Episodes: My Life as I See It

by Blaze Ginsberg, MacLeod Andrews (Reading)

EPISODES is a memoir like no other. Debut writer, Blaze Ginsberg, offers a unique perspective on his life as a highly-functioning autistic 21 year old. Inspired by the format of the Internet Movie Database, Blaze organizes his life events as a collection of episodes. Some episodes are still running, some are in syndication, and some have sadly come to an end. With an innovative style and approach that is all its own, EPISODES reinvents the traditional memoir; and it will inspire young readers to see the world as they've never seen it before.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Mental Health, High School, Teen, Biography

288 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2009

Reviews

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by LadyJay for TeensReadToo.com

Blaze Ginsberg is a unique individual. In his book, he discusses his life as a high-functioning autistic teenager. Blaze's novel is also unique in the way that it is formatted. He views his life as a group of episodes, much like a television series.

Different things are important to Blaze - who he talked to during the day, trying to find a girlfriend, going to his college classes. Some of the episodes are in syndication, some have ended, and others are on-going. The Thanksgiving episode appears once a year.

The characters (Blaze's family) remain the same, but the story is always a little different. Guest stars will occasionally make an appearance, and Blaze is quick to give them credit. To some, it might seem that the episodes are disjointed, but to Blaze, it all makes sense.

I will be honest, it was difficult for me to start this book. I was one of those readers who felt Blaze's plot was disjointed, but now I understand the workings of his mind. A typical book has chapters, a continuous plot, a definitive ending. Blaze's novel has all of these things, but they are developed and executed differently. Once I realized this, I was able to enjoy the novel that much more.

I'm glad I read Blaze's book, and I congratulate him for having the courage to write it in the first place.

[Christen · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes, it was a little hard to follow, but I LOVED reading a story from the point of view of a teen with high functioning autism. There is so much info out there about children with autism, there just isn't a lot about teens. Now that my son is 12, I feel like I need more help than ever understanding his motivations.

[David]

I read two pages and decided I don't want to read this book.
The author seems to have mild case of austism, like I do. I don't want to revisit the past and felt this book might cause me to revisit my past.

[Xing Xing Zheng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title- Episodes-My Life As I See It Blaze Ginsberg-9/1/09-Pages (274) Price-$16.99US-21.99-Canada
Author- Blaze Ginsberg ISBN: 978-1-59643-461-5

Did you ever try to solve every problem with a one hundred percent solution? Well I know that Blaze Ginsberg has tried to solve every problem. He has great writing skills. This outstanding book he wrote, Episodes- My Life as I See It, is amazing is amazing. Well because the book had all different types of structure and organization. It is explained in a play type story and also a real television show guide. The author writes autobiography through television plots. Every part of the story is organized into parts that a reader needs to read in order, piece by piece. I thought when they explain one of the main characters the author himself was great, exciting and shocking. Ginsberg’s life had similarities to my life. It felt like he was talking about my own experiences.

At the beginning of the book, one of the main characters named Blazed Ginsberg and his mom Debra Ginsberg explain his life. Blaze talks about just like an ordinary school day every child or teen has ever experienced. He compares his emotions to wires that each has a purpose. That’s when Blaze Ginsberg explained that a wire can be an emotion that can be fixed or be broken. When you’re reading it gets confusing. It’s best to read the section of each part of each page at least two times, to get a clearer understanding of his perspective. I suggest teens should read this book because they would understand the quality of Blaze Ginsberg thinking with his explanations and comparisons. The main point of the book is to explain Blaze Ginsberg’s life and problems through character biographies.

I believe the book so far is very interesting. It’s like the main character Blaze Ginsberg tries to find a solution to accomplish each problem perfectly every time. Then there are obstacles like school problems that are in his way and he needs to get through. This book is not a series but a good way to demonstrate how to make plays and television series. The genres of the book are an autobiography, television script and screenplay. The genre of the book is a biography and mixed. Well I hope you enjoy the book if you’re going to read it.

[shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

fascinating format for an autobiography. high-functioning autistic college kid writes memoir as a collection of tv series listed by episode, like you might find on a tv show fansite. incredible to read, for starters. genuine and funny and thoroughly innovative. knowing and having worked with a lot of autistic kids, some of the stuff i recognized as classic behaviors -- but much of it was very telling, in an unabashed self-revealing manner. there's a constant and compelling back-and-forth between what the "episode summary" says has happened versus the sense you get from the supporting material (there are often "notes", "quotes", "trivia" and the like for each episode) that is just so honest in its total humanity. for example, the "episode summary" might mention a conversation blaze had with a girl at the bus stop in a very meaningful light, or specifically say something like "had a really good conversation about family" -- then there might be a "quotes" section wherein he quotes the discussion verbatim and it's actually a short, somewhat clipped exchange where blaze asks questions and the girl gives monosyllabic responses. not all the examples evoke the same sort of melancholic realization in the reader that blaze's idea of "great conversation" is nothing like one's own, but it's these moments when the presentation is at its best. we all occasionally make way more out of a situation than is actually there -- but blaze is completely without embarrassment in these matters. much of the book is this same sort of very honest self-probing, which i've never seen come off with the same freshness or grace. but i've also never read a book by an autistic twentysomething, until now. i highly recommend this one.

[Rebecca Owen · Rating 2 out of 5]

In 2003, Debra Ginsberg wrote Raising Blaze about parenting her high functioning autistic son, Blaze. Written as TV episodes, Episodes tells, as the subtitle suggests, of his life the way he sees it. Each episode tells of a specific day in his life, listing characters, a summary, trivia, as well as soundtrack listings. Starting with his first year of high school, it goes through college and into the writing of his book.
Overall, the writing is somewhat stilted, reminding one of reading someone’s journal, complete with all of the mundane experiences of day-to-day life and without the emotional thought processes. There’s no overall plot keeping the reader interested, other than general interest in the character. And aside from a desire to get into the mind of an autistic person and know the way he thinks, there is nothing tying the reader to him. The lack of emotion in the writing, which I know is a symptom of autism, makes a reader’s investment in the reader difficult. While an adult might have the general interest in an autistic’s thought processes, I’m not entirely sure a teenager would have the same interest. While billed as being for 7-9 grade level, I don’t know if it would draw them in. The fact that I had trouble finishing the book doesn’t bode well for teenage readers. While I think it would give them a great insight, I’m not sure that they would stick it out long enough to find it.

[Sue Wargo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the YA autobiography of Blaze Ginsberg, an autistic young man who chronicles his late high school years and venture into college. The book chapters are crafted like movie and tv segments similar to the Imdb. Each chapter includes everything from songs to narrative notes about the chapters. Blaze is a high functioning autistic young man who writes about his foibles, obsessions, and a bottom line need and want to have a girl friend. He obsesses about movie and tv female icons such as Hilary Duff who he imagines is his real girlfriend. It is always difficult to rate someone's memories. I wanted to like this book more than I did. Reading a YA book with an adult perspective can be limiting even after being a teen school librarian for most of my career. I truly wonder if a teen will read this and find empathy. Maybe it was the format I found an issue. Maybe that is what a teen will like. The book lacked warmth, but then this is typically a trait often lacking in someone with autism. Overall this is an interesting look into the mind of Blaze and his perspective on life. Ultimately, like any young adult, he wants to be liked, be happy, and be loved.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Raising Blaze I learned Blaze himself had written a book. An interestingly constructed look at his life from where his mom's book left off, this book brings the reader through his sophomore year of college.

It started off slow, but by the halfway point I was in the rhythm of reading the "episodes." It is a very unique book structure.

Overall I thought the book was an interesting look into the world of a young adult with autism. Definitely a good read especially if you have already read Raising Blaze.

[David Archuleta · Rating 3 out of 5]

A memoir by about a teenagers high school life. In school some people should watch out for kids who have problems learning. Stuff could be happening at home or they just have problems. This book is basically a book about the life of a teenage boy named Blaze an his high school life. Blaze has autism and has learned his social skills threw this special school he went too. I have to give some credit to this guy because he's autistic and has wrote a book during his life, and not many fulling functioning people have done that. So this is a nice short book, it's good read it.

[Pdxladybug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Memoirs written by a man with Asperger's syndrome. It's very interesting to see his thought process and what stands out to him as important details about different events. Overall, getting to see how he saw the world was interesting to me, but the last 1/3 of the book felt kind of tedious. I almost felt obligated to finish it. I love that the book is divided into small chunks ("episodes")--that made it particularly easy to pick up and read a bit when I had a small bit of free time.

[Lia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though I did appreciate the unique format of this auto-biography, I just couldn't finish it. I simply wasn't curious about what was going to happen next. I think it's because the book consists of series of events that are fairly equal in importance and intensity, rather than having a major event that follows other little incidents in the development. Oh, the introduction written by the author's mom was very well-written though.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really didn't respond to this book - the style (live as a series of TV episodes) got tiresome and the plot (teenager in hs) wasn't all that compelling. Knowing that Blaze is a high-functioning autistic didn't really change my response to his book, although others may find his description of what life is/was like for him more interesting.

[Tammy]

I can't finish this book! I hate to abandon a book but I've given this one too much of my time. I picked it up off of a $1 table. I thought it would be interesting to read "a unique view into his mind and life as a high functioning autistic teenager." It was somewhat interesting for the first 50 or so pages but, at page 104, I give up thinking that there's going to be more to pull me back in.

[Jorge Guzman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book Episodes:my life as i see it was an okay book. It was a good book of a boy entering a new high school for special kids that need extra help with school. The boy is blaze he tells his life from the first day of high school.

[Maureen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book - I have read most of his mom's non- fiction & fiction books so I was already familiar with the author & his family. I just couldn't get into the format or his writing style. A brave young man for sure but the simplistic format got in the way of any message.

[Michelle Winters · Rating 3 out of 5]

a memoire written by a hugh function teenager with Autism. Such a great insight into his mind and how he organizes his world. Funny, smart and compassionate. Definitely recommend it.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real story written by an autistic boy living in California with his author mother. He writes as though his life were a script for a TV series.

[Jonathan Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Book.

[Sonia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had a hard time with the format so I didn't finish the book.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy to read.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by an autistic boy, this gives an interesting 'view' into his mind and how he sees life. It was a little hard for me to follow at times but I still enjoyed reading it.

[Deanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

ugh! couldn't even finish it!!!!

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what it is like in a mind of another? This book is exactly that! It is a biography of the author, Blaze Ginsberg. He is a high-functioning autistic individual. I have never read a book quite like this. Episodes was laid out as a script for a television show. I definitely get why Blaze chose this title of this book for that reason. I personally enjoyed this format and thought it was easy to follow along and gather personal details that a “normal” book would not outright tell me. Blaze mentioned that he started writing this book to remember important times and things he had done so he was less likely to forget them. His mother encouraged Blaze to write, so he continued his work and was not reluctant to show it to her.

Blaze had different tasks he wanted to complete, for example, get a girlfriend, start making friends, and complete college classes. Blaze is not a fan of change and he likes for everything to stay the same. That also goes along with this book. Everything is laid out in a very organized fashion, and it is the same throughout the entirety of this book. This made is extremely easy to follow along. Blaze is very special because he focuses on the details and not so much on the grand scheme of things. “He is more likely to remember conversations heard in the stands in one of the school’s softball games rather than the score of the game itself.” As his mother said it herself, Blaze has a peripheral view on life. I felt as if I was in Blaze’s head and the way he lists things out, it was almost like I was picking it out of him.

I really liked this book because I have never read anything quite like it. Blaze is such a dynamic character which let me relate to him. He goes into detail not only about his life but also the lives of his friends. Another quality I enjoyed about this book but was not expecting on first choosing it is that it is quite funny. I could just sense Blaze’s sarcasm when he wrote about certain people he does not quite favor or just about things that annoy him like Courtney’s crying. I will say I have laughed out loud on more than one occasion. I highly recommend this book. It was a good read and did not take long at all to read since I genuinely enjoyed it. I would direct this book toward people who are very open minded and want to learn what a person with autism thinks, does, or how they react to different situations.

[Stacey Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is unique. Blaze Ginsberg chronicles his life as a teenager into adulthood as episodes, like TV shows. He lists cast of characters, gives notes and a synopsis of what has happened on different days in his life. We get to know him and how he perceives the world. very cool . This memoir of a high functioning autistic young man helps us see the struggles that would go unnoticed unless pointed out. Blaze wants a girlfriend through most of the episodes and he let's us in on his thoughts about various girls he has crushes on during this time. Blaze can be upset by changes in his routine. His understanding of social situations may not be what others are thinking. Viewing his side of conversations and situations is intriguing and interesting. Kudos to Blaze for showing is inner feelings in such a unique way.