The Quest for Juice

Paranoia #1

by Jonathan-David Jackson

Oscar has always lived a life of quiet paranoia, but now everything is changing. Suddenly, the bus is frequently late, his housekeys won't fit in the lock, and someone has taken his juice, which was the one thing holding his life together. He strikes back against the people behind it all, but when he strikes too hard an innocent man ends up dead, and Oscar ends up in jail, diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic and facing life in a mental institution. On his journey to mental health and the truth, he has to make hard decisions about medication, trusting his own mind, dating a nurse, and whether that hedgehog can actually talk.

ebook

First published June 10, 2013

About the author

Jonathan-David Jackson was born in Gastonia, North Carolina, at 3 in the morning on May 14, 1987. At first, he could not walk, talk, or indeed use the toilet. After a year of intensive training in NC, he moved his family to Kingsport, Tennessee, where he finally overcame those early disabilities. Soon, he was walking and talking as good as anyone, and perhaps better. Walking and talking wasn't good enough, though, so he also learned to write.

He wrote and wrote, and with gentle encouragement from his wife, he finally wrote a book - The Quest for Juice. Then he wrote this biography. Perhaps he'll do more things; that would certainly be exciting.

Reviews

[Stephanie (Stepping Out Of The Page) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I've been very firm with myself lately and told myself to restrict my acceptance of books for review, there are certain books that are going to make me give in - The Quest for Juice is a book that I simply couldn't resist and accepted as soon as I read the idea behind it. If you know me, you'll know that I'm interested in anything and everything mental-health related and so when I was offered a book about a paranoid schizophrenic in a mental institution, how could I say no?

I have to admit that I am not one to pick up self-published or books that haven't been published by a big name publisher, so in that respect, this was a first for me. I am wholeheartedly glad that I gave this book a chance - the quality of this book, the writing, the plot, the structure was fantastic - it's so clear that Jackson is a talented writer and I am sure that a lot of others would agree. Jackson's writing seems so fresh and it really is captivating. His style of writing really helped to bring his protagonist, Oscar to life. Despite his irrational behaviours and thoughts, I managed to connect with him and Jackson helped us to understand why Oscar had these thoughts. Throughout parts of the book, I actually found myself wondering if Oscar was right in his thinking (a lot of us are captured on CCTV monitoring everyday...) or not. Jackson really is a clever, cunning writer who makes you think.

Oscar was such a fantastic character to read about. As I've said, he was easy to connect with and despite his issues, he was also a very kind and (often unintentionally) funny man. The Quest for Juice claims to be 'darkly comic' and it is, in the best sort of way. Going through Oscar's situation could make you either laugh or cry and thankfully, Jackson helps us to find the humour in the situation. I am not usually a fan of footnotes in books, but they definitely worked in this case, breaking the book up with Oscar's often comical comments. This is a wittily funny book. Looking back, the story seemed like a bit of a farce (in a good way!), whilst at the time actually being very 'normal' in Oscar's eyes.

Naturally with his condition, Oscar has a hard time with friendships and romantic relationships, both of which are explored in this book. I really enjoyed reading about Oscar's relationships and watching as both his thoughts and trust changed when he was taking medication. As aforementioned, Jackson is a clever writer - I also started assessing people in this book as Oscar did, should he really trust them, or the medication that they are giving him? I don't know if this is because I am a naturally anxious, somewhat paranoid person, but I was really swayed into Oscar's way of thinking at some points, whilst at the same time, laughing at the irrationality of it all.

In our politically correct era, perhaps a few people could potentially be offended by this book, but I will happily admit that I found it very funny. This isn't a factual book - it's a piece of comic fiction and it does what it is meant to - it engages the reader and makes you smile as you turn the pages. Paranoid schizophrenia and mental illnesses in general are very real problems and they should certainly be talked about on a serious level, but I actually like this take on mental illness because it doesn't take itself too seriously.

It takes something really special for me to give a book a five star review, but by the end of the first chapter, I knew that this book would be getting full marks from me. The Quest for Juice is a truly captivating, intriguing book with such brilliant writing that had me hooked from the first pages. I truly can't wait to see Jackson's next offering - accepting another book from this author is something that I certainly wouldn't have to think about twice! Highly recommended for adults and older YA readers. The Quest for Juice is a hidden gem... seek it out!

[carol.]

I've actually been reading this but set it down for something or another (work, eating, sleep; one of those annoying things readers have to indulge in from time to time) and haven't picked it up since. It is indeed as advertised, deeply weird because the protagonist is having paranoid delusions so in some ways, it is kind of hilarious, because he has such a good attitude about these things, and in other ways, it's kind of problematic, because he's having these paranoid delusions and I really struggled with this mixed bag of compassion/guilt/amusement. Our main character, Oscar, has been on a quest for Sunshine's pulpless orange juice, which seems to no longer be made when he has a break and ends up in jail talking to a psychologist.

"If only you could see the evidence I've accumulated, you'd understand. I've got it all on the wall on my house. It's like the sort of wall a detective or a really dedicated person would have, not like a serial killer would have. They changed my keys and they took my juice, that's in your report isn't it, all the terrible things they've done to me?"

I do have every intention of getting back to this because I have absolutely no idea where it is going to end up. I also feel like I want to restart it to really build the atmosphere.

[Benjamin Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Quest for Juice

I've read the book twice and I plan on reading it several more times. The last time I read it, it seemed to come alive to me and I really enjoyed the characters, (especially that hedgehog!) they seemed to fit together nicely within the narrative.
It would be nice if he would get to it and write the second one already! I expect he will have the second one published sometime around Christmas and present myself with a signed hardback special edition containing our childhood photo bathed in fresh squeezed orange juice. This is a far cry from a custom designed humidor shipped in from Italy or perhaps my two front teeth, but a brother can hope right?

This story was the perfect length because it left me wanting more, it didn't throw the characters out there completely so I had questions about who these people were. The whole story was exactly proportioned to leave the reader desiring more! I was definitely tricked and have been cultivated for the second book.

The biggest fact of why this book is so neat is because my brother wrote it. I've always known he could be a writer and here is such an ordeal in absolute fruition. I'm very proud of him for putting the shoulder to the plow so to speak and doing this for himself and for others that will more-so look up to him, those that will be proud of him and those who will one day be asking him for his own personal knowledge on how he managed to write such things about juice and the heresy's involved when someone messes with a man's juice.

I'm not going to give away any details of the book because I want readers to discover those on their own, perhaps next time.
Good show Jonathan-David :)
5 out of 5

[Leigh Moir · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and found it very funny. I love Mr Hodge,however it was slightly scary, particularly near the end. Despite that, this is a brilliant book and I can't wait for the second one.

[Jonathan-David Jackson]

This was actually a pretty interesting book. It's been three years since I wrote it, so I figured I'd read it and see how it is after all this time.

I felt sympathetic to the main character, Oscar, even early on when he's actually killing people and beating others into a coma for no good reason. Maybe that's because in some ways I wrote him like myself, or like people I know. (I'm not saying I did write him like myself or people I know, none of us are murderers. I'm just saying maybe we have a certain murdery quality that he shares.)

Even though I wrote the book, it was sometimes hard for me to tell whether Oscar was right or not, whether his medication was effective, who the bad guys were. I feel pleased with that, because it means the reader is really getting into Oscar's head and experiencing what it might be like for him with his worries and doubts.

There are some pretty funny scenes, which mostly seem to involve animals. The possum burglary discussion, which includes characters named after my actual mother and father, is a good one, and later on, when Mr. Hodge the hedgehog gets involved there are several good scenes with him. The action scene with the robot cameras was great to read, and I think would be pretty sweet in a movie version. There are odd, interesting characters, like the County Clerk, that I still think about sometimes, and I wish that I hadn't let Jim's brother, Jacob, die, because I would like to have explored their relationship more in the other two books.

The book gets better the farther you read into it, and that's because at the beginning of the book I had no idea what I was writing about. That fits well with a paranoid schizophrenic character, because it flits around like somebody with a disordered mind might. But anyway, when I started writing it, I intended to write a dystopian book, because I really liked those (the book didn't go that way, though it kind of does in the next one), and that was literally my only idea, so I was casting about, stalling until I could think of what to write on the next page.

I have a sometimes meandering writing style, where I like to use words repetitively, use alliteration, avoid the topic at hand, and create long, German-style sentences where you've forgotten the point by the time you get to the period. I have fun with my writing, and I love playing with language, but sometimes I annoyed even myself with that. As far as I know, though, nobody else who's read the book has said anything about that, so maybe it's just me.

Since I wrote it, I've been unhappy with the beginning of the book, and intended to re-write it at some point. It used to make me feel cringey inside just thinking about other people reading the first few pages. Now that I've read it with some distance between myself and the original writing, though, I find that actually it's not bad, and maybe I'll leave it untouched.

About halfway through the book, I can tell that I had a much more solid idea of what I was writing, and the book is much more coherent, although still with plenty of things happening that would confound the expectations of most readers.

The end of the book is abrubt, and a whole new concept is suddenly introduced in just the last twenty pages or so, and that's another thing I used to feel a bit ashamed of and like I might change. After reading it, though, I no longer feel that way. Is it a little sudden, but it's not jarring, and it leaves plenty open for the sequel, The Quest for Truth. It's sudden because I hadn't actually planned to end the book there. I had no ideas at all for how the book would end, and had no plans to write a sequel, but when I wrote "I put my arm around Penelope, and we drove on.", I immediately knew that was the end of the book.

For my first book, it's great. I know my writing gets better the more I write, so i'm really looking forward to reading the next two books once it's been at least three years for each of them. I'm especially looking forward to more of Mr. Hodge.

I'm pleased that this book seems different from many other books. Unfortunately, it's different enough that I still don't know what genre to classify it in.

It's difficult to give this book a star rating, because I'm harsh with my own work. I think it's a sturdy three, and I can see how other people might give it a four. I am still pleasantly surprised that anybody ever likes it enough to give it a five, but they do!

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oscar Well is something else. He is absolutely certain that someone is following him, that “they” are plotting against him. They have stolen his juice, they have tampered with his house key. He is so fearful that he even suspects his very own mother of being in on this plot of deceit against him. He hides in the clothes dryer to avoid her.

Oscar is certifiably insane, no joke about it. Indeed, he is committed to an institution after following a man who he believes is in on this ring…and something terrible happens, something that Oscar refuses to admit.

Oscar is taken to Maple Ridge, where he is put in a bolted room. He is there for an indeterminate amount of time, several weeks at least, and encounters a sweet nurse who suffers from his same mental disorder: schizophrenia. Instead of taking his prescription medicine, Oscar obstinately ignores it, believing it too is somehow being used against him to confuse him and dampen his worries and fears. Nurse Penelope is a gentle woman, and shares her own stories and experiences with Oscar, ultimately convincing him to take his medication as prescribed. He is almost infinitely on the right track, no longer in a constant state of fear, paranoia, worry and skepticism about people.

Eventually, Oscar is free to live his normal life, but things are strange. Even those who are sane around him notice these very odd and bizarre things. Oscar pays them no mind and their paranoid ideas no mind. He begins a sweet courtship with Nurse Penelope, until he tells her about the cameras his new job has installed in his house.

This leads Oscar on a wild goose chase, and the novel picks up momentum at this point. Things are not as they seem…

This book touches on a very serious matter – and includes some very serious content – yet it is written in an extremely humorous light, almost to the point of being characterized too much and over the top. I’m not schizophrenic, nor do I know anyone who is, so I have no idea if the stream of consciousness that Jackson has used in this book is accurate of schizophrenia, but it is so insane that you can’t help but laugh…continuously.

Although Oscar suffers from schizophrenia, he has a very sharp mind. Too sharp for his own good. The misconception of his reality is as accurate as can be…

[Patricia Hamill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky, dark and funny.

Oscar Wells suspects 'they' are up to no good in his town. All of his extensive research, documented meticulously on a wall in his house, points towards a dark conspiracy. First, it's little things, like his key not quite fitting and having to jiggle it to open his door. But when his favorite Sunshine Juice is replaced by Sunlight OJ, "now with 50% more real orange pulp," they've gone too far. From there Oscar spirals into a paranoid breakdown that lands him first in jail and later in a mental ward, and then it gets really interesting.

Oscar is a mess. The book is told from his perspective and he freely walks you through every connection, suspicion and thought that lead him to his often tenuous conclusions and decidedly odd outlook on life. I found myself laughing aloud many a time.

On the other hand, the unlikely outcome requires quite a leap of faith, even through the eyes of the delusional main character. Entertaining, yes; believable, no. I'm not certain I would read the next one in the series when it comes out, because I'm not sure what's left to tell based on where the story left off.

Overall, The Quest for Juice is an enjoyable read with a ton of humorous, though at times dark, insanity sprinkled in. I highly recommend it to people who like stories where reality and perception clash in interesting ways. This story kept me guessing and second guessing, and I loved that about it.

[Sadie Forsythe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
The Quest for Juice could best be described as quirky, in a somewhat dark sort of way. It is unquestionably a fun read, with lots of twists, turns and uncertainty about what is real and imagined. The writing is very readable and it's fairly well edited. I think I noticed one or two mistakes, hardly anything in the grand scheme of things.

I did find the end notes distracting, though most of them were quite funny. So, it kind of balanced out. By the end, things started to get just a little ridiculous, at least one character is just abandoned along the way (though, maybe he'll show up in the sequel) and I don't think the whole thing quite wrapped up in the end. Don't get me wrong. It ended appropriately (no cliffhanger), but the question of 'why Oscar,' or Hope for that matter, wasn't wholly addressed. Again, maybe in the sequel.

As a side note: for some reason, even though it's stated that it's set in the USA, I found myself thinking it was set in England more than once. It just feels British in some ill-defined sort of way, maybe it's English-like humour. All in all, a satisfying read, even if not a favourite.

[Emma Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book ever.

[Miz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good self-published book with a bit of intrigue and a lot of development. I'm going to pass this onto others who would like to review :)

[Elizabeth Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juice!

I mean, I don't really mind pulp, but I get it. So that was one heck of a ride! I can honestly say the ending caught me off guard. I laughed quite a few times, and for the most part it was a pretty easy read, though, the stint in the mental institution dragged on longer then I felt it needed to. Other then that though, it was pretty great.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I thought "The Quest for Juice" which I won from Goodreads Giveaways was a dark, strange and simple story about a paranoid man,Oscar Well who vexed by an obsessive delusion kills a stranger and is sent to the Maple Ridge Psychiatric Hospital for treatment. But this novel goes beyond a simple, straightforward story, it slowly and deliberately draws the reader under its spell as Oscar Well uncovers a sinister plot by a terrorist organization whose leader is head of the psychiatric sanatorium.

The story unfolds as Oscar's paranoia escalates;obsessing about the brand of orange juice he drinks, about the bus schedule, his house keys not fitting his lock and men with the name Ron. In this state he's imprisoned for murder and still thinking he's innocent is instead sent to the psychiatric hospital for treatment. Unable to hide from his guilt, and the pain of his headaches, Oscar finally consents to taking Psylocybin after discussions with his beautiful nurse Penelope Hope. When Oscar's life begins to get back to some kind of normalcy his adventures begin with a strange new job, a romantic liaison and a puzzle surrounding the identity of the man he killed.

The plot is well-written and the events flow in a natural progression from Oscar's incarceration and his supposed cure to his struggle for normalcy when he finally discovers all is not what it seems. I loved the humorous anecdotes, Oscar's insight into things like "the micromanagement of bodily functions" at Microsoft, the proper treatment of a paper cut or the misleading use of the word "butterfly." And then there are those amusing incidents like the cameras in Oscar's house, Penelope's alternate escape route from her apartment, and the big possum that wrecked his father's office and ate his peanuts.

One of my favorite characters was Mr. Hodge, Jim's friend the hedgehog who can hotwire a car and takes an aversion to Dr. Boggs. Oscar 's very perceptive and brave in his attempt to release his friends from the doctor's clutches, but underlying his best virtues is his deeply suspicious nature and fear. Penelope Hope is Oscar's love interest, although professional in her nursing capacity, she has just as complicated a personality, succumbing to her paranoia about his new job. All the main characters in the story have intriguing and unforgettable personalities including Oscar's friend Wilson, protective but distant, and the sensitive and suicidal Jim.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating novel so unlike any other mystery that I've read, and I will look forward to reading the next book.

[Les · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really interesting book. I disagree with premise of it being "laugh out loud". It is amusing, especially in the beginning. However, as I got into it my perception changed from being amused to being sympathetic with the struggles of the main character. Many of the situations are indeed funny, but underlying that is the reality that the situation is a result of a difficult condition.

Its an intriguing book that is hard to put down.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

It all started because Oscar’s favorite juice has disappeared and unfortunately for him, it doesn’t end there. Yes, his one friend notices that he has stopped taking his anti-psychotic meds, but that is not of any importance when the people out there are messing everything up as part of a grander scheme. It is up to Oscar to uncover this hidden organization and reveal their plans, before the whole world is lost. Sadly his mission is waylaid when he lands himself in the mental institution.

Told from the first person narrative of a paranoid schizophrenic, this book will take readers on a wild and bizarre theme-park ride. Even though readers understand Oscar is mentally ill, they will fall in love with his humorous, witty and gloomy antics on his journey to find the truth. As readers dive further into the story, they will begin to look over their own shoulders, as Jackson seems to be echoing their singular thoughts, just in a more extreme fashion. Quest for Juice is a satirical and entertaining story with a dash of suspense thrown in towards the end.

Notes:
The author provided a copy of this book for me to review.
This review was originally posted on the Ariesgrl Book Review website.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, this book is very funny, very clever, and extremely engaging.

I laughed out loud, often, especially at the Pratchett-esque footnotes that run through the story. What is better than the humour, however, is the depth of character found in Oscar Wells. I couldn't help but like him, and so when events in the story started to turn sour I also couldn't help but root for Oscar and cheer him on. It is the charm of Oscar that keeps you reading, keeps you wanting Oscar to be helped, or rescued, or vindicated, or at least, dammit, let the guy get his damned juice.

Another surprising element of the novel is the subject of paranoia and mental illness, and the infinite spectrum that exists between defining one condition versus the other. In this age of global and local surveillance, certain degrees of paranoia are valid; but by the same token, extreme paranoia can prevent us from seeing what's actually happening. Here, Jackson applies a delicate hand, and guides us through Oscar's journey quite deftly.

It is a rewarding read, a truly funny book, and I highly recommend it. There are also rumours of a sequel, which is precisely what I was hoping for when I finished.

[Mandy White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a real mind-bender. At first, I was both fascinated and disturbed as I found myself drawn into the mind of a paranoid schizophrenic. I experienced all the little nuances of the character's paranoia along with him; he was so convinced it was real that I would have been convinced as well, had his beliefs not been so outlandish.

Finally he gets treatment for his condition, and that's where the story takes a really messed-up turn. I can't really say more without spoilers, but I will just say that in this story, things are not what they seem. Then, when things do appear to be what they seem, they are not. Like I said, it's a real mind-bender. I was thrilled to find an excerpt for the sequel at the end of the book.

[Jo-Ann Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had trouble putting down this fast paced book. Is he crazy? Is it paranoia? Maybe he should be paranoid? What is going on?

I moved back and forth wondering what was real and what was delusion and whether or not there was reality behind the delusion as I read my way through this intriguing mystery. In the beginning, I wondered if we would ever get to the point of this book because the paranoia seemed to go on and on. But there is substance underneath and the story materializes from the delusion.

A very clever approach.

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellently written to keep the reader intensely focused on the story and the next thing the reader knows, the end has been reached! It's a joyous read, an exciting and thrilling journey! I wonder where someone can acquire such thoughts that I thought myself to only have!? I was overjoyed to travel alongside each character through the story, each circumstance was a thrilling delight! Drama, love, action, it can be named and found within!
Don't delay, enjoy this read today!

[Colleen Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started out as an entertaning, humorous read, but lost it's shine for me at about the 60% mark. I slogged through till the end, but found the last third of the book pretty repetitive. I think I just got tired of the "everybody's watching me" schtick.

On the plus side, this author's work is well structured and edited, and has the flavor of Terry Pratchett and Christopher Moore. Definitely one to add to my watch list, but I'll most likely skip the others in this trilogy.

[Deandre Gideon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book is interesting

Not a bad read. It gives a little insight on how a paranoid person acts.
I would recommend this book

[Katy Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just cant. I tried to read it but just had to stop. It felt like I just kept waiting for something to happen and it didnt. It's a NO for me.

[Elizabeth Glidden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read! Had no clue what to expect

I got this book in a pinch, wanting something humorous to read on a cruise. I thought I'd forget about it, finished or not, once I got back home. I was mistaken. I enjoyed it enough to finish, and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
Good, odd but funny story on a subject in a time where nearly everything is offensive to someone, somehow.

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel tale that will entice you to read all the way through to discover what is truly going on with the characters and satisfy you with the facts and connections that are intertwined with a hint of humor!

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun quirky bit of brain candy.

[Darinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really interesting but sad. I was married to a man with paranoia and this gave me a peek into what it may have been like in his brain. No picnic.
I’d probably read another book by this writer. (That’s usually the sign of a fairly good recommendation from me... )