Review of The Ping-Pong Champion of Chinatown

[Munaluna]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Ping-Pong Champion of Chinatown" by James Hanna.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Gertie reminds me of the Nairobi girl, Bridget Bema, who said, and I quote, "I am a good girl, I love God, but sometimes mistakes follow me." The preceding statement is a summary of Gertie's life. Despite her many talents, Gertie's lifelong ambition is to be an actress. Gertie's mother failed to support her dream of becoming an actress, forcing Gertie to leave her hometown. She arrived in Los Angeles with high hopes of becoming an actress, but then she had an encounter that changed her life forever.


The Ping-pong Champion of Chinatown was written in the first person in an informal tone. The informal approach was simple, colorful, and engaging, making it difficult for me to put the book down until the very last page. The author tells the story in such a way that you feel as if you are living Gertie's life. Gertie is gifted, tenacious, and down-to-earth. I like her personality, though she can be naive at times, which often gets her into trouble. However, it was this characteristic of hers that provided room for development. Gertie's growth, particularly her psychological growth, was palpable after a few misadventures.


James Hanna used literary devices to make the story more engrossing. Metaphors, similes, satire, sarcasm, and other literary devices were used effectively by the author. With metaphorical tactics, he was able to express a vivid picture that went beyond literal meaning. Furthermore, the use of similes in the story aids in the visualization of the two objects being compared. My favorite technique is similes, as in "Shucks, I gaped like a baby bird when I saw it was Nose."


This review would be incomplete if I did not mention how funny the book was. It's impossible to read through a page without giggling. The descriptions of places, things, and people were not only vivid but also quite humorous.


The Ping-Pong Champion of Chinatown is superbly edited, and there isn't a single aspect of the plot that I don't appreciate. This book earns a four out of four stars rating from me. This story is fascinating and humorous, with great imagery. Overall, the plot is well-crafted.


This is a great book to read if you want to unwind and laugh. Themes such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, foot fetish, kidnapping, and lesbianism are all addressed in this book. As a result, I will not recommend this book to minors or anyone who is bothered by the topics mentioned above.

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The Ping-Pong Champion of Chinatown
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