Five Star Billionaire by Tash Aw

  Shanghai, megacity, late first decade 21st century.  Here we are introduced to the diverse characters of this novel.  Phoebe - young country woman, she just wants to better herself; Yinghui - ex-activist come businesswoman; Gary - mega pop-star in Taiwan; and Justin - seemingly conservative, family spokesman and deal-maker.  Everyone seems to teeter on the edge of extreme success - or failure.

  Last, in his own voice, appears the Five Star Billionaire. As the story progresses, more and more of each person's past and present is uncovered, but we see how he is the link which eventually ties everyone together.

  The story unfolded tantalisingly, gradually.  From early on I sensed the subtle interweaving of a slim connecting thread between the characters, who felt like puppets of the master narrator Five Star Billionaire.  His grand plan was ultimately revealed in the final chapters, but on the way, the story depicted the hard-ness of getting on in a massive big and competitive city - the struggle to succeed; and the fragility of fortunes.

  This book kept me turning the pages just to see what turn people's lives would take next, and how the Five Star Billionaire would leave them all.  Because, although it wasn't really rational, I could not get rid of the sense that he controlled them.  Finally, I was left with a sense of relief - it could have been very depressing for everybody, but it wasn't.

Title: Five Star Billionaire
Author: Tash Aw
ISBN: 9780007494156
Published: 2013
Publisher: Fourth Estate, London