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What Members Thought
FROM THE DROP OF HEAVEN is a fascinating look back at life in 1500s France. Life is very difficult. The book opens with a disturbing scene of people being burned on a pyre. Religious fanaticism and book banning, body autonomy and women’s lack of agency, these are all issues that are of current interest today and are interesting to read about in a historical context as well. I found myself engrossed in the story of Martin, Nicolas, Catherine, Francisca, Salome, and all the others. Author Juliette
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Oregano’s effect upon snakes and snake venom was the first detail that sold me on “From the Drop of Heaven.” You’ll have to read the book to understand why, but suffice to say, I “Googled” the terms “oregano anti snake” and discovered that the author had done significant research. I was impressed. Not everyone does the groundwork and incorporates details into a story seamlessly.
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The novel reads like a fiction with historical fact for bones. The struggles, defeats, and victories come in waves, j ...more
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The novel reads like a fiction with historical fact for bones. The struggles, defeats, and victories come in waves, j ...more
A slice of life in an unpleasant time in our past; late 16th century, Salm, France. When paranoia and ignorance led to people being accused of witchcraft, heresy and sedition. Genealogist and author Juliette Godot gives us a glimpse into her own family’s history with her novel; From the Drop of Heaven: Legends, Prejudice, and Revenge. Two families struggle to retain their beliefs and relative autonomy during the religious and political upheaval. Catherine and her family live on a farm and avoid
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Language is so mercurial that writing about the historically accurate past for a modern audience requires a bit of forbearance from the author and the reader. Let's face it, in 1567, at the beginning of the story, William Shakespeare would be around the same age as our protagonists. Can you imagine a review of Romeo and Juliet today? Dozens of made up words, she's only thirteen, and spoiler alert, they kill themselves. One star for Bill. Luckily, Godot's writing style is accessible and effortles
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Gripping!
Don’t miss this family saga about courage, survival, heartache, injustice, and love.
I was enraptured by Catherine & Nicholas’s story and read this book cover to cover in less than 24 hours. I was surprised to be enthralled in a story set in the 1500’s- but there I was late in the night telling myself that lie readers love to tell, “just one more chapter.”
One of my favorite reads! If you’re looking for a love story and not just another romance book to read- this is it! It’s gritty, unf ...more
Don’t miss this family saga about courage, survival, heartache, injustice, and love.
I was enraptured by Catherine & Nicholas’s story and read this book cover to cover in less than 24 hours. I was surprised to be enthralled in a story set in the 1500’s- but there I was late in the night telling myself that lie readers love to tell, “just one more chapter.”
One of my favorite reads! If you’re looking for a love story and not just another romance book to read- this is it! It’s gritty, unf ...more
This is not a short book, but it’s a smooth read, and it flies by.
MILD SPOILERS
This is a historic novel that illustrates the customs and modes of life of some European people in the late 1500s. The book is rich in detail, but it never feels forced, and it never bogs down in dates or info dumps. It winds up being about a few extended families in a small rural community, chiefly the families of a young woman and a young man who wouldn’t mind dating each other but find the path to that goal full of ...more
MILD SPOILERS
This is a historic novel that illustrates the customs and modes of life of some European people in the late 1500s. The book is rich in detail, but it never feels forced, and it never bogs down in dates or info dumps. It winds up being about a few extended families in a small rural community, chiefly the families of a young woman and a young man who wouldn’t mind dating each other but find the path to that goal full of ...more
This is the story of Martin and Nicolas in the French town of Salm who stumble into the home and lives of the Cathillon family after Nicolas is bitten by an adder.
Nicolas soon develops a romance with Catherine, one of the Cathillon daughters. However, can strict parents and religious divides over rule the feelings of young lovebirds? What are the consequences of denying the religious law and shaming your family?
It's quite scary how religion controlled society in Europe in the sixteenth century, ...more
Nicolas soon develops a romance with Catherine, one of the Cathillon daughters. However, can strict parents and religious divides over rule the feelings of young lovebirds? What are the consequences of denying the religious law and shaming your family?
It's quite scary how religion controlled society in Europe in the sixteenth century, ...more
It took Juliette Godot ten years to research and write about her ancestors lives during the 16th century. A period filled with superstitions, seditious rumours and witch hunting. The large cast of characters is handled extremely well and the attention to details is impressive. The story touches on class differences, women’ place in society, the powerful church and misbehaviour of its clergy.
Two families of different standing who would not normally associate with each other, through unforeseen ev ...more
Two families of different standing who would not normally associate with each other, through unforeseen ev ...more
Clean, tight prose that moves at a good clip.
Here’s a nice historical piece placed in the 1600s, a time we don’t often see in fiction but always welcome when we do. “From the Drop of Heaven” was published by a small press but could come from one of the big five—this is a story that pulls you in to show you different vantage points of this period from different families through several decades. I really appreciated the author delving into Calvinism and the Huguenots, the oppression of liberal tho ...more
Here’s a nice historical piece placed in the 1600s, a time we don’t often see in fiction but always welcome when we do. “From the Drop of Heaven” was published by a small press but could come from one of the big five—this is a story that pulls you in to show you different vantage points of this period from different families through several decades. I really appreciated the author delving into Calvinism and the Huguenots, the oppression of liberal tho ...more
I am so very glad I read this book. If it hadn't been for being a part of the review section, I would not have even read the description. I was pulled into the reality of this historical time so easily, since I have studied the Protestant Reformation for my own reasons. The author did a fantastic job with the story line, making it flow incredibly well. I found myself cheering and despising certain characters along the way. The reminder of the reality of history can be more than eye opening- Than
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I really enjoyed this read by Juliette. Not only did the novel keep me captivated, I learned a lot in the process. The story of Martin and Catherine is fun, and at times sad to follow.
I emphasized with the characters here. This is a good one, and you won’t be disappointed.
I look forward to the next novel by this brilliant author.
I emphasized with the characters here. This is a good one, and you won’t be disappointed.
I look forward to the next novel by this brilliant author.
This book was excellent. The characters and situations seem real, and so well described that I felt I was there. I kept thinking I'll stop reading at the end of the chapter, but I had to see what was going to happen. Exciting and emotional, and a surprising ending that turns out is the author's real family history. Highly recommend!
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16th century France is not a pleasant time to be growing up in. Especially if the local community think that you are a witch, in which case life is even harder. This story would be a good novel for those interested in the history of Protestantism/French history.
This book was a fascinating look at ordinary people’s lives in late 16th century France. It’s set in a rural village and the characters are just trying to live their lives but have to deal with accusations of witchcraft, the Black Death, war, and other atrocities. It was refreshing to see the focus moved from the usual nobles and other important figures to the peasants and tradespeople. I thought the characters were realistically portrayed, especially the women. The young Catherine is naive and
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This is an interesting writing experiment; half of it reads like a novel, the other half feels more like a diary (perhaps because some things were real events from the author’s family history in Salm during the religious persecution that followed the Schism of the 16th century). The novel part is vivid and engaging, written with sensibility and an acute sense of observation. Both were needed as the story happens in a difficult period of the late medieval history, when witchcraft and religious pe
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I don’t read historical fiction often, but I was engrossed in this book. Ms. Godot really did her homework. The detailed and intricate plot was authentic and sounded so real. Her writing flowed well and kept my attention.
Catherine and Nicolas come from different classes, but against all odds and the need for secrecy, they fall in love. The book follows them and the people around them for a good forty years, showing the ups and downs in life. The story takes place in the beautiful French countrys ...more
Catherine and Nicolas come from different classes, but against all odds and the need for secrecy, they fall in love. The book follows them and the people around them for a good forty years, showing the ups and downs in life. The story takes place in the beautiful French countrys ...more
From the Drop of Heaven
I don’t read historical novels very often.
As I began to read the first page, I looked down and discovered that the book was 600 pages in length. I muttered, "Oh, great," and began to read.
The book started with a man being burned at the stake. I knew this wasn’t an ordinary historical novel and began reading in earnest.
As I read, I found myself being pulled into this story deeper and deeper. It didn’t take long before I was spending all my time reading this story.
The story ...more
I don’t read historical novels very often.
As I began to read the first page, I looked down and discovered that the book was 600 pages in length. I muttered, "Oh, great," and began to read.
The book started with a man being burned at the stake. I knew this wasn’t an ordinary historical novel and began reading in earnest.
As I read, I found myself being pulled into this story deeper and deeper. It didn’t take long before I was spending all my time reading this story.
The story ...more
It was pure coincidence I happened to be reading two other works set in the 1400-1600 time period when I got this one. Certainly the 16th century was crammed full of amazing discoveries and horrible actions by humans. Columbus had just discovered America. Portuguese, Dutch, and Spanish explorers were busy sailing around the globe. The Conquistadors were in South America. Cortez conquered the Aztecs in 1521 while also busily baptizing every native into the Catholic church. So how is it later in t
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I love reading books that are so obviously passion projects. That is to say, of course, most books are, but the ones where you can tell the author not only cared a lot about the subject of the book, but also put a lot of genuine time and effort into research. From the Drop of Heaven is carefully constructed, and you can tell. I loved the couple pages of facts at the end as well, it's always nice to learn a little more about the world you've just spent time in.
It did get a little difficult to ke ...more
It did get a little difficult to ke ...more
This book is a historical fiction reader's dream. Its intense family drama is based on meticulously researched facts. While reading the story, I kept thinking that it sounded familiar. By the end, I realized our world isn't much different from the most intolerant time in history. Bigotry and religious persecution are happening again. The names might have changed, but the face of evil stays the same.
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I really enjoy stories where history and fiction blend together—it gives the narrative a greater sense of realism and weight. The author’s portrayal of 16th-century France stood out in particular. As I followed the lives of Catherine, Nicolas, and their family, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons to another era nearly four hundred years later. In medieval France, accusations of witchcraft or heresy often stemmed from jealousy, revenge, or greed—just as, in the Soviet Union, people informed on t
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Historical fiction isn’t usually my first pick, but From the Drop of Heaven pulled me in right away. The story of Nicolas and Catherine was both tender and tense. Watching their relationship grow in secret despite the dangers around them was one of my favorite parts.
I also really enjoyed the character of Martin, whose quiet defiance and love of learning helped spark something powerful in Nicolas. The setting, 1582 in a divided Europe, felt vivid and real, and the author did a great job showing h ...more
I also really enjoyed the character of Martin, whose quiet defiance and love of learning helped spark something powerful in Nicolas. The setting, 1582 in a divided Europe, felt vivid and real, and the author did a great job showing h ...more
This book proved to be a fascinating read. The author's meticulous research shines through, creating an intriguing and well-developed narrative. The characters are quite relatable, and the story almost immediately engrosses the reader. While I thoroughly enjoyed most of it, I did find myself occasionally skipping over sections due to the complexity of tracking multiple characters and their mundane conversations. Nevertheless, overall, this book offers an enjoyable reading experience.
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