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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
Not the most exciting book of my life but not horrible either. It’s pretty much about a new doctor making his way in the world. I wish Patricia had been in it a bit more but she seemed to be more of a side story.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5 rounded up on this one. Book club selection for August 2015. Reminds me of Herriott's books, but they are a little harsher than that. Still, leisurely storytelling, good characters. If you want real plot driven stuff, this isn't it.
This reminded me of James Herriot, but with a country doctor instead of a vet. It was quaint and lovely. The audio was great because it showcased the Irish accents. I look forward to reading more in the series.
This book is a charming insight into general medical practice in the countryside of Northern Ireland. I fell in love with the characters and country because of the many idiosyncrasies. I raise a pint to Patrick Taylor for writing such a heartwarming novel.
One of the critical reviews for this series calls it "Herriot for humans" or something like that, and it does have that lovely small town, small practice feel to it that James Herriot's books do. But it is also distinctly its own, not just an imitation.
I fell in love with Ballybucklebo and all of its residents right alongside Doctor Barry Laverty. I dearly loved the town, the patients, the goings-on in their lives, and especially Doctor Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly, but I was not particularly taken with Barry himself. He was rather whingey about his possible romance with Patricia Spence, which made me rather annoyed with him. Patricia, on the other hand, is a great character — an independent-minded woman studying civil engineering when those were still new ideas in the mid-20th century.
Definitely a great read and I wish I could visit Ballybucklebo.
I fell in love with Ballybucklebo and all of its residents right alongside Doctor Barry Laverty. I dearly loved the town, the patients, the goings-on in their lives, and especially Doctor Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly, but I was not particularly taken with Barry himself. He was rather whingey about his possible romance with Patricia Spence, which made me rather annoyed with him. Patricia, on the other hand, is a great character — an independent-minded woman studying civil engineering when those were still new ideas in the mid-20th century.
Definitely a great read and I wish I could visit Ballybucklebo.
This is a great way to start a series, so glad I have the next 12 already lol.
A feel-good kind of story about country life that takes place in the 60s in Northern Ireland. It does remind me a lot of James Herriot's books, although a totally different place and time period, not to mention it's about doctors instead of vets. But the same feeling of "country people are unique and interesting".
I also liked seeing what the medical world was like back in the 60s. There are antibiotics and vaccines, and abortion debates, thyroid medication and children's hospitals. If you're at all interested in the history of the medical world, this is a good read. The author conveys the time period well, even in a backwater place like Ballybucklebo.
I'm not Irish by any means and don't know much about Ireland or its history, but the people in this book and their way of living and speaking (Ulster dialect) are also fascinating. Even if I did get a vibe of "they drink and swear too much" the whole time.
I enjoyed it enough that I want to read more by this author.
I also liked seeing what the medical world was like back in the 60s. There are antibiotics and vaccines, and abortion debates, thyroid medication and children's hospitals. If you're at all interested in the history of the medical world, this is a good read. The author conveys the time period well, even in a backwater place like Ballybucklebo.
I'm not Irish by any means and don't know much about Ireland or its history, but the people in this book and their way of living and speaking (Ulster dialect) are also fascinating. Even if I did get a vibe of "they drink and swear too much" the whole time.
I enjoyed it enough that I want to read more by this author.