55 ratings | 54 reviews | avg rating:4.78

Shirley’s Year In Books

Shirley’s 2024 Year in Books

Take a look at Shirley’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

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Shirley Read-Jahn’s Followers (11)

Shirley’s Bookshelves

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currently-reading (17)
read (56)

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Julie Haigh

2,424 books | 353 friends

Karen Thompson

5 books | 30 friends

Carl R.

868 books | 529 friends

Susanne Waldmann

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811 books | 156 friends

Shirley Read-Jahn

Goodreads Author

Born

The United Kingdom

Website

https://www.facebook.com/srjpublications/?modal...

Genre

Children's, Biography, Fiction

Member Since

December 2015

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/shirleythereader

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Shirley Read-Jahn was born during World War II and educated in England before becoming a hippy and living in an ancient Roman burial tomb in Matala, Crete. She went on to take up many different colourful careers, including swimwear model, interpreter, landscape gardener, paralegal and events organiser. She also co-founded the highly-successful San Francisco Jazz Festival as well as running her own landscape business in the United States.
Shirley has belly-danced since her thirties, still plays table-tennis, and now lives in Australia. In retirement, she has finally found time to devote to her passion for writing and the books swirling around in her head.

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Shirley Read-Jahn’s books

Average rating: 4.75 · 135 ratings · 85 reviews · 21 distinct works • Similar authors

	Snowflake Goes to Queensland: a Travel Memoir (Snowflake Travel Memoirs) 4.70 avg rating — 20 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hidden in Plain Sight: A British Military Agent's Story 4.94 avg rating — 18 ratings — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dancing Through Life, Volume 1: A Memoir 4.93 avg rating — 15 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Vanishing Book: A Fictionalised Memoir 4.80 avg rating — 10 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dancing Through Life, Volume 2: A Memoir (ebook) 4.63 avg rating — 8 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Snowflake Goes to Western Australia: a Travel Memoir (Snowflake Travel Memoirs) 4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wally and the Mouse (Wally the Water Dragon Book 1 of 2)(ebook) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Prince Oliver Penguin and his Friend, Olivia it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wally and the Bushfire (ebook)(book 2 of 2) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Olivia, Prince Oliver and the Penguin Chicks 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Shirley is Currently Reading

Shirley Read-Jahn rated a book it was amazing

Been Dead, Never Been To Europe: My Recovery From The Widowmaker Heart Attack And The Brain Injury That Came With It

by Jon Johnston (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Shirley Read-Jahn said: " I found this memoir very interesting and well-written. It held me spellbound. Not only did I want to know the medical details of what happens when you have a heart attack and die for as long as Johnston did, but what his emotions were, and how everyt I found this memoir very interesting and well-written. It held me spellbound. Not only did I want to know the medical details of what happens when you have a heart attack and die for as long as Johnston did, but what his emotions were, and how everything impacted his life during his recuperation and afterwards. He didn't disappoint; it's all right there. Not only that, but I enjoyed his black, rather offbeat, droll and sometimes ironic humour: “Most of my complaints to non-physicians were met with, “Are you drinking enough water? Are you staying hydrated?” Oh, really? I’ve never heard that suggestion. Drinking enough water—you don’t say? It was only slightly annoying the first thirty-seven times I heard it, but when it got to thirty-eight, I became convinced that everyone on the planet isn’t drinking enough water and that chronic dehydration is the cause for most of the world’s problems. Global warming? Not drinking enough water. Ebola pandemic slaughtering thousands? Not enough water. Lost your job? Should have had more water.” His comments on the ambivalence about his Christian faith made me chuckle: "Honestly, it bothered me that I’d been dead but had no personal revelation of God’s existence. My death was the second time in my life (the first being my father’s death) that death had punched me directly in the face. You’d think this would have been the perfect opportunity for God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and all those saints to personally reveal themselves to me. I wanted a party, dammit. Never mind that I had peace, I wanted Christ himself to come to dinner with me, Heidi, and the family, change some water into wine, and make the perfect chicken Alfredo. We’d all have some of his wine, and Christ would reveal some secrets of the universe. Nothing too big—I didn’t want an existential crisis. I just wanted some of my questions answered. I wanted proof of Christ’s existence. Was Lee Harvey Oswald the lone assassin? Does the Loch Ness Monster exist? Or Bigfoot? ..." To offer us the opportunity to laugh at such a horrifyingly serious event in his life made the read of his memoir so much easier. I loved it. Well done indeed, Mr. Johnston. ...more "

Sep 01, 2025 01:28AM · see review

Shirley Read-Jahn is currently reading

Wallis: A Novel

by Anne Edwards

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Aug 10, 2025 03:53AM

Shirley Read-Jahn is currently reading

Sidesteps to The Somme on The Shoe: Travels by Barge Along the Western Front (Faring on The Shoe)

by Valerie Poore (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Shirley Read-Jahn said: " Ms. Poore has done it again, completely hooking me in with her way with words. I always feel I’m right there with her on her barge, in this case, the Hennie Ha, a/k/a The Shoe. This time from my armchair I fared with them along canals of the River So ...more "

Oct 07, 2024 10:55PM · see review

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Shirley’s Recent Updates

Shirley Read-Jahn rated a book it was amazing Been Dead, Never Been To Europe: My Recovery From The Widowmaker Heart Attack And The Brain Injury That Came With It by Jon Johnston (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I found this memoir very interesting and well-written. It held me spellbound. Not only did I want to know the medical details of what happens when you have a heart attack and die for as long as Johnston did, but what his emotions were, and how everyt ...more
Sep 01, 2025 01:27AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Been Dead, Never Been To Europe by Jon Johnston. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Been Dead, Never Been To Europe by Jon Johnston <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Shirley Read-Jahn rated a book it was amazing Rah Rah and Roos - Farming, Flying the Great Southern Land by Stephen Malins (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I'm from England just like Stephen Malins but I'd no idea what rah rah was until I read his memoir—it's rugby. Maybe you have to be a guy to know that sort of thing! I'm giving him five stars for this book, even with a couple of minor things here and ...more
Aug 24, 2025 11:30PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Rah Rah and Roos - Farming, Flying the Great Southern Land by Stephen Malins. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Rah Rah and Roos - Farming, Flying the Great Southern Land by Stephen Malins <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Shirley Read-Jahn is currently reading Wallis: A Novel by Anne Edwards	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 10, 2025 03:53AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Wallis by Anne Edwards. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Wallis by Anne Edwards <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Shirley Read-Jahn rated a book it was amazing Senior Citizens on the Run: Canada, North America and catching our breath back in Australia by Rosie Mitchell	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
When I reviewed an earlier book of Rosie Mitchell's, I mentioned she writes in a diary/journalistic style, so you can follow her trip on a map, read what a place is like, then either imagine it, or compare it to when you were there. As an added benef ...more
Aug 01, 2025 05:04PM · like · see review
Shirley Read-Jahn liked Lisa Wright's review of Snowflake Goes to Western Australia: a Travel Memoir (Snowflake Travel Memoirs): "I’ve enjoyed other books by this author who has led an interesting life full of adventure. Now older and in another new country, Shirley is still full of joie de vivre which shines out of the pages of this travel memoir. Shirley and her new husband, H" Read more of this review »
Jul 07, 2025 12:42PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Snowflake Goes to Western Australia by Shirley Read-Jahn. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Snowflake Goes to Western Australia by Shirley Read-Jahn <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Shirley Read-Jahn liked Chris's review of Snowflake Goes to Western Australia: a Travel Memoir (Snowflake Travel Memoirs): "Interesting travel memoir detailing Shirley and her husband Horst's trip from New South Wales along the south coast of Australia, and to Perth on the west coast. I admit to not knowing a lot about the geography of Australia, and much of it was new to" Read more of this review »
Jul 07, 2025 12:42PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Snowflake Goes to Western Australia by Shirley Read-Jahn. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Snowflake Goes to Western Australia by Shirley Read-Jahn <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Shirley Read-Jahn is now following Lisa Wright's reviews
Jul 07, 2025 12:39PM · like
Shirley Read-Jahn is now following Valerie Poore Author of African Ways
May 28, 2025 06:14PM · like
Shirley Read-Jahn rated a book it was amazing Mellow Mists and Walnut Wine: A Recipe for Life in the French Countryside (Life at Les Libellules Book 2) by Lindy Viandier (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Lindy Viandier's book is a pure delight. Not only can she write beautifully descriptive prose, but you get the bonus of wonderful recipes throughout the book. I made her recipe called Marie's Fondant au Chocolat and my guests nearly swooned over the ...more
Dec 29, 2024 02:12PM · 1 like · like · see review
Shirley Read-Jahn rated a book really liked it The Lady in the Bay Window: A true story of a haunted Sheffield home by William C. Grave (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I read The Lady in the Bay Window in two sittings. It was another one of those reads that is hard to put down. I’m interested and intrigued by the paranormal, knowing a ghostbuster here in Sydney and having experienced a couple of ghostly events thro ...more
Nov 12, 2024 01:58PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Lady in the Bay Window by William C. Grave. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Lady in the Bay Window by William C. Grave <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">