Customer Reviews

She'll Learn

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What an amazing story that details the lives of three distictly different, young women with very real, complex issues in their lives. After reading this novel, the characters in the book are extremely real to me. I would love to go where the story is based in Detroit, Michigan and meet these women, however they only exist in, "She'll Learn." Its a story that will make you think, laugh and cry while creating suspenseful pictures in your mind.

This book exposes issues that my generation, ages 30-34, can relate to without excluding other aged readers. Whenever I find a good read, I spread the word so that others may share in the excitement and warmth of a story. I am now encouraging all to read, "She'll Learn" and explore the intriguing worlds created by new, young author Syblil Barkley-Staples - this is a name to remember.

Synopsis

She'll Learn untangles the web of life's trials and tribulations. Its lesson is being taught each day you live it. Maxine, Sydney, and Indira learn that nothing else matters, but true friendship. They figure that although they all lead separate lives their lives all effect each other. Together they always make it through.

"Togetherness offers a woman time to vent, to give and receive support, express themselves, and to comfort one another throught the trials and tribulations of their lives. Women aren't looking for sloutions to their problems, only friendship." -Aunt Betsy

Here's what people are saying about "She'll Learn"

"A moving story of love, hope and forgiveness that will touch your heart"

-Venise Berry, Author of Colored Sugar Water

"Wonderful page and an even more WONDERFUL book! She'll Learn is going to be a literary HIT!"

-Linda Dominique Grosvenor, Author of Like Boogie On Tuesday & Fever

Sybil Barkley-Staples lyrical novel "She'll Learn" has the audacity to explore the lives of three vibrant but very different woman and inject a non-feminist dignity to the tale. What's most refreshing about embarking on this adventure is how expertly Barkley-Staples balances the emotions and motivations of the woman and avoids what could have effortlessly plummeted into cliche. That the book succeeds so splendidly is a testament to this intruiging new author and I look forward to her latest achievement.

There is no need to read this book, the description on the back of it tells the whole story. If the author had skills like Maya Angelou or Darnella Ford then you would read it just to see how the story was told. But this author doesn't have the skills to paint a picture with words or let metaphors speak for a person's actions. Not to mention all the typos, which were throughout the entire book. Can you say PROOFREAD? I almost toke a read pen, made corrections and mailed it to the author, the publisher and the distributor. Two thumbs down. I want my money back.

Maxine, Indira, and Sydney are three friends that are more like sisters. The three women form an adoptive family that replaces what is missing in their blood family's relationships. In the spirit of family, the three women bicker and fight at times, but in the end each of them know they can depend on one another in a time of need. Maxine owns a successful hair salon and lives a pretty comfortable life. The only thing missing for her is a loving relationship with a man, and as she is approaching her thirties, her biological clock and her desire for this relationship is the main thing on her mind. Though she tends to be distrustful of men, she decides to give her heart to Bruce. But will her relationship with him provide the missing piece in her life or cause more drama and heartache? Sydney on the other hand has been burned once, after Anthony, the man she had hoped to marry, left her to raise their child alone. In addition, Anthony seems connected to the untimely death of her brother and her entire family, including Sydney herself, can't help but blame him. As a result her relationship with her mother has been severed. Instead of pursuing other relationships, she focuses on her career and raising her daughter with the help of her supportive father. But deep down is she waiting for Anthony to return in order to resume their life together, and will she miss out on the love that is right under her nose in the process? Indira has the life that both Maxine and Sydney envy. She is married, has a successful career and many of the material comforts in life. But all that glitters is not gold. Indira's husband turns out to be an abusive spouse, and the personal sacrifices she has made to try and maintain her relationship with him have taken their toll. She must decide whether she can walk away from her marriage. With the help of Eldridge, an artist she met through her job, maybe she will.

SHE'LL LEARN is a touching novel which combines some of the characteristics of a romance novel and those of mainstream fiction. The result is a unique blend of romance and drama that readers will enjoy. True to the book's title, each of the three main characters experience a tremendous degree of personal growth, and their stories will inspire many and at times tug at your heartstrings. Check out SHE'LL LEARN for a fast paced read about living, loving, and growing...

She'll Learn is about three best friends sticking together as they go through many trials in life only to come to the conclusion they have to love one self before trying to love someone else. Overall, I liked the story line but didn't like all the cursing.

Maxine Harrell is the proud owner of a successful hair salon, owns her own home and has a body most women would kill for. Indira Carr is a successful art gallery dealer, well educated and has the looks of a top model. Sydney Carr is a single mother with a good job, beautiful baby daughter and a supportive father.

All three women have been friends since they were young girls. All have a lot to learn about men. Maxine has to learn to get her one man. Indira has to learn that a man doesn't have to hit her to love her. Sydney's lesson comes in patience waiting for a man to do right. Each woman has to learn life's lesson by dealing with a man, but together they see it through.

She'll Learn is a story of personal struggles and life long friendships. I must say that although the story is a good one, there are many grammatical and typos through-out the book; hence I deducted a pen. The errors caused for annoying reading.

Tracey

R.E.A.L. Reviewers

Indira, Maxine and Sydney are best friends that grew up in Detroit's inner city. In Sybil Barkley-Staples' book She'll Learn, the women experience relationship problems with their men and their mothers. Indira is married to an abusive man twenty years her senior. When he decides to leave her, she is devastated. For years, Indira has harbored anger towards her deceased mother for staying in an abusive marriage, but finds herself doing the same thing. Maxine is searching for "Mr. Right." When she meets Bruce, she thinks she has found him but to her dismay he is married. After their breakup she is left with an unexpected gift. Maxine was raised by her grandmother who loved her unconditionally, because her mother chose heroin over her. When her mother becomes ill, Maxine has to put aside the past. Finally, there is Sydney; she is still in love with Anthony, her "Baby's Daddy" who has been absent for the past two years. Her undying love for him prevents her from establishing any other relationship. Also suffering is Sydney's relationship with her mother. Her mother was so distraught over Sydney's pregnancy and relationship with Anthony; she has not spoken to Sydney for two years, even though they see each other every Sunday at church.

This book could have benefited from good editing. There were problems with time frames that did not add up. The story was told in mostly dialogue, and this reader was often lost as to who was talking due to confusing point of view changes. There were also distracting typos. From chapter seventeen to the end of the book, the writing style changed and became much clearer when the author used narration and dialogue to convey the story. I commend my fellow Cass Tech alumni for her gumption to write and publish a novel which is a difficult task.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub

I just finished reading this novel, and with the exception of some scenes not related running into each other(not often), I found it an enjoyable read. Sydney loved Anthony through desertion, yet she was rewarded for it in the end. Indira married true to form by marrying an abuser, yet in the end, she did well, and Maxine got with a guy who lied from day one but she didn't realize it due to the fact that she wanted it to work. Each of these ladies have faults and they work through them and still love each other. Enjoyable and realistic.

How often does a man go through life feeling as though he'll never find his one and only true love? I'm sure it's not nearly as much as a woman does, especially if she is over the age of thirty and her biological clock no longer sounds like a tick - but an alarm. Maxine is business savvy but man stupid; she sleeps with men without knowing more than their names. Her physical needs take precedent over her emotional needs. Indira is in an abusive marriage with a man she loves dearly. She wanted to one day have children but can't, at least not with her husband since he had a vasectomy before they married. Sydney, on the other hand, is a single-mother still pining for the father of her child. She lives with the hope that one day he'll return to her and their daughter.

It's been said that past experiences dictate your future. In some cases that's true if you allow the vicious cycle to continue. Maxine is dealing with abandonment issues; her mother left her with her grandmother at a very young age, never to return. During a Thanksgiving dinner, Maxine's aunt reveals some shocking information about her mother and now Maxine must make a decision. Sydney's mother has never forgiven her for becoming pregnant by her thuggish boyfriend, Anthony. They have not spoken in almost two years even though they attend the same church and only sit two pews behind each other. A change is going to come and the person who brings it about is not whom you'd expect. Indira is steadily trying to hide her husband's abuse from her friends. Just when she's had enough, her husband decides to leave her and file for divorce. Indira is angered by the news and even more shocked when information she never knew about her husband is suddenly revealed.

There's a saying: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. She'll Learn is about the lessons you learn (or don't learn) from life's experiences. I've always said there's a person who always "takes you there." By that I mean there's a person who always manages to make you weak enough to let your defenses down. And even though you get hurt in the process, somehow you just can't let go; therefore causing you to do stupid things in the name of love (or even lust). You become vulnerable and before you know it, you're caught up in trying to prove something either to yourself or the person who has hurt you. Maxine, Indira and Sydney each are in this predicament and their friendship sustains them.

To know someone has got your back, no matter what, makes all the difference in the world. These women had their differences but they didn't let that stop them from being friends, even when times got rough. I've always known a person will keep doing what you allow them to do; She'll Learn drove the lesson home. I even saw myself in one of the characters; however, I won't reveal which one. The story flowed well and didn't skip a beat. Barkley - Staples did well with this one and only teased me by insinuating there would be a sequel. I can't wait.

Reviewed by Esther "Ess" Mays for Loose Leaves Book Review