Roxana JonesCritiques

Quite an intersting book. I enjoyed it although i agree with other reviewers it did drag a bit in parts. Still I'd recommend it..

Although dragging at times I enjoyed this book about the growth of a woman from child to adult. Told from two different views, this is a story of spiritual enlightenment that I quite enjoyed.

I received both volumes of While I was Learning to Become God as an early reviewer, though I don't remember requesting these. I read these quickly, after waiting until I had the time and interest. These volumes chronicle the life and spiritual development of a multicultural well-educated latin american woman narrated in turn by the author and Sybil. There are other ways that this life could be told -- and it's clear that Sybil's relatives and friends see her as a failed mother and wife. This story could have easily been condensed, and having read it, there are still loose ends that haven't been resolved. Not recommended.½

Volume one left us with thoughts of how Sybil Vaughn was learning to rely on her spiritual thoughts which came from Guardian Angels, according to her beliefs. Volume 2 opens with an imagetalking to Sybil as if in adrfeam, promising to prtect her. Leaving her children with her ex-husband, Sybil begins 2 years to finish her Master's Degree, to allow her to be self sufficient and take care of her children..At one point in the book, Sybil describes how she is told that she is one with God, that God acts through her and that Sedona, Az. is her new teacher. Using the scripture Psalm 82, v 6, she found confirmation where it says "you are Gods.". The author, using tapes and notes, records all of S.sybil's thoughts on her spiritual adventures to become God. Ms. Jones closes the book with a description of Sybil's death ibn 2009.

This is a book that a reader will either love and enjoy or misunderstand and put aside. I'm still pondering which side of Sybil's story I am on.

Volume one: I had to start this book several times because for a person to become God goes against my belief systemm but I dcecided to read and review the book, and I am glad I did. the book, as told by Sybil Vaugnh, to Roxanna Jones, will be believed or not, depending upo the reader. this first volume tells of the 4 elements of life as a way of transformation to become GodI.n Element one, Sybil Vaugn describes howe, at the age of 3, she was gravely ill with pyelonephritis, but miracelously cured by drinking coconut water. Her resilence was already emerging as a key feature of her character, one that would save her when she would completgely lose her faith. In Element 2, she tells of growing up feeling she was not important,. Her mother always said Sybil's happiness would be to marry a rich man. In Element 3, she describes her wedding and how she reinvented herself to please her husband. Evidently she began a part time job in the anthropological institute as a lab assistant. Throughout all of this, Sybil would receive messages which she later identified as from her guardian angels. After a turbulant divorce, Sybils slate was blank. This volume leaves off with turbulance beginning to end and Sybil relying more on her angel and less on earthly people.

I had a hard time reading this book. It switches between the voice of sybil and the author. The style of writing was too "flowery" for my taste. Instead of feeling lyrical it felt forced and over the top.

The story, itself was semi interesting. But I had a hard time getting into due to my distraction with the writing style. I do think the intent of the author to honor the memory of her friend was lovely.

I didn't care for the book cover. It wouldn't have been something I would have gravitated towards.

I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Readers giveaway.½

The title of this book caught my eye right away. I was expecting the typical new age book. I loved the author's writing style, and Sybil's story was told in a very gripping way. It was easy to sympathize and then feel empowered along with her.

A beautifully written and detailed book. A story that will make you feel as though you are actually living that specific moment with Sybil.

You will find out about Sybil's unhappy, overly protected childhood and how she dealt with it all and how it affected her entire life. You will find out about the angel Sybil listened to and the angel she doubted as she got older. Her strong-willed mother, loveless childhood, and times of poverty definitely affected her life decisions.

Despite any setbacks in her life, though, she managed to find her inner peace.

This quote early in the book sums up the emotional state of the book. It is an enjoyable read as well as a heart wrenching and soul searching book.

Page 16 - "It was the beginning of her emotional relationship with people other than the family she'd been born into. Aura was the first person who hurt her. From her, she would learn about bitterness and frustration, about the failure of some human beings to see that hate is only an inch from love, and that we have in us the power to join them or keep them apart."

If you want a book that will make you think and listen to your inner yourself, you will want to read Sybil's story.

In this book, the author tells the story of her friend Sybil and the process of her attainment of spiritual enlightenment. It is written partly in first person by Sybil and partly in third person by the author Roxana Jones. It begins with Sybil as a slightly unusual child being raised in unusual circumstances as her father pursues his dream of a tropical resort.
As an adult Sybil marries badly and pays for that bad decision for a long time. Finally however, circumstances start to point her in the direction of spiritual and personal growth and she gradually shifts her perceptions of the world and her life.
Very fascinating account of one woman's evolution as she grows older and wiser.½

A great conclusion!

I won this thru Library Thing and I thought it was a pretty good book. The book was a very quick read and was a journal of self-discovery and forgiveness through the eyes of Sybil Vaughan. I found it to be very unique and insightful and most people who read this would gain a lot from it. I was grateful that the author included the second book with the first, an added bonus.

Wow...at first I was not too sure about this book however, after I started it I could not set it down. This was the most beautiful story I have ever read. Sybil story is one that should be shared and enjoyed by all.

Before I write my review, I must add two caveats: I do not recall requesting this book and it is surprising that I might have done so, since the subject matter and the way it is presented do not appeal to me. Secondly, I'm an old-fashioned reader and don't enjoy books in PDF format. Still, I might have enjoyed the book or learned something valuable from it, but sadly I could not complete it.

The Four Elements of Life (While I Was Learning to Become God) is one woman's journey of self-discovery and forgiveness. While I would have strongly identified with Sybil Vaughan's struggles and championed her endeavours, it was difficult to follow through as the writing was at times distracting in its delivery, clumpy and sporadic in its fluidity.

Thank you Roxana for writing this book It was a joy to read full of highs and lows about a women who found herself and her god. I enjoyed the way it was written using different type to represent the different characters. I loved watching the transformation of Sybil on her journey to enlightenment and a true understanding of this life.

One woman's incredible journey in search of peace, joy and forgiveness.

** spoiler alert **
While I Was Learning to Become God, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, is a documentary account of the real life story of Sybil Vaughan, told partially in her own words and partially in the words of her friend and author, Roxanna Jones. Born and raised in Colombia, Sybil was a typically happy and blessed child, who at times experienced visits from her guardian angel, Archangel Michael. Sybil never considered herself poor, even though her parents were from a working class, as she had everything she ever needed. Through her own experience, as she grew older, Sybil learned how cruel the world could be and bitterness began to seep into her heart. Sybil soon forgot about her visits from her angel, later recalling them as an adult. As a teenager at the time, Sybil could not understand why no thing she did, brought her joy and happiness anymore. After high school, her father helped her financially and she attended college in the U.S. Where after 2 years Sybil ended up feeling disillusioned and homesick and decided to return to her country. She debated on whether she should go back to school, and instead decided she had it in her heart to become a wife and mother. In her early 20's, Sybil dated a man named Sebastain, ten years her senior, through an arranged date from her mother. Although, she had her doubts about Sebastain, Sybil fell in love, married and her nightmare began.

I felt a real connection to Sybil in this book, as I personally had a failed marriage with a man similar in character to Sybil's husband. Sybil struggles with feelings of emptiness and disconnection from her family throughout her life, and later from her friends after her divorce. Being naive leads her to trust the wrong people and she ends up being used again and again. Sybil does not give up easily, as she fights throughout her lifetime, to find the inner peace and solace she feels she is missing. To find that peace, she learns, she needs to forgive those who hurt her and grow in spirit. In Volume 2, Sybil's life does a complete turn around, as she returns to the U.S and goes back to college on a scholarship. At first seeing it as a brand new start on life Sybil is happy and doing well. Then the floor falls out from under her, she hits rock bottom and loses everything she has worked for. But Sybil still has her body and mind and she uses them to find that inner peace. In the end, Sybil finds what she is longing for and it turns out, for her in finding it, her time on earth has ended. I found the ending of Volume 2: "The Fifth Element of Love," hard to take. My heart broke for Sybil as she tried to get back her daughters from her poisonous husband. I did not fully understand what happened to Sybil, once the author went back to see her for the last time, and I hope Jones can explain it in another book. Both books were enlightening and I found many similarities with Sybil and my own life, that I never expected from these books. I believe many woman and any nationality can relate to these books. As Sybil dealt with all of life's struggles, we as women may face throughout our own lives. Those of which include sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, marriage, spousal abuse, spousal neglect, infidelity, divorce plus so much more. Sybil was a brave and couragous woman and it was a joy to read her life story.

One woman's incredible journey in search of peace, joy and forgiveness.

** spoiler alert **
While I Was Learning to Become God, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, is a documentary account of the real life story of Sybil Vaughan, told partially in her own words and partially in the words of her friend and author, Roxanna Jones. Born and raised in Colombia, Sybil was a typically happy and blessed child, who at times experienced visits from her guardian angel, Archangel Michael. Sybil never considered herself poor, even though her parents were from a working class, as she had everything she ever needed. Through her own experience, as she grew older, Sybil learned how cruel the world could be and bitterness began to seep into her heart. Sybil soon forgot about her visits from her angel, later recalling them as an adult. As a teenager at the time, Sybil could not understand why no thing she did, brought her joy and happiness anymore. After high school, her father helped her financially and she attended college in the U.S. Where after 2 years Sybil ended up feeling disillusioned and homesick and decided to return to her country. She debated on whether she should go back to school, and instead decided she had it in her heart to become a wife and mother. In her early 20's, Sybil dated a man named Sebastain, ten years her senior, through an arranged date from her mother. Although, she had her doubts about Sebastain, Sybil fell in love, married and her nightmare began.

I felt a real connection to Sybil in this book, as I personally had a failed marriage with a man similar in character to Sybil's husband. Sybil struggles with feelings of emptiness and disconnection from her family throughout her life, and later from her friends after her divorce. Being naive leads her to trust the wrong people and she ends up being used again and again. Sybil does not give up easily, as she fights throughout her lifetime, to find the inner peace and solace she feels she is missing. To find that peace, she learns, she needs to forgive those who hurt her and grow in spirit. In Volume 2, Sybil's life does a complete turn around, as she returns to the U.S and goes back to college on a scholarship. At first seeing it as a brand new start on life Sybil is happy and doing well. Then the floor falls out from under her, she hits rock bottom and loses everything she has worked for. But Sybil still has her body and mind and she uses them to find that inner peace. In the end, Sybil finds what she is longing for and it turns out, for her in finding it, her time on earth has ended. I found the ending of Volume 2: "The Fifth Element of Love," hard to take. My heart broke for Sybil as she tried to get back her daughters from her poisonous husband. I did not fully understand what happened to Sybil, once the author went back to see her for the last time, and I hope Jones can explain it in another book. Both books were enlightening and I found many similarities with Sybil and my own life, that I never expected from these books. I believe many woman and any nationality can relate to these books. As Sybil dealt with all of life's struggles, we as women may face throughout our own lives. Those of which include sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, marriage, spousal abuse, spousal neglect, infidelity, divorce plus so much more. Sybil was a brave and couragous woman and it was a joy to read her life story.

A story about one woman's life and rediscovery of her lost spirituality. Sadly, this book was not as powerful as it could have been. I found the main character to be naive, unlikable, selfish and gullible and she came across as completely self absorbed. The very fact that she wanted this book written is testament to that. It is written in an incredibly biased way and so it led me to do a lot of reading between the lines. That said, there were parts that did encourage me to rediscover my own spirituality and it did make me want to keep reading; I wanted to know what happened next and to learn what this woman had learnt. The book, I think, is a journey you travel on with the woman, named Sybil, from beginning to end, though if it was a real journey she would be unlikely to notice you as she would be too busy self-obsessing. There are comments, statements and decisions throughout this book which, like me, you may not agree with, but it is still a fairly interesting insight into one woman's life. I would suggest that this book won't be for everyone.

I found this book very disappointing - in fact, I nearly gave up on several occasions, although I did eventually get through both volumes. While indeed oppressed by a controlling and mean husband, I found the story of Sybil's transformation to be narcissistic, and, in places, unintelligible. The text is poorly-written, meandering between sequences of short, underdeveloped phrases and long, over-complex sentences. While the first volume had its endearing moments (the middle part was quite enjoyable), I found the second with its focus on angelic interventions and the like, especially inaccessible. Sorry, but it didn't speak to me at all.

I wasn't looking forward to a preachy book, especially with my situation of dying with cancer...no not battling..dying. But I was happy to find this book uplifting. It bought tears to my eyes where probably nobody else found it necessary but this was really an uplifting book for me and I am so very glad I had the chance to read it. Yes, I cried and a tough read for personal reasons but well worth the read for anyone, not just those in need of a little faith. Thank you, Ms. Jones, for the chance to read your excellent book!

This 2nd book of To become God was wonderful. You start with the first,and that was a fantasic read,but you need to get "the rest of the story"!This book continues smoothly,and you follow the trials and tribulations of Sybil.With her belief(early rooted) in her angels ,and determination ,she shows the reasoning behind her quest for spiritual power,and to open her heart completely.This woman is one who will stay in your head,long after the book is done.½

I was grabbed by the first chapter. Sybil has a guardian angel,He was "like my other dad or mom ,or the two in one".She was 3. She would have liked to keep her angel bound to her forever,but she was to start school,her innocence to be shed.So starts the life of Sybil.I really enjoyed reading this story,such a powerful,spiritual,moving and engrossing novel.Sybil is a remarkable woman,she will stay in your mind.This was a 2 book set ,sent to me Free,Thank you!½