, I can locate many works concerning American
injustices. Finding those written by authors from that nation about other countries
is more difficult. A rare gift, Smaller and Smaller Circles.
ANOTHER:

“We are powerless when we wait for other people to act on our behalf.” ~ F.H.
Batacan, Smaller and Smaller Circles

The terrifying string of killings that have engulfed one of Metro Manila's poorest
areas is described in the book Smaller and Smaller Circles. Preteen boys'
brutally killed and dismembered bodies were found in the Payatas waste dumps.
Because the initial victims couldn't be identified, they were written off. But after a
couple more boys perished, the police were quickly informed of the existence of
a serial killer.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), under the direction of Director

Lastimosa, is tasked with looking into these crimes. Father Guz Saenz and
Father Jerome Lucero, two Jesuit priests, were hired by him since his agency
lacked the staff to help them investigate the incidents. Except for the killings'
regular pattern, which takes place on the first Saturday of each month, they have
little little to go on. The priests are led on a rollercoaster trip including Manila's
social elites, extreme poverty, and its crooked bureaucracy before they are able
to unravel the riddle.

“Some things are better dealt within the cleansing light of transparency and
openness rather than in the darkness of secrecy.” ~ F.H. Batacan, Smaller and
Smaller Circles

The novel does cover a lot of gloomy topics, in fact. Batacan, on the other hand,
was able to demonstrate how deeply ingrained family and family values are in
Filipino culture by returning to the smallest unit of society. As Filipino as it gets is
Smaller and Smaller Circles. However, living in a family-centered culture has its
disadvantages. People frequently avoid talking about delicate subjects for fear of
being criticized or ruining their family's reputation. Some families put up with the
negative actions of a few of its members. The Filipino family is in fact a
fascinating case study.
Naturally, no civilization is faultless. Each community faces its own unique set of
problems, both internal and external. The Philippine society that Batacan
portrayed in her writings is very accurate. She put so much effort into presenting
a negative image of one aspect of the Philippines, though, that she neglected to
show the more upbeat side of the nation. She portrayed a picture of Philippine
culture that is just as horrifying as the crimes committed.
Student Assessment
Criteria Outstanding Acceptable Needs Unsatisfactory
(20-16) Improvement (5-1)
(15-11)
(10-6)
Introduction Title and Title and Title and Title and/or
author listed. author listed. author are not author is
Introduction is Includes genre immediately omitted.
attention- and details. mentioned, but Missing star
getting and Star ranking are eventually designation
provides designated. provided. and
relevant Solid Missing or catchphrase.
information. catchphrase is random star
Discusses designated ranking and/or
genre and and/or catchphrase.
details. Star catchphrase.
ranking
designated.
Strong
catchphrase.

Summary Summary Summary Summary Summary is

consists of a consists of a consists of a mostly an
discussion of discussion of discussion of outline of the
major themes, major themes, major themes, book and does
ideas, and ideas, and/or ideas or not discuss
characters with character. opinion or new
characters
some opinion There is ideas.
providing
and new little opinion or Summary
exemplary
ideas from the mention of new reveals too
ideas from the work. ideas. much, in
work. It Summary general, or
includes very Summary does reveals ending entirely
strong opinions not give away of novel (too lacks an
and new ideas key much) and/or overview.
using your own events, but lacks details.
words. may lack
Summary does detail.
not give away
too much

Critique Critique Critique Critique Critique

consists of consists of consists of consists of a
thoughts, thoughts, thoughts, basic opinion
 responses and responses and responses and based on
reaction to the reaction to the reaction to the personal
novel. novel. The novel. The feeling of "I
student student may liked it"
The student
reviewer may discuss only or "I hated it"
reviewer reacts
discuss only one aspect of and is not
to the
two aspects, the novel. considered a
themes, the for example, critique
author's aims themes and because it
or intent, the writer’s style. does not focus
subject of the on themes,
book, how well author’s intent,
it is written and or writer’s style.
overall success
or failure of the
book.
Organization Structure of the Structure of the Structure of the Structure of the
& Voice paper flows paper flows paper does not paper does not
and is easily and is easily follow a logical follow a logical
read because read , but 1 or order. The order. There
of smooth 2 transitions writing or ideas are no
transitions from may be faulty may ‘’jump’’ transitional
paragraph to or missing. around; it is not phrases that
paragraph. The There is some cohesive. make it easy to
sequence of illogical order There is no read the paper
topics is in in sequence of clear or review is just
logical order. topics. There is introduction or a copying of
There is a a clear cut conclusion. the text. No
clear cut introduction, Review lacks voice at all.
introduction, body and your voice.
body and conclusion.
conclusion. Your voice is
Your creative solid.
voice is strong.
Mechanics & Uses complete Uses complete There are 1-2 There are more
Language sentences and sentences and incomplete than 2
a variety of a variety of sentences or incomplete
sentence sentences fragments. sentences or
types. Vibrant types. Word There are also fragments.
effective choice is run-on There are more
vocabulary effective. sentences. than 2 run-ons.
included. Basic word Dull words.
choice.

Format:
Paper Size- A4
Font Style- Arial
Font Size- 12
Spacing- 1.5
Margin- 1.5 left, 1 all (top, bottom, right)