An Irish Country Doctor

A Novel

By: Patrick Taylor

Narrated by: John Keating

Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

An Irish Country Doctor from bestselling author Patick Taylor is a charming and engrossing tale that will captivate listeners from the very first word—and leave them yearning to visit the Irish countryside of days gone by.

Barry Laverty, M.B., can barely find the village of Ballybucklebo on a map when he first sets out to seek gainful employment there, but already he knows that there is nowhere he would rather live than in the emerald hills and dales of Northern Ireland. The proud owner of a spanking-new medical degree and little else in the way of worldly possessions, Barry jumps at the chance to secure a position as an assistant in a small rural practice.

At least until he meets Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly.

The older physician, whose motto is to never let the patients get the upper hand, has his own way of doing things. At first, Barry can't decide if the pugnacious O'Reilly is the biggest charlatan he has ever met, or the best teacher he could ever hope for. Through O'Reilly Barry soon gets to know all of the village's colorful and endearing residents, including:

A malingering Major and his equally hypochondriacal wife;

An unwed servant girl, who refuses to divulge the father of her upcoming baby;

A slightly daft old couple unable to marry for lack of a roof;

And a host of other eccentric characters who make every day an education for the inexperienced young doctor.

Ballybucklebo is long way from Belfast, and Barry is quick to discover that he still has a lot to learn about the quirks and traditions of country life. But with pluck and compassion and only the slightest touch of blarney, he will find out more about life—and love—than he ever imagined back in medical school.

©2004, 2007 Patrick Taylor (P)2009 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Narrator John Keating has a field day with the humor, long-winded stories, and colorful accents...[Keating] skillfully presents the unique and sometimes-hilarious Irish take on joy, sorrow, illness, and death.” —AudioFile

“Welcome to the colorful Northern Ireland community of Ballybucklebo where there's always something brewing beneath the Village's deceptively sleepy surface. Fans of Karon's Mitford series will enjoy this.” —Smoky Mountain Sentinel

Be Reminded Gently of Important Life Lessons

For those who enjoy quirky 1990s European films like "The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain" and "Waking Ned Divine," this may be the book for you. Like those films, this book focuses on life's minutia and finds humor in the everyday. Although the lessons set forth are not new, there is no doubt that these are lessons worth being reminded of and there is no better way to be reminded then in a gentle novel such as this.

Fantastic

I read a lot of action-based fiction with fast moving plots, but decided to try something a bit different. This was a fantastic read that really makes you feel like part of the small town in Northern Ireland where it is set. The characters are interesting, different, and well developed and there is just enough of plot to keep you going to the end. The narrator does a terrific job with all the different Irish accents.

Three Stars For Me, More For You--Most Likely

Well, here am I again being the odd dissenter. I just can't help myself in being disappointed by this book, a story that almost everyone else fell in love with.

It started off good, and I was comparing it in my mind to the Herriot books, which I greatly enjoyed. But somewhere along the line, the "local color" of the townsfolk became more important than any medical issues, and the good doctors' relationships with the townsfolk took precedence over everything else. While the narrator is good, you could just feel how much he loved portraying drunks and he overdid it somewhat. (I am not entertained by drunken behaviors and find this in no way amusing.)

Getting back to the story, for me it became somewhat boring and I repeatedly wished the book to be over. Also disconcerting for me was the Pollyanna-ish nature of the story and in the end, almost every loose end was tied up neat and tidy. In other words, almost everyone is going to live happily ever after. You saw it coming, you knew it would happen, no surprises there.

Spoiler warning: Young doctor Barry's lady love got cold feet and pushed for a less heated relationship, which I tell myself is only so this thread can continue and be the subject of further books (there are a bunch). It was out of character for her to back off, with no obvious reason presented.

Since I am the odd (wo)man out, I am not going to tell you to avoid this book. I've been totally overruled and so I say, it is up to you! If you are reading this, you know my gripes.

Absolutely delightful series!

The good news about this book is that is it the first of a series. When I had finished listening, I wanted to know more about these endearing characters. And the series will satisfy this in many ways.

At first I had to get used to Keating's narrative style. His Irish voice initially suggests the lilt that is often associated with reading children's books. But he creates excellent voices, enjoys the Irish accent, and I quickly found him a pleasure to listen to. As a side point, I found myself identifying the many phrases -- 'saying' -- used in everyday Australian colloquialisms as coming from Ireland. Hardly surprising, given our immigration history, but it was entertaining to recognise them.

The writer, Patrick Taylor, is an Irish ex pat, now living in Canada -- an eminent medico. This explains the confident presentation of symptoms and solutions. It also explains the nostalgia for people and place that characterises this novel -- the awareness of the limits and the innumberable advantages of the small, relatively isolatedIrish village community of the recent past.

Taylor's style is perfect for the audio format. He is an ordered and careful writer. Unlike many writers, he doesn't demand we remember innumerable names and complex subplots. In fact, he regularly summarises and thus takes the listener effortlessly along with him. This is the perfect gentle escape.

Well, I've downloaded the whole series: is that recommendation enough?

AN IRISH COUNTRY DOCTOR

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Once in a while you need an easy book. This is it.

Would you ever listen to anything by Patrick Taylor again?

Not really

Would you listen to another book narrated by John Keating?

Ease up a bit on the Irish accent

Did An Irish Country Doctor inspire you to do anything?

Go to sleep

Pleasant and entertaining.

Just a very pleasant listen with a wonderful narrator. Loved narrator's ability to do different characters and accents. A lighthearted book about a young new Dr going to work for the older experienced village Doc. Loved the village residents.

Just what the doctor ordered.

This book is just what I was looking for. Great cast of characters. I love the story and the narrator is awesome!

Great Listen

What made the experience of listening to An Irish Country Doctor the most enjoyable?

PATRICK TAYLOR knows how to tell a story and his characters are believable, funny and heartwarming.

What did you like best about this story?

Dr. O'Rilley!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Nice change of pace

What made the experience of listening to An Irish Country Doctor the most enjoyable?

This is just a pleasant story of small town life in Ireland. The characters very good and the narrator was excellent!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Kinkie

Which scene was your favorite?

Probably the party at the end.

If you could rename An Irish Country Doctor, what would you call it?

I wouldn't

Any additional comments?

Good to take a break from the doomsday books and enjoy something like this.

Masterful Storyeller

John Keaton brings this wonderful story to life. You feel you personal know all the characters in village.