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Book Reviews of The Magic of Ordinary Days

The Magic of Ordinary Days
The Magic of Ordinary Days
Author: Ann Howard Creel
ISBN-13: 9780142000908
ISBN-10: 0142000906
Publication Date: 6/25/2002
Pages: 304
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 45

4 stars, based on 45 ratings
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

12 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

bellasgranny avatar reviewed The Magic of Ordinary Days on + 468 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Would highly recommend this little gem. Beautifully written and tender, it is the story about an unplanned pregnancy and the subsequent arranged marriage. The secondary story about the war, Japanese internment camps and German POWs was interesting and informative. Would look forward to the author's next adult fiction effort.
reviewed The Magic of Ordinary Days on
Helpful Score: 2
This was a great book. One I could read again.
Lavendergrey avatar reviewed The Magic of Ordinary Days on + 20 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This book was ok...not what I expected. I was not anticipating the dreary tone of this book, and almost stopped reading at one point. I did, however, want to know what happened to the various characters in the story, so I did read the whole thing. Even when there was a positive situation or happy feeling, it seemed to have lackluster and just trudged along. There were some lessons learned and events that turned out to have a good influence in the character's lives, but again, it seemed that even the joyful events were not really appreciated for what they were. Probably because the main characters were so mired down in their dreary lives and situations.

I guess it is a good story, but when I read a book such as this I do want to feel uplifted when the story calls for it...and at the end I'd like to be able to say "That was a good book." None of that happened as I read this book. I wouldn't recommend it.
kathyk avatar reviewed The Magic of Ordinary Days on
Helpful Score: 1
Beautiful story - an arranged marriage that turns to love.
Loved it.
abbykt avatar reviewed The Magic of Ordinary Days on + 113 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this book at first. It kept my attention and I enjoyed the story of forgiveness. I thought the ending came really quickly though. There was a lot of build up to the business of the German POW's and the resolution of Livvy's relationship with Ray. I liked the way it ended, I just felt it was rushed.
reviewed The Magic of Ordinary Days on + 48 more book reviews
Once again, the book is much better than the movie
booknookchick avatar reviewed The Magic of Ordinary Days on + 117 more book reviews
Visually descriptive and entertaining writing based on Colorado's history, its terrain, and farm life during WWII. Could identify easily with Ray and Livvy's struggle to get on with their lives after feeling they'd made a terrible mistake that changed their lives forever.

Found Ray, the bachelor farmer, and his sister Martha, cast perfectly for the movie. Most of the script in the movie deviates from the book -- probably not a surprise.

This was a great book to read while sitting out on the deck on a beautiful summer day.
reviewed The Magic of Ordinary Days on + 19 more book reviews
This book is okay. A quick read but the plot was not too original. It's a good book for an afternoon read.
LeahG avatar reviewed The Magic of Ordinary Days on + 320 more book reviews
This book grew on me page by page. I experienced the feelings that went through all of the characters as the story progressed. It is not always a happy story, but neither is life. The author ties in the good moments so well that she continually brings hope to the reader.
bygones68 avatar reviewed The Magic of Ordinary Days on + 66 more book reviews
A sweet story that takes place in 1944 and weaves history and life in rural Colorado throughout. I enjoyed this book very much.
pebblesgmc avatar reviewed The Magic of Ordinary Days on + 86 more book reviews
Story starts in Denver, then moves to in farming country during WWII. Olivia "Livvy" Dunne finds herself pregnant, unmarried and the father went off to war without a word. Pastor Dunne decrees that she shall marry a farmer in eastern Colorado. Ray Singleton is a quiet good man.

Camp Amache the Japanese interment camp during the war. Rose and Lorelei Umahara are reminders that justice is blind.
NancyAZ avatar reviewed The Magic of Ordinary Days on + 95 more book reviews
This book moves very slowly but had a hold on me that I cant describe. Another reader says reading each page was like rolling a chocolate around in my mouth. I love that description and totally agree. Towards the end however I felt the story was rushed and maybe it needed another 50 pages. It is a tender story of love and forgiveness and I think we all need to discover the magic in ordinary days.