Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin
Danny Bickerstaff
He came from a poor peasant family. Cunxin’s home consisted of 6 rooms. He lived there with his parents and 6 brothers as well as other extended family members totaling over 20 members. Because of this, in his house, there wasn’t much privacy.
Cunxin’s mother did all the housework so she stayed home and didn’t go to work. However, the other adults went to work on the farm growing food like rice to sell at local market. This didn’t bring in much money so the children would search around the village for used coal, which they would bring home so that they would be warm in the cold months.
Even though Cunxin and his family didn’t have many materialized possessions they were quite happy. They knew their neighbors well and they were always friendly with them.
As he was growing up, state officials gave his mother the Little Red Book, which contained chairman Mao’s ideology. His mother was supposed to read this book to her family to make sure they knew Mao’s message. However she took the book but chose not to read it.
State officials noticed that Cunxin was good at dancing so he was chosen to go to a dance school in Beijing. It was here that a visitor from America saw his potential and took him to America in the mid 1970’s. Here he was asked to join a dance company which performed around the world.
In 2002 Cunxin returned to his village in China and saw very little had occurred. The village was just the same as he had left it. His mother was still there but his brothers all left for different places.
Danny Bickerstaff
He came from a poor peasant family. Cunxin’s home consisted of 6 rooms. He lived there with his parents and 6 brothers as well as other extended family members totaling over 20 members. Because of this, in his house, there wasn’t much privacy.
Cunxin’s mother did all the housework so she stayed home and didn’t go to work. However, the other adults went to work on the farm growing food like rice to sell at local market. This didn’t bring in much money so the children would search around the village for used coal, which they would bring home so that they would be warm in the cold months.
Even though Cunxin and his family didn’t have many materialized possessions they were quite happy. They knew their neighbors well and they were always friendly with them.
As he was growing up, state officials gave his mother the Little Red Book, which contained chairman Mao’s ideology. His mother was supposed to read this book to her family to make sure they knew Mao’s message. However she took the book but chose not to read it.
State officials noticed that Cunxin was good at dancing so he was chosen to go to a dance school in Beijing. It was here that a visitor from America saw his potential and took him to America in the mid 1970’s. Here he was asked to join a dance company which performed around the world.
In 2002 Cunxin returned to his village in China and saw very little had occurred. The village was just the same as he had left it. His mother was still there but his brothers all left for different places.
5 comments:
I loved this book, the first time I read it. Although, i was unable to complete it all.
Nice book review Danny!
I agree with Daniel, I never finished reading this book either. I loved it in the beginning but got a bit bored towards the middle and never finished it. Perhaps i had better give it another go.
HI DANNNNNNYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!
great book review and it sounds like a good book.
WOO nice review DANNY!!!! nice review sounds like an awesome book.
I loved this book! And Li Cunxin is a fantastic speaker. I'd love to have him visit the school. Also, last year/earlier this year a picture book edition was published, which is beautiful. The most fantastic illustrations.
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