People in poverty get entangled in unscrupulous webs of deceit. Details of a murder become part of the intricate narrative, and justice is a character waiting in the sidelines. In Accidents Happen: Stories, Philippine National Book Award winner F.H. Batacan weaves the themes of class and gender inequalities with setting and atmosphere. These elements enhances tension and immerses the reader in the intimate world of the crime, accidental or otherwise.
Having lived in Manila through my mid-teens, I am familiar with the sociopolitical dynamics of corruption, paternalism, and patriarchy that make horrendous acts possible. I commend Batacan’s exceptional skill at fictionalizing the crude realities of life in the Philippines, from a small-town murder to unnamable exploitation that goes both ways. It is hard to ignore the violence and brutality exacted by male characters in the stories. Men who use their physical strength to commit violence: from a two-hundred-pound man who uses his strength to overpower a young girl to an entitled obese spoiled man-child who tortures his stepsister.
This is an excellent read for anyone who relishes stories that involve ambiguity and moral complexity. Batacan excels in the fundamentals of crime fiction: building and maintaining suspense, complex characters, and a gripping plot that keeps readers engaged until the final page. Revelations come in the most unexpected moments, as Batacan balances withholding information with giving away just enough to sustain intrigue.
Editor's Note: This book review was originally published in San Diego Book Review.
