Mao's Last Dancer: Summary and book reviews of Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin, plus links to an excerpt from Mao's Last Dancer and a biography of Li Cunxin.
Mao's Last Dancer
by Li Cunxin
Hardcover: Mar 2004,
444 pages.
Paperback: Mar 2005,
480 pages.
In 1961, three years of Mao's Great Leap Forward--along with three years of poor harvests--had left rural China suffering terribly from disease and deprivation. Li Cunxin, his parents' sixth son, lived in a small house with twenty of his relatives and, along with the rest of his family, subsisted for years on the verge of starvation. But when he was eleven years old, Madame Mao decided to revive the Peking Dance Academy, and sent her men into the countryside searching for children to attend.
Chosen on the basis of his physique alone, Li Cunxin was taken from his family and sent to the city for rigorous training. What follows is the story of how a small, terrified, lonely boy became one of the greatest ballet dancers in the world. One part Falling Leaves, one part Billy Eliot, Mao's Last Dancer is an unforgettable memoir of hope and courage.
A wonderful book; a bit sentimental in places but it's Li's story and he's free to tell it how he likes, and he tells it well. If you're a ballet aficionado you'll want to read every page, otherwise you'll probably want to skip over a few of the more detailed descriptions of ballet competitions - which are few in number anyway. (Reviewed by BookBrowse Review Team).
Publishers Weekly
Despite Li's tendency toward the cloying and sentimental, his story will appeal to an audience beyond Sinophiles and ballet aficionados--it provides a fascinating glimpse of the history of Chinese-U.S. relations and the dissolution of the Communist ideal in the life of one fortunate individual.
Library Journal - Carol J. Binkowski
The portions dealing with his childhood and loving family in Quingdao are especially poignant, and the work as a whole unfolds with honesty, humor, and a quiet dignity. This book has wide appeal, for it concerns not only a dancer's coming of age in a turbulent time but also individual strength, self-discovery, and the triumph of the human spirit.
Kirkus Reviews
Li's well-paced account of the ensuing cloak-and-dagger episodes that led to his defection to the West adds suspense to a tale already full of adventures, but there are no conventional bad guys to be found in it. Indeed, he writes with fine compassion for the Chinese consul who attempts to dissuade him from becoming an outcast; unlike me, he had to go back and would probably never manage to get out again. Nicely written and humane for anyone interested in modern Chinese history or for fans of dance.
Recent Reader Reviews
Rated of 5
by Emily Mao's Last Dancer I loved this book! I had to read and review it as my course of prejudice and persecution and as soon as I finished it I bought my own copy :) Very inspirational and a fantastic read.
Rated of 5
by GG Mao's Last Dancer Mao's Last Dancer is a fantastic book. It is about a young boy who lives in a family with 6 brothers, in poverty in China, and Cunxin, his name, is chosen, when he is 11, to be part of the Beijing Dance Academy. He takes this chance, and studies... Read More
Rated of 5
by Elmo Mao's Last Dancer Cool book! Everyone should read it! OR ELSE!!
Rated of 5
by Kathryn Great Book Club Selection The book was a fascinating read! What a captivating true story about the amazing talent, strength and courage of a young boy from China. The book discussion group I lead will enjoy it and the topic will generate good discussion. What a great... Read More
Rated of 5
by My House Smells Like Grandma My House Smells Like Grandma's Review I absolutely loved this book and was entranced from the moment I started reading. Li's story is absolutely incredible and inspirational, this book truly represents "Beating the Odds."
Rated of 5
by Eric Tan Awesome Book Such an excellent book!!! Seems like an unbelievable story come true. Read it immediately!
At the age of 34 Li realized his career as a
dancer would soon be over, so he began to study at
the Australian Securities Institute (in between rehearsals and
performances) qualifying as a stockbroker two years later. Today he
lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife
and three children and works as a stockbroker. He also finds
time to work with many charities, including
UNICEF.
He is an avid supporter of The Cochlear Research Institute in
Australia which conducts ongoing research and provides support to
those who cannot afford the implant. The cause is close to his
heart as his first child was born profoundly deaf and, at
four-years-old, became one of the youngest children to receive a
cochlear implant. Sophie is now 15
years-old and excels in jazz, tap, and ballet.
From within the hopelessness and terror of one of the darkest passages in human history, Dai Sijie has fashioned a beguiling and unexpected story about the resilience of the human spirit, the wonder of romantic awakening and the magical power of storytelling.
In these spellbinding stories, Yiyun Li gives us exquisite fiction filled with suspense, depth, and beauty, in which history, politics, and folklore magnificently illuminate the human condition.
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