Rating: 
Summary: Quite an excellent reading experience
Review: Angry and filled with sarcasm towards the great white society of upper crust Manhattan, writer Shem C expected greatness bestowed on him by now. Instead, he feels as if he received butkas. When Shem meets Filipino William Paulinha, a two-bit hustler working men's rooms, he concocts a plan to make some cash and to shish kabob all who scorned him. Shem enlists William to pretend to be Master Chao, a "highly renowned" Eastern practitioner of Feng Shui, the harmonious way to peace and prosperity. As Master Chao, William provides "enlightened" advice to the disgruntled wealthy in exchange for money. Quickly, he becomes the flavor of the moment. However, along the way, William learns that the path he chose is filled with the lonely seeking to connect with anyone, including a con artist like him. However, his enlightenment may be too late as the scam spirals way beyond the control of the two fixers. If Jonathan Swift lived today he would have written a novel like FIXER CHAO, an acerbic satirical look at the two sides of Manhattan. The characters, not just the lead duo, but the entire cast including the willing victims drive the story line. Han Ong shows how powerful the pen is as he skewers the modern American castless class system. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Beyond the Surface
Review: Beyond the surface, most human beings are pretty much the same. It is sometimes hard to see this because we see what our friends, acquaintances and associates are on the outside and not what is going on inside. Beyond the facade, we are all insecure about some things .. strangely, and often wrongly, proud of other things .. and totally blind to the way others see us and view our securities and insecurities. FIXER CHAO is the kind of book that lets us look at the realities of life. William is a poor hustler on the outside; but on the inside he is rich with common sense. He is certainly far from perfect; but he has a big heart. He also genuinely wants to be "good". Sometimes he has to ignore his big heart and his wish to be "good" in order to survive; but he is, just the same, a really caring person. He is also capable of genuine love. Some of the people William deals with in life are seemingly so much more humanitarian. They are chic and give lots to society. However, it is quickly apparent that they only give away what they think will benefit them .. or often what they no longer want. They readily accept William into their circle only because he may make them happier or, even better, richer. Their only concern is to have more than what they already have. FIXER CHAO is an absolute excyclopedia of human nature and emotion; and it is a very good and worthwhile read. Is it perfect? No. There are parts that drag a bit; but recoveries are swift and the story definitely has the ring of truth. If you have ever known the kind of people that comprise William's clientele, you won't have a bit of trouble believing that it all happened!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent view of an elite consumed with greed
Review: Fixer Chao is one of those rare novels that treats the differences in economic circles in a humorous way and that makes you appreciate your own circumstances.
I enjoyed it very much, and I would definetly recommend it.
Looking forward to his next one.
Rating:
Summary: A World Without Good Guys
Review: Han Ong has a fresh writing style. The masquerade of William Paulinha as William Chao, a Feng Shui expert, takes us into the culture of wealth, artifice and superficiality. As the plot masterminded by Shem who spots William at a dive bar unfolds, we are presented with a world where even the nicer folks are bent on revenge. The issues of rascism where Filipinos are treated as second-class citizens and actresses are forced to take roles where they grunt in topless costumes on Broadway is contrasted with the differing Asian perceptions of Master Chao who passes himself off as Chinese although he is Filipino. What William's being gay contributed to the novel eluded me, other than a love-hate relationship with one of the characters, Kendo, the wealthy son of one of Chao's marks. The idea of using Feng Shui negatively to harm was a unique approach. The novel works well as a darker piece, but is frustrating because there is no real goodness. For someone who is not a crook, it's hard to identify with the characters. Ong does have a good command of story, language and pacing. You will enjoy the unmasking of motives as the novel unfolds.
Rating:
Summary: Clever, funny and believable.
Review: Han Ong has a wonderfully witty and fresh way of expressing himself, using words like caresses as well as lethal weapons. "Fixer Chao" is part social commentary, part intigue, and completely entertaining. The characters are so well drawn that you truly feel the underlying emotions that are not necessarily stated. A true pleasure to read, and thus highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Exceptional prose, unfulfilling story
Review: Han Ong is an exceptional wordsmith. His ability to turn a phrase and use of metaphors are wonderful. And the plot he has created -- a story of a down-and-almost-out Filipino in NYC who gets a chance at salvation -- quickly draws the reader into a realm of two extremes: that of the upper-crust New York society of snobbish elite, and that of the very near hand-to-mouth existence of the ambitionless. And this is where I think the novel runs into trouble. Because these two extremes are actually very much alike and Ong does an exceptional job showing the reader how alike they are. But by the end of the story, the protagonist misses his opportunity to rise above both existences and transform his own life in the direction his heart tries to move him. Instead, the protagonist slips back into a defeated acceptance of his lot as being unchangeable. But it was only unchangeable because he eschewed the opportunity to transform himself. If anything, the novel succeeds in portraying the premise that good intentions don't matter if you cannot summon the actions to follow up the intention. William Paulinha is an intelligent Filipino squandering his life in New York City. After going through the superficial and promiscuous lifestyle of being a hustler, he manages to get along typing manuscripts for others. He is an astute observer of human nature, but he's stuck whining about how everyone else is getting along. Along comes Shem, an angry Jew bent on revenge by proxy and who enlists Paulinha in a scam to get even with the folks he believes have wronged him. It's a scam that appeals to Paulinha: he is to portray himself as a Chinese expert in feng shui and must re-arrange the homes of New York's snobbish elite with a twist -- he must suggest to a client something absolutely wrong so that the feng shui doesn't bring harmony, but chaos and ruin. Donning the persona of Master Chao, Paulinha reveals to us the schemes and self-centeredness of the elite, as well as the emptiness of their existence. He begins to realize that to desire wealth and comfort won't bring him the satisfaction and happiness that he desires, and he also begins to see how his duplicity by playing the role of Master Chao may prevent him from achieving his goal of being a better person. The reader also sees fine examples of how people at both ends of the spectrum are just as unethical and just as selfish as the other. It's a dog-eat-dog world no matter what your social or economic standing. For a time, I was rooting for Paulinha, hoping he could break away from this selfish existence, but I was disappointed. In fact, Paulinha was sort of anachronistic in that he had such keen intelligence and perspicuity, yet apparently lacked something to make it all work to his advantage. He seemed swept along by a destiny he had no control over, and as a reader that frustrated me. It must be noted that Paulinha's middle name is Narciso, perhaps an allusion to the Greek myth of Narcissus. Like Narcissus who was enamoured by his own beauty, Paulinha becomes enamoured of his new found power and status in the role of Master Chao, but it was disappointing that Paulinha fell to the same demise as Narcissus. This may have been Ong's intention from the start, to show how difficult it is to break away from our current condition and that many people fail such attempts. But as a reader, I want to read about a character that does succeed. Ong had me rooting for Paulinha throughout most of the book, but toward the end Paulinha had lost my support. Having said all that, I must repeat that Ong is an exceptional writer. His voice and prose are memorable. I'm sure we will see many fine works out of this young author.
Rating:
Summary: Amazingly conceptualized, brilliantly written
Review: 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. You need to read this book!
Rating:
Summary: Dark, Funny, Touching
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Dark, Funny, Touching
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Strangely appealing
Review: 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.
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