The Magic of Ordinary Days

A Novel

By: Ann Howard Creel

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

Olivia Dunne, a studious minister's daughter who dreams of being an archaeologist, never thought that the drama of World War II would affect her quiet life in Denver. An exhilarating flirtation reshapes her life, though, and she finds herself banished to a rural Colorado outpost, married to a man she hardly knows. Overwhelmed by loneliness, Olivia tentatively tries to establish a new life, finding much-needed friendship and solace in two Japanese American sisters who are living at a nearby internment camp. When Olivia unwittingly becomes an accomplice to a crime and is faced with betrayal, she finally confronts her own desires.

Beautifully written and filled with memorable characters, Ann Howard Creel's novel is a powerful exploration of the nature of trust and love.

©2001 Ann Howard Creel (P)2016 Tantor

Good story line with awful narration

Tourture listening to this narration of a good novel I struggled through having originally enjoyed the movie.
I can't recommend you listen to this rendition read the novel instead.

I love this story

I have loved this movie for awhile, and now I’m happy to find I love the book too. The narrator is not as good as some I have heard, but she doesn’t ruin it for me. I am left feeling a bit sad as the ending of the book is different than the movie and doesn’t work out as well for all the characters, but it is still such a wonderful story.

My kind of reading-Enjoyed it!

Saw the movie first, and really loved it, but I felt that there were gaps and places that really didn't make sense. I discovered the audiobook later and now I understand why. The movie took a LOT of license! However, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The narration was not my favorite. Generally, when I'm listening to an audiobook, The narration is so smooth and seamless that I forget that all of the dialogue is being done by one person. This book was not like that. Although some of the dialogue was excellently done particularly for the the women, at times I was drawn away from the story and into the narration because of some awkwardness or disbelief.

I liked the story, but I can’t listen to it again!

I love to go back and listen to my audiobook collection. But, this book, unfortunately, will never be heard again due to the nasal, whining voice of the narrator. I’m so sorry!

The warmth with high the people were portrayed

The story was lovely.
The reader had a voice like a very old man, for all the parts. I almost quit in tears he middle because it was so annoying. Too bad. The rest was good.

Lovely story

The movie follows the book pretty well with some differences. I can understand Livy being distance and the story is more about her. The ending is certainly different than the movie and I think I prefer the movie ending dealing with her friends.
As for the voice actor, I don’t think it was well matched. It should have been a younger sounding voice and I would have preferred a male voice for the male characters. I think I will end up reading the book if I want to revisit the story or watch the movie. But that might be the problem with watching the movie first. I can hear Kerri Russel instead in my head.

Surprisingly good!

I expected a fluffy period romance and instead found a slow burn in the style of Willa Cather. Top notch!

Beautiful Book; Awful Voice

I love this book but could not handle the reader's voice. It grated on my nerves -- tired and mewling.

Not sure about being 'Ordinary' or 'Magic' certainly not 'usual'

This novel is quite difficult to explain in that I found the subject matter filled with intent ... by that, deep and, should you be so inclined, thought provoking. I sensed that I was reading several stories wrapped in a greater episode of lives lived during a certain time period.
It is well written, told quite well, and offers the reader a challenge to accept these people as they faced their daily strife.

Here From The Movie

I adore the movie. I get it. Not everything is going to be verbatim with a book/movie. While this was an okay read, I can sense where they pulled from the book and added to the movie and re-situated structure. I love the movie more but can appreciate the effort into writing the book.