Rate this book

An Irish Country Christmas (2008)

by Patrick Taylor(Favorite Author)

3.96 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0765320703 (ISBN13: 9780765320704)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Forge Books

series

Irish Country

review 1: This was the first book I read of Patrick Taylor and the first of this series. I'm a sucker for Irish things and Christmas, because of this book was perfect! This is a book to cuddle up by the fire when it's cold with hot cocoa. Patrick Taylor's stories make me think of the Doc Martin TV series on wttw. I think this would make a good tv series as well. Overall it was a perfect book and his writing is so interesting, makes you want to live there. I loved it! Can't wait to read more.
review 2: For readers who are already familiar with the fictional village of Ballybucklebo in Northern Ireland, this is the third in the series that follows the medical practice of two physicians: Dr Fingal O’Reilly and his young assistant, and soon to be full partner, Dr Barry La... moreverty. Several characters from the previous two books reappear and both Barry and the reader are quickly becoming knowledgeable about the various villagers and where they live. We are also introduced to some new characters and are quickly getting a sense of the makeup and landscape of this small rural community. The last two volumes took us through summer and fall, and this edition takes place in winter and leads us up to some wonderful Christmas celebrations. After five months Barry has learned that there is more to country medical practice than determining a diagnosis and writing prescriptions for medications. There is also a need to help and support his more vulnerable patients as they cope with some of the difficult challenges life presents them. After watching Fingal do this so seamlessly as part of his practice of medicine, Barry has begun to take some initiative to recognize these opportunities and try to figure out workable solutions. He now realizes that these solutions are often found among the villagers themselves and when approached many are willing and eager to help. Barry’s confidence in working on his own has grown and he and Fingal have now worked out a way to share the workload so each gets some badly needed time off. Barry may not be dealing with the complex and challenging medical cases he would be seeing in a large bustling teaching hospital, but being involved in the life of the village and not just the locals’ medical problems has its compensations. He feels he is really able to make a contribution to people’s lives and he is enjoying life in this small tight knit community. His is busy but the pace is slower and more manageable. In this volume, patients present themselves at the surgery with a number of medical problems, some quite simple and others more urgent and complex. But the two physicians face a real challenge when Dr. Fitzpatrick arrives in town. He has not only been offering unconventional treatments to patients, but ones Barry and Fingal are concerned could actually do harm and so they must find a way to manage this arrogant bully who is not inclined to take advice. He may also be a threat to the viability of Fingal and Barry’s practice as there are not enough patients in this small rural area to support three physicians. When Dr. Fitzpatrick’s actions lead to a medical emergency and compromise the life of a young mother and her baby, the doctors feel they must take some action. Patricia Spence has gone off to Cambridge to study civil engineering promising to return at Xmas. Barry misses her terribly and is very concerned she will meet someone else and he will lose her. This fear seems to be a real possibility as she becomes involved in the exciting life around her and with Christmas fast approaching she has yet to make plans for her return. These concerns upset and nag at Barry but they also make him angry at her stubbornness. And although he is committed to her, he finds he can still be attracted to other women. Although Barry mopes through most of the book about Patricia and his fear she will not return, the reader’s sense is that she really will eventually arrive. What we don’t know is WHEN she will arrive and that creates some mystery. So every time the doorbell rings with an unexpected guest, we wonder………..is it her???? Kitty O’Halloran and Fingal’s relationship continues and appears to be blossoming, although Fingal still has reservations about opening himself up to the love of this strong attractive woman. We learn more of their past as a couple as well as Fingal’s romance and short marriage with Deirdre who he lost in the war. He has never quite recovered from that loss and is reticent to open himself to hurt if a relationship with Kitty does not work out. The book is full of Christmas parties and celebrations which in this small village are shared with Protestants and Catholics uncharacteristically working together on the Christmas play and the choir. And with Christmas celebrations in the air, we get lots of Kinky’s wonderful food. This book can make you very, very hungry just by reading! Christmas on 1 Main Street is a holiday filled with mince pies, turkey with bread pudding, turkey and dressing with chestnuts, Christmas cakes with marzipan and royal icing, puddings with brandy sauce, and sausage rolls. Again Kinky has kindly provided us with her recipes in the Glossary at the back. Taylor continues his wonderful long descriptive passages of the surrounding countryside, the sea, the farmlands, the waterfowl and the wildlife. He has a charming way of interweaving his storytelling between these passages. In each of the preceding volumes I have read, there are a couple of “laugh out loud” moments. In this one there are two good chuckles: one is the great carol debate between Flo and Cissie when Cissie’s refers to “Harry Belly Fronty”. The second is the hilarious scene during the Christmas pageant when Mary and Joseph approach the innkeeper for a room at the inn. The ensuing mayhem including collapsing scenery, animals on the loose and a fainting mother superior who “comes to” believing she has reached the pearly gates is really priceless. Again, another enjoyable read. I will definitely check in to book #4. less

Download links for: An Irish Country Christmas

Advertising