Before "Marty Supreme" Starring Timothee Chalamet, There Was "PING" - an Editorial Review of "Ping"

Book Blurb:

A game that spread communism. A secret that spans generations.

About the Book:

A Barnes & Noble Top eBook & NOOK Indie Favorite

In the early 1950s, ping pong wasn't just a pastime - it was propaganda.

A quiet weapon in the battle for influence, power, and ideology.

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 generational 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.

With the engaging use of ping pong as both a symbol and a plot device, Ping effectively

combines history, sports, and personal conflict, appealing to readers of both literary

fiction and historical drama.

Originally conceived in 2016, PING precedes the current cultural resurgence of table

tennis -exemplified by the upcoming 2025 Christmas movie release of Marty

Supreme, starring Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/2JhQ7

Author Bio:

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, an accomplished, award-winning advertising executive and entrepreneur, is currently Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer 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 Growing Company.” 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.

Editorial Review:

Table tennis was born in the 1880s as a way to keep the bums of the British upper class warm. When it got too cold to play lawn tennis outside, they brought the game inside and called it table tennis. It was simple. All you needed was a table, a paddle and a little ball.

Over just a few months, the little ball bounced across England where Jacques and Son of London, a sporting equipment manufacturer, kept a close eye on the game’s rising popularity and was soon churning out paddles from vellum and cigar boxes and balls out of cork. They didn’t worry about the tables. That would come later. For now, any flat surface would do. A list of rules was drawn up and the pieces of the game were neatly packaged. And voilà! Every time a box was shipped and every time a paddle hit the small white ball, pure gold was made.

By the end of the century, tournaments were popping up across England with hundreds of participants. Journalists filled sports pages with as many facts and figures as they could find about the “new and exciting game”. And soon, the little ball made its way across the ocean and into the hands of Parker Brothers, the board game company. Wanting a piece of the action, they acquired the American rights to the name Ping-Pong at great expense and some legal wrangling, and eventually opened a plant with the sole purpose of manufacturing Ping-Pong equipment. The investment paid of

The prologue begins in England in 1880. And here, it introduces us to the history of this sport, which goes back even further than many may realize. We also learn about the historical significance of it and how this game eventually made its way to China.

Chapter one dives right in to current time, 2023, and an intensity and intrigue from the first sentence: “Yanking out a chunk of hair from the back of her head made Jenny feel weirdly good. It was almost irresistible – an urge she had never known – an urge she knew she needed to get under control before the bald patches could no longer be hidden.”

We are instantly pulled into her family life and personal struggles from the first paragraph. And it’s difficult to read but intriguing. You feel the suspense and you wat to know more. The first chapter gives us a glimpse of the weight of unspoken tales and secrets while engrossing us in Jenny's internal struggle.

The dual-timeline is done well, skillfully combing the historical and contemporary settings. We see a perfect blend of the personal and the political in this gripping and moving story. Ping gives us a story that is both instructive and emotionally stirring. Cold War diplomacy is woven into intergenerational identity conflicts and both the literal and metaphorical meaning of ping pong.

Jenny carries the unseen burden of a legacy she barely understands herself. The family pressure is pushing her to her limits. Her journey in this story is closely connected to her grandmother Miriam’s covert involvement in the 1971 Ping-Pong diplomacy. She’ll learn about long-buried family secrets, while also navigating the challenges of growing up.

The story skillfully switches between the past and the present, contrasting the intense political tension between China and America during the Cold War with the more private, quieter struggles of a young woman finding her identity beneath social expectations.

“You know, scientists are finding that Ping-Pong enhances brain function unlike any other sport. The fine motor control and eye-hand coordination needed to smack that little ball stimulates the cerebellum and primary cortex. The strategy needed to play the game actually enhances the amygdala which reduces anxiety.”

Dr. Salter got up, walked to the bookshelf and slowly picked up a plastic brain that was mounted on a piece of wood. He pointed carefully to the areas he was referring to and repeated the words “cerebellum, primary cortex” and “amygdala” twice. Once the performance was over, he continued to pontificate.

“You know, the overall aerobic exercise required to play not only strengthens our heart function, but it also stimulates the hippocampus which helps long-term memory.”

Both the contemporary timeline and the historical timeline are balanced, not rushed or disjointed. It all flows together perfectly, giving us the bigger picture. Both timelines have a steady increase in narrative tension, and we are kept interested each step of the way as we learn more about Miriam’s influence on history and her family.

Formatting and editing are well done. There are no spelling or grammatical errors that pull you out of the story and everything feels historically accurate and split between the timelines well. The organization of a dual-timeline story is very important, and this one does it expertly.

Conversations and dialogue capture the emotional undertones of the experiences of the characters, bringing it all to life for us. The writers have a dedication to clarity and rhythm that pushed the story forward in the best way. And the book honors the intelligence and focus of the audience.

Furthermore, where the book really shines the most is through the character building. Jenny is refreshingly real character – introspective, conflicted, and completely genuine as a teenager attempting to navigate her own identity in the shadow of her grandmother's illustrious past. We see her annoyance, interest, and eventually compassion, all depicted in a subtle way.

All of the other characters – even supporting cast – are equally genuine and well-written. Miriam is originally introduced to us more through memory and the views of the other characters, such as Jenny. But as the book progresses, she becomes a more nuanced character as well. And the progression of getting to know her and her true past is perfectly timed.

Hildi looked at her sister and knew it was time to steer the conversation in another direction before Miriam got herself revved up.

“Miriam, let’s fix the game so you win early on. I’ll let the ball slip after ten minutes. That’s all they’ll get from us two old broads. Furthermore, I’ve arranged to get my hair and make-up done tomorrow morning and I don’t want my mascara to run. They won’t get to see us sweat. We’ll walk off the court looking fresh and dewy, and this Marc jerk can go screw himself.”

Miriam smiled thinking how much Hildi still cared about how she looked. How she presented herself to the world really mattered to her. Miriam couldn’t give a shit about any of it. Never really did.

The alternating timelines of the book are incorporated with ease. The shifts between Jenny's story from the present and Miriam's past are seamless and intentional, and each chapter deepens the main themes of truth, heritage, and the price of silence. This is where we really start to learn so much more about each of them.

Historically, we also see elements related to gender inequality, antisemitism and Cold War politics that bring more richness to the character arcs. But it never feels preachy or forced. It’s all part of the bigger picture and helps us understand the characters and story.

Without spoiling anything, Ping has a really rewarding ending. It provides a resolution that seems earned rather than one that is cliched or unduly tidy. Jenny gains a better understanding of both herself and her grandmother - not in a dramatic, paradigm-shifting fashion, but rather in the subdued, potent way that true growth is known for. The ending respects the intricacy of both timelines and is both hopeful and melancholy.

Using ping pong, a sport that is often overlooked, as the focal point of the personal legacy and political history was such an original and unique take. Through Miriam's personal experience, the narrative vividly depicts the 1971 Ping-Pong Diplomacy rather than merely referencing it as a backdrop.

The authors use clear, vivid language to be honest about the emotions. They’re great at creating dialogue that reads authentic. The personal growth that Jenny experiences and the discovery of the historical contributions of Miriam follow a clear and fulfilling arc.

All in all, the book entertains while it educates. There is something here for everyone, regardless of whether you are interested in coming-of-age tales, family relationships, or Cold War intrigue. This novel by Lucas and Landsberg feels both current and timeless, demonstrating how the effects of the past continue to influence the lives of coming generations.

5 stars from The Historical Fiction Company and the "Highly Recommended" award of excellence

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