Book Review: Ping by Lisa Lucas and Steve Landsberg

Ping
By Lisa Lucas and Steve Landsberg

Publication Date: 28th November 2024

Publisher: Historium Press

Page Length: 105

Genre: Historical Fiction / Sport Fiction

Alternating between the pivotal 1971 Ping-Pong Diplomacy - where a simple game of table tennis thawed the icy relations between the U.S. and China during the Cold War - and the present-day struggles of a family weighed down by legacy, Ping is a compelling tale of history, politics, and personal conflict.

Jenny, a modern-day teen, wrestles with her grand-mother Miriam's larger-than-life legacy, rooted in Cold War tensions and the surprising intersection of ping pong, antisemitism, and global diplomacy. As Jenny uncovers Miriam's secret role in shaping history, she confronts her own place in a family bound by expectations and unspoken truths. Blending family drama with meticulously researched historical events, this gripping story explores the enduring impact of the past on the present.

"Ping skillfully blends family drama with political and historical events, particularly through Jenny's modern-day struggles and Miriam's Cold War-era experiences. The use of Ping Pong as both a symbol and a plot device keeps the story engaging, exploring generational expectations and legacies . . . Ping effectively combines history, sports, and personal conflict, appealing to readers of both literary fiction and historical drama."

Ping Pong. A simple game, derived from tennis, as an attempt to continue the game when it got too cold outside to keep playing. When it was created, it was simply a sport, something that anyone could play, and everyone could enjoy. However, it quickly evolved into something much more significant.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) had significant implications regarding political standings worldwide. By allowing countries to compete and showcase their best players for the title of Champion, the ITTF created opportunities for mass political movements, diplomacy, and alliances that might have otherwise been considered impossible.

“Ping,” by Lisa Lucas and Steve Landsberg, masterfully delves into the captivating and often shadowy complexities of the Ping Pong world. It chronicles the sport’s remarkable ascent to fame, revealing how it has not only transformed lives but also served as a double-edged sword, with the power to uplift and devastate. This compelling narrative uncovers the profound impact of the game on history, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of sport and society.

This is a fictionalised account inspired by real events that took place during the rise in popularity of Ping Pong, and also of the thirty-first World Table Tennis Championships. While real events have been depicted with factual accuracy, the characters in this story are fictional creations. Names have been changed to enhance the narrative and establish it more firmly in the realm of fiction. Miriam Stahl, a world-famous American Table Tennis player, is based on the real life Leah Thall-Neuberger. By fictionalising her character, the authors have allowed for alterations to her life, including the fictional inclusion of her family and herself in the modern day, many years after the death of her true counterpart. While the reasoning behind changing the names of world-famous players is, for the most part, unexplained, it does allow for the story to show a wider influence, and more so, just how much many lives were changed by Ping Pong.

Miriam Stahl and her sister played for the US team and were well-known Table Tennis players. Miriam’s role in this novel is vast, for it follows her through intense training and competitions, right up to the modern day when she is 86 years old. Despite her age, her fame in the Table Tennis world remains significant. Miriam’s character reflects the evolution of society over the years. She has faced discrimination and antisemitism but ultimately achieved global recognition. Known as ‘Miss Ping’, her life was drastically transformed by the game, and even in her later years, Table Tennis continued to influence her daily life.

In the modern day, Miriam’s granddaughter, Jenny, has distanced herself from the game that brought fame to her grandmother’s name. She has been bullied for the game her grandmother loves so much, and to protect herself, has attempted to step away from it. But Miriam is about to be inducted into the Table Tennis Hall of Fame, and she wants her family there with her when it happens. Jenny provides a negative perspective on the game of Ping Pong, feeling the weight of a legacy that has taken a toll on her mental health. The glory associated with her grandmother’s fame feels like a burden to Jenny, and while she may have inherited her grandmother’s talent, she has no desire to pursue the sport herself. Her mental health is addressed with care, although her family often attempts to push her to get past her dislike for Ping Pong, and make her come with them to celebrate her grandmother’s achievements. Although the reader understands the family’s intentions, it’s hard not to feel sympathy for Jenny, who clearly expresses her feelings on the matter and struggles to move forward when those she loves keep trying to pull her back.

Jenny serves as a modern-day comparison, and her character distinctly contrasts with others in this book, including that of Zhuang Zedong. While Jenny does not need to play Ping Pong, should she so wish, people like Zhuang had little choice—with the Great Chinese Famine claiming millions of lives from starvation, to become a great Ping Pong player, to be selected for the Chinese national team, was to save yourself from inevitable death. Those higher up in the world of Ping Pong were fed well, training regimes calling for sufficient meals and carefully maintained nutrition. This novel clearly shows the differences between Jenny and Zhuang, and their attitudes towards the game differ significantly. Their contrasting circumstances highlight the differences in their situations but also emphasise the years between them. Ping Pong may have kept Zhuang alive, and it may have been Miriam’s life, but that was many years ago, and living in a safe home with no worry about food, Jenny has much wider options.

The history of the game of Ping Pong is rich and complex, and although this novel is fairly short, it delves right into the intricacies of the politics surrounding the game. The authors have done a marvellous job of maintaining historical accuracy, illustrating how it was used to promote widespread communism in China, and how it brought China and the United States together. At the same time, the novel highlights the darker aspects of the game’s history.

While Ping Pong was accessible too many, it was not free from the world’s social issues, such as antisemitism and political agendas. Spanning many years, this novel focuses not just on the game itself but also examines its political implications and how players were often exploited for the benefit of those in power. This novel does not shy away from the darker topics, such as drug use, or the mistreatment of those representing their country, creating an unsettling atmosphere while reading. Ultimately, this novel seeks to reveal the truth about how Ping Pong has been historically leveraged for political and financial gain, while also acknowledging its significance and the positive impacts it has had on the world.

In the short story “Ping” by Lisa Lucas and Steve Landsberg, an expansive narrative emerges that transcends its brief length. Despite its compact size, the story is beautifully intricate and utterly captivating, showcasing a masterful blend of entertainment and knowledge. A lack of prior knowledge, or even of interest in Ping Pong, is of no consequence, for the story will drag the reader in, and keep their attention rapt until the very last page.

Review by Ellie Yarde

Yarde Book Reviews & Book Promotion

Pick up your copy of

Ping

HERE!

Lisa Lucas

Lisa started writing for magazines and newspapers. Later, she wrote extensively on issues related to literacy and health that were featured in publications by the Canadian Public Health Association, several literacy organizations, and hospitals across Canada. She is the recipient of the CIBC Children’s Miracle Maker Award for advancing literacy among people with special needs. Several years ago, Lisa partnered with Laurie Stein and began writing for children covering subjects from climate change to refugees. Her belief that “storytellers often sugarcoat real issues and present subjects to kids that are too far from reality in order to protect them. Just tell it the way it is. Kids appreciate authentic stories that are honest and real.” More recently, Lisa has turned her attention to poetry and historical fiction. Ping is her first novel. Lisa’s work has been recognized by The New York Times, Kirkus Reviews (starred), Publishers Weekly, Indigo and more.  Her books have been translated into several languages and are widely recognized throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

Steve Landsberg

Steve Landsberg, an accomplished, award-winning advertising executive and entrepreneur, is currently Co-Founder and Chief CreativeOfficer of Human Intelligence (H.I.), a New York City-based creating marketing studio. Prior to H.I., he co-founded Grok, an Inc. 500 “Fastest GrowingCompany.” Steve has held executive creative roles at many top global ad agencies leading the work on iconic global brands. A copywriter by trade, Steve has published numerous ad industry articles. Ping is his first published book.