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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
While I wish I had read the book before seeing the movie, both are wonderful versions of the story!
I first 'saw' this book as a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie on TV. I was so impressed with the story that I had to get the book. Olivia Dunne is the oldest of three sisters. She is the only one who is single and she is also pursuing her master's degree in history. Intelligent with goals to better her life, she wants to become an archeologist. At the opening of the story she is taking care of her mother who is ill.
This is a simple story of love-gone-wrong during the early days of WWII. Olivia is a minister's daughter who does the unthinkable; she gets pregnant after a one-night stand with a soldier that she thought would love and marry her. Unfortunately it is war time and he never returns.
Her mother passes away and her strict father sends her off to marry a farmer. A stranger. A lonely man. A gentle man. Someone who has known heartache in his own way.
Journey with these two isolated individuals who eventually earn the respect and then love, from one another. Deep in scope, this is a powerful story with interesting characters. Besides the warmhearted romance you will learn what was expected of farmers during this era. There is also a secondary story between Olivia and two Japanese sisters she meets.
THE MAGIC OF ORDINARY DAYS moves slowly but not in a bad way. This is one of those romances that you will be sad to end. Ann Howard Creel normally writes young girl fiction but this adult fiction is oh-so-sweet. The movie follows the book but takes some liberties. Read the book first.
This is a simple story of love-gone-wrong during the early days of WWII. Olivia is a minister's daughter who does the unthinkable; she gets pregnant after a one-night stand with a soldier that she thought would love and marry her. Unfortunately it is war time and he never returns.
Her mother passes away and her strict father sends her off to marry a farmer. A stranger. A lonely man. A gentle man. Someone who has known heartache in his own way.
Journey with these two isolated individuals who eventually earn the respect and then love, from one another. Deep in scope, this is a powerful story with interesting characters. Besides the warmhearted romance you will learn what was expected of farmers during this era. There is also a secondary story between Olivia and two Japanese sisters she meets.
THE MAGIC OF ORDINARY DAYS moves slowly but not in a bad way. This is one of those romances that you will be sad to end. Ann Howard Creel normally writes young girl fiction but this adult fiction is oh-so-sweet. The movie follows the book but takes some liberties. Read the book first.
I had watched the Hallmark movie before reading this book, but was delightfully surprised that some of the movie plot twists were for the movie only. I thought this was a lovely story of how two people can come together and make the best of difficult situations. I have been selecting more WWII era books to read lately and this was a good addition to that group.
This is a beautifully written story about a young woman whose plans of a life of travel in far off places are abruptly ended as she finds herself on a farm in rural Colorado during WWII in an arranged marriage. It truly is beautifully written and a very quick read. I didn't think it resolved itself terribly well—or maybe it was simply resolved too quickly for my taste. I wanted some kind of an epiphany or real lead up and recognition of the ability to find "magic [in] ordinary days." This doesn't really happen. I also felt that there was too much emphasis placed on the mistakes of individuals being a tragic result of circumstances rather than choices made which should lead to real consequences. Still, I would recommend it on as a very good read.
I think the title of this book says exactly how good it's going to be- quite "ordinary." Not a bad book, but didn't really get interesting until near the end. I expected a bit more development from Ray, since through the whole book Livvy "cannot" fall in love with him, and then seems to quite suddenly at the end. A good book, but fell a bit flat in keeping me entertained throughout the first two thirds of the book.
4.5 stars
I remember seeing this movie as it was a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie and after liked the movie so much, I found out it was a book. I enjoyed how the elements of the book were in the movie, except for some changes and scenes left out. It maybe because I am more of a visual person but I kept thinking about the movie while reading the book, and could not help but compare the two. In a way I wish I read the book first but both are great! Come to think of it, I should read this book again.
I remember seeing this movie as it was a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie and after liked the movie so much, I found out it was a book. I enjoyed how the elements of the book were in the movie, except for some changes and scenes left out. It maybe because I am more of a visual person but I kept thinking about the movie while reading the book, and could not help but compare the two. In a way I wish I read the book first but both are great! Come to think of it, I should read this book again.
I really enjoyed this book a lot. I love history and hearing about the realities of World War II and all the things with the Japanese Internment Camps really kept me interested. I also loved how Olivia grew and learned what it really meant to love and trust and going through her journey and realizing that she had her own history by being on that farm with Ray.
It was definitely a learning experience for her and I had a lot of great lessons about life in it as well and friendship and many other things that I took away from it. I know plan to watch the Hallmark movie that was inpsired from the book.
It was definitely a learning experience for her and I had a lot of great lessons about life in it as well and friendship and many other things that I took away from it. I know plan to watch the Hallmark movie that was inpsired from the book.