This final work of Spencer’s definitely reads different than her normal, gentler and more settled than dramatic and emotional, liked I’ve been used to from her. Not really a bad thing but I think I missed that high dramatic content from this “good-bye” book from her.I liked the characters well enough. The leads were thoroughly portrayed and three-dimensional. I liked how Spencer went into detail on how Eddie dealt with his grief over his sudden loss and his struggle to cope with suddenly being a single parent. Regina’s struggle with her vocation and her quiet rebellion were vividly portrayed as well.Their relationship was sweet and very gentle. There is no sudden upheaval or “lighting out of the sky” attraction. Their realization that they are feeling more for each other than parent/teacher and friends was a tender slide into being. The whole forbidden “loving a nun” thing never really came into being like I was expecting. Yet, there was some repercussions but nothing I would expect from such a situation. Still, a very loving romance.The author put a lot of effort into setting and overall atmosphere than usual. The setting of small town 1950s Americana almost becomes a character itself. The reader gets a real sense for how close knit a community this little town is: everyone knows everyone, doors stay unlocked, children are looked after communally, and people pitch in like crazy when a sudden tragedy strikes.It’s this setting where things go a smidge downhill for this book. I think the author spent so much time establishing the setting and telling the story of the community itself, that she lost the sense for Eddie and Regina. Their story got lost in the shuffle of community, and I was sad for that loss. Maybe it was because this was the author’s last book and was based on her hometown, she was trying to give it homage. I don’t know. Still a bummer…For a last hurrah, this book lacked a bit. The main relationship and the characters were sweet and engaging. The story of a community in tragedy, banding together to support one of its own, was also uplifting. But the balance between the romance and this secondary story was out of whack. The romance got lost in the shuffle sometimes and that frustrated me. Not a bad book, but not the author’s best, either.
I'd give this a 3-1/2 if that were possible. I liked it. LaVyrle Spencer's books are always interesting and this was no exception, but I would not class it as one of her best. The story begins on a late summer day, when a train and a car race to the crossing, and the car loses. THe driver, Krystina Olczak, is killed instantly. In this small, very Catholic town in 1950, Krystina is close to a saint; a perfect mother, a perfect wife, a perfect daughter & sister, and a perfect parishioner. The tragedy hits the town hard. She leaves behind 2 motherless little girls, a heartbroken sister who has been like a second mother to the girls, and a grief-stricken husband, as well as a young nun who questions God's wisdom in taking Krystina and her choice to serve as a nun. Sister Regina is forbidden by Holy Law to show any real feelings towards the children or Mr. Olczak. In the meantime, Krystina's sister, Irene, struggles with feelings she has always had for her brother-in-law, but kept suppressed. At times, especially near the beginning, the story has a bit of a 'Sound of Music' feel to it. A little bit predictable, and comes together a bit too easily at the end, but a good story anyway.
What do You think about Then Came Heaven (1997)?
Then Came Heaven is just about as far as I can get from my normal reading but at the prodding of my mother – fascinated at how it portrays life as she grew up – I gave it a go. I’m not familiar with the genre but the book was pleasant, inoffensive, readable, and entertaining. All without the slightest shred of depth or development. It’s like an outline, penciled out with plot and characters, with linking dialogue scribbled in to connect the dots.And that’s too bad. There is plenty of good stuff here. Why was the lead character so driven at his job as the church caretaker? Why did the young nun struggle so with her chosen career after the death of the lead’s wife? And how – really? – did the young nun move so sveltely in a single night from pedestal topping Madonna to the naked, embracing, and openly sexual wife? Now there’s a novel for you.The story presents life in small town mid-twentieth century America in an idealistic way. The families are all recently from the old country, all know each other, all eat the same foods, and all life centers around the central Catholic Church. I know these towns. They are wonderful places. Unless you hail from another part of the world. Or go to that other church. Or don’t fit in in any of a hundred ways. Then life can be something less than idyllic.But I enjoyed the story. It’s good for a few hours of entertainment. Don’t expect much more.
—Dennis Mitton
I had found one of her books in a garage sale and read it. It was good, I liked her writing style so I picked this one in a library search. It turned out to be the last book she wrote before she decided to retire in 1997. It was an ironic pick... she grew up in a small town where everyone knew everyone and everything about everybody. In a Catholic community of old school traditions and old school beliefs. She created this sweet love story around a young Catholic nun questioning her vocation- none of the story was based in fact but I am sure happened more than once. I like how she developed the story around the beliefs of the people involved and kept them true and pure til the end.
—Mindy Mcc
Sometimes you just need a good, old-fashioned, comforting love story. That's Then Came Heaven. No gimmicks, no bells & whistles, just the kind of small town characters you would find in an old Hollywood film and a story with a happy ending. It has its cheesy moments and its teary moments (you owe me a box of tissues for that first 100 pages, LaVyrle), but overall, it was one of those books that I really looked forward to coming home and reading at the end of the day -- which hasn't happened in a while for me. The love story bears a shocking resemblance to the nun-doctor romance in Call the Midwife, so if you're a fan of that, it's a good bet you'll like this book. My only qualm was that I wish Irene had gotten a happy ending too, because I felt really bad for her at the beginning of the novel and like Eddie says, she deserves it.
—Sara Pauff
