A Dublin Student Doctor

An Irish Country Novel

By: Patrick Taylor

Narrated by: John Keating

Length: 15 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

Patrick Taylor's devoted listeners oknow Doctor Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly as a pugnacious general practitioner in the quaint Irish village of Ballybucklebo. Now Taylor turns back the clock to give us a portrait of the young Fingal—and show us the pivotal events that shaped the man he would become.

In the 1930s, fresh from a stint in the Royal Navy Reserve, and against the wishes of his disapproving father, Fingal O'Reilly goes to Dublin to study medicine. Fingal and his fellow aspiring doctors face the arduous demands of Trinity College and Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital. The hours are long and the cases challenging, but Fingal manages to find time to box and play rugby—and to romance a fetching, gray-eyed nurse named Kitty O'Hallorhan.

Dublin is a city of slums and tenements, where brutal poverty breeds diseases that the limited medical knowledge of the time is often ill-equipped to handle. His teachers warn Fingal not to become too attached to his patients, but can he truly harden himself to the suffering he sees all around him—or can he find a way to care for his patients without breaking his heart?

A Dublin Student Doctor is a moving, deeply human story that will touch longtime fans of the Irish Country Books series as well as readers who are meeting Doctor Fingal O'Reilly for the very first time.

Listen to another Irish Country novel.

©2011 Patrick Taylor (P)2011 Macmillan Audio

I love this series.

I enjoy the characters and the details of their lives. The narrator does a great job with the various voices of the characters.

Fun characters

I especially enjoy the narrator, easy listening, good voice, the series is fun to listen to, good character development, no violence or profanity which is truly a joy and rare to find.

O'Riely grows up

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend beginning with the first book in the series and listening in order.

What did you like best about this story?

The stories about how he developed into the Doctor he becomes.

Which character – as performed by John Keating – was your favorite?

O'Riely

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Dublin Doctor

Any additional comments?

All of the books in the series are outstanding thus far. It makes me wish i could step into the book and meet the characters.

Absolutely love this series!

This is one of our all time favorite series. Thank you Patrick Taylor for these great books. We have listened to this series more than once. The narration by John Keating is excellent too.

Always love these books.

What an amazing trip back in time to Dr. O'Reilys past. Ready for the next installment.

Enjoyed

Enjoyed but a bit too much in time change and medical procedures not as quick moving as other books in series.

Delightful

I'm loving the series. It's easy listening, endearing characters, light on the plot but enjoyable. I could do without the overly long medical descriptions. They seem like filler.

Wonderful narration.

Hated the beginning but it got better.

I chose this book as it reminded me of the All Creature's Great & Small series - just for people. Initially I hated the arrogance/self-importance of the main character. However once the story focused more on his past as a student doctor - I got what I was looking for and became much happier with the story.

A decent read - but not good enough to seek out other titles in the series.

Boo

Not as good as the other books before this. I guess without his buddy Barry, the story fell flat. Too bad. I bought the ones that follow, too, so I hope the story picks up again. This back story effort just wasn't anywhere close to as engaging.

Good as part of the series, not great on its own.

Would you try another book from Patrick Taylor and/or John Keating?

Yes, I'm enjoying the series. John Keating did a nice job on The 13th Apostle too.

Would you ever listen to anything by Patrick Taylor again?

Yes I will finish the series. Two to go. I listened to this one out of order.

Which character – as performed by John Keating – was your favorite?

Fingal O'Reilly of course, the main character.

Do you think A Dublin Student Doctor needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

It has many follow up books already. I think once I do the final two, I'll have had plenty and be ready for other authors. In fact I find two Patrick Taylor books in a row a bit dry, so I break it up with other authors.

Any additional comments?

There are too many slow details, especially on medical cases. I'd like more story and maybe some action for a change.