• Home Is the Sailor

  • An Irish Country Doctor Story
  • By: Patrick Taylor
  • Narrated by: John Keating
  • Length: 1 hr and 59 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (534 ratings)

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Home Is the Sailor  By  cover art

Home Is the Sailor

By: Patrick Taylor
Narrated by: John Keating
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Publisher's summary

Fans of Patrick Taylor's bestselling Irish Country novels know Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly as the irascible senior partner of a general practice in the colorful Irish village of Ballybucklebo.

But there was a time, shortly after arriving in Ballybucklebo, that Dr. O'Reilly was not widely accepted by the villagers. This touching short story tells of how O'Reilly, with a little help, began to overcome their objections.

Whether you're visiting for the first time, or you're a long-time resident, you'll enjoy this fun glimpse into life in Patrick Taylor's village of Ballybucklebo.

©2013 Ballybucklebo Stories Corp. (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“The author laces his heartwarming moments with liberal doses of whiskey and colourful Ulster invectives.” —Chicago Sun-Times

What listeners say about Home Is the Sailor

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    371
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Story
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  • 2 Stars
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

best word for this book -- meh

ok, so the book was written by patrick taylor ...it can't be all bad. sorry, but the story is just boring ... have read this author's other books, which are very likeable. this one i would skip.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Too short!

Patrick Taylor is always a pleasure. John Keating did a great job with all the characters. A delight to listen to.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thumbs Up

Ya gotta love this series, especially if you have even a drop of Irish blood.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Short but needed

What did you love best about Home Is the Sailor?

It provided a little more background

Any additional comments?

At first I thought oh a short after thought, but I was wrong. I would purchase this again to add more background for the series. Thank you for writing this.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love this series

I love the characters in this series. Taylor does a great job of making the stories come alive. I think I am in Bally Buckle Bo when I listen. John jesting is a fabulous reader.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I love the series. Great to get some back ground.

Have listened to the first few in the series. It's great to get back ground on where Fingal came from and how his early days in town were.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Irish love

love the story, the characters, and the performance. enjoyable listen, in fact it is so much better than reading the book.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

A short study for a longer work?

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

I am committed and enthusiastic to read and/or listen to Taylor's work. Being in a location that cannot yet receive internet access, I thoroughly enjoy audiobooks and podcasts downloaded in town. In this way I can still feel connected to the service of online access to resources not readily available in our regional library.

Has Home Is the Sailor turned you off from other books in this genre?

I enjoy this genre, and the author's work. In comparison to the longer works of Taylor, I was not as satisfied. No author, I expect, can universally satisfy the devoted follower when the format changes so drastically from other successful work, in the eyes of this reader.

Have you listened to any of John Keating’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The reader and the reading were up to par with the other works, and equally satisfying in presentation/delivery.

Could you see Home Is the Sailor being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No, not as successfully as Taylor's other works. Players would, of course, depend on the extent of the commitment to other works that would require a longer-term commitment to the roles. I would not necessarily drive the selection by stars firstly. I would recommend that those, known or unknown who wish to portray the roles be given full run to embrace the characters.

Any additional comments?

Keep up the good work.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Need More

I Love all these books. My complaint is always the same... why isn't it longer. These books are like putting on your favorite sweater. warm comfortable happy!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Short Catchup

Great transition to next book. Fills in a gap and really is a fun listen. You n to the next book!

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