In the Absence of Angels: A Hollywood Family's Courageous Story [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Glaser (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In 1981, Glaser had it all: a happy marriage to actor/director Paul Michael Glaser of TV's Starsky and Hutch and a beautiful baby daughter. But four years later, little Ariel developed AIDS, the tragic result of a blood transfusion her mother received while giving birth to her. In another bitter blow, both Glaser and her son Jake tested HIV-positive. Assisted by coauthor Palmer ( Shrapnel in the Heart , LJ 12/87), Glaser movingly re counts Ariel's illness and death. Angry at the government's apparent slowness in dealing with the epidemic and determined to save her still-healthy son, she describes her Washington lobbying efforts for more federal funds and her family's decision to go public to raise money for the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, which she founded. Like Paul Monette's Borrowed Time: An Aids Memoir (LJ 8/88), this is a valuable addition to the growing body of AIDS literature. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/90; Literary Guild featured alternate.
-Wilda Williams, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 318 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Group (February 13, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399135774
• ISBN-13: 978-0399135774
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #987,276 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A story of unbelievable Courage, August 15, 2004

By 

J. Couser "Avid reader" (Martinsburg, WV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In the Absence of Angels: A Hollywood Family's Courageous Story (Hardcover)

An unbelievably moving story of one woman's fight to save her children. Elizabeth Glaser tells the story of how her family deals with HIV/AIDS. This book is a must read for any mother of a chronically ill child, no matter what the childs illness. Above all the sadness and loss, Elizabeth Glaser choses to fight. A story of how one very courageous woman, with the help of family and friends, did indeed change the world. Elizabeth lost her own battle with HIV/AIDS, but the foundation that she started carries on the fight to find a cure for children with HIV/AIDS.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, March 27, 2004

By 

Gillian Herring (Dallas, texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Absence of Angels: A Hollywood Family's Courageous Story (Hardcover)

If you haven't read this book, you are missing out. An amazing story of a courageous family, it will put your entire life into perspective. They say God doesn't give us more than we can handle but he came close to the edge with the Glaser family. Tp turn tragedy into such a passion to change the way the World looks at pediatric AIDS was an amazing feat for Elizabeth Glaser but she triumphed and used her short tragic life to make a difference. What an amazing woman.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is an eye-opener!, December 7, 2004

By 

Nancy A Draper (Maine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Absence of Angels: A Hollywood Family's Courageous Story (Hardcover)

Elizabeth Glaser was a courageous and caring woman determined to find a way to help children infected with HIV and AIDS. But she soon found out that her cries of assistance were not taken seriously by the government. She screamed for help and got no answer.

In 1981, while giving birth to her son, Jake, she was transfused with several units of blood. The blood she received was later found to be contaminated with HIV. Elizabeth had a daughter, Ariel, who she was breast feeding. She and her two children were HIV positive due to the blood transfusion.

Sick herself, she continued her battle for pediatric AIDS. The book describes her frustrating experience on Capitol Hill when she fought for pediatric clinical trials of AZT. Eventually, Elizabeth helped establish the Pediatric AIDS Foundation in CA.

During this time of stigma and discrimination, this brave woman came forth to speak out for all those people fighting this insidious disease. She was a hero in the battle against AIDS. How saddened she must have felt when she didn't receive the help she asked from the government. It makes one angry that the epidemic was allowed to go on so long before any aggressive action was taken in the fight against AIDS.

I truly admire her determination and persistence. All those who read this book will realize our country should have acted sooner in addressing HIV/AIDS. This book is a "WAKE UP" call in this battle we are fighting. I feel if Elizabeth Glaser were here today, she would say,"Why haven't you done more?" We can't let her down. She fought from her heart for all the children and people infected with HIV/AIDS. This book is an eye-opener.
Nancy A. Draper (Author) A Burden of Silence: My Mother's Battle with AIDS