Month: September 2015

Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan

Smaller and Smaller CirclesSmaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One reason I don’t read a lot of Filipino novels is that we do not have a lot to offer when it comes to my favorite genre: crime thrillers. For the past 15 years or so, ever since I’ve become a voracious consumer of fiction, I’ve slowly filled my shelves with crime novels from James Patterson (Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, Women’s Murder Club) and Jeffery Deaver (Lincoln Rhyme, Katherine Dance). In between I read John Grisham, Michael Crichton, and lately Lawrence Block and Karin Slaughter. I sometimes pick up books in other genres, like from Catherine Ryan Hyde, John Green, and other YA novels (Hunger Games, Divergent, etc.) I think I’ve only read a handful of Filipino books outside of school requirements. Lately though I’m trying to venture into our local works to see what we have to offer. Since I am trying out other genres anyway, I buy Filipino books if I think I’ll enjoy them. But never have I heard of a Filipino crime novel, until a few weeks ago.

I forgot how I discovered this book; probably from Judith, another bookish friend (she has a bigger collection of books than my already staggering 500+ behemoth). She’s more into local works than I am, so I sometimes look at her Goodreads account/tweets/Facebook posts to get some inspiration. So I think that’s how I found this book. I found out it wasn’t really new, that it existed since the late 90’s, but in different versions. However, I knew I have to read it. It’s like the stars aligning, to put it dramatically.

So now I finished it and I am glad I was not disappointed. No, I’m glad it met my very high expectations. It has all the elements of crime thrillers: mystery, plot twists, gore (not really into it but it comes with the territory so I allow it). But what makes it unique are the characters, and the location where this all takes place. Father Saenz and Father Lucero are not your typical detectives (they’re priests!), and so it’s refreshing to read a crime novel from their point of view. The other characters are also likable (at least those that are on the 2 priests’ side) and memorable. It’s also interesting that they didn’t paint the villain as a pure evil entity that you want to hate, but rather someone who was turned evil by circumstance. It’s also new that the protagonists wanted to “save” the villain in the end, even after all the deplorable acts the person has done.

There were some funny moments in the book, which I appreciated. I especially liked the one where the 2 priests were thrust into a place filled with Philippines’ high society. I can’t help but smirk at the hypocrisy of the rich and the Church, and how our 2 heroes are like fishes out of water (or fishes in a shark tank?) There were also very sad truths about the poverty in our country that the author boldly included in the novel. It made me angry that, what was true then, is still true to this day.

All the issues (social, political, religious) in the book made the novel “fuller,” not just your typical popcorn fluff crime book that you consume for the thrills. I’m looking forward to Batacan’s next work. I read that it’s not about the 2 priests but a secondary character in the novel, but I hope the duo make an appearance.

Get Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan from the following websites:
Amazon.com
The Book Depository

The 36th Manila International Book Fair

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It’s the 36th Manila International Book Fair! It’s an event where dozens of publishing houses and book sellers come together at SMX Convention Center (beside SM Mall of Asia) to sell their products, usually with discounts. The event runs from September 16 (Wednesday) to 20 (Sunday), 2015. 2 years ago, I went on a weekend, and there weren’t a lot of choices for me. This year, I made sure I went on opening day, so that I had better options. Also, last time I was only looking for familiar books, but this time I got more adventurous and purchased Filipino books.

Ticket to the event is 20 pesos I think, 50% off on students, but I got my free ticket from OMF Literature (where I got my ticket last time). There are other publishing houses and book sellers that give away free tickets, you just have to search them online.

I arrived at SMX at 1.30 pm, and left at around 6 pm. Traffic wasn’t too good so I got home at around 8.30 pm. Very tired, but very satisfied!

Below are the books I purchased, grouped by publishing houses/book sellers. Asterisks mean they’re for the niece and nephews.

Anvil Publishing

  1. Fast Food Fiction Delivery – (Original: P 220) P 176
  2. Kwentaxi by Mae Paner aka Juana Change – (Original: P 175) P 140
  3. My Penmanship – Nursery * – (Original: P 365) P 292
  4. Soledad’s Sister by Jose Dalisay- (Original: P 275) P 220
    Total: P 828

Church Strengthening Ministry

  1. For Richer & For Poorer by Chinkee Tan – (Original: P 400) P 100
  2. Till Debt Do Us Part by Chinkee Tan – (Original: P 300) P 100
    Total: P 200

Fully Booked
– They provided raffle coupons for every P 500 purchase. I got 9 coupons. They’re going to give away 3 Samsung Tabs. Or something like that.

  1. Deadpool Volume 1 – (Original: P 1,470) P 1,176
  2. Divergent Series Boxed Set Hardbound by Veronica Roth – (Original: P 2,599) P 2,079.20
  3. X-Men: Days of Future Past – (Original: P 1,720) P 1,376
    Total: P 4,631.20

Mindwerks – The Toy Shoppe

  1. Creative Blocks * – (Original: P 350) P 315 x 2
    Total: P 630

Vibal Group*

  1. Ang Bago Kong Kalaro – P 60
  2. Ang Hardinerong Tipaklong – P 56
  3. Big World for Little People – P 60
  4. Elisa Explores – P 56
  5. Halimaw – P 60
  6. Handog Kay Isabella – P 60
  7. Hayan na si Kidlat – P 60
  8. Jose Rizal – P 52
  9. Klekkluk – P 60
  10. May Lakad Kami ni Tatay – P 60
  11. Noah and the Great Flash Flood – P 60
  12. Noong Nakaraang Taon – P 60
  13. Piyesta sa Hardin ni Lola Benita – P 60
  14. Si Puyinggot at si Puyanggit – P 60
  15. Si Tak-Tu – P 60
  16. The Empty Window – P 52
  17. The Little Red Hen – P 48
  18. The Proud Little Island – P 60
  19. Uldok, The War Hero – P 56
  20. Why Do Birds Build Nests – P 56
  21. Why Do Squids Squirt Ink – P 56
    Total: P 1,212

Grant Total: P 7,501.20

I used my credit cards for my purchases from Fully Booked, Mindwerks, and Vibal Group, so I will feel the hit next month. I’m still undecided if I will come back. On the one hand, I want to go back and search for Filipino books. I was particularly looking for crime novels, but only found Soledad’s Sister from the list I made before going to MIBF. On the other hand, National Book Store will have another sale next week, in all their branches, so maybe I will just save my money for that one. And, the traffic going home from Mall of Asia was terrible, so I don’t want to experience that again any time soon.

Have you been to MIBF? What were your purchases?

 

Ask Him Why by Catherine Ryan Hyde (Advance Reader’s Copy)

Last month, Catherine Ryan Hyde, the bestselling author of “Pay It Forward,” (which was made into a movie) held a giveaway for her upcoming novel “Ask Him Why.” The only thing you had to do was post a comment on her blog, and you would be entered into a raffle draw. I posted “Not sure if this is open internationally (I am in the Philippines) but I might as well try!” and she replied “Yes, I’ll ship internationally.” I was stoked!

2 weeks later, I got an email from her saying that I won, and asked for my mailing address. I was very excited! I rarely win anything, and I don’t think I have won a book before. I replied with my address, and then I waited.

Fast forward to today, September 8. The local mailman delivered 2 books I ordered from Book Depository (one of them was, coincidentally, Pay It Forward), and a notice to pick up a package from the post office. The notice said the package weighed only 500 grams and came from the US. I knew this was the book that I won. So went to the post office, paid the usual fees, and went home. I opened up the package, and was pleasantly surprised that not only did I have the Advance Reader’s Copy of “Ask Him Why,” she threw in a bookmark, and she signed both!

I know I have hundreds of books in my to-read pile, but this book will definitely jump to the front of the pack!

Thank you Catherine Ryan Hyde!!!

Pictures below!