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Fiction. Literature. HTML: In An Irish Country Christmas, the third book in Patrick Taylor's Irish Country Books, 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. . . ..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member frisbeesage
An Irish Country Christmas is a look at the holiday season through the eyes of two country doctors in the small Irish town of Ballybuckleboo. I haven't read the first two books in this series, but I had no trouble following the story line. This book reminded me of the Mitford series by Jan Karon
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except with a bit more grit and depth to the characters. Still, An Irish Country Christmas is about gently humorous, basically good people struggling to get by and do the right thing. I really liked the characters ad found myself cheering on Doctors Barry Laverty and Fingal Flahertie. While there is enough action to make this an entertaining read anytime of the year I enjoyed the holiday atmosphere. I listened to this book on audio and the soft, lilting Irish accent of John Keating really added to the pleasure of the story. I will be looking out for other books read by him and I will also be seeking out the first two books in this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
Reading An Irish Country Christmas was like easing on my favorite warm robe and slippers and settling down in front of a nice cozy fire. Warm, familiar, and, yes, cozy. This is the third book in the series and held no real surprises, just the usual tales of living and doctoring in a quaint Irish
Young Dr. Barry Laverty is missing his girlfriend, Patricia as she is away at school in Cambridge. Unfortunately his plans for a romantic reunion are put awry when he learns that she won’t be coming home for Christmas. Meanwhile senior partner, Dr. Fingal Flaherie O’Reilly is having some romantic complications of his own. They are also battling competition as a new doctor, with some rather strange views, has moved into the district. These distractions, along with their many eccentric patients, and Christmas preparations, keep them busy during the cold month of December.
This is a perfect book to read at a busy time in your own life, as the chapters are not overly long and each one tells it’s own story, making it an easy book to pick up for short reads. Well written and engaging, a great escape to a different time and place.
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village during the 1960’s.Young Dr. Barry Laverty is missing his girlfriend, Patricia as she is away at school in Cambridge. Unfortunately his plans for a romantic reunion are put awry when he learns that she won’t be coming home for Christmas. Meanwhile senior partner, Dr. Fingal Flaherie O’Reilly is having some romantic complications of his own. They are also battling competition as a new doctor, with some rather strange views, has moved into the district. These distractions, along with their many eccentric patients, and Christmas preparations, keep them busy during the cold month of December.
This is a perfect book to read at a busy time in your own life, as the chapters are not overly long and each one tells it’s own story, making it an easy book to pick up for short reads. Well written and engaging, a great escape to a different time and place.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bachaney
Patrick Taylor's "An Irish Country Christmas" is a tale of a fictional town in Northern Ireland at--you guessed it--Christmastime, 1964. The town is picturesque, full of all of the characters you would expect to find in Ireland, and amazingly, without any religious strife. The novel focuses on two
Overall, this book is a slow, but enjoyable read. It really captures the spirit of a small town at Christmastime--you can almost see the Norman Rockwell paintings (even though Rockwell is American, not Irish). But it is SLOW. The whole book covers a period of less than a month and it's almost 500 pages long. You won't have any trouble understanding what is going on in this book if you haven't read the previous two in the series, because the author seems to recap everything from the two earlier books. But the discussion of medical techniques and patient care feels authentic, since much of it is based on the author's experience as a country doctor in Ireland during the same period.
I would recommend this book to someone looking for a light, holiday themed read. But it's definitely lightweight, lighthearted material.
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country doctors and their quiet lives. Overall, this book is a slow, but enjoyable read. It really captures the spirit of a small town at Christmastime--you can almost see the Norman Rockwell paintings (even though Rockwell is American, not Irish). But it is SLOW. The whole book covers a period of less than a month and it's almost 500 pages long. You won't have any trouble understanding what is going on in this book if you haven't read the previous two in the series, because the author seems to recap everything from the two earlier books. But the discussion of medical techniques and patient care feels authentic, since much of it is based on the author's experience as a country doctor in Ireland during the same period.
I would recommend this book to someone looking for a light, holiday themed read. But it's definitely lightweight, lighthearted material.
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LibraryThing member punxsygal
Christmas is approaching and Barry Laverty, M.B., has recently joined the medical practice of Dr. Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly in Ballybucklebo. Barry’s sweetheart, Patricia, seems uncertain if she can travel from Cambridge to be with Barry during the holidays, which sorely disappoints Barry. In
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the meantime, Barry is taking to the small town practice and the idiosyncrasies of his patients and fellow townsmen. He learns that not all healing takes place because medicines are dispensed. The book is reminiscent of the charm of the veterinarian practice told by James Herriot. Show Less
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
I can be persuaded to read almost any book that is set in Ireland. This series by Patrick Taylor about the general practitioners in the little village of Ballybucklebo in Northern Ireland is no exception. The first book in the series An Irish Country Doctor got me hooked and I have read a few more
As can be guessed from the title this book takes place in December in the lead up to Christmas. Everyone is getting ready for the big events of the season but junior doctor Barry Laverty has a few concerns that keep him from fully enjoying the experience. For one thing a new doctor has taken over a practice in the neighbouring town and Barry is worried that the region can not support three doctors. Then the woman he loves, Patricia, is studying in Cambridge and doesn't know when or even if she will make it home to Ireland for Christmas. Meanwhile health crises and personal crises call for the attention of Drs. O'Reilly and Laverty right up until Christmas Eve.
The doctors have a wonderful housekeeper and cook, Mrs. Kinky Kincaid, and the descriptions of meals are lavish. Fortunately Kinky has added some of her recipes at the back of this book. It is not too early to make Christmas cake or Christmas pudding and you could do worse than follow her recipes.
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since then. I picked this one up earlier this year and took it with me on holidays. Somehow reading about December in Northern Ireland while sitting in 30 deg. C. dry heat in the interior of BC was appealing.As can be guessed from the title this book takes place in December in the lead up to Christmas. Everyone is getting ready for the big events of the season but junior doctor Barry Laverty has a few concerns that keep him from fully enjoying the experience. For one thing a new doctor has taken over a practice in the neighbouring town and Barry is worried that the region can not support three doctors. Then the woman he loves, Patricia, is studying in Cambridge and doesn't know when or even if she will make it home to Ireland for Christmas. Meanwhile health crises and personal crises call for the attention of Drs. O'Reilly and Laverty right up until Christmas Eve.
The doctors have a wonderful housekeeper and cook, Mrs. Kinky Kincaid, and the descriptions of meals are lavish. Fortunately Kinky has added some of her recipes at the back of this book. It is not too early to make Christmas cake or Christmas pudding and you could do worse than follow her recipes.
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LibraryThing member tututhefirst
A thoroughly enjoyable cozy read about two doctors who love their patients, who live in a big rambling house with their surgery in the same building, who are lovingly cared for by one of the most delightful characters- Mrs, Kinky Kincaid- I've met in a long time. Both docs are suffering from
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unrequited love, which lends some depth to their characters and the story. Not great lit, but a fun read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Lesliejaneite
An Irish Country Christmas is the third of a series of beautifully covered novels sent in the Irish Ulster village of Ballybucklebo in the 1960's. All the characters I have grown to love are back and continuing right where they left in An Irish Country Doctor. The stories all center around two
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doctors, young Dr Barry Laverty, pining after his lovely lassie who has gone off to Cambridge on an engineering scholarship and may or may not be falling out of love with him, and the more senior, Dr Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly, with a nose that has a distinct list to port. His lady love died during the war, but he has recently been seen out and about with a beautiful nurse who he actually cared for even before his late wife. Their housekeeper, Kinky Kinkaid, who we learned so much about in An Irish Country Girl is still here, looking after her doctors and feeding them her exquisite cookery that Taylor describes with such detail and skill that one needs a snack nearby whenever reading these books. This book, like hers, has some of her recipes in the back. They are daunting indeed. Most people, like me, believe the lovely meals described so often in these books are their own kind of joy to experience. The book lets us share with the doctors a week or two of their lives as country doctors. We meet a wonderfully obnoxious new doctor from O'Reilly's past that must be dealt with after it is discovered that he is prescribing gunpowder for infertility and other such fun nonsense. It's said that if such a patient should die, he cannot be cremated. You'll have to read the book to discover why! Though this was the 4th round of Taylor's books for me, I found it to be quite different in general from the others. Same town, same villagers, but the feel of it all was slightly more masculine, especially the language. I learned 4 new ways to accuse someone of having less than normal intelligence and was reminded of the male sex drive and just how much they think about that all day. I suppose the rumours are true. I almost suspected that this was actually the first novel he wrote but saved it for later. It was ever so slightly less polished than the others. I would recommend it to be read last. Show Less
LibraryThing member lyric39
I love this beautifully written series by Patrick Taylor beginning with An Irish Country Doctor.
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
It's the Christmas season in 1964, and young Dr. Barry Laverty has been in his first practice in Ballybucklebo for several months now. He's more at ease with the patients and with his mentor, the colorful Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly. Christmas in the small Northern Ireland town, with all of the
Patrick Taylor's Irish Country series is uplifting, yet never unrealistically optimistic about life. While most of the time the patients quickly recover from minor illnesses or injuries, there are also patients whose prospects are grim. Young Dr. Laverty is gradually realizing how satisfying it is to provide comfort for those who suffer and to celebrate with those who rejoice.
It's best to read this series in order, since each subsequent book in the series contains spoiler information about events in the previous books.
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seasonal good will, would be perfect – if only Barry's girlfriend, Patricia, would come home from her first semester at Cambridge. While Barry fears his relationship with Patricia might be coming to an end, Dr. O'Reilly is contemplating a new romance with an old flame.Patrick Taylor's Irish Country series is uplifting, yet never unrealistically optimistic about life. While most of the time the patients quickly recover from minor illnesses or injuries, there are also patients whose prospects are grim. Young Dr. Laverty is gradually realizing how satisfying it is to provide comfort for those who suffer and to celebrate with those who rejoice.
It's best to read this series in order, since each subsequent book in the series contains spoiler information about events in the previous books.
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LibraryThing member bell96
This is the first book I've read by Patrick Taylor, and I was nicely surprised! I buy Christmas books every year as my own little tradition, to take a break from the fast paced reading that is my norm. I tend to read everything available, with a lot of thrillers, scifi and hot paranormal romance
An Irish Country Christmas is a true delight. I was drawn to the book after my recent vacation in Ireland, and I'm happy to report that Taylor captured the magnificent Irish beautifully.
Why do I love this book? It meanders along in such a beautiful way telling a lovely Christmas story. Dr. Barry Laverty is the young, new doctor in Ballybucklebo (I love that name!), and works with senior partner Dr. Fingal Flaherty O'Reilly. These are the men I want for my own doctors - smart, friendly, and caring. The glimpse into small town medical practices makes me yearn for a slower life.
Kinky Kincaid, Dr. O'Reilly's housekeeper and so much more than that. Amazing cook, a touch of the sight, and a caring/knowing way about her. I'd listen too what Kinky has to say, always.
There are love stories in this book, but they aren't the highlight. The people of Ballybucklebo are the real story. Times can be hard, and people come together during the holidays to make things better. The children in the story will make you laugh out loud!
Take a break from your hectic life, slow down a bit and enjoy a truly wonderful book.
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for fun. I love page turners.An Irish Country Christmas is a true delight. I was drawn to the book after my recent vacation in Ireland, and I'm happy to report that Taylor captured the magnificent Irish beautifully.
Why do I love this book? It meanders along in such a beautiful way telling a lovely Christmas story. Dr. Barry Laverty is the young, new doctor in Ballybucklebo (I love that name!), and works with senior partner Dr. Fingal Flaherty O'Reilly. These are the men I want for my own doctors - smart, friendly, and caring. The glimpse into small town medical practices makes me yearn for a slower life.
Kinky Kincaid, Dr. O'Reilly's housekeeper and so much more than that. Amazing cook, a touch of the sight, and a caring/knowing way about her. I'd listen too what Kinky has to say, always.
There are love stories in this book, but they aren't the highlight. The people of Ballybucklebo are the real story. Times can be hard, and people come together during the holidays to make things better. The children in the story will make you laugh out loud!
Take a break from your hectic life, slow down a bit and enjoy a truly wonderful book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member sriemann
I haven't commented on the first two books I read that are in the same 'series,' so I feel I should rectify that after finishing this one (after staying up late last night to do so). When I was in high school, I read and loved James Herriot's books in the All Things Great and Small series, focusing
PBS made a wheeker of a series on All Creatures Great and Small... and I think these three books should be a new series for them - I know I would watch as intently as I'm watching for the next book.
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on his daily adventures as a country vet in rural England in the 40's - 50's. If you've not read them, I highly recommend - good stories, warm characters that you take into your heart, and lots of laughs. The first book from Patrick Taylor, An Irish Country Doctor, has many parallels and I loved it just as much. The characters are true and believable, after you get used to the eccentricities many of them have (and growing up in a small rural town I know that there are plenty of eccentric people), the calls the doctors make are interesting, and since the author bases the setting and style of writing from life experience, the world of northern Ireland in a smal rural town comes alive. The local colloquialisms and phrases the author uses (with a helpful glossary in back, just in case) make me connect to my grandparents, who used some of them a lot as I was growing up. PBS made a wheeker of a series on All Creatures Great and Small... and I think these three books should be a new series for them - I know I would watch as intently as I'm watching for the next book.
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LibraryThing member christineplouvier
“An Irish Country Christmas” is the third of Patrick Taylor’s books about life as a general practice physician in small-town Northern Ireland in 1964. Taylor draws on his experiences as a doctor to write these stories.
Taylor tells the story by shifting the point of view between the two main
As in the other books, the narrative rambles on about the quirky, often uncouth inhabitants of Ballybucklebo, punctuated with medical case studies of their afflictions. Taylor feels it necessary to define the limitations of medical practice in the 1960’s even though today most of the same treatments would still be used for these ailments. As a Registered Nurse I have no problems with his management of most of the general medical-surgical complaints, but because my specialty is obstetrics, it irritates me no end when he unnecessarily sensationalizes his OB cases.
It’s human nature to make much ado about nothing, but Taylor’s crises seem more than usually contrived. His antagonists are unpleasant and unlikable, but they tend to cave in easily, making me wonder if they really constituted a threat after all. He has a hard time maintaining the tension that should characterize the love interest which, although not the main source of conflict in the stories, should be compelling if it’s going to be there at all.
Taylor tries to illustrate a poor standard of living for many of the residents of the village, but I find him unconvincing. By the 1960’s the British economy had recovered from the Second World War, and as a part of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland was receiving the benefits of that recovery. In contrast, despite not having participated in the Second World War, the Republic of Ireland experienced a long, slow struggle to build its economy, and at this time it was a third-world country where large numbers of people still lived in substandard housing that lacked toilet facilities.
It is in the area of political and religious persuasion that I find Taylor to be the least believable. He makes a point of remarking upon the universal respect, cooperation, and tolerance exhibited by Ballybuckebo’s Loyalist/Protestant and Republican/Catholic residents. A precedent for this kind of friendliness can be found in “The Quiet Man”, which I think takes place sometime between 1916-1937, and in which everybody in the village (which is located in the west of the Republic of Ireland) gets along swimmingly with only a couple of references to the Irish Republican Army. But Taylor’s story takes place in Northern Ireland, where the worst of Irish sectarian strife has always occurred. Historians date the escalation of violence called “The Troubles” to 1969, but it didn’t just happen overnight. Taylor is talking about life in 1964, and despite being reasonably close to Belfast nobody in Ballybucklebo takes their sectarian observances seriously.
My main interest in acquiring Taylor’s books (dirt cheap in hardcover, all three for much less than the price of one) was to get some feel for the culture of Northern Ireland, which with the Republic of Ireland counties of Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan constitute the province of Ulster. I had already read books by other authors that were set in the other three provinces (Connacht, Munster and Leinster), and I wanted to see if I could tell the difference. For the most part, I could not. All of the authors I read took the opportunity to stress provincial differences, but comparing all of the characters in these books I find that in general, their habits, attitudes, and vocabulary are practically indistinguishable (only in the book about people in Connacht did traditional behaviors and the use of the Gaeilge language play a significant role). My conclusion is that the differences that the Irish perceive among the residents of the four provinces are primarily based on accent and inflection.
I found “An Irish Country Christmas” to be an easy read, but not compelling. In this respect, it follows the quality of Taylor’s first two efforts, “An Irish Country Doctor” and “An Irish Country Village”. There’s a bit too much unnecessary description: Why is it important to know about the carpet on the floor of the hallway to the loo in the pub? (Who was it that said that if it’s mentioned that there’s a gun on the sideboard in Act 1, it needs to be fired by Act 3?) Do we really need to know that Laverty is using the loo? The strong emphasis on the coarse language used by many of the characters — including Dr. Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly — is grating. As a result, I think that in all three books there's really only enough material for perhaps two better-written books of this length.
Taylor tells the story by shifting the point of view between the two main
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characters, senior physician Fingal O’Reilly and his new partner Barry Laverty. This is a departure from the previous two books, in which the point of view was strictly that of Laverty. Having read the other books, I found this change unsettling. Up until now, we didn’t need to know what was going on inside O’Reilly’s head until it came out of his mouth, either confirming or refuting Laverty’s perceptions. Why do we need to hear his internal ruminations now? Especially since knowing doesn’t seem to help move the story along.As in the other books, the narrative rambles on about the quirky, often uncouth inhabitants of Ballybucklebo, punctuated with medical case studies of their afflictions. Taylor feels it necessary to define the limitations of medical practice in the 1960’s even though today most of the same treatments would still be used for these ailments. As a Registered Nurse I have no problems with his management of most of the general medical-surgical complaints, but because my specialty is obstetrics, it irritates me no end when he unnecessarily sensationalizes his OB cases.
It’s human nature to make much ado about nothing, but Taylor’s crises seem more than usually contrived. His antagonists are unpleasant and unlikable, but they tend to cave in easily, making me wonder if they really constituted a threat after all. He has a hard time maintaining the tension that should characterize the love interest which, although not the main source of conflict in the stories, should be compelling if it’s going to be there at all.
Taylor tries to illustrate a poor standard of living for many of the residents of the village, but I find him unconvincing. By the 1960’s the British economy had recovered from the Second World War, and as a part of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland was receiving the benefits of that recovery. In contrast, despite not having participated in the Second World War, the Republic of Ireland experienced a long, slow struggle to build its economy, and at this time it was a third-world country where large numbers of people still lived in substandard housing that lacked toilet facilities.
It is in the area of political and religious persuasion that I find Taylor to be the least believable. He makes a point of remarking upon the universal respect, cooperation, and tolerance exhibited by Ballybuckebo’s Loyalist/Protestant and Republican/Catholic residents. A precedent for this kind of friendliness can be found in “The Quiet Man”, which I think takes place sometime between 1916-1937, and in which everybody in the village (which is located in the west of the Republic of Ireland) gets along swimmingly with only a couple of references to the Irish Republican Army. But Taylor’s story takes place in Northern Ireland, where the worst of Irish sectarian strife has always occurred. Historians date the escalation of violence called “The Troubles” to 1969, but it didn’t just happen overnight. Taylor is talking about life in 1964, and despite being reasonably close to Belfast nobody in Ballybucklebo takes their sectarian observances seriously.
My main interest in acquiring Taylor’s books (dirt cheap in hardcover, all three for much less than the price of one) was to get some feel for the culture of Northern Ireland, which with the Republic of Ireland counties of Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan constitute the province of Ulster. I had already read books by other authors that were set in the other three provinces (Connacht, Munster and Leinster), and I wanted to see if I could tell the difference. For the most part, I could not. All of the authors I read took the opportunity to stress provincial differences, but comparing all of the characters in these books I find that in general, their habits, attitudes, and vocabulary are practically indistinguishable (only in the book about people in Connacht did traditional behaviors and the use of the Gaeilge language play a significant role). My conclusion is that the differences that the Irish perceive among the residents of the four provinces are primarily based on accent and inflection.
I found “An Irish Country Christmas” to be an easy read, but not compelling. In this respect, it follows the quality of Taylor’s first two efforts, “An Irish Country Doctor” and “An Irish Country Village”. There’s a bit too much unnecessary description: Why is it important to know about the carpet on the floor of the hallway to the loo in the pub? (Who was it that said that if it’s mentioned that there’s a gun on the sideboard in Act 1, it needs to be fired by Act 3?) Do we really need to know that Laverty is using the loo? The strong emphasis on the coarse language used by many of the characters — including Dr. Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly — is grating. As a result, I think that in all three books there's really only enough material for perhaps two better-written books of this length.
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LibraryThing member gypsysmom
I can be persuaded to read almost any book that is set in Ireland. This series by Patrick Taylor about the general practitioners in the little village of Ballybucklebo in Northern Ireland is no exception. The first book in the series An Irish Country Doctor got me hooked and I have read a few more
As can be guessed from the title this book takes place in December in the lead up to Christmas. Everyone is getting ready for the big events of the season but junior doctor Barry Laverty has a few concerns that keep him from fully enjoying the experience. For one thing a new doctor has taken over a practice in the neighbouring town and Barry is worried that the region can not support three doctors. Then the woman he loves, Patricia, is studying in Cambridge and doesn't know when or even if she will make it home to Ireland for Christmas. Meanwhile health crises and personal crises call for the attention of Drs. O'Reilly and Laverty right up until Christmas Eve.
The doctors have a wonderful housekeeper and cook, Mrs. Kinky Kincaid, and the descriptions of meals are lavish. Fortunately Kinky has added some of her recipes at the back of this book. It is not too early to make Christmas cake or Christmas pudding and you could do worse than follow her recipes.
Show More
since then. I picked this one up earlier this year and took it with me on holidays. Somehow reading about December in Northern Ireland while sitting in 30 deg. C. dry heat in the interior of BC was appealing.As can be guessed from the title this book takes place in December in the lead up to Christmas. Everyone is getting ready for the big events of the season but junior doctor Barry Laverty has a few concerns that keep him from fully enjoying the experience. For one thing a new doctor has taken over a practice in the neighbouring town and Barry is worried that the region can not support three doctors. Then the woman he loves, Patricia, is studying in Cambridge and doesn't know when or even if she will make it home to Ireland for Christmas. Meanwhile health crises and personal crises call for the attention of Drs. O'Reilly and Laverty right up until Christmas Eve.
The doctors have a wonderful housekeeper and cook, Mrs. Kinky Kincaid, and the descriptions of meals are lavish. Fortunately Kinky has added some of her recipes at the back of this book. It is not too early to make Christmas cake or Christmas pudding and you could do worse than follow her recipes.
Show Less
LibraryThing member ktho64152
This is the third in Taylor's series of the adventures of two country doctors in Ulster in the early 1960's. His lead characters, Fingal Flaherty O'Reilly, long-time resident doctor in the rural village of Ballybucklebo, and Barry Laverty only recently arrived from Queen's College Medical school in
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Belfast, settle in for the Christmas season with the denizen's of Ballybucklebo and the surrounding townland. Hilarity, neighborliness, quirkiness, and the loving kindness of the season and the folkways of rural Ulster, ensue. A warm, funny and uplifting read for a Midwinter's evening by the Christmas tree with a hot cup of tea. Show Less
LibraryThing member autumnturner76
This series is lovely. Different from my normal readings, but still great.
LibraryThing member bell96
This is the first book I've read by Patrick Taylor, and I was nicely surprised! I buy Christmas books every year as my own little tradition, to take a break from the fast paced reading that is my norm. I tend to read everything available, with a lot of thrillers, scifi and hot paranormal romance
An Irish Country Christmas is a true delight. I was drawn to the book after my recent vacation in Ireland, and I'm happy to report that Taylor captured the magnificent Irish beautifully.
Why do I love this book? It meanders along in such a beautiful way telling a lovely Christmas story. Dr. Barry Laverty is the young, new doctor in Ballybucklebo (I love that name!), and works with senior partner Dr. Fingal Flaherty O'Reilly. These are the men I want for my own doctors - smart, friendly, and caring. The glimpse into small town medical practices makes me yearn for a slower life.
Kinky Kincaid, Dr. O'Reilly's housekeeper and so much more than that. Amazing cook, a touch of the sight, and a caring/knowing way about her. I'd listen too what Kinky has to say, always.
There are love stories in this book, but they aren't the highlight. The people of Ballybucklebo are the real story. Times can be hard, and people come together during the holidays to make things better. The children in the story will make you laugh out loud!
Take a break from your hectic life, slow down a bit and enjoy a truly wonderful book.
Show More
for fun. I love page turners.An Irish Country Christmas is a true delight. I was drawn to the book after my recent vacation in Ireland, and I'm happy to report that Taylor captured the magnificent Irish beautifully.
Why do I love this book? It meanders along in such a beautiful way telling a lovely Christmas story. Dr. Barry Laverty is the young, new doctor in Ballybucklebo (I love that name!), and works with senior partner Dr. Fingal Flaherty O'Reilly. These are the men I want for my own doctors - smart, friendly, and caring. The glimpse into small town medical practices makes me yearn for a slower life.
Kinky Kincaid, Dr. O'Reilly's housekeeper and so much more than that. Amazing cook, a touch of the sight, and a caring/knowing way about her. I'd listen too what Kinky has to say, always.
There are love stories in this book, but they aren't the highlight. The people of Ballybucklebo are the real story. Times can be hard, and people come together during the holidays to make things better. The children in the story will make you laugh out loud!
Take a break from your hectic life, slow down a bit and enjoy a truly wonderful book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mcola
Excellent reading
LibraryThing member JBarringer
If you like being immersed in the lives of busy country doctors in Ireland, you might like this book. It is heavy on atmosphere and light on plot, and very definitely a Christmas themed read. I read the large-print hardback (it was the one that turned up on the free-books shelf) and it ran over 800
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pages. In paperback it is 600pgs, apparently, even in normal print size, so it is not a short or a fast read, but aside from length, it is probably a fairly light read, with a hint of Irish Gaelic and some recipes, and occasional colloquialisms that fans of Irish culture will enjoy. I found the book tedious after a while and predictable, but it wasn't terrible. Show Less
LibraryThing member Diana_Long_Thomas
Re-read 2018
I've been drawn toward reading books set in Ireland since we're planning a trip there next year. I love this series set in the fictional Ballybucklebo, Northern Ireland. Young Doctor Barry Lafferty is in his second year in the town and a problem he had with a patient during his first
I've been drawn toward reading books set in Ireland since we're planning a trip there next year. I love this series set in the fictional Ballybucklebo, Northern Ireland. Young Doctor Barry Lafferty is in his second year in the town and a problem he had with a patient during his first
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comes back to cause him issues. This takes place in an Ireland that is still reeling from The Troubles, and has bits and pieces that cause issues between the Protestants and Catholics in the town. It's a snapshot of a country caught between it's past and all of the changes that the 1960's are bringing to the world. It's one of my favorite series and an auto-buy for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member Maydacat
What James Herriot did for the country veterinarian, Patrick Taylor does for the country doctor. In this charming tale, it’s Christmas, and if things tend to work out for the best, it can be forgiven in the spirit of the season. All the characters in the tale, from the two doctors to their
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housekeeper and the villagers are all well developed with their own quirky personalities. Reading about these delightful people as they go about their days is pure entertainment. But don’t make the mistake of thinking the the book is all light-hearted fluff; it has real depth in its plot. Highly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
Book on CD performed by John Keating
4****
Book three in in the charming and popular story of 1960s country GP, Barry Laverty, M.B., his partner / mentor Doctor Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly, and the people of Ballybucklebo. It’s Christmas and love is in the air.
I came late to this party, but I’m
Taylor peoples the novels with a cast of eccentric villagers, and a few lovely ladies. I particularly like the doctors’ housekeeper, Kinky. And appreciate Taylor’s including some of Kinky’s recipes at the end of each book.
John Keating does a marvelous job of performing the audiobook. He really brings these characters to life. I love the way he portrays Kinky!
4****
Book three in in the charming and popular story of 1960s country GP, Barry Laverty, M.B., his partner / mentor Doctor Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly, and the people of Ballybucklebo. It’s Christmas and love is in the air.
I came late to this party, but I’m
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glad I finally arrived, and now it seems that I may never leave. The books are charming and entertaining and just plain fun to read. I love the cultural references to the time period, as well as learning a little about medical practices “back in the day.” Taylor peoples the novels with a cast of eccentric villagers, and a few lovely ladies. I particularly like the doctors’ housekeeper, Kinky. And appreciate Taylor’s including some of Kinky’s recipes at the end of each book.
John Keating does a marvelous job of performing the audiobook. He really brings these characters to life. I love the way he portrays Kinky!
Show Less
LibraryThing member jennybeast
I seem to have failed to review this one somehow. What I remember of it was that it mostly consisted of a LOT of Barry whining at Patricia and trying to be autocratic about getting her to come back to visit. While his attitudes are completely accurate for the time and place they are set in, I
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mostly found it deeply annoying and wanted Patricia to dump him already, because they are clearly not well suited. In the mean time, of course, Barry is noticing other attractive women and going out with Jack to a nurse's dance, so I think his drama is even more annoying. Ah, youth. Show Less
LibraryThing member jcozart
I chose this year to read "An Irish Country Christmas" by Patrick Taylor for my holiday reading. I am glad that I did this, because this novel will become a holiday tradition for me to read for years to come. This is a great novel. I recommend it to everyone who is looking for a Christmas read, and
Five stars!
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is interested in the Christmas traditions of Ireland.Five stars!
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LibraryThing member mckait
I could not have been more pleasantly surprised. The characters in the novel are gentle, kind and good.
Barry Laverty, the associate doctor compliments the older more curmudgeonly Dr. Fingal O'Reilly. The story of the practice these two share in a small Irish town very simply warms the heart. As the
In an easy manner this story is from the home and office of these two gentle doctors, into the lives and homes of the people who count on them. Each family has its own story, and some of them are hard indeed. That it is the holidays makes these stories all the more compelling. It is impossible not to feel drawn to Donal and Susan a set of newlyweds with typical issues but a far from typical history. Similarly, Sonny and Maggie but they are anything but typical. Unusual in appearance they turn out to be angels in disguise.
Eileen who does factory work to keep family and home after her husband leaves them and never looks back. Her three little ones are expecting a visit from Father Christmas. Will it take a miracle for him to appear?
Enchanting and engrossing, this is a perfect read for this special time of year.
Barry Laverty, the associate doctor compliments the older more curmudgeonly Dr. Fingal O'Reilly. The story of the practice these two share in a small Irish town very simply warms the heart. As the
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story flows we hear about the path these men take to become who and where they are today, and what Mrs Kinkaid has to do with it all.In an easy manner this story is from the home and office of these two gentle doctors, into the lives and homes of the people who count on them. Each family has its own story, and some of them are hard indeed. That it is the holidays makes these stories all the more compelling. It is impossible not to feel drawn to Donal and Susan a set of newlyweds with typical issues but a far from typical history. Similarly, Sonny and Maggie but they are anything but typical. Unusual in appearance they turn out to be angels in disguise.
Eileen who does factory work to keep family and home after her husband leaves them and never looks back. Her three little ones are expecting a visit from Father Christmas. Will it take a miracle for him to appear?
Enchanting and engrossing, this is a perfect read for this special time of year.
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LibraryThing member m.belljackson
This second book in the series proved to be a major disappointment
except for the medical information, the quotations, and the ongoing dialogue
between Fingal, Barry, and Kinky.
First, there was tiresome Patricia, who is so obviously not that into Barry,(though later books may have them happy married
More important is Fingal's strange hypocrisy in appreciating the beauty of all the wild flying birds,
then taking great glee in shooting them, even pheasants. Romance is preferable to dead ducks - just ask Kitty.
Still weirder is his decision to take a chance on losing his (and Barry and Kinky's) entire Medical Practice
if it was ever revealed that he cheated people who were buying raffle tickets.
Minor is that even small details are supposed to add SOMETHING to a plot - what was
with the zipping and unzipping of pants while alone in a public bathroom?
As well, a doctor who does not think that inhaling any kind of smoke may well lead to
lung cancer makes no sense.
Why not let the dog in when it is freezing and not only on Christmas...?
except for the medical information, the quotations, and the ongoing dialogue
between Fingal, Barry, and Kinky.
First, there was tiresome Patricia, who is so obviously not that into Barry,(though later books may have them happy married
Show More
off - I hope not).More important is Fingal's strange hypocrisy in appreciating the beauty of all the wild flying birds,
then taking great glee in shooting them, even pheasants. Romance is preferable to dead ducks - just ask Kitty.
Still weirder is his decision to take a chance on losing his (and Barry and Kinky's) entire Medical Practice
if it was ever revealed that he cheated people who were buying raffle tickets.
Minor is that even small details are supposed to add SOMETHING to a plot - what was
with the zipping and unzipping of pants while alone in a public bathroom?
As well, a doctor who does not think that inhaling any kind of smoke may well lead to
lung cancer makes no sense.
Why not let the dog in when it is freezing and not only on Christmas...?
Show Less
Series
Publication
Forge Books
Pages
495
ISBN
9780765320704
Similar in this library
Language
Original language
English