A chronicle of autism with twice the impact

A dual memoir can shed interesting light by having two perspectives recounting the narrative. “The Ride Together: A Brother and Sister’s Memoir of Autism in the Family” puts a twist on the genre. Cartoonist Paul Karasik’s drawings alternate with the writings of his sister, longtime book editor Judy Karasik, in their account of life with their autistic brother, David. Since my son has autism and I’m a cartoonist, I was a tad curious. The end result is a book that’s funny, emotional and insightful.

The cartoon geek side of me insisted upon exploring Paul’s cartoons first. While I’ve read a fair amount about autism, I’d never seen one cartoon on the subject, let alone half a book of them. (Ten years ago, Paul collaborated on an astonishing -- and just reissued -- graphic novel adaptation of Paul Auster’s existential gumshoe novella, “City of Glass.”) While the art in some graphic novels is dark and brooding, Paul’s work is bright and buoyant. The breeziness of his cartoons and his natural gift of humor make the difficulties David often encounters easier to relate to. They literally take you deep into David’s unique mind, as well as Paul’s.

Paul’s chapters address major sagas of Karasik family life in midcentury Chevy Chase, Md., including David’s early diagnosis, struggles to find the right school and finally the success in locating a group home for adults with autism. Paul -- who read comics religiously growing up -- recalls the Superman comic that was set in the Bizarro World, an alternate universe where everything is turned upside down. (A memorable “Seinfeld” episode heavily referenced this curious planet.) Paul and Judy no doubt often felt that growing up with a brother like David was not unlike being in such a parallel world. Paul, who is seen in this chapter literally diving into comic book pages, clearly found them to be an irresistible escape. In one of the book’s most telling moments, a stunned Paul finds a public service cartoon ad in this very Superman comic about how to act around children with mental disabilities. David literally followed Paul all the way from Earth to the Bizarro World.

As obsessed as Paul was with comics, David was equally smitten with television and would re-create “Meet the Press” episodes and Three Stooges movies. While pacing and slapping his hands on his head, David also frequently acted out scenes from the mid-1950s baby boomer classic, “The Adventures of Superman.” David was fascinated by the Man of Steel but equally smitten by the dastardly villains he saw on television, especially one named Gorilla Watson. The sequence where Gorilla hijacks two chapters and insists upon putting his two cents in with Paul about David is as inventive as it is touching.

While Paul uses the fantasy world of narrative cartoons to capture his experiences, Judy unflinchingly chronicles the reality of growing up in their family. When viewed within the framework of the 1950s, her parents’ decision to raise their autistic son at home was bold and extraordinary. Back then, most kids like David were institutionalized.

Judy’s bittersweet memories are like uncropped family snapshots or unedited home movies. Joan and Monroe Karasik struggled to find a place for David in a world that didn’t have one, while also running a home with other normal and exuberant children. Judy describes how her family luckily had Dorothy White, their devoted housekeeper, whose daily presence made raising David at home possible.

Paul and Judy’s narratives alternate in separate chapters until almost the very end, when they merge. As Judy’s prose dovetails right into Paul’s cartoons, there’s a quiet hush. It’s like two singers who’ve shared a stage but haven’t sung together harmonizing in a duet. Paul and Judy ask their brother for comments on their book. David drifts off as he often does and begins reciting from the opening narration of his favorite TV series: “Strange visitor from another planet with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men!” Those famous lines take on a whole other meaning and will forever remind me of “The Ride Together” taken by the Karasik family. David’s extraordinary journey proves that men of steel come in all shapes and sizes.

*

Tony Peyser is a contributor to the political website BuzzFlash.com.