Discover new books on Goodreads
See if your friends have read any of Jan Wood's books
Jan Wood’s Followers (4)
Jan Wood
Goodreads Author
Born
Sydney, Australia
Genre
Member Since
October 2022
|
A Grip on Reality
|
|
* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.
What's a Memoir?
A simple question but one that is often misunderstood.
"Is your book an autobiography?" A question I'm often asked. "No, it's a Memoir."
To differentiate, an autobiography MUST start from the beginning of the author's life and the work must cover inciting incidents, antidotes and fun experiences in chronological order. In other words, it is an accurate account of the author's life.
A memoir is often Read more of this blog post »
"Is your book an autobiography?" A question I'm often asked. "No, it's a Memoir."
To differentiate, an autobiography MUST start from the beginning of the author's life and the work must cover inciting incidents, antidotes and fun experiences in chronological order. In other words, it is an accurate account of the author's life.
A memoir is often Read more of this blog post »
Jan’s Recent Updates
|
Jan Wood
rated a book it was amazing
|
|
| I loved this book. The drama throughout the story with the bombing of Belfast and the rescue of her companion elephant, kept me wanting more—good description of characters and their idiosyncrasies. | |
|
|
|
Jul 30, 2026 06:29PM
|
|
|
Jan Wood
rated a book it was amazing
|
|
| I loved this book. The drama throughout the story with the bombing of Belfast and the rescue of her companion elephant, kept me wanting more—good description of characters and their idiosyncrasies. | |
|
Jan Wood
rated a book it was amazing
|
|
|
Jan Wood
rated a book it was amazing
|
|
Comments (showing 1-4)
post a comment »
date
newest »
newest »
My friend, Jenny -This book is an enjoyable and easy read, with vivid descriptions of Jan’s travel and experiences, including those of her life as a single mother. Jan has raised two highly successful children in a difficult environment. She reminds us it’s never too late to start anew, and now is living happily in retirement, The book is a great reminder that life is a journey, and every challenge can be an opportunity for growth and transformation.
Here's what Cherrie thought:A very interesting read….Brilliant and Captivating!
I like Jan’s style of writing which draws you in to an engaging entertaining fascinating and sometimes heartbreaking story of a life well travelled, - well lived - through survival and her sheer determination to be the best possible mother and support to her two children whilst navigating the trials and tribulations of whatever life has thrown at her! You will gain great inspiration from this fascinating read!
Mandy wrote:A thoroughly enjoyable book that will have you laughing and crying as you follow Jan's journey first across Europe in the swinging sixties, and later through the trials, traumas and triumphs of life as a wife, a single mother, cancer survivor, and so much more.
Jan's indomitable spirit and ingenuity shine through, providing encouragement and inspiration to anyone who has ever had their life unexpectedly derailed.
A Grip on Reality is a very candid no holds barred account of one woman’s journey from a fairly sheltered upbringing on Sydney’s leafy North Shore through a lifetime of adventures and misadventures. Some are to be expected like the European « rite of passage » trip. But others are totally left of field. The more the story progresses, the more unexpected the life choices become. In the end I was filled with respect for this woman who is not ashamed to admit her own vulnerability ( a rare thing in any human being) and who has pushed through adversity to change course and do what it takes to keep herself and her children afloat.There is also a lot of humour in the book and many very relatable situations for women of a certain age.