The Magic of Ordinary Days is a beautiful novel written by Ann Howard Creel, set during the Second World War. The story takes place in a small farming town called High Plains, Colorado. The protagonist, Livy Dunne, finds herself in an unexpected and arranged marriage with a quiet and reserved man named Ray Singleton. Livy's life takes a sudden turn when she becomes pregnant out of wedlock. Seeking redemption for her actions, her father arranges a marriage with Ray. Livy is initially resistant to the idea, but nonetheless, she finds herself married to a man she barely knows.
Hannah’s new novel is an homage to the extraordinary courage and endurance of Frenchwomen during World War II.
She returns to tending her small farm, Le Jardin, in the Loire Valley, teaching at the local school and coping with daughter Sophie s adolescent rebellion. Her long-estranged younger sister, Isabelle, who has been kicked out of multiple convent schools, is sent to Le Jardin by Julien, their father in Paris, a drunken, decidedly unpaternal Great War veteran.
Livy is initially resistant to the idea, but nonetheless, she finds herself married to a man she barely knows. Ray is a gentle and kind man, but he remains emotionally distant. Livy feels lonely and isolated in her new life, especially after moving away from her native city of Denver.
THE MAGIC OF ORDINARY DAYS
A YA author’s nicely written adult debut novel blends historical richness and a fine sense of place to tell the story of a woman’s developing love for her husband—and for his Colorado farmland—over the course of six months in 1944.
In wartime Denver, Olivia Dunne becomes pregnant after a one-night stand with a departing American soldier. With the help of a local church, her father arranges her marriage to Ray Singleton, a beet farmer in faraway La Junta. Olivia’s first days on the isolated farm are awkward, and Ray, a shy, reticent man of good intentions, isn’t very adept at small talk. Precluded from contributing anything useful to the running of the farm, whose harvests are cultivated in part by labor from the local internment camp, Olivia takes long solitary walks. During one of them she meets Rose and Lorelei Umahara, Japanese-Americans from California who have been evacuated to confinement in Colorado. Young, enthusiastic, and passionate about butterfly hunting, the sisters introduce Olivia to the thriving, emotionally rich life of the camp. She keeps her friendship with the girls secret; Ray, whose brother was killed at Pearl Harbor, displays no fondness for the Japanese who work his farm. Creel does a delightful job of evoking first the dreariness of the Singleton farm and Olivia’s unnerving loneliness, then the slow ripening of her affection for Ray, a simple but profoundly kind and gentle man. Rose and Lorelei, meanwhile, hint that they have begun dating a pair of American soldiers, and Olivia drives them to meet the men in secret. But the “soldiers” turn out to be German POWs escaping with the help of the sisters, who make Olivia an unwitting accomplice. The author gives her heroine a satisfying emotional depth, moving Olivia through phases of affection and disappointment with assured confidence before closing with a tranquil scene after the baby is born.
A light, precisely observed novel.
Pub Date: July 9, 2001
ISBN: 0-670-91027-9
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2001
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More by Ann Howard Creel
- BOOK REVIEW
As the days go by, Livy starts to find solace and comfort in the everyday routines and simple pleasures that lie within the magic of ordinary days. Set against the backdrop of war, this novel explores themes of love, forgiveness, and finding happiness in unexpected places. As Livy settles into her new life and forms a bond with Ray, she begins to appreciate the beauty of their surroundings and the simple joys of domesticity. The author brilliantly captures the essence of everyday life in a rural community during a time of war. Creel effortlessly weaves historical context and personal stories together, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged until the very end. The book emphasizes the importance of finding happiness in seemingly ordinary moments and highlights the power of human connections. Through Livy's journey, readers witness the transformative power of love and how it can bring people together, even in the darkest of times. The Magic of Ordinary Days teaches us that it is within the moments of simplicity and routine that we can often find the greatest joys in life. Overall, The Magic of Ordinary Days is a captivating novel that transports readers to a different era and shows them the beauty that lies within the everyday. It is a heartwarming tale that reaffirms the power of love and the possibility of finding happiness in the most unexpected of circumstances..
Reviews for "The Social and Cultural Context of "The Magic of Ordinary Days"
1. John - 2 stars - I really didn't enjoy "The Magic of Ordinary Days" book. The story was slow-paced and lacked excitement. The characters were dull and uninteresting, and I had a hard time connecting with any of them. The ending was also quite predictable, which further added to my disappointment. Overall, I found the book to be a tedious and underwhelming read.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I found "The Magic of Ordinary Days" to be extremely boring and uneventful. The plot was mundane, and the story failed to engage me from the beginning. The characters were flat and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their journeys. I was hoping for a magical and enchanting experience, but unfortunately, the book fell flat in every aspect. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone seeking a captivating read.
3. Emma - 2 stars - "The Magic of Ordinary Days" was a disappointment for me. The writing style felt forced and lacked the fluidity that I look for in a book. The pacing was extremely slow, and the lack of action made it hard to stay engaged. The romance between the main characters felt contrived and lacked chemistry. Overall, I found the book to be forgettable and unsatisfying.
4. Michael - 1 star - I couldn't get into "The Magic of Ordinary Days." The story seemed to drag on forever, and the lack of conflict or excitement made it a tedious read. The characters were poorly developed, and their interactions felt forced and unrealistic. To me, this book was a snooze-fest, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for an entertaining read.