Patrick Taylor’s devoted readers know Doctor Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly as a pugnacious general practitioner in the quaint Irish village of Ballybucklebo. Now Taylor turns back the clock to give us a portrait of the young Fingal—and show us the pivotal events that shaped the man he would become.
In the 1930s, fresh from a stint in the Royal Navy Reserve, and against the wishes of his disapproving father, Fingal O’Reilly goes to Dublin to study medicine. Fingal and his fellow aspiring doctors face the arduous demands of Trinity College and Sir Patrick Dun’s Hospital. The hours are long and the cases challenging, but Fingal manages to find time to box and play rugby—and to romance a fetching, gray-eyed nurse named Kitty O’Hallorhan.
Dublin is a city of slums and tenements, where brutal poverty breeds diseases that the limited medical knowledge of the time is often ill-equipped to handle. His teachers warn Fingal not to become too attached to his patients, but can he truly harden himself to the suffering he sees all around him—or can he find a way to care for his patients without breaking his heart?
A Dublin Student Doctor is a moving, deeply human story that will touch longtime fans as well as readers who are meeting Doctor Fingal O’Reilly for the very first time.
A Dublin Student Doctor
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Praise for Patrick Taylor:
“Taylor…is a bang-up storyteller who captivates and entertains from the first word.”
--Publishers Weekly on An Irish Country Girl
“The cozy village of Ballybucklebo and its eccentric inhabitants make the holidays bright.”
--Library Journal on An Irish Country Christmas
“Quietly, almost surreptitiously, Patrick Taylor has become probably the most popular Irish-Canadian writer of all time.”
--The Globe and Mail
“Taylor masterfully charts the small victories and defeats of Irish village life.”
--Irish American Magazine
“ Full of stories and vivid characters, [An Irish Country Village] recalls a good night in a pub. Good, light entertainment.”
--Booklist
About the Author
Patrick Taylor, M.D., is the author of the Irish Country books, including An Irish Country Doctor, An Irish Country Village, An Irish Country Christmas, An Irish Country Girl, and An Irish Country Courtship. Taylor was born and raised in Bangor, County Down in Northern Ireland. After qualifying as a specialist in 1969, he worked in Canada for thirty-one years. He now lives on Saltspring Island, British Columbia.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have to say that Patrick Taylor has done it again!
We have the newest book in the Irish Country Doctor series, this novel, A Dublin Student Doctor that focuses on Doctor Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly.
The novel begins with the aftermath of An Irish Country Courtship: A Novel (Irish Country Books) with Doctor O'Reily newly engaged to Nurse Kitty O'Halloran and with Kinky Kincaid and his possible partner in his practice Doctor Barry Laverty.
Riding along and coming upon an accident with one of Taylor's favorite characters causes Doctor O'Reily to ride along to see to his patient in Dublin.
As Doctor O'Reily goes back to Dublin the readers are treated to hearing about his history and that of Nurse O'Halloran.
I have to say Taylor is very vivid in his writing and we get a glimpse at what conditions were like in Dublin in the 1930s and how far medicine has come. We also get to see Doctor O'Reily as a new residence and hearing how doctors were trained back in Dublin in the 1930s was awe inspiring. I just hope that when we continue with the Irish Country Doctor series we get to see more glimpses of Doctor O'Reily's past.
I was deeply disappointed when I got to the end of the novel since I really wanted it to continue on and I don't know if I will be able to wait another year for the next installment.
Overall Grade: A+
We have the newest book in the Irish Country Doctor series, this novel, A Dublin Student Doctor that focuses on Doctor Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly.
The novel begins with the aftermath of An Irish Country Courtship: A Novel (Irish Country Books) with Doctor O'Reily newly engaged to Nurse Kitty O'Halloran and with Kinky Kincaid and his possible partner in his practice Doctor Barry Laverty.
Riding along and coming upon an accident with one of Taylor's favorite characters causes Doctor O'Reily to ride along to see to his patient in Dublin.
As Doctor O'Reily goes back to Dublin the readers are treated to hearing about his history and that of Nurse O'Halloran.
I have to say Taylor is very vivid in his writing and we get a glimpse at what conditions were like in Dublin in the 1930s and how far medicine has come. We also get to see Doctor O'Reily as a new residence and hearing how doctors were trained back in Dublin in the 1930s was awe inspiring. I just hope that when we continue with the Irish Country Doctor series we get to see more glimpses of Doctor O'Reily's past.
I was deeply disappointed when I got to the end of the novel since I really wanted it to continue on and I don't know if I will be able to wait another year for the next installment.
Overall Grade: A+
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is the sixth book in the Irish Country series (1 - "Irish Country Doctor", 2 - "Irish Country Village", 3 - "Irish Country Christmas", 4 - "Irish Country Girl", and 5 - "An Irish Country Courtship"). I was first introduced to the series in November of 2008 when I picked up "Irish Country Christmas" and the love affair began. It was a book I enjoyed from beginning to end so I went back and read the first two novels and then impatiently waited every year for the next one to be published.
The latest book almost solely focuses on Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly as he relives his earlier years, particularly those during his medical school days. The set up for the flashback is done very well and the reader is immediately transported back to the 1930s in Dublin Ireland. The story reveals his family life, how he ended up in medical school, and covers his medical training in a fair amount of detail. There is quite a bit of medical information shared - procedures, etc. - which I could have found tedious since I typically don't care for that area of study but only found it wonderful as usual.
From the first novel through this latest one, they have all been an absolute joy to read. Most of the time the books are set in the rural Irish village of Ballybucklebo but some books take a detour as this one does. Even though I miss the characters I have come to love in the quaint little village, the departures are done so well that I don't mind leaving those folks until the next time Mr. Taylor allows us to visit them. If you have never read any of these, it would be possible to pick this one up and begin here but to have the full experience and get the most out of them, I would recommend going back and start from the beginning. These are not action-packed, adventure books but keep me glued to the page from beginning to end due to the incredible writing, the settings that are perfectly described, and stories that keep me fascinated.
Helpful hints: 1) Make sure to look at the glossary in the back of the book - it will help with the Irish terminology. 2) There is a fair amount of blasphemy -- the author addresses it in his notes at the beginning of the book. I don't have a problem with it but some folks might. I passed along the first in the series to my 85-year-old, very conservative mother and she was very offended. I hate that she can't enjoy what I believe to be wonderful books, but she just couldn't get past it and this one has much more than the first.
Bottom line: These are some of the most enjoyable books I have ever read and each one (including this one) is an absolute gem. I savor it, try to draw my reading out over time, and it is always with sadness that I close the book after the final page. I am glad he doesn't write them any faster since it takes time to write this well, but I still long for the next fall when I get to go back and rejoin the characters of Ballybucklebo.
The latest book almost solely focuses on Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly as he relives his earlier years, particularly those during his medical school days. The set up for the flashback is done very well and the reader is immediately transported back to the 1930s in Dublin Ireland. The story reveals his family life, how he ended up in medical school, and covers his medical training in a fair amount of detail. There is quite a bit of medical information shared - procedures, etc. - which I could have found tedious since I typically don't care for that area of study but only found it wonderful as usual.
From the first novel through this latest one, they have all been an absolute joy to read. Most of the time the books are set in the rural Irish village of Ballybucklebo but some books take a detour as this one does. Even though I miss the characters I have come to love in the quaint little village, the departures are done so well that I don't mind leaving those folks until the next time Mr. Taylor allows us to visit them. If you have never read any of these, it would be possible to pick this one up and begin here but to have the full experience and get the most out of them, I would recommend going back and start from the beginning. These are not action-packed, adventure books but keep me glued to the page from beginning to end due to the incredible writing, the settings that are perfectly described, and stories that keep me fascinated.
Helpful hints: 1) Make sure to look at the glossary in the back of the book - it will help with the Irish terminology. 2) There is a fair amount of blasphemy -- the author addresses it in his notes at the beginning of the book. I don't have a problem with it but some folks might. I passed along the first in the series to my 85-year-old, very conservative mother and she was very offended. I hate that she can't enjoy what I believe to be wonderful books, but she just couldn't get past it and this one has much more than the first.
Bottom line: These are some of the most enjoyable books I have ever read and each one (including this one) is an absolute gem. I savor it, try to draw my reading out over time, and it is always with sadness that I close the book after the final page. I am glad he doesn't write them any faster since it takes time to write this well, but I still long for the next fall when I get to go back and rejoin the characters of Ballybucklebo.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Ann Baron
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I feel like I know the people of Ballybuckleboo like my own family. Patrick Taylor writes with such warmth and detail, that you feel you are right there. "A Dublin Student Doctor" really gives a real insight of how F. F. O'Reilly became such a caring doctor. I enjoy these books more than I can say. I'm always sorry when I get to the end, and cannot wait for the next book to be published. I hope Mr. Taylor has many more stories for us.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Nice story
A nice story but a little repetitive with saying what a well intentioned doctor he was going to be. I did enjoy all the medical references and the patient accounts.
Published 2 days ago by Kelly
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love the Irish books
I love Patrick Taylor's books on Ireland. I have them all. I can not tell you which I love more.
Published 5 days ago by melz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great!
I enjoyed learning about the early years of Dr. O, how his early life shaped his career in later years.
Published 11 days ago by Anne Vidacovich
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review of book A DUBLIN STUDENT DOCTOR
The book was enthusiastically received. He will start reading it as soon as he has finished reading the previous book in the series.
Published 16 days ago by R. Rogers
5.0 out of 5 stars
A series of seven books
All seven books were worth reading. Very humorous and good insight into Irish life in the 60's.
Read them in order and start with "An Irish Country Doctor".
Read them in order and start with "An Irish Country Doctor".
Published 29 days ago by Leonard G. Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
It is a wonderful read. Good to. Know what makes the good doctor tic. We get to see him as a young man and begin to get a sense of who he is to become
Published 1 month ago by Arlene Hofler
5.0 out of 5 stars
Patrick Taylor's Books Are Always A Joy
Like all of Patrick Taylor's books, this is a book you don't want to put down. His characters become part of your life and you care what happens to them. Read them all!
Published 1 month ago by Barb B.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Dublin Student Doctor: An Irish Country Novel
A must read for the fans of Patrick Taylor and the "Irish Country" series. Love t h e story of Fingals upbringing and his arduous road to becoming a Doctor
Published 1 month ago by Patrick Taylor
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of Taylor's best books.
Patrick Taylor does an excellent job of portraying Fingal O'Reilly's student days. The book exudes a warmness often found in Taylor's books, but seems to go farther in describing... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Carlton Stevens
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love this series of books
I find Patrick Taylor a very good read. I enjoy the Irish receipts at the end of each book. The stories give an insight to what a country GP day is like.
Published 1 month ago by Molly Reads
