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An Irish Country Christmas (Irish Country Books) | 
 enlarge | Author: Patrick Taylor
Publisher: Forge Books
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $13.72
You Save: $11.23 (45%)
New (37) Used (10) from $11.00
Rating:  31 reviews
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 496
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6 x 1.7
ISBN: 0765320703
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780765320704
Publication Date: October 28, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
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. . . .
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| Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...
 Coma inducing November 21, 2008
Sandy Rhoad (Branchville, SC United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I wanted to read this book because I am 4th generation irish (mother & father) and because I thought it would give me an insight into life in a small irish village - a place in which I would dearly love to live. WRONG! The NY Times may think Taylor is a bestselling author - I say he should work putting people to sleep. This book is long, boring, tedious -- conversation (not even authentic) and food. Yuck! Don't bother on this one unless you have insomnia.
 Gentle and comforting November 21, 2008
Holly Kincaid (Fishers, IN USA)
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.
 If you like Irish Christmas Stories.... November 20, 2008
Beldini (Los Angeles, CA USA)
I hoped this book would be in the tradition of James Herriot -- heartwarming, heartbreaking stories of medicine that conjured up a time and place that seemed both remote and familiar. And maybe if I'd held this book to a lesser standard, I would have liked it more. The characters seemed unimaginative, the setting ordinary, and the storytelling seemed bland. But I'm still a sucker for all things Irish and all things Christmas-y so if I didn't love it, I still read it and enjoyed it. Just not as much as I wanted to...
A Rather Dull Book November 19, 2008
annie (MI)
I'm Irish and it's starting to look like Christmas, so I ordered this book. I found it to be very slow and rather tedious reading. It simply did not hold my interest.
The recipes at the end of the book look interesting, and I may try a couple this Christmas. Also, I found the glossary to be very helpful because I have never heard some of the expressions such as, "he's no goat's toe", and others used in this book.
If you are looking for a more interesting Christmas story I recommend First Christmas At Muddy Creek by Richard A. Bartlett.
Back to Ballybucklebo just in time for the holidays! November 19, 2008
Rebekah Sue Harris (West Haven, CT USA)
After reading An Irish Country Village (Irish Country Books), I could hardly wait to return to the Irish village of Ballybucklebo. Barry Laverty, MB, you see, had just joined Doctor Fingal Flaherite O'Reilly's busy practice, and things were going well with him and his sweetie, Patricia. Ballybucklebo, however, wasn't quite the sleepy village that Barry had expected.
Filled with funny, personable characters, Ballybucklebo is the perfect setting for a Christmas tale. The people really come alive, if you will, in the doctors' surgery. They came to trust the new young doctor because of their faith in his cantankerous and kind employer.
Every page of an Irish Country Christmas will have the reader wanting to know what's on the next page, and turning the final leaf is sad because there's no more. This is a fantastic book for the holidays, or for any time of the year.
I sure hope that author Patrick Taylor, MD, will let us know what happens next - and soon.
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