The Game of my Life
Have any of you read The Game of My Life? It’s a memoir by J-Mac, Jason McElwain, the autistic Rochester high school student who shot all those 3-point baskets at his Senior game a few years ago. He’s still all over YouTube and his book is here:
http://www.amazon.com/Game-My-Life-Challenge-Autistic/dp/0451223012/ref=pd_ts_b_1?ie=UTF8&s=books
The book is sort of divided into three parts. The beginning is written by co-writer Daniel Paisner. The middle is told by J-Mac himself, and the conclusion is in Daniel’s voice. The heart of this tale is J-Mac’s own story, which we get to early on. His story is interspersed with occasional passages from friends, parents, and coaches but the bulk of the tale is in his own words.
I really enjoyed J-Mac’s voice. I will say, you may have to be a basketball fan to enjoy it, but I loved the innocent voice he has. I loved the way he just told his story. People say there are no bad guys in my writing. Well, I say the same thing about J-Mac. It’s a nice story.
Actually, his voice reminded me of the voice of Perry, the fictional figure in Pat Wood’s novel Lottery http://www.amazon.com/Lottery-Patricia-Wood/dp/0399154493/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202694901&sr=1-2
One key difference between this story and Lottery, though, is FOCUS. That, of course, sets many of us on the spectrum apart from others like Perry. And J-Mac has a total focus on basketball. Many of us on the spectrum have our special interests, and J-Mac’s is clearly basketball. We relive the game and the seasons with him, second by second as we move through the pages. I’m not a huge sports fan, but I enjoyed this because his hopes, hard work, and simple joy come through so clearly.
J-Mac’s story ended with a wonderful triumph, the story of the team’s basketball season. Frankly, I think the book would have been wonderful if it ended there. But it didn’t. When we moved into Daniel’s conclusion, I felt the tone took a nose dive. We went from wonderful triumph to dry facts, Daniel’s interpretation of J-Mac’s future and his life today. And they way Daniel described this made me sad.
It also made me realize something else.
As an autistic person – even a real high functioning specimen – I really don’t like the way I feel when I read what some Nypicals write about us. There’s just too much “poor them, they’re so impaired” in some writer's tones. And that's what I felt here, analysing his present and his future. So what if he’s working in a grocery store! He’s working. And that, for him, is a major, major triumph. It’s not “JUST a grocery store.” Reading it that way, it feels demeaning. I know no one meant it that way, but I heard that stuff myself, when I was younger, and I really don’t like it.
I guess even at 50, Aspergians like me can still be sensitive to stuff like this.
Not all Nypical writing about people on the spectrum is like that. Some actually makes me feel good. Oliver Sacks and Tony Attwood come to mind, for examples. I can also take/enjoy moms writing about their kids, because I understand where they’re coming from. But this ghost writer – at least in this example – didn’t feel right to me, adding his two cents to this story.
I’m sure he didn’t mean it that way, and I feel bad because I don’t want to belittle his contribution, but I just did not like how that ending made me feel. I’m sure Daniel contributed a lot, getting J-Mac’s part of the story assembled and set down. To me, that was enough.
That said, this is a book any parent of a kid on the spectrum could take inspiration from, as could any young person. I can recommend it for that without reservation. I learn something new from every book like this that comes along.
Here are some photos of my own basketball team in action - the University of Massachsetts
http://www.pbase.com/robisonphoto/basketball
Finally, I got my copy downloaded to my Kindle, which I really like.
* * * *
And in other news . . .
I will be attending Kathy Dyer's class at Elms College this Tuesday at 5:30. I'll bring pizza and entertain the students as best I can.
http://www.amazon.com/Game-My-Life-Challenge-Autistic/dp/0451223012/ref=pd_ts_b_1?ie=UTF8&s=books
The book is sort of divided into three parts. The beginning is written by co-writer Daniel Paisner. The middle is told by J-Mac himself, and the conclusion is in Daniel’s voice. The heart of this tale is J-Mac’s own story, which we get to early on. His story is interspersed with occasional passages from friends, parents, and coaches but the bulk of the tale is in his own words.
I really enjoyed J-Mac’s voice. I will say, you may have to be a basketball fan to enjoy it, but I loved the innocent voice he has. I loved the way he just told his story. People say there are no bad guys in my writing. Well, I say the same thing about J-Mac. It’s a nice story.
Actually, his voice reminded me of the voice of Perry, the fictional figure in Pat Wood’s novel Lottery http://www.amazon.com/Lottery-Patricia-Wood/dp/0399154493/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202694901&sr=1-2
One key difference between this story and Lottery, though, is FOCUS. That, of course, sets many of us on the spectrum apart from others like Perry. And J-Mac has a total focus on basketball. Many of us on the spectrum have our special interests, and J-Mac’s is clearly basketball. We relive the game and the seasons with him, second by second as we move through the pages. I’m not a huge sports fan, but I enjoyed this because his hopes, hard work, and simple joy come through so clearly.
J-Mac’s story ended with a wonderful triumph, the story of the team’s basketball season. Frankly, I think the book would have been wonderful if it ended there. But it didn’t. When we moved into Daniel’s conclusion, I felt the tone took a nose dive. We went from wonderful triumph to dry facts, Daniel’s interpretation of J-Mac’s future and his life today. And they way Daniel described this made me sad.
It also made me realize something else.
As an autistic person – even a real high functioning specimen – I really don’t like the way I feel when I read what some Nypicals write about us. There’s just too much “poor them, they’re so impaired” in some writer's tones. And that's what I felt here, analysing his present and his future. So what if he’s working in a grocery store! He’s working. And that, for him, is a major, major triumph. It’s not “JUST a grocery store.” Reading it that way, it feels demeaning. I know no one meant it that way, but I heard that stuff myself, when I was younger, and I really don’t like it.
I guess even at 50, Aspergians like me can still be sensitive to stuff like this.
Not all Nypical writing about people on the spectrum is like that. Some actually makes me feel good. Oliver Sacks and Tony Attwood come to mind, for examples. I can also take/enjoy moms writing about their kids, because I understand where they’re coming from. But this ghost writer – at least in this example – didn’t feel right to me, adding his two cents to this story.
I’m sure he didn’t mean it that way, and I feel bad because I don’t want to belittle his contribution, but I just did not like how that ending made me feel. I’m sure Daniel contributed a lot, getting J-Mac’s part of the story assembled and set down. To me, that was enough.
That said, this is a book any parent of a kid on the spectrum could take inspiration from, as could any young person. I can recommend it for that without reservation. I learn something new from every book like this that comes along.
Here are some photos of my own basketball team in action - the University of Massachsetts
http://www.pbase.com/robisonphoto/basketball
Finally, I got my copy downloaded to my Kindle, which I really like.
* * * *
And in other news . . .
I will be attending Kathy Dyer's class at Elms College this Tuesday at 5:30. I'll bring pizza and entertain the students as best I can.
Comments
i feel the same way about the demeaning tone when discussing those on the spectrum. well, maybe not the SAME way since i'm NT or whatever but i hear it and it makes me cringe.
I just wanted to say that I finished reading your book and it is excellent!!!
I am a music teacher/director, and I think this will be so helpful for me to understand students that previously may have bewildered me a bit.
I still remember one kid that was in my children's choir who had autism, and he was the most joyous and enthusiastic singer ever!
God bless you and yours, and thanks again for such a terrific book!
Sincerely, with best wishes,
Stephanie Younis
Well, that's why I've always said, the world needs more voices of those who walk the path to come forth. I found Kaye Redfield Jamison's book on what it is to have bipolar disorder extremely valuable into gaining an insight into those with it.
I've also enjoyed reading your book, and watching Temple Grandin on DVD.
My girlfriend's daughter was hospitalized with anorexia last year. I'm looking for a good book in order to gain an understanding.
Sometimes I'll come upon a parent's blog about their experiences, and while I have a lot of empathy, I also hope they know enough to give their kid the privacy he or she needs in order to forge their own identity as they mature.
Nothing wrong with bagging groceries. I agree with you Mr. R.
I agree also on the writing point you make, but my guess is that nypicals have much to learn.
Frankly, if I were the ghost writer, I don't know if I'd have thought of it either.
I felt bad even saying it because I'm sure he didn't mean it that way, but that's how it felt to me.
I agree with AW.
what do you like about it? does it make your life any easier?
It's really good for travelling.
I finally read your book, and it certainly is a top read.
I'm a mom of a high functioning asperger 12 year old boy, and I just read your book. Nothing has helped me connect with him better than your book. Your comment about the tone of the NT writers struck me. We struggle horribly with the tone of most of his teachers and even SpEd teachers. They expect brilliance and treat him, in his words, like he is retarded or something. He wants the way he processes and works and jokes (prankster king!) to have a place in the school - besides in ISS or the Behavior Disorder Resource room. How do we address "the tone" at school?
I have not read the book in question. But I was just researching Jason's life and could not find anything about what has happened to him since that game, besides telling that story over and over.
It seems like he is being recognized as a carnival freak more than as a basketball player. It makes me sad. When I last heard about him (AANE conference 2006) it seemed that he was being courted by NBA teams. Now I guess that's finished and he just relives that one game, over and over. It's irrelevant whether he is a grocery bagger or a politician. He should be playing basketball! Why isn't he? Did the book explain? I realize you have better things to do than summarize other peoples' books for me, so I understand if you don't respond. I can check it out of my local library. Anyway, I think it's sad that I work at a hardware store instead of using my superhuman AS skills (now quickly depleting themselves), and I understand how one would think the same thing about Jason. Obviously, the ghost-writer could have other condescending statements/thoughts that support your point.
p.s.
I know a kid who wants to work at your shop. He is closer to Boston than Amherst, so I don't know how this could work. He would be great, though.