I also received this book as a book club read and I loved it! Half way through this book I thought I had it all figured out but the unexpected turn at the very end really surprised me. I think the character development was wonderful..I feel like I know them all! This was a great book for a debut author and I look forward to reading more books by her in the future. Gotta suggest this book to my book club!

When I first opened the package I was surprised by how thick the book was. But once I got into it I enjoyed it so much I could have read more. Great summer read.

I didn't think I would like this book when I first started reading it..I didn't know anything about rowing and it really wasn't a subject I was interested in learning about. But this book was really more than that and I did like it. I would definitely recommend this book for a book club. There are many topics in here that would make for a good discussion. Plus, you might, like me learn something that you knew nothing about!

I read this book in two days because I could not put it down. I loved the story especially since it didn't turn out the way I expected it would. My one negative comment is that I kept waiting to learn more about where Charlie came from, more of his past history. That being said, I really did enjoy this book and would recommend it.

I don't usually do this but I'm giving up on this book after reading it about one half way through. It's not at all interesting to me and I can't figure out why, if he truly wants to help people, he doesn't do it here in the United States. Why does he have to go to China to help autistic children when he doesn't speak the language and he can help autistic children here? I know his purpose is to contribute to the world but I guess I'm just not getting it. Does he really want to help people or travel? Sorry, I guess this book just wasn't for me.

When I first started reading Behind the Beautiful Forevers I had the movie Slum Dog Millionnaire in my mind. I have, sorry to say, never read much about India . This is not a love story, nor a book on achieving some great goal, unless you count staying alive as one. This work of non-fiction is a beautifully written account of the lives of individuals in a slum in Mumbai. Although it is a story of poverty , death, disease, and persecution, it is also one of perseverance and hope. These people will stay with you for awhile.