If you get an opportunity to see it, I highly recommend "Mao's Last Dancer." It is the story of Li Cunxin who was selected to leave his family's rural village in The People's Republic of China and trained in ballet in Beijing. In 1981, he came to Houston to study for the summer with The Houston Ballet. He eventually became a Principle Dancer for Houston Ballet. Such a fascinating look at modern history. It is comparable to the biopic about the Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci. The film is in English and Mandarin.
The Museum of Fine Art, Houston has a monthly book club. The selection for July is "The Age of Comfort: When Paris Discovered Casual and the Modern Home Began." I just started reading it and found it interesting that prior to the 1680's there were no such things as cushions; no idea that relieving one's bowels and bladder should be done in private. Opulence prior to this was distinguished by who could sit or stand up the straightest and the furniture and interiors reflected that belief. I'm really enjoying this book that is roughly a history of the sofa and the evolution of residential architecture into what we know today.
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