The Magic of Ordinary Days

The Magic of Ordinary Days
By Ann Howard Creel
Viking, 2001. 274 pgs. Fiction

Toward the end of WWII, Olivia Dunne leaves her graduate studies and travel plans to marry a farmer in rural Colorado, a man she meets the day of their arranged marriage. Lonely and unable to help on the farm, Olivia befriends two Japanese-American sisters who live at a nearby internment camp, but while she welcomes the friendship of the sisters, Olivia resists developing a relationship with her new husband, viewing the marriage only as a solution to a problem.

This is a lovely, well-written story that focuses on the character development and relationship between Olivia and her husband Ray. While there is little action, the story still moves along quickly and enjoyably. My only complaint is that one plot element, Olivia’s unwitting involvement in a crime, occurs so close to the end of the novel that its resolution feels rushed. Otherwise, it is a delightful book.

MBC