The Power of Forgiveness in "The Magic of Ordinary Days

The magic of ordinary days is a novel written by Ann Howard Creel. The story is set during World War II and follows the life of Livvy Dunne, a young woman from Colorado. Livvy finds herself in an arranged marriage after getting pregnant out of wedlock. The main idea of the story is that despite the challenging circumstances, there is magic to be found in the ordinary moments of life. Livvy initially feels trapped in her marriage and longs for the freedom and independent life she had before. However, as she settles into her new life on a farm and becomes a mother, she begins to appreciate the beauty in the simplicity of her everyday routine.

This was adapted from a book by the same name, which might be worth reading, and there is a sequel in the works according to Wikipedia.

The plot is a college woman is pregnant by her soldier boyfriend a cad, but she doesn t realize it , so her father arranges a marriage for her to a farmer in a remote area of Colorado a super nice guy whom she doesn t at first appreciate who agrees to be the husband and father. The plot is a college woman is pregnant by her soldier boyfriend a cad, but she doesn t realize it , so her father arranges a marriage for her to a farmer in a remote area of Colorado a super nice guy whom she doesn t at first appreciate who agrees to be the husband and father.

However, as she settles into her new life on a farm and becomes a mother, she begins to appreciate the beauty in the simplicity of her everyday routine. The author uses Livvy's interactions with the other characters to showcase this idea. Livvy forms a connection with the Japanese American family who lives nearby and experiences firsthand the discrimination they face during the war.

Collecting My Thoughts

I watched the Hallmark movie (2005) last night and I thought it was quite good--The magic of ordinary days. The plot is a college woman is pregnant by her soldier boyfriend (a cad, but she doesn't realize it), so her father arranges a marriage for her to a farmer in a remote area of Colorado a super nice guy whom she doesn't at first appreciate) who agrees to be the husband and father. There's a subplot involving Japanese farm workers whom she befriends.

In the end, of course, they fall in love.

But did rural women really wear hats while singing in the church choir in robes (one very brief scene)?

The male lead is Skeet Ulrich, whose real name is Bryan Trout. He's very good, and has appeared on some TV series, most recently Law and Order; Los Angeles.

This was adapted from a book by the same name, which might be worth reading, and there is a sequel in the works according to Wikipedia.

3 comments:

I saw that movie the other night for the first time too and I thought it was absolutely wonderful. So wonderful in fact, that the next day I downloaded the book and read it in one day. There's something to say about the love found in an arranged marriage where the man and woman didn't love each other to begin with but they still found a way to make things work. I was truly touched by this story. Perhaps it was by the husband's unswerving devotion and commitment to his wife and marriage. I hope Hallmark plays it again soon.

This was a rerun. I saw it first time around and had my sisters watch it with me. Neither sister ever married and I often wonder if they had lived in days of arranged marriages -they might have had the same good fortune. Love-real love- grows and never goes away..unlike today where many many play at love and hardly any stay in love. My dog lover sister liked the part where he softens to the dog living inside.all in all it was one of the better ones out there. lots of them are not so good.

Murray sez:
I always felt that there was 4 basic categories of love.

1. Love for animals and possessions

2.Love for relatives and friends

3. Learned love as in the movie. Brought about through mutual respect and the feelings toward each other.

4. Finally, for lack of a better name, there is what I call true love. This would be when two people meet and instantly know they were meant for each other and it grows throughout their lives. This is a rare happening and unfortunately most people never experience it.

The movie has an example of #3 &
#4. Except #4 was one sided.

I saw that movie the other night for the first time too and I thought it was absolutely wonderful. So wonderful in fact, that the next day I downloaded the book and read it in one day. There's something to say about the love found in an arranged marriage where the man and woman didn't love each other to begin with but they still found a way to make things work. I was truly touched by this story. Perhaps it was by the husband's unswerving devotion and commitment to his wife and marriage. I hope Hallmark plays it again soon.

Through this friendship, Livvy learns to see beyond appearances and find common ground with others. Livvy's relationship with her husband, Ray, also plays a significant role in highlighting the magic of ordinary days. Initially distant and uncommunicative, Livvy and Ray gradually develop a deep bond as they navigate the challenges of their marriage. They find joy in small moments, such as sharing meals and working together on the farm. As the war continues, Livvy's brother, Roy, goes missing in action. This event further reinforces the theme of finding magic in ordinary days. Livvy's grief and longing for her brother push her to appreciate the time she has with her son and the love she shares with Ray. In the end, she realizes that it is these ordinary moments that make life truly magical. Overall, The magic of ordinary days explores the transformative power of finding happiness in everyday life. It emphasizes the importance of cherishing simplest moments and finding beauty in the ordinary. Through Livvy's journey, the novel conveys a message of hope and resilience, reminding readers to find joy and magic even in the darkest of times..

Reviews for "Analyzing the Symbolism of the Quilting in "The Magic of Ordinary Days"

1. John - 2 stars

I was really looking forward to reading "Outline of the magic of ordinary days" based on the positive reviews I had seen, but I was left feeling disappointed. The story felt slow-paced and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with the characters. Additionally, the writing style felt monotonous and failed to create a sense of wonder. Overall, the book just didn't live up to my expectations.

2. Samantha - 3 stars

"Outline of the magic of ordinary days" had an interesting concept, but I felt that it fell short in its execution. The plot seemed predictable, and the character development was lacking. I wanted to feel invested in the story and the journey of the protagonists, but I found myself struggling to care. The writing was decent, but it wasn't enough to salvage the overall experience for me.

3. Michael - 2.5 stars

I found "Outline of the magic of ordinary days" to be quite underwhelming. The story had potential, but it failed to deliver on the promised magic. The pacing felt off, and the narrative lacked coherence. The characters felt one-dimensional and their actions seemed forced. Overall, the book left me feeling unsatisfied and longing for a more captivating read.

The Role of Nature in "The Magic of Ordinary Days