Fixer Chao

An outstanding literary debut by playwright Han Ong, Fixer Chao manages to be a brilliant satire of the excesses of elitist Manhattanites in the late 90s, while at the same time managing to be a riveting portrait of a failed American dream. Darkly funny and at times very touching, this novel delves into many themes and is a roller coaster of a ride for both us and our protagonist William Narcisco Paulinha is a simple, humble man, an immigrant for whom the American Dream has fallen terribly short. Smarter than his circumstances would indicate, William is a thoughtful man, one who would rather devalue himself than others, a mind-set completely opposite of the cut-throat world of Manhattan in which he lives. These days, he types manuscripts for aspiring writers, a much better job than his previous outing as a hustler turning tricks in the Port Authority bus terminal. Lonely and frustrated, William is above all a man who wants to do good, and he is on the verge of turning his life around when a fateful meeting takes place. One night, at a seedy bar William frequents, he meets Shem, an abrasive, bitter man recently thrown out of his home by his wife, the daughter of a famous novelist. Shem is a social climber (though not terribly good at it), a struggling novelist and a relatively unsuccessful author of celebrity profiles. Having never quite fit into Manhattan's elite, Shem has a plan, a way to exact revenge upon those who see themselves better, smarter and more talented than poor old Shem. Knowing the lemming like quality of the city's upper crust, Shem knows exactly where to hit them, right in their own naiveté. His targets have all the right clothing, the perfect cars, the buzz-inducing interior designers, but most of all they have the desire--no, the absolute need--to be at the forefront of the latest trends, every hot "new thing." Shem has everything he needs to succeed, everything except the Chinese man who can pull it all off. Shem propositions William to take part and become William Chao, a Feng Shui expert from the mysterious East. Shem explains that all William need do is learn a little about the ancient art and ingratiate himself to the elitists to whom Shem will introduce him. From there, it is simple...enter into their lives and do exactly what they want. Arrange their homes to capture the chi, make their living spaces a conduit for successes even beyond their own imaginations. And when he has won their trust, when their lives are on the upswing because of Master Chao's remarkable gift, pull the rug out from under them by doing one thing wrong. Leave out one simple aspect--a mirror is the wrong place, a bed facing an open doorway--something small that will cause their lives to unravel. William agrees and embarks upon an adventure that works perfectly as he--no, his alter ego, the Fixer Chao--is lauded and rises to the level of celebrity, the man who can make everything right, the Master whose ancient art can only improve

William Paulinha is an aimless, Filipino street hustler in New York who's done plenty of menial jobs, including turning tricks in the Port Authority men's room. Then one day he's given a chance to improve his lot by Shem C, an embittered social-climbing writer, who wants revenge on the uppercrust of Manhattan's elite who have rejected him. Under Shem C's guidance and armed with the knowledge from a few library books, William is transformed into Master Chao, a revered Feng Shui practitioner from Hong Kong. William, as Master Chao, performs Feng Shui ceremonies to harmonize the homes and the lives of his clients and before long Manhattan's loftiest poets, writers, editors and bankers are all clamoring for his advice.As the scam escalates, the line between truth and untruth starts to blur. William becomes Master Chao in his mind. His original class envy and disdain is replaced by his desire to belong. Is it really a scam if he believes in it himself? Has the Feng Shui con of the century turned on him?With caustic wit, Mr. Ong paints a picture of the foolishness of keeping up with the Jones's, but he also shows his readers that underneath even a pile of wealth, people are pretty much the same in this novel that I couldn't put down.Andy Raven, Raving United Fan

The Fixer Chao is one of those books that you never want to put down, but force yourself to, lest it be over too quickly. Funny, dark and touching with out being trite or manipulative, the story is an entertaining ride with a lead character who, despite his faults, is completely engaging. Ong manages a vivid, descriptive style without the reader ever feeling like he or she is being bombarded with superfluous, flowery language. The result is that the atmosphere, setting, and personal quirks of each character wash over you with ease. As to the ending, despite what others have said, I found it completely satisfying. Was it the ending I expected? No. Was it the ending I wanted? No. It was, however, true to the story and the characters and any other "happier" ending would have seemed out of place and forced. A stand-out book.

Intrigued by a recent magazine review, I had no way of knowing just how magnificent this book would be. Han Ong's metre, word choices, tone and language are pitch perfect. Each page of my hardcover is filled with highlighted sentences and exclamations of just how insightful, how observant this first-time novelist is. Whether a foray into autobiography or simply a brilliantly crafted novel, this book is a must read for anyone who has ever strolled up Central Park West and wondered about the lives lived beyond the doorman.

Books by Filipino authors are so rare, bizzarely given our numbers, that it is a treat to get three excellent books about Fil Ams at once (Ong's; de la Paz's beautiful poetry collection; and Brian Ascalon Roley's harrowing American Son). Ong's is the most comic. The press has been emphasizing its satirical aspects, its portrayal of upperclass New Yorkers, but to me the most lasting effect is the potrayal of loners and bitter losers. It gives weight to what could otherwise have been a transient comic experience.