A Novel by Tim Laskowski
Tim Laskowski is a case manager for physically disabled people in Montana. After hearing poetry written by a man with a severe brain injury, Laskowski was "stunned and ashamed" to find he was surprised by the "intelligence and feeling" expressed in the poetry. This led him to befriend the poet and learn that people with brain injuries are not so different from the rest of us. He wrote this mesmerizing book, perhaps as penance for his unawareness.
Every Good Boy Does Fine is a fictionalized rendering of a journal kept by thirty-three-year-old Robert, who is severely impaired due to a brain injury suffered in a rock-climbing accident. Robert lives in a group home, attends a day service, and feels trapped in an insufferable situation.
Robert struggles every day to communicate and to be intimate with others. In his journal, he explores his relationships with the people most important to him:
The central theme of Every Good Boy Does Fine is Robert’s effort to free himself from the chains of his caretakers and return to the “normal” world. But like the prisoner freed from a lengthy sentence, Robert fears how he will fare on the outside. When his dream of having his own apartment is about to become a reality, Robert learns a great deal about himself.
This book is essential reading for parents and other caregivers of young men with brain injuries. It shows how easy it is for survivors to slip into a life of fantasy when their real world is unbearable. It illustrates how the sexual desires of young male survivors can lead to inappropriate behavior. And, it depicts how these young men struggle to be understood, to be treated with respect, and to have some autonomy in their lives.
With his sensitive portrayal of Robert, Laskowski has paid for his sins. We highly recommend Every Good Boy Does Fine.