Reviews

The Magic of Ordinary Days by Ann Howard Creel

golddust95662's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

robyn_bramwell's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This was the most light-hearted WW2 book I've ever read. It was really nice to read something that didn't involve some extraordinary story of survival. The title says it all: ordinary people living ordinary lives, affected by the war in small but significant ways. She learns to live with the consequences of her mistake, adjusts to a new life arranged for her, and discovers happiness in unlikely places.

pilateschick's review

4.0

Great writing!

One of my greatest hopes it that there are still men out there as good and kind as Ray, and that the women in their lives are just as kind in return.

brynners89's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

cwkhalil's review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

jentrovert's review

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lilays43's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lucyyinthesky's review

reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No

3.25

namnam84's review

2.0

For starters, this book had no "magic", only an endless string of ordinary days. Things got exciting towards the end of the book, but by then I was just wading through it, waiting for it to finish.

I took up this novel after I watched the movie. In the movie, Livvy and Ray had chemistry from the beginning, and you really, really wanted them to end up together. I didn't feel the same about these two in the novel. I wanted Livvy to have her baby, leave Ray and pursue her dreams. Because frankly, it didn't look as if they had anything in common. Plus, Ray's ignorance and parochial attitude irritated me and was claustrophobic to read.

I did like how the war permeated their lives. Even though, they were far out in the country, the war was always lurking in the background, slowly shattering their peace and lives. But overall, it was an extremely slow read. I know I'm committing book-lover sacrilege by saying this - but watch the movie instead!

atf1216's review

5.0

I have seen the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie many, many times and absolutely love it. After reading this book, the movie stayed extremely true to the plot and the moments together between the two main characters. I honestly could not put this book down. Livvy and Ray are such interesting characters, both unique in their own ways but yet, the author is able to blend them together and make them seem so perfect together. The little moments between them were some of my favorites. The book is so well written yet still simple and easy to read. I know that I will be reading this book over and over again.