[F2F Book Discussions] May 2013: Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan | Moderator: Charles (Flipreads)

[Angus]

Answers for the last stretch!
(view spoiler)[
Q. Angus have mentioned the reporter, you think her character was significant/insignificant? Why or why not?
(view spoiler)[
-Yep, because she became the source of unprocessed data. Although it's quite funny lang that she was given two back stories. I think the father background is enough, but the sleeping with married men part? Totally unnecessary. On the other hand, I think this is just to point out why she's such a busy woman, kaya nga I can't believe that she managed to master four languages. Grrr. Inggit lang pala ako sa French niya eh, hahaha.
(hide spoiler)]
Q. The book is short but somehow Batacan managed to give a side-story for the 2 priests' relationship outside the crime scene investigation, teacher-student, yung family dinners etc. Was it necessary? Or you felt it was kulang?
(view spoiler)[
-I think sapat na iyon. It's a mystery novel naman, so I don't think a lot of details about the backgrounds of the priests should be given to the reader.
(hide spoiler)]
Q. Do you think this can be made into a movie?
(view spoiler)[
-Kung Cloud Atlas nga eh nagawang movie, why not? Casting call:

Fr. Saenz - Michael De Mesa
Fr. Lucero - Marvin Agustin (audition is ongoing)
Serial Killer (Alex?) - Epi Quizon
Joanna - Cherry Pie Picache (konting diet pa)
Atty. Ben - Ricky Belmonte (audition is ongoing)
(hide spoiler)]
Q. Why did the Jesuit priest need to go to Cebu and interview the parents of the suspect PRIOR to the arrest or questioning of the suspect himself?
(view spoiler)[
-I think this is a technique to give background info on the serial killer. Why prior, and not after, is probably because they actually have no right, as far as their professions go, to interview relatives of the suspect. Hindi ba nakiusap nga lang sila kay Atty. Ben na makisali sa paghuli kay serial killer. At ito namang si Ben ay pumayag, which is another nakakalokang part. And I will resume the ranting at the next question.
(hide spoiler)]
Q. Another stupid move, why did Fr. Saenz need to go into the mobile clinic alone? Ano yun, pa-hero effect?
(view spoiler)[
-Because these people are stupid. Tumbling galore talaga ang mga NBI people na iyan. Why would they allow an old man go to the mobile clinic alone and unarmed? Gosh. Sana nga namatay na lang si manong priest for his super inflated ego. Hay. I one-star ko na lang kaya ito? Ang dami kong reklamo eh, hahaha!
(hide spoiler)]
(hide spoiler)]

[Louize]

My answers:
(view spoiler)[
Q. Angus have mentioned the reporter, you think her character was significant/insignificant? Why or why not?

(view spoiler)[ Considering that she was a source of some valuable information, I would say she was significant. But I have to agree with Angus, her background was not that necessary; unless of course the author intends to write a sequel with Joanna as the main character, then that background info will serve its purpose. (hide spoiler)]

Q. The book is short but somehow Batacan managed to give a side-story for the 2 priests' relationship outside the crime scene investigation, teacher-student, yung family dinners etc. Was it necessary? Or you felt it was kulang?

(view spoiler)[ Either way, the story would have worked just the same. If this is a series, I would have preferred those side infos be added gradually. (hide spoiler)]

Q. Why did the Jesuit priest need to go to Cebu and interview the parents of the suspect PRIOR to the arrest or questioning of the suspect himself?

(view spoiler)[ This was actually one of the things I questioned about the plot, but I thought this is best discussed face to face. The necessity of this may have come from the need to convey the story behind the killings. But the author might use that same info or move after the apprehension of the killer. On why the author did not choose this plot sequence, I do not know. We are readers, not writers anyway. (hide spoiler)]

Q. Another stupid move, why did Fr. Saenz need to go into the mobile clinic alone? Ano yun, pa-hero effect?

(view spoiler)[ This was the other thing I’d like to ask too. Although these priests were consultants for the case, they are not exactly part of the team operation. First and foremost, Fr. Saenz knows nothing about negotiation protocols; if he did, he would not have entered the van. I guess they have not heard of tear gas or smoke bombs, either. I don’t know the answer to this, just mere speculations and ifs. (hide spoiler)]
(hide spoiler)]

[Monique]

*ninja poofs in*

(view spoiler)[ Inis na inis na INIIIIS ako dun sa foreign languages ek-ek. As in! Oo na, kayo na ang marunong mag-French. Tseh.

The priest thing. It didn't really add anything to the story in general - hindi naman nila binasbasan o ipinagmisa yung mga bikitima, di ba? Siguro, the author just wanted to put in something different? Or something that's out of the ordinary for a mystery novel?

Tapos si Father Saenz, atapang atao. Chos. (hide spoiler)]

*ninja exits*

[Ranee]

Study break!
(view spoiler)[ JL, they are first and foremost priests, I guess it was second nature to them to save this man. I think as priests, they were also hoping a different response from the parents,that they would understand what they have done and hopefully choose the right path, ek ek which did not happen. hence,He was not being a hero, he was being a priest. But, i have to say, when I read that part, part of me was saying, "ay tanga, tanga bakit ka papasok sa van, sige, mamatay ka na" then I understood their intentions better during the last scene, when they were praying over this man's tombstone.
A policeman would say, he'd save the innocent even if that means shooting the bad guy, a priest on the other hand would say, I'd save all of them.

And Angus, hindi ba deads na si Ricky Belmonte? Sya yung tatay ni Sheryl Cruz di ba? (hide spoiler)]

[Angus]

^Ay sorry naman, ang ibig kong sabihin ay si Ricky Davao, haha.