Ordinary Magic

by Ruth King Porter (Author & Illustrator)

The first thing that happens is that Cal Willard gets shot in the foot. It s 1977, the day after Thanksgiving, which means that deer season is almost over. Cal s brother George goes to the hospital to see him, even though he hasn't had much to do with Cal for years, really since he got a law degree and moved to town. George has two daughters, now both grown up. Nora is secretly pregnant and trying to figure out what to do about it. Her sister Lena is married with two small children and problems with her husband. Then there is Cal's son, Conrad, whose life is very different from that of his cousins. He decides to buy a log skidder so he can go into business for himself selling firewood to people who are burning wood because of the oil crisis. These are ordinary events, but there s magic in the way they play out over the winter and into the spring. A good read for people who liked Porter s previous novel, The Simple Life, or for people who like stories of ordinary life, truly rendered, with horses and dogs, children and winter weather Vermont life in the country and in town.

446 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2009

About the author

I was born in New York City in 1940, and I grew up in Alliance, Ohio, but it wasn’t until I had graduated from St. John’s College and married Bill Porter that I moved to Vermont. That was when I felt as though I had really come home. Books were important in my family. My mother was one of the daughters of Max Perkins, the editor of Hemingway and Fitzgerald. I always read a lot, but I never thought I wanted to write until I had lived in Vermont for a few years. I loved the land and the weather and the people, and I wanted to tell about all of it. If my novels make you feel as though you have spent some time in Vermont, then I have succeeded. There is more about me and about my books on my website, www.ruthkingporter.com

Reviews

[Linda Hawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a free copy of this book on Goodreads. And I am very happy I did.

I had never read Ruth Porter's books before so wasn't sure what to expect. Porter writes in a very down to earth style that is quite similar to the style you expect when families of great story tellers gather together to remember old family stories.

"Ordinary Magic" is set in the winter of 1977-78 and Porter does a great job of bringing the 70s to life. She sheds new light on the family dynamics of those who struggled in silence while the world changed around them. And those who endured while fighting change whenever it threatened them.

It is definitely worth the read and I was recommending it to friends before I was half way through it. I will be looking to read more of her work.

[Vincenza Wall]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12035224