"The Magic of Ordinary Days" is a novel written by Ann Howard Creel. Set during World War II, the story follows the life of Livvy Dunne, a young woman living in rural Colorado. Livvy finds herself in a predicament when she becomes pregnant after a hasty and brief marriage to a soldier. To spare her the scorn and judgment of her small community, Livvy's father arranges for her to marry a gentle and caring farmer named Ray Singleton. Although Livvy initially resents her father's decision and mourns the loss of her freedom, she gradually begins to appreciate the simple joys of her new life. As time passes, Livvy develops a deep bond with Ray and begins to fall in love with him.
The Magic of Ordinary Days
During the latter years of WWII, circumstances in Olivia Dunne’s life suddenly change. The death of her mother followed by a failed love affair leaves her unable to realize her dream of studying archaeology in far-off places. Her father hastily arranges her marriage to a farmer in southeastern Colorado. Seeing no other choice, she leaves her home in Denver and takes the train to meet her husband-to-be.
The world and work of Ray Singleton couldn’t be more foreign. With no close neighbors or work of her own to do, Olivia reaches the point that she fears for her own sanity. Then she meets two young women, Japanese-American sisters interned at a nearby camp. They offer her companionship and take her mind off of her own despair. But the way in which they ultimately change her life is quite different from what she could ever suspect.
Ann Howard Creel captures the quiet vastness of the landscape and the secret, hidden spaces in the heart with eloquence. She shows how life’s disappointments can sometimes lead to surprisingly fulfilling opportunities. This novel is based on actual events.
The Magic of Ordinary Days
During the latter years of WWII, circumstances in Olivia Dunne’s life suddenly change. The death of her mother followed by a failed love affair leaves her unable to realize her dream of studying archaeology in far-off places. Her father hastily arranges her marriage to a farmer in southeastern Colorado. Seeing no other choice, she leaves her home in Denver and takes the train to meet her husband-to-be.
The world and work of Ray Singleton couldn’t be more foreign. With no close neighbors or work of her own to do, Olivia reaches the point that she fears for her own sanity. Then she meets two young women, Japanese-American sisters interned at a nearby camp. They offer her companionship and take her mind off of her own despair. But the way in which they ultimately change her life is quite different from what she could ever suspect.
Ann Howard Creel captures the quiet vastness of the landscape and the secret, hidden spaces in the heart with eloquence. She shows how life’s disappointments can sometimes lead to surprisingly fulfilling opportunities. This novel is based on actual events.
The magic of ordinary days summary
Only show reviews with written explanations
amibunk's review against another edition
Trust, true love, knowing one's self; these are all issues discussed in The Magic of Ordinary Days. The main character, Olivia, must decide where she belongs and whom she should love. Well-written, thought provoking, and with decidedly descriptive language, this novel stays with the one who reads it,
seachell1's review against another edition
This was a nice, sweet and quiet love story. I really enjoyed this book.lizaroo71's review against another edition
A glimpse into Livvy's life: single and pregnant. The daughter of a reverend, her father makes arrangements for Livvy to marry so the child knows a father. The real father of the hold is a solider sent off to the battlefields of WWII.
Livvy makes her way to Colorado to marry a man she has never met. It is here, on his farm, that Livvy learns about friendship and love.
She meets two young Japanese sisters that are in an internment camp nearby. Livvy begins to understand that it is important to make the most of what you have and not to dwell on what isn't around.
A quick read with a rich setting.
ambientstories's review against another edition
Lovely book. Beautiful Hallmark adaptation (2005).kortirion's review against another edition
I liked this book well enough but was disappointed that the story ended as soon as the main character realized she was in love. Life isn't a fairy tale, people. I would have liked to have seen the story continue--how did the community react when she had her baby? Truthfully, I guess romances just don't normally cut it for me.
dappho's review against another edition
challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-pacedmairennarteaga's review against another edition
Eh
It was a cute story but it was so slow and relatively boring when it had a lot of potential sadly.
amalies's review against another edition
I really enjoyed this book. I am drawn to information about WWII that doesn't involve the European front, but rather the Japanese front, the internment camps here in America and how the war was affecting people who weren't directly involved with the actual battles and troops living in their homes and cities. This story is about a woman growing to know herself, receive forgiveness and move on from death and pain and everything in between. I liked that a story about a persons life was written directly alongside a current event like the war. This is how our own lives happen everyday and her inner dialog really shows how the world around us really changes how we perceive things and decide who we are. The conclusion of the book was very good. The voice that lead me to understand that this book was Olivia talking abut her past really kept me on the edge needing to know the ending the entire time.
momma2thegs's review against another edition
This isn't my normal type of book. I picked it because I am on a waitlist for others and it sounded interesting. I am so glad I came across it. I thought it was a great book.
The Magic of Ordinary
One of my go-to movies is, The Magic of Ordinary Days, based off the book by Ann Howard Creel and made into a Hallmark movie. I believe, we all have that movie we like to watch when we just want to be mopey, have a good cry or just want to have a feel-good moment. The plot of the story is not overly important to this blog post. What is important is the title: Magic of Ordinary Days. It is one that I have been thinking about for some time as I reflect and write about our everyday life for Indianapolis Moms Blog. Magic should be a part of every day, but does it have to be extravagant and planned out?
As time passes, Livvy develops a deep bond with Ray and begins to fall in love with him. However, her heart is still torn between Ray and the father of her unborn child, Danny. Livvy's feelings become even more complicated when Danny returns home on leave from the war.
Surrounded by Magic Makers
My college years were surrounded by artistic greatness. I went to a top art school, Ringling College of Art and Design and had the pleasure of witnessing young artists turn into amazing people. These are people creating the books I read to my son, the toys I buy, the movies we watch, acting in commercials for favorite products, teaching others the passion of creating and countless other creative outlets (festival poster artist, tattoo artist, painter, children’s programming creator, video game creators and even a monk). I am forever grateful to have known these people and be inspired by them. I try to take teachings I learned and continue to learn from them to apply to my everyday life.
Despite her conflicted emotions, Livvy remains dedicated to her marriage and the life she has built with Ray. She realizes that the magic of her ordinary days lies in the love and connection she shares with her husband, and the beauty of the simple moments they enjoy together. Throughout the novel, Livvy learns valuable lessons about the importance of compromise, forgiveness, and finding happiness in unexpected places. She learns to embrace her new life and appreciate the strength and kindness of the people around her. "The Magic of Ordinary Days" is a heartwarming and poignant tale that explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the power of ordinary moments to bring joy and fulfillment. It reminds readers that sometimes the most magical moments in life are found in the everyday and the ordinary..
Reviews for "Love and Loss in "The Magic of Ordinary Days": A Summary"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I found "The Magic of Ordinary Days" to be quite boring and uneventful. The plot moved at a snail's pace and lacked any real excitement or intrigue. The characters were also quite bland and underdeveloped, making it difficult to feel invested in their story. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others looking for a captivating read.
2. Michael - 1 star - I couldn't finish "The Magic of Ordinary Days" as I found it incredibly dull and predictable. The story lacked any real depth or substance, and the romance felt forced and unrealistic. I was hoping for a more engaging read, but unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting and well-written novel.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - "The Magic of Ordinary Days" was a letdown for me. The premise of a forced marriage and the potential for a unique love story intrigued me, but the execution fell short. The writing was lackluster and failed to engage my interest. The characters were one-dimensional, and their actions often felt forced or unrealistic. Overall, I found this book to be unimpressive and would not recommend it to others.