Fixer Chao: A Novel [Paperback]

Han Ong (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2002

Han Ong has written a brilliant exploration of race and class, of character and identity, and of the slippery natures of privilege and expertise. William Paulinha, a Filipino street hustler, is in the early days of self-imposed reform when he meets Shem C. A failed writer now ostracized by his wife and New York City's literati, Shem recruits Paulinha to retaliate against the community that has spurned him. Under Shem's guidance, Paulinha becomes Master Chao, a revered practitioner of Feng Shui—the Chinese art of creating a harmonious environment. As this latter-day confidence man cuts a swath through upper-crust society, his biting observations form a comic picaresque of class resentment and revenge.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Building from an amusing satirical premise, Ong's quintessentially of-the-moment debut expands into a scathing commentary on life in contemporary New York. Gay Filipino hustler William Paulinha stops turning tricks in the Port Authority Men's Room after he meets Shem C, a failed writer who wants revenge on the Manhattan upper crust who have spurned him. Under Shem's plan, William pretends to be Feng Shui expert Master Chao and preys on Shem's unsuspecting victims by demanding royal payment for the marvelously nonsensical advice he gives to perpetually disenchanted wealthy homeowners. Inevitably, he is found out. Written with acidic wit, Ong's novel is sharp and savvy, smashing sacred cows casually but forcefully. When William is verbally assaulted by a client who has discovered the scheme, he responds in kind, asking a moneyed but miserable homeowner, "Did you think that Feng Shui could repair your ugly soul?" The narrative paints painfully contrasting pictures of privileged society and New York's underbelly, of which Ong offers an invigoratingly clearheaded view, as William encounters numerous loners in his forays into their seedy milieu. Ong also brings the Asian perspective into his work with considerable subtlety. Although William frequently feels watched and suspected, he does not allow racial prejudice to hinder him as he moves through the Caucasian world; Ong seems most concerned that his readers awaken to the world's hypocrisy. 3-city author tour. (Apr.) Forecast: MacArthur Fellowship winner Ong's stage plays, Dark Bakersfield and Middle Finger, have already earned him an audience among young people on the scene. This hip, unsparing tale has word-of-mouth potential.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Recently, feng shui the Chinese art of arranging a living space in such a way that good fortune is induced as a result has begun to infiltrate American public consciousness. It was only a matter of time before the concept appeared somewhere in our literature. Fortunately for us, playwright Ong puts feng shui to good use in this superb and scathingly satirical first novel that paints a fiercely condemning portrait of a shallow and overprivileged upper class. Set in the always class-stratified Manhattan, this novel tells of William Narcisco Paulinha, a Filipino male prostitute who is offered the opportunity to escape his wretched existence by Shem C, a writer bent on revenge owing to his lack of success. At Shem's insistence, William assumes the role of Master Chao, a feng shui expert, and the two begin to rob New York's superwealthy of both their money and their well-being by "fixing" their homes. As William moves through the class spectrum of Manhattan, he offers sardonic and keen observations about social, racial, and cultural distinctions and privileges. Ong's strong writing keeps the plot moving at a good pace, and his abilities as a playwright serve him well in rendering excellent dialog. Highly recommended. "Library Journal"
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Picador (April 6, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312420536
• ISBN-13: 978-0312420536
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,428,751 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Most remarkable debut!, April 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Fixer Chao (Hardcover)

This book is absorbing on many different levels. It opens with some background on the main character, William Paulhina, a Filipino young man who up until the start of the story, makes his living giving oral sex to businessmen in train stations and subways in New York City. One evening, as he is sitting in a bar, he is approached by an older gentleman who propositions him. Suspect at first, William believes the man is desiring his services as a hustler, but the man speaks well and tempts him and his curiousity. They meet again the next evening after the man convinces him that it is not his hustling services he is interested in, but simply his "look" and desire to scam some of Manhattan society, the same people who the man claims reject him. Together, the man Shem and William, embark on a scam employing the ancient philosophy of Feng Shui, but instead use it in a negative way, to "fix" the circle of wealthy "lemming hypocrites" who are just looking for a quick fix for the unhappiness in their privileged lives. What ensues is a tale of how William wrestles with his own desire to be "good" and what he considers evil. He has a conscience, which is clear from the beginning, as he is caretaker to a Filipino lady who suffers a bad hip. He cleans for her, cooks and takes care of her, clearly going above and beyond for his friend. The reader gets the idea that this is the type of person William is from the beginning of the book, which is why we totally empathize with him throughout the story. This is a completely engrossing read, and will fly by so quickly, you won't be aware that, sadly, you've reached the last page. I cannot wait for much more from this important, intelligent bright new star.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strangely appealing, September 14, 2002

By 

Excession "excession" (Westfield, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fixer Chao: A Novel (Paperback)

This book has ebbs and flows. In the beginning, I really liked the portrait of seedy New York, then it dragged for a while, then I liked it, and finally I was lukewarm about the resolution. Overall, though, it was enjoyable, funny, and thoroughly without redeeming characters.

William Paulinha (aka Master Chao) reads a few books on feng shui so that he can con the rich effetes out of their money. Interestingly, he really believes that feng shui works, so sometimes he uses this power for evil when arranging people's houses. There are several very funny scenes about interior decorating, snobby parties, and Chao's observations about human nature.

The problem with the book, which I ultimately enjoyed, is that there are no characters to like much at all ... if that's a problem for you. If you want a funny, cutting, not nice view of the world, then step right up to Fixer Chao.

19 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Feng Shui... you want fries with that..., May 18, 2001

By 

Larry Mark "editor of MyJewishBooks.com" (nyc) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fixer Chao (Hardcover)

There were books that defined aspects of America in the 1980's: Liar's Poker, Less Than Zero, and Bonfire of the Vanities. This book by Han Ong will be a defining classic for Manhattan in 1999, on the cusp of the Millenium and Y2K.

This is the first novel by one of the youngest MacArthur Genius grant recipients, the playwright, Han Ong. In this story, we meet our narrator, William Narcisco Paulinha, a Philippine-American. William has always felt himself to be a loser; he is no piranha in Manhattan's waters. Even though he types perfectly at a speed of 120 wpm, he charges 75% of the market rate, instead of a premium. He types manuscripts for New York's lesser, aspiring writers, or those with poor grammar and run-on sentences, like the Holocaust survivor for whom he takes dictation. But taking dictation and typing are better tasks than his former job, that of a Port Authority Bus Terminal Men's Room hustler and sex worker (No, the book's author never turned tricks at Port Authority). William is a good person. He doesn't correct his elderly clients' grammar and he cares for an elderly Filipino neighbor who suffers from an injured hip.

One evening after work, William meets Shem C., a peculiar Jew in a squalid, Times Square bar, the Savoy (used to be at 41st and 9th). Shem asks Paulinha to buy him a shot, calls him a Chink, and reports that he never heard of the Philippines. (can he be trusted?) Shem is recovering from being thrown out of his home by his nagging wife. She is the daughter of a famous Jewish novelist. Shem is a social climbing, unsuccessful author of book reviews and celebrity profiles. Having been been spurned by Manhattan's elite, he wants to exact sweet revenge. Shem has a proposal for William, who he sees as a down and out Asian. Shem wants to front him as a Chinese Feng Shui expert, a fixer, from Hong Kong, Fixer William Chao, living secretly in America under an assumed name. Shem wants The Fixer Chao to always make one feng shui error, in order to injure the despised elitists. Together they will bilk Manhattan's elite, separating them from their extra money, fixing their unhappy but wealth-filled lives. Shem is a Shem-Sham Man. When William joins him, the reader is left with an enjoyable story and biting commentary on Manhattan life, celebrities, and the lemming-like behavior of those New Yorkers with artistic sensibilities. This is a must read, as each page contains an insightful nugget. Also, a feng shui expert may tell you that reading this book will lead to peace which will lead to clarity and help you get what you deserve and desire.