How I Ruined My Life

by John Dawson Jackson

Who could possibly describe the misery you're about to read better than the narrator himself? From the beginning of the book:

"I’m an idiot. That about covers it. I’m also a huge jerk, just a giant bag of worthless matter. After years and years of trying, I’ve finally managed to screw up my life completely. My mom always said not to give up. My dad always said, “Shut up and go to bed.” I tried to go with my mom’s advice on this one, but I still completely ruined my life. This is not one of those stories where the guy thinks things are bad and then they get better. I’m not going to learn some big lesson at the end or realize the profound truth of living. Don’t believe me? Skip to the last page and read. Go ahead. I’ll wait. Dare to be different and read the last page. There you go. See? There is no hope for this story, no happy ending. If you can’t handle seeing a pretty decent guy destroy everything and everyone around him because of his own stupidity, stop reading now. I won’t be offended. But, if you like that kind of thing because deep down you’re a sadist, then let’s keep on keeping on. This is the story of how I met the world’s most perfect girl, and how I royally messed it up. Enjoy."

222 pages, Paperback

First published July 10, 2013

About the author

Born in a ditch beside a busy highway, John Dawson Jackson never knew his parents. Taken in by wealthy philanthropists Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Elmo Jackson, he was trained from the age of two in classical piano. A horrible accident left his arm damaged, ending his dream before it began. He was forced to undertake control of his adopted father's oil business, a company that allowed him to travel the globe and explore the far reaches of civilization. As he studied the ancient carvings of the Mesopotamians, he realized just how much of our history has been covered up by powerful people. These findings have been collected into his new novel The Relics.

Or maybe that isn't true. Maybe this is...

John Dawson Jackson is an independent author based out of the Knoxville, TN area who has a broad spectrum of interests. Predominantly, his novels integrate the genres of fantasy, history, and horror with intriguing mind bending qualities. All of his works are based in the supernatural and exist within the same universe- a sometimes frightening, but always exhilarating place where Jackson enjoys playing with the interconnectivity of what is real, myth, and rumor.

Reviews

[Christine McCallum-Randalls · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a fairly tale. Our main character isn't interested in sugar coating anything, and he's no prince on a white horse, here to save the day. Our guy's life is filled with money, sexual depravity, alcohol, spiraling out of control, and sometimes, writing. He knows he's a monster. He's aware that his welcome in most people's lives has a shelf life, and he acts accordingly. He's a train wreck. You can't help but to read about him. You can't help but to judge him. You'll think about it this book long after you've closed it.

If you enjoy reading Brett Easton Ellis novels and dark graphic novels, this book is for you. Protagonist? What protagonist? "How I Ruined My Life" is a gritty first-hand account of the author's twisted, dirty, and complicated epic romance. John Dawson Jackson reminds us that "writers are liars." So how much of it is true? Somewhere John Dawson Jackson is laughing at us.

[Tam Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was irony at its best. Tragic love. Beautiful train wreck. Likeable bastard. Loveable snarky smartass. He even tells you the ending from the beginning and given the title you can only guess. However, I could not turn away. This book sucked me in from the beginning. I was not sure if I wanted to hug him, slap him, or sit and have a drink with him. His honesty was even endearing while making me go "tsk, tsk" in my head at the same time.

This was definitely not your traditional love story. Yes, I will call this a love story. If you want something original, smart, funny and even sweet in its own weird way, then READ THIS BOOK. I am so glad I did.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly loved this book. It is a complex romance. Mr. Jackson points out that writers are liars. This book was really well written, surprising because if you believe the author he had little time to write between womanizing and booze. Unless he was lying about that. He said the last page would determine if I was a pessimist or an optimist. I admit I was happy in the ending but then I wasn't or am I lying? No spoilers here. I laughed, cried and wanted to throttle the author. It is a wonderfully fast paced book. I just need to find out if anything was as it seemed or not.

[ABC · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're talking about the guy who really fucked up. After a years of alcohol and sex destruction, which is way too good describe, he finally meets the girl of his dreams. I find the art of describing this girl very honestly. I think it is right way doing it, every girl would fall for it. So, we are having a lots of this first time scenes, when the couple can't take the hands from each other. Wonderful. The thinking, when the one says "I love you" what do you answer, are you in it too, or not and why not...I don't want to say more about the doing, because it's very good and actually simple. All you must know is that I enjoyed this book very, very much.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad I didn't skip to the last page ;)