Why Can't Sharon Kowalski Come Home? [Paperback]

Karen Thompson (Author), Julie Andrzejewski (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Five years ago Sharon Kowalski was brain-damaged in an automobile accident. A court battle ensued between her family and her lover, Karen Thompson, whose attempt to file for guardianship and subsequent appeals were thwarted despite conclusive evidence as to the nature of the women's relationship. The book demonstrates that the courts ignored affidavits by therapists who witnessed Thompson's determination in rehabilitating Kowalski, yet allowed into evidence one doctor's out-of-court deposition asserting that the patient would be exposed "to a high risk of sexual abuse" if Thompson were allowed to visit. Chronicling Thompson's uphill struggle against the sexism and homophobia that permeate this country's institutions, this controversial work reveals one woman's personal journey from closeted lesbian to feminist activist while reconciling her Christian beliefs with her own sexuality. This is an important book told with candor and warmth, with major implications into the legal rights of disabled persons and lesbians and gay men. Included here are forms and instructions to create a durable power of attorney. The coauthors are professors at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 227 pages
• Publisher: Aunt Lute Books; 1st edition (November 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0933216467
• ISBN-13: 978-0933216464
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,466,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This one will make you mad, sad and outraged all together, April 21, 2000

By 

Tonya - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Can't Sharon Kowalski Come Home? (Paperback)

This is a great book! After I read the Introduction of it and realized that it was about two lesbian/gay women, I didn't really care to read the rest. The thing that kept me reading was the fact that it is also about civil rights of disabled persons. I work in an ICF/MR and the story touched me deeply and really really made me mad at the same time. It seems unreal that this could actually happen to someone and our justice department would allow it to happen. After reading the book (which I finished in a day because I couldn't put it down) I have a far better understanding of civil rights and I even have a different outlook on the gay and lesbian population of the united States. Great job Karen and Julie! You both should be very proud of yourselves for this one! I feel with all my heart for Sharon and I am praying for her return home. NO ONE should be denied the right to choose where they live and who they associate with! Keep the fight going!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Real life lesbian custody battle., August 10, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Why Can't Sharon Kowalski Come Home? (Paperback)

Sharon Kowalski and Karen Thompson were together four years, before a drunk driver struck Sharon's car, leaving her unable to move or communicate. The only thing that can bring her out of a dangerous coma is Karen's patience and love.

Karen tells her story of fighting for custody and the right to care for her lover against extremely hostile parents and hostile judges. In their eyes, she is a "sick wacko".

This is NOT a novel, it is a real life story, at times tedious, and with no neat ending. Buy it for the historical information, read it to learn what love is all about. Then go get "Eight Bullets" (ISBN=1563410559), another similar story.

More reviews by Bobbi at
http://www.primenet.com/~bobbib/books

5.0 out of 5 stars Should NEVER go out of print, November 22, 2008

By 

V. Brown "llacharbach" (the hinterlands of Idaho-ho-ho) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Why Can't Sharon Kowalski Come Home? (Paperback)

Sylviastel in her review below does a good book synopsis so I wont bother here. This book should not go out of print. Everything in this real-life saga informs why gay rights are not special rights. You can get a copy of it for any gay person that complains when things get "too political". It is all laid out: not understanding the limits of our rights as partners does not mean that the real-life bigotry and narrowness will not come roaring into our lives with awful consequences. At the point that the father Donald Kowalski is willing to restrict meaningful treatment (and thereby the hope of recovery from a serious car accident) for his own child simply to satisfy his homophobia it is hard to deny that right has not been done and the best interests of Sharon Kowalski were ignored. A cautionary tale.....