154 ratings | 20 reviews | avg rating:4.51

Jan’s Year In Books

Jan’s 2025 Year in Books

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

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Jan Karol Tanaka’s Followers (19)

Jan’s Bookshelves

to-read (21)
currently-reading (72)
read (170)
did-not-finish (0)
historical-fiction (4)

Jan’s Friends (33)

Melisa Dowling Reed

74,161 books | 1,350 friends

Judith Keim

641 books | 2,743 friends

ReadAlongWithSue ★⋆. ࿐࿔catching up

4,861 books | 3,825 friends

Sandy Frykholm

150 books | 76 friends

Kathleen Ball

88 books | 808 friends

Tammy Mannersly

164 books | 2,430 friends

Frank Kelso

3,688 books | 1,647 friends

Michele

1,469 books | 1,833 friends

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Jan Karol Tanaka

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

http://www.distantshoresofhome.com

Genre

Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Children's

Influences

Scott O'Dell, Harper Lee, Ivan Doig ...more

Member Since

November 2013

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Born into a family of pioneers, it was only natural to find great value in preserving history. Great stories come from great characters who have weathered hardship and persevered. Those are the stories I grew up with and want to pass on to another generation, the stories that teach us what it means to be human and calls out the best in each of us.

I enjoy living in other people’s history. Writing fictional accounts of characters who live in a time other than my own provides the best escape, one that allows me to return with knowledge of another’s life lessons. I like the idea of taking others by the hand and taking them with me through the time portal that opens with the turning of a page.

After graduating from Purdue University, I spend the ...more

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Jan Karol Tanaka’s books

Average rating: 4.45 · 20 ratings · 15 reviews · 1 distinct work

Misha Alexandrov

4.45 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions

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Jan Karol Tanaka's Blog

Booklife Prize in Fiction

Publishers Weekly and Booklife just announced their list of thirty books still in the running for the Booklife Prize in Fiction. Misha Alexandrov is listed under middle grade fiction with four other titles. The finalist will be announced November 24, 2016.

Jan is Currently Reading

Jan Tanaka is currently reading

The Case of the Burgundy Vineyards: A 1930s Mystery (Lord Edgington Investigates Abroad Book 4)

by Benedict Brown

bookshelves: currently-reading

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18 hours, 58 min ago

Jan Tanaka is currently reading

Murder at Cottonwood Creek (Stella and Lyndy Mystery #7)

by Clara McKenna (Goodreads Author)

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Jan 13, 2026 08:30PM

Jan Tanaka is currently reading

Death on the Night Train to Verona: A 1920s Mystery (Lord Edgington Investigates Abroad Book 2)

by Benedict Brown (Goodreads Author)

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Oct 01, 2025 07:36PM

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Jan’s Recent Updates

Jan Tanaka is currently reading The Case of the Burgundy Vineyards: A 1930s Mystery (Lord Edgington Investigates Abroad Book 4) by Benedict Brown	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
18 hours, 58 min ago · like
Jan Tanaka finished reading Calico Palace by Gwen Bristow	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
Feb 25, 2026 01:57PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Calico Palace by Gwen Bristow. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Calico Palace by Gwen Bristow <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jan Tanaka rated a book it was amazing The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin (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
Feb 04, 2026 06:00PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jan Tanaka rated a book it was amazing The Maid (Molly the Maid, #1) by Nita Prose (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
Jan 30, 2026 08:45PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Maid by Nita Prose. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Maid by Nita Prose <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jan Tanaka is currently reading Murder at Cottonwood Creek (Stella and Lyndy Mystery #7) by Clara McKenna (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
Jan 13, 2026 08:30PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Murder at Cottonwood Creek by Clara McKenna. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Murder at Cottonwood Creek by Clara McKenna <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jan Tanaka rated a book it was amazing The Alpine Christmas Mystery: A 1920s Christmas Mystery (Lord Edgington Investigates Abroad Book 3) by Benedict Brown (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
Jan 05, 2026 08:58PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Alpine Christmas Mystery by Benedict Brown. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Alpine Christmas Mystery by Benedict Brown <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jan Tanaka is currently reading Death on the Night Train to Verona: A 1920s Mystery (Lord Edgington Investigates Abroad Book 2) by Benedict Brown (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
Oct 01, 2025 07:36PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Death on the Night Train to Verona by Benedict Brown. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Death on the Night Train to Verona by Benedict Brown <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jan Tanaka finished reading Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah (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
Sep 24, 2025 08:50PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jan Tanaka is currently reading Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah (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
Sep 02, 2025 08:08PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Between Sisters by Kristin Hannah <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jan Tanaka is currently reading Ghosts Of Gold Mountain: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad by Gordon H. Chang	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 31, 2025 11:23AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Ghosts Of Gold Mountain by Gordon H. Chang. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Ghosts Of Gold Mountain by Gordon H. Chang <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Making Connections: 4415. - MISHA ALEXANDROV (Distant Shores of Home, #1) by Jan Karol Tanaka	6	15	Jun 29, 2016 08:59PM

Jan’s Quotes

“We count by years, but we live by days.”
― Ivan Doig, Dancing at the Rascal Fair

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“Every act of perception, is to some degree an act of creation, and every act of memory is to some degree an act of imagination.”
― Oliver Sacks, Musicophilia: La musique, le cerveau et nous

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“For a future yet to be written, an unbridled imagination is a dangerous thing.”
― Samantha St. Claire, A Portrait of Dawn

tags: inspirational-quotes

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“Who knew happiness was the best muse of all?”
― Meg Shaffer, The Wishing Game

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“David’s goal is not psychological healing for its own sake but to “fear” God—to give him joyful, awe-filled love with his entire being. The way to this new heart is not introspection but deliberate worship (verse 12). “I will praise you,” he says.”
― Timothy J. Keller, The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms

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Jan’s Year In Books

Jan Karol Tanaka’s Followers (19)

Jan’s Bookshelves

Jan’s Friends (33)

Jan Karol Tanaka

Goodreads Author

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Combine Editions
Jan Karol Tanaka’s books

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Jan Karol Tanaka's Blog

Booklife Prize in Fiction

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Jan’s Quotes

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Jan Karol Tanaka’s Followers (19)

Jan Karol Tanaka

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