Mao's Last Dancer

I have just finished reading the autobiography, Mao's Last Dancer (Li Cunxin)...what a read! It really made me think about how we can take things (house, family, job, love, opinions, freedom etc) for granted...when there are some people in this world who get beaten (or die) if they even think differently to what the authorities believe.

Li was brought up in Communist China to a very poor family. At the age of 11, he was picked by some officials to be sent away to the Beijing Dance Academy where he would learn Ballet. Li spent 7 years in this harsh academy and only saw his family for 3 weeks every February.

In 1979 Li visited USA on a dance scholarship. He spent 6 weeks in Texas learning the famous western ballets (swan lake, nutcracker etc). When Li returned home after that short trip, he begged his teachers to allow him to go to America again. He really wanted to learn how to dance better. In 1980 Li was given permission to return to USA for 1 year.

In 1981, just before he was due to return to China, Li told Chinese officials there that he would not be returning to china. They refused to let him leave the Chinese consulate. Li spent 21 hours stuck in the consulate before an agreement was reached between the Chinese and US governments for Li to be allowed to stay. George Bush (Later President Bush 41) was the one who was most responsible for this. Part of the agreement was for Li to never write a book about his life. He kept that rule for 20 years but has now decided to tell the world the truth.

There is also a movie about Li Cunxin's story. I haven't seen it yet...but it is on my list of must see's. Here is the preview... (sorry, not sure how to make the screen smaller).

I'm still alive...

oops...haven't updated this blog in ages.

I have been reading heaps...but I forget what exactly. In the weekend I read North and South...and am seriously thinking about subscribing. What a terrific magazine with interesting articles to read. In this months issue there is an article about Aspergers Syndrome...which I read front start to finish...then again. How very interesting. I have photo copied the article and given it to my teaching colleagues.

I am currently reading Mao's Last Dancer, which is about a boy (Li) who was born in communist China and was hand picked to attend a top Chinese Dance company at the age of about 9-10...then went to America to dance...very intriguing so far...there is a movie too. A teacher friend lent me a children's picture book, which is also about the same story.

The Lovely Bones - Movie

I loved it!

Bridget, Ollivia and I went to see The Lovely Bones this morning. I think Peter Jackson did a fabulous job of making Alice Sebold's book into a movie. I have read the book twice (must be a fan) and was pleased that most of the events stayed true. I didn't like how the main character (Suzie) meets the other victims...I don't recall her actually meeting them in the book? Also, Mum's affair with the detective was missing, which I am pleased with...because I thought it was unnecessary in the book anyway.

All actors (minus Susan Sarandon) played their parts well...especially the guy who played the murdering neighbour...he was terrifyingly freaky.

I've missed out on seeing Time Traveller's Wife at the movies...so will have to wait until it is out on DVD.

Lost in Austen

I'm a big fan of Jane Austen and her novels. The last couple of evenings I have been watching a mini-series called Lost in Austen. This movie is a take-off from Austen's Pride and Prejudice, where the main character, Amanda Price, is in love with Austen's book and wants to find love with a man like Darcy (main male character of Pride and Prejudice for those of you who don't know).

Anyway, somehow she stumbles back in time (by going through a door in her bathroom) into the world of Darcy, the Bennett family and the Bingley's. Her arrival causes all sorts of chaos, such as, Jane Bennett marrying Mr Collins instead of Bingley, Lydia Bennett runs off with Bingley instead of Wickham, Darcy falls in love with Amanda instead of Elizabeth Bennett etc etc.

It was quite a funny movie...

Oh, I have finished An Echo of Bone by Diana Gabaldon and loved it! I can't wait until the next novel, as Roger has gone back in time to search for his young son, who has infact been kidnapped and hidden in modern day time still...oh dear!

Am off to the library tomorrow morning to stock up on some holiday reading...except the other day I discoverred two library books sitting under the bed which were at least 2 months overdue. Oops. So I guess I will be forking up some money before I am allowed to have any books issued to me.

Utter Disappointment!

Bridget and I went to New Moon last week and Ihave to say...we both were a bit disappointed. The movie was long...and the casting agency should be sacked...they did not do a good job in picking Robert Pattinson to be Edward Cullen! The book was so much better. Nonetheless...I will probably go and see the next movie in the Twilight series...just to be curious...

Slow reading of late...

I have been a little pre-occupied with report writing, portfolio assembling, staff functions etc to do any major reading of late. In fact I am still slowly churning my way through Diana Gabaldon's A Breath of Snow and Ashes. I originally picked this book from mybook shelves to re-read before reading the next book in the series...but it seems that I never read it in the first place. Knowing me, I had several books on the go, and I put it on the shelf for a 'must read later'...and forgot about it. I am nearly finished, and am looking forward to the next installment, plus the book i mentioned in a previous blog post that Mum lent me.

I daresay that any major reading will not happen until December 18 - first day of my holiday!

But! My friend, Bridget and I are going to the movies on Wednesday night to see New Moon (second Twilight movie). I didn't really like the first movie that much, but I have seen the preview of this next movie....and it looks GGOOOOODDDDD!


I still think the casting people could have found a better Edward though...

Time Traveler's Wife

Another good movie to come out this month! A great book called Time Traveler's Wife has been made into a movie...marvellous!!!