fun look at a small Northern Ireland village

books:


	• An Irish Country Doctor (Irish Country Books) Patrick Taylor Forge Books, 2008 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 15 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

4 stars

Dr. Barry Laverty embarks on his medical career by hiring on with an Irish country doctor, Dr. Fingal O'Reilly. His boss is a real character, but so are all his patients. In his rare off hours, Barry hopes to pursue a romance with Patricia Spence, but she is more interested in her education than in romance, or so she says.

**** If you loved James Herriot's gentle tales of a Darrowby vet's life, either in print or on the television, you'll find this to be a gem. Though Barry is a bit more like Calum Buchanan than James, Fingal does remind me a lot of Siegfried, and the human patients are as quirky as the farmers and pet owners who made James' life interesting. I hope this is the first of a series and we'll see more of life in Ballybucklebo. I also appreciate the inclusion of a glossary in the back to help readers understand the local lingo, and though I doubt I'll be trying any of "Kinky" Kincaid's recipes, the ones appearing at the end of the book are a bonus. ****

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James Herriot in disguise

My title is not damning as I've been a fan of All Creatures Great and Small and the James Herriot series for decades. Mr. Taylor has recreated nearly all of the characters here. O'Reilly is a dead ringer for Seigfried and Barry for James Herriott. There's even a love interest that sounds and is described similarly to Helen, as well as a ubiquitous housekeeper. As I read the book (which I loved) I kept these faces in my mind. O'Reilly especially, sounds just like Seigfried Farnum.
Enjoy.

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Irish Doctor

This is an interesting book on Irish Life. If you like Irish ways and have an interest in medicine, this is your book. The interplay between the older General Practioner and his new, young assistant MD is very fascinating. They have adventure after adventure with their patients - both those who come to the "surgery" in the morning and the ones they visit on house calls in the afternoon. Kinky, the housekeeper, is an excellently drawn character who offers a great sample of the Irish brogue and Irish ways. I enjoyed this book.

James Toomey

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fun look at a small Northern Ireland village

Barry Laverty has just graduated from medical school, but is not sure what type of medicine to practice. So he responds to an ad for a physician's assistant in Ballybucklebo, Northern Ireland. After he's hired he travels to his new home immediately.

Barry meets his new boss Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly as the doctor tosses an apparent patient out into the street and onto his butt. After that introduction to the ex-boxer turned medical practitioner, Barry is not sure whether to marvel or scorn Fingal's bedside manner as the physician will do anything to calm a distraught patient. Still he finds he likes the eccentric townsfolk, his boss, and especially civil engineering student Patricia Spence. Perhaps the only person the newcomer disdains is greedy Councilor Bishop, who plots for his personal gain at the cost of the community.

This is a fun look at a small Northern Ireland village filled with delightful eccentric characters especially the doctor with a bit of the brogue who is part gruff and part nurturer. The story line is simplistic as the outsider finds his place in the town while ready to slay the meanie Bishop and get the girl. This is simply a lighthearted tale that readers will enjoy.

Harriet Klausner

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reviews: 1, 2, page 3

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