My library book club read for August was Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin, published in 2003. I read a Young Reader's Edition. I don't know if that was what everyone in the group received, but I would have preferred to read the 'adult' version of the memoir.

Cunxin relates how he grew up in poverty, part of a peasant family working on a commune. In spite of nearly starving, he believes in the pro-Communist propaganda about how lucky they were to have been saved by Chairman Mao's takeover. When Cunxin has an opportunity to be chosen for Madame Mao's new dance school, withstanding physically torturous tests, he is determined to succeed for the sake of his family, and to escape the hard life of manual labor.

Winning a coveted place in the dance school means Cunxin must leave his village and family, and the freedom of boyhood. He was eleven years old and had never seen a city, indoor water, or so much food. But he was lonely and homesick.

" ...[I] grabbed the precious quilt my naing [mother] had made for me. I plunged my face into it and wept. ...My naing's quilt was like a life-saving rope in the middle of an ocean of sadness. I couldn't stop thinking of my family back home."
The dance school brought together children from the working and peasant classes, to teach them traditional Chinese dance, politically sanctioned dances, and Western ballet, along with academic and Communist political classes.

The regime was brutal, but the rewards motivated the boy to succeed. He found mentors who taught him to love dance. He excelled and won a place to study in America for a year. He discovered the Chinese propaganda about America was false and his belief in Mao and Communism was shaken. Cunxin was overwhelmed by the wealth he saw, the abundance of food, the freedom to criticize the president, and even the luxury of a hot bath. After falling in love with an American woman they married and Cunxin defected.

Cunxin became a ballet star. After the failure of his first marriage, he later married and became the father of several children. His second career was as a stockbroker, embracing the capitalism that he was warned about as a child.

If Cunxin was easily a victim of Communist propaganda, his embracing of America also reads like propaganda. After all, some of what he learned in China about our country was true: the treatment of African Americans, the gun violence, and how greed and the pursuit of wealth can corrupt people and institutions.

The memoir was interesting, if not deeply probing. Perhaps this, again, was because of its being a young reader's edition. I wanted more depth than offered in this version of the book. It will be interesting to see if anyone in the book club read another version and had a different response.

This was my childhood (the book, not Communist China)– I think I read it over 5 times from age 6-9. For some reason my dad never let me buy new books so I had to reread the ones in our garage over and over again. Anyway all of the books I refer to as "my childhood" were passed down to me by my godsister– prevailing themes of Australian and/or Chinese identity. I remember going into the garage and alternating between these several books and Rainbow Magic over and over again... anyway 5 stars out of nostalgia, mostly.

While telling the very fascinating story of his childhood as a Chinese peasant, his training as a ballet dancer as a result of a program sponsored by Madame Mao and his defection to the US, Li Cunxin also provides the reader with an understanding of the propaganda techniques which kept so many Chinese people in thrall even though they were dirt poor and often on the verge of starvation. We also meet Cunxin's family and the many friends and teachers that shaped his life. I found this book satisfying on so many levels and I recommend it very highly.

Hooks you right in with the description of his parent's traditional wedding in China. This is a true story of a real person who is still alive and riveted me because he was growing up when I was and living this amazingly different life over there in China. That's the China of "Finish your dinner! Think of all the starving children in China." So it was really insightful for me to listen to a true account of what it was like for this starving child of China. The way Cunxin uses drive and discipline to escape his parent's fate and sheer determination to get him there, is extremely inspiring and frankly, makes me feel inadequate in my response to difficulty! It's a strong and true tale and perhaps told with a bit of sentimentality, or so I thought at first (syrupy perhaps?), but in the end Cunxin's sincerity comes through and makes this a truly inspiring read. By sincerity I mean willingness to do whatever it takes to follow your dreams, wherever they lead. Dulce Suenos!

I read this book a long time before joining Goodreads and writing reviews, so I didn't add anything here except my rating.
I do remember that I enjoyed (if you can enjoy such) reading about the cultural demands that were placed on those people. He truly was a brave young man!
I love historical and cultural books about Asia and Asian people.

I really enjoyed this. I listened to it as an audiobook and enjoyed Paul English’s accents. It still astounds me to read about people living in communist states who have nothing but think they are living in better conditions than the rest of the world. It’s amazing to think of the work that goes into brainwashing the people.

It’s sobering to think of how hard life was for Li Cunxin (and the rest of his family) in his early years. I enjoyed reading the wedding customs of his mother and father - things that sound a little bit tacky in our Western culture (e.g. at the wedding, the bride and groom share a bowl of “open your heart” noodles), but which actually might serve a purpose to make the couple stop and think about the life they will share together.

Even after he started dancing, Li Cunxin’s life was still difficult - physically demanding both in Beijing and in the States. I couldn’t believe his account of dancing with various injuries - torn hamstrings (I think it was) and a back problem during a competition! But I guess that is why I’m not a dancer.

This was a great read. I know Li Cunxin had something to do with the Queensland Ballet - I think he was the director - not sure whether he still is, but he makes me a little bit proud to call Queensland my home!! As well as all the other great things about our state!

4.5★

It's amazing - where he left to where he went. This is a wonderful story, almost a fairy tale. Cunxin's early life was one of physical and intellectual starvation. He had a big opportunity and love from his family. Through his determination, help from good teachers and coaches, he beat the odds and became an internationally successful dancer. It couldn't have happened to a more deserving person.

Cunxin's decriptions add to our growing knowledge of China in this period. I wonder if this book is available in China in Chinese.

Superb story. I loved the detail of life in China, enduring poverty and the survival of incredible hardships. Beautifully written by Cunxin himself, it appears. I hope China continues to flourish.

Wow, this was such an amazing read! It inspired me so much! It was the perfect mixture between ballet and history. I would highly recommend it!

Mao’s Last Dancer was our last bookclub read, and apparently I have been living under a rock, since I had not heard of the book OR the movie! Since a lot of my reading is escapist and a means to disengage from real life problems, I seldom delve into autobiographies – and am finding that I may be missing out! Li Cunxin’s account of his life, from a childhood in rural, poverty stricken China to his rise to fame, was interesting, humbling and inspiring in equal measures. It certainly provided a lot of material for our bookclub discussion. Personally, the one message that stood out most for me was how loving the Li family was, and how they looked out for each other. Living in unimaginable poverty, there was always plenty of love to go around, and each family member was willing to share what little they had with others. I found this refreshing, living in a society where we tend to accumulate and hoard possessions and compete with each other, and where families are often fractured and family values lost as a result of this. Whilst the poverty and constant struggle for survival in Li Cunxin’s childhood sounded horrendous, it may have also set the foundations for his resilience, determination and inner strength that ultimately formed the cornerstones to his success.

Whilst I initially thought the story was off to a bit of a slow, rambling start and could have done with some careful editing, I found the small facts of Li Cunxin’s childhood and the political background fascinating. I’m a total numpty when it comes to ballet, but this posed no obstacle to my enjoyment of the book, as the underlying message could have been applied to any sport, or even any career where someone overcomes personal challenges through sheer gut and determination to become the best in their field. Through all the pain and hardship Li Cunxin endured, he always held out for the goal to achieve something better and to make his family proud. Li Cunxin never complains about anything, dispassionately recounting tales of hunger and hardship that would make our toes curl. It is this positive, hopeful outlook and his stoicism that ultimately makes him succeed where others have tried and failed.

On our bookclub night, we watched the movie to compare it to the book, and I found that the film skipped over two of the most memorable moments in the story for me: the time teacher Xiao prompts Li Cunxin to confront the bullying behaviour of another teacher (which taught him to confront problems head-on); and the moment Li Cunxin realises that communism isn’t the perfect ideal he had been forced to believe all his life. A few of us found that the movie missed some of the messages that stood out for each of us individually in the telling of the story, so whilst the movie was ok, I recommend reading the book first!

I listened to the audio version of this book, and credit must go to Paul English for his wonderful narration – I really appreciated his accurate pronunciation of the many Chinese names, which would have made me flounder in the printed version.

All in all, Mao’s Last Dancer was an interesting and humbling read that will appeal to anyone looking for inspiration and hope. Containing fascinating historical details of life under Mao, a strong armchair component, and hidden messages in its pages that will mean different things to individual readers, Mao’s Last Dancer made for a perfect bookclub read.

3.5 stars

*blog*  *facebook*  *instagram*

A Goodreads friend had seen the film and recommended it so I watched the DVD first and highly recommend it both for the dramatic story and the beautiful dancing (Li Cunxin is played in the movie by a dancer) I liked it so much I went to the library and got book. I am a ballet fan and I am embarrassed to say that I had not heard of Li Cunxin, although he performed with the Houston Ballet for 16 years and made guest appearances with most of the major ballet companies. There are more elegantly written memoirs, but the story is riveting, including the role the elder George and Mrs. Bush played in his life (Barbara Bush was a patron of the Houston Ballet). There are many moving scenes but certainly one of the most moving is when he is finally able to return to his village in China and he and his wife dance for his family, friends and villagers. It also presents the Cultural Revolution through one individual's life and his responses at the time and as he grows older. It really is just an amazing story.

I read this several years ago and found it fascinating. It’s an easy read and a vivid portrait of this man’s journey from childhood to adulthood to freedom. An extraordinary story of courage and tenacity. And a look at a world I knew little about.