Review (PDF) An Irish Country Christmas (Irish Country Books Book 3)
Barry Laverty, M.B., is looking forward to his first Christmas in the cozy village of Ballybucklebo, at least until he learns that his sweetheart, Patricia, might not be coming home for the holidays. That unhappy prospect dampens his spirits somewhat, but Barry has little time to dwell on his romantic disappointments. Christmas may be drawing nigh, but there is little peace to be found on earth, especially for a young doctor plying his trade in the emerald hills and glens of rural Ireland.Along with his senior partner, Doctor Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly, Barry has his hands full dealing with seasonal coughs and colds, as well as the occasional medical emergency. To add to the doctors' worries, competition arrives in the form of a patient-poaching new physician whose quackery threatens the health and well-being of the good people of Ballybucklebo. Can one territory support three hungry doctors? Barry has his doubts.But the wintry days and nights are not without a few tidings of comfort and joy. Between their hectic medical practice, Rugby Club parties, and the kiddies' Christmas Pageant, the two doctors still find time to play Santa Claus to a struggling single mother with a sick child and not enough money in the bank. Snow is rare in Ulster, and so are miracles, but that doesn't mean they never happen. . . . At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
File Size: 2641 KB
Print Length: 672 pages
Publisher: Forge Books; Reprint edition (October 28, 2008)
Publication Date: October 28, 2008
Sold by: Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B001FA0PV8
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray: Enabled
Word Wise: Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled
Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
Best Sellers Rank: #68,645 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store) #29 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Humor > Doctors & Medicine #149 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Medical #193 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Medical
This was one of those rare books that one hates to have end. You will wish to stay in this place and continue with the setting, the characters and the mood. "An Irish Country Christmas" is certain to shoot to the top of every best seller list with this engaging tale everyone will wish to call their own. Having not read the others in the series this reviewer is anxious to order them and continue the charmed escape to the Irish countryside. If not already thought of, this series cries to be a boxed set full of lovely illustrations. In troubled times, this writing is just what the soul needs!Patrick Taylors' fictional accounts of the life of a pair of Irish country doctors in a day before modern medicine had created a gap between patient and practitioner are continued in this story that leads up to their shared Christmas. It is a Christmas full of all the happiness and goodwill that has been left behind in modern fractionated culture.I'm certain this book has re-read qualities when after a hard played day, a reader just wants to go somewhere that is simple and good. The reader will feel the warmth of Jameson after a cold walk in the snow and hear the sound of carolers when engaged by this worthy read.Erveryone will be left anxious to find out about what a happens to Barry and Patricia or is it Barry and Sue? There is certainly a lot more in store for us in The Irish Country! Patrick Taylor has created something that is not only a worthy read but would make a nice movie or a BBC-Ireland series such as Ballykissangel.Want to take a holiday but can't afford it? Try the Irish Country Series!
An Irish Country Christmas (Irish Country Books)An Irish Country Christmas is the third book in Patrick Taylor's series that features new doctor Barry Laverty and his senior partner Dr. Fingal O'Reilly. Set in the rural Northern Irish village of Ballybucklebo, Barry looks forward to his first Christmas in the little village. However, when his girlfriend Patricia informs him that she may not be coming to spend the holiday with him, his disappointment mounts. At the same time, Dr. Fingal, who has vowed not to fall in love again, finds himself enormously attracted to the lovely Kitty O'Hallorhan. Meanwhile, Barry has his hands full with seasonal ailments and the occasional medical emergency. Still, they find time to play Santa to a needy mother with a sick child and make the rounds of rugby parties and kiddie Christmas festivities.When a new doctor arrives in the village, Barry wonders if there can possibly be enough business to support three doctors, but that's not his only worry. It seems Dr. Fitzpatrick, in spite of apparent quackery and questionable cures, is quite adept at stealing Barry's and Fingal's patients.The charm of rural Ireland shines in this story of these two engaging doctors who find time to help the villagers in many ways. Ballybucklebo is rife with interesting, comedic characters. The story is chock full of humorous episodes, an array of odd village ailments, and romantic troubles. Despite a tendancy to over-explain, Taylor's wit and charm shine through. An Irish Country Christmas has all the ingredients for a satisfying winter's read. Enjoy.
This was a charming James Herriot-esque story of the life of a country doctor, his older partner, and the residents of a small Irish town. At first I found this tale confusing and a bit slow. But after about 100 pages I began to get into it.I enjoyed in particular the stories about the doctor's patients. The lonely woman who was raised in India, the single mother with the sick child, the couple who was trying to conceive. It was these characters that really brought the story to life.At times I felt some of the dialog could've used some editing. I skimmed parts that I was less interested in: Example: such as the rugby match and the romantic interludes the doctors had. I enjoyed the story of the Christmas pageant and the discussion of Kinky's baked goods. I thought it was a nice touch to have recipes added at the back of the book.I probably will pick up another by this author. Perhaps if I read the series from the beginning I might be more interested in the minor characters such as the doctor's girlfriends who I found less interesting than the protagonist, his partner and their housekeeper.
If, like me, you like the writing styles and stories of Patrick McManus The Grasshopper Trap and James Herriot All Creatures Great and Small then you will truly enjoy An Irish Christmas. Often humorous, it's a heart-warming story set in the idyllic, fictional town of Ballybucklebo, Ireland in the 1960's. It is chocked full of eccentric and loveable characters who help to remind us that the simple pleasures are absolutely the best pleasures.This is the first book I have read by Patrick Taylor but I now want to read the two previous ones, as well. I loved it!
I am a person who reads all kinds of things -- I don't stay within any particular genre. One the types of books I like to read are the ones that are gentle and comforting that you read in front of the fireplace with a cup of tea and just enjoy yourself. For that type of book, this one definitely rates 5 stars for me.I had never heard of the author or series when I picked it up, but it was very easy to read without having knoweledge of the first two books. There were a couple of times I noticed the author gave some information about what had happened previously (they stuck out a bit in the reading), but it was generally helpful. The book is set it a small village in Ireland at Christmas time, 1964. I thought the author captured the feeling of place extremely well and managed to describe what it would be like living there during that time period.We follow the two principle characters (the area doctors) as they visit with patients, provide guidance to the villagers on all types of concerns and just generally lead their lives during the month of December. It is much more a slice-of-life book rather than tackling major life issues. Sometimes those difficult, complicated, hard books are just the ticket and sometimes I need to sit back and read something just purely enjoyable. There is a sweetness and innocence to the book that isn't entirely realistic, but that is probably what I loved about it. I felt good when I put it down the for the night. The book is fairly lengthy (about 500 pages) so it isn't just a quick little read that you get through in a day or two. It's one to savor.If you like reading the Mitford Series, Elm Creek Quilt Series or any of the Philip Gulley books, this would be a good choice for you.I'll definitely be going back and reading the first two books and eagerly looking forward to the fourth.
An Irish Country Christmas (Irish Country Books Book 3) IRISH RECIPES FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY: The Best of Irish Cooking, Drinks and Jokes For St. Patrick's Day (IRISH RECIPES SAINT PATRICK IRISH ST.PATRICK BOOKS SERIES Book 1) Easy Irish Cookbook (Irish Cookbook, Irish Recipes, Irish Cooking, Scottish Recipes, Scottish Cooking, Scottish Cookbook 1) An Irish Country Doctor (Irish Country Books Book 1) An Irish Country Love Story: A Novel (Irish Country Books) Irish Baking Book: Traditional Irish Recipes (Traditional Irish Cooking) IRISH: How To Be Irish + The Big Irish Cookbook Jamaican Christmas Recipes: 21 Most Wanted Jamaican Christmas Recipes (Christmas Recipes Book) Madness in Christmas River: A Christmas Cozy Mystery (Christmas River Cozy, Book 3) Murder in Christmas River: A Christmas Cozy Mystery (Christmas River Cozy, Book 1) Christmas Recipes - Top 200 Christmas Recipes (25 Vegan, 25 Paleo, 25 Gluten Free, 25 Low Carb and 100 Traditional Recipes, Christmas Cookbook) A Victorian Christmas Tea: Angel in the Attic/A Daddy for Christmas/Tea for Marie/Going Home (HeartQuest Christmas Anthology) Christmas Homecoming: The Heart of a Stranger/A Place to Call Home/Christmas Legacy (HeartQuest Christmas Anthology) Jokes For Kids - Joke Books : Funny Books : Kids Books : Books for kids age 9 12 : Best Jokes 2016 (kids books, jokes for kids, books for kids 9-12, ... funny jokes, funny jokes for kids) (Volume 1) 50 Best Loved Christmas Stories and Poems for All Ages (Cambridge World Classics Edition) (Christmas Books Classic Literature Book 1) Tomhais Méid Mo Ghrá Duit (Guess How Much I Love You in Irish) (Irish Edition) Irish Food & Cooking: Traditional Irish cuisine with over 150 delicious step-by-step recipes from the Emerald Isle St. Patrick's Day the Irish Way: A Delicious Collection of Traditional Irish Recipes British & Irish Campaign Medals - Volume 2: 1899 to 2009 (British & Irish/Empire Campaign Medals) IRISH DRUIDS AND OLD IRISH RELIGIONS (The Celtic Mythology of Superstitions, Magic, Gods, Worship, Sacred Beliefs, Isle of Man, & etc) - Annotated Who are Celts' People?
