Lessons Learned: A Poetry Collection

By Xlibris US

This collection is written with both great vision and understanding. Both understanding of the here, the now and the present. No longer can these writers allow themselves to look back at the past. It is now that we both have come to realize the importance of patience. It is now that we have come to believe in eternity. And it is now that we have come to recognize failure.

Failure transcends into the encompassing world of self-doubt. While success prepares its path from struggles and sorrow.
It is with the humble mind that we have come to live

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499052022

Book preview

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Reviews for Lessons Learned

[thebookhammock · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A debut novel for Sydney Logan.

This is a beautiful, beautiful story acceptance and love, social norms and mutual respect. Sarah, having been a witness to a horrible shooting at the school where she teaches, moves back to her hometown in an attempt to overcome her panic attacks. Back home she meets Lucas, who had moved to Sycamore Falls himself, in an attempt to start over and do what he loves best.

Wonderfully written, the story tells us about Sarah and Lucas, two teachers meeting and learning how to help each other and the small town they live in.

Sydney Logan brought me to tears with this one. Good tears, mostly, but also giggles and content sighs.


ARC courtesy of TWCS through NetGalley

[fueledbycoffee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm really a horrible reviewer.

I don't know how many times I can say that before people say "Shut your gob, you. Just write what you thought and don't be an arse to the author."

Well, here I am, getting the award for...no, not The Awesomest Reviewer EVVARR Award (I think my BFF owns that title, she even made me screen spray once. Like not the :screespray: joke but real saliva and coffee. It was awesome....but I digress...

I'll get the award for writing What I Thought About This and Hopefully It Won't Come Out The Complete Opposite of Not Sucking. I know, double negatives are a no-no. Especially on trophy plaques.

First, I was a fortunate soul to receive this ARC. Thank you, Sydney Logan. Consider my grey matter rattled in all the best ways.

Secondly, I read this in a day and I still managed not to feed my kids fridge door condiments for dinner. I blame the author for this. Not the feeding my kids part because I live in the Pacific NW and she lives way over in TN, but for making a book so engaging I could barely put it down.

Thirdly, do they say "thirdly" any more? "Tertiarilly"? "Almost lastly?" Even with the subject matter dealing w/such things as convictions, societal issues, religion, morals, etc...I strongly believe *any background* can appreciate this book. Although, if you cannot handle cogitation on a grander scale, well...yeah, even you should read it, too.

Yes, I enjoyed Logan's writing. The main characters felt well-rounded and not shoved into their circumstance. The ending felt a bit too rushed or choppy for me, but it felt good to see all the pieces come into place even when all the issues weren't resolved. The complexity of these issues raised in the story are long-standing and go far beyond these pages. Regardless, Logan managed to present them in an impressive, yet hopeful way. (Aka keep your box of tissues close by!)

For me, the thing that struck me most poignantly, is the lesson of one person. The power of one weilding the ability to reach out with good-will or malice, grace or condemnation, fear or acceptance and in doing so, can be a formidable, indefatigable power to effect change. The book had several settings: a town, community, church, and school. I appreciated Logan's ability to show the reader that it's just one, then two, then another, and another to take a stand. Its people, individually, showing love to make a positive change in a big way.

I could discuss the morals and ideas of the book...are you born this way or not? Should the church be doing more/less? Sticking to their beliefs? Accept, love, or both? but just as it was reiterated in the book in a particularly bittersweet letter of wisdom written by a Grandmother to her granddaughter, "There are two subjects that will always cause a fight, so avoid them. Never discuss politics. Never discuss religion."

So I'll save the questions and let you ask yourself....but you have to read the book first. You won't regret it.

[arlenadean · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Author: Sidney LoganPublished By: The Writer's Coffee ShopAge Recommended: AdultReviewed By: Arlena DeanBook Blog For: GMTARating: 5Review:"Lessons Learned" by Sidney Logan was one of the best novels I have read in a long time. It was simply wonderful writing. I loved how this author was able to take the reader though such a awesome heartwarming ride from the beginning till the end leaving you not wanting to put it down until the end. Oh, what a ending!This is a story of Sarah, a English teacher who had witness a horrible tragedy had happened at her last job in Miami ...comes back home trying to overcome her 'panic attacks'... to old friends, her grandmothers' house...some familiarity....but only to have to be faced with 'small town mentality and prejudices.' After Sarah arrives back at Sycamore Falls where every knows everyones' business she gets a English teaching job at the HS ...meets Lucas who was also just arrived in town from New York with secrets of his own attempting to start over and do what he loves best...teach. Wow, what could possibly happen from this? After a while is there something going on between Sarah and Lucas? Wow, again! Will they find refuge in each other? Now, this is where I say you must pick up "Lessons Learned" to see how, why and what else this author will give to the reader. There seems to be a student(Matt) who confides in Sarah. What will be the outcome of that? Wow, again... get ready for a good read. Look for love, anger, sorrow, healing, hope, joy, prejudice, and laughter! Be ready to take a roller-coaster ride. For you will get all of these questions answered by picking up this read.I found all of the characters simply wonderful in that they were so well developed for their part in this excellent read and as a matter of fact I find "Lessons Learned" to be one novel that I will not forget any time soon. Would I recommend "Lessons Learned" as a excellent read? YES!