Customer Reviews

An Irish Country Christmas (Irish Country Books)

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This was one of those rare books that one hates to have end. You will wish to stay in this place and continue with the setting, the characters and the mood. "An Irish Country Christmas" is certain to shoot to the top of every best seller list with this engaging tale everyone will wish to call their own. Having not read the others in the series this reviewer is anxious to order them and continue the charmed escape to the Irish countryside. If not already thought of, this series cries to be a boxed set full of lovely illustrations. In troubled times, this writing is just what the soul needs!

Patrick Taylors' fictional accounts of the life of a pair of Irish country doctors in a day before modern medicine had created a gap between patient and practitioner are continued in this story that leads up to their shared Christmas. It is a Christmas full of all the happiness and goodwill that has been left behind in modern fractionated culture.I'm certain this book has re-read qualities when after a hard played day, a reader just wants to go somewhere that is simple and good. The reader will feel the warmth of Jameson after a cold walk in the snow and hear the sound of carolers when engaged by this worthy read.

Erveryone will be left anxious to find out about what a happens to Barry and Patricia or is it Barry and Sue? There is certainly a lot more in store for us in The Irish Country! Patrick Taylor has created something that is not only a worthy read but would make a nice movie or a BBC-Ireland series such as Ballykissangel.

Want to take a holiday but can't afford it? Try the Irish Country Series!

An Irish Country Christmas (Irish Country Books)

An Irish Country Christmas is the third book in Patrick Taylor's series that features new doctor Barry Laverty and his senior partner Dr. Fingal O'Reilly. Set in the rural Northern Irish village of Ballybucklebo, Barry looks forward to his first Christmas in the little village. However, when his girlfriend Patricia informs him that she may not be coming to spend the holiday with him, his disappointment mounts. At the same time, Dr. Fingal, who has vowed not to fall in love again, finds himself enormously attracted to the lovely Kitty O'Hallorhan. Meanwhile, Barry has his hands full with seasonal ailments and the occasional medical emergency. Still, they find time to play Santa to a needy mother with a sick child and make the rounds of rugby parties and kiddie Christmas festivities.

When a new doctor arrives in the village, Barry wonders if there can possibly be enough business to support three doctors, but that's not his only worry. It seems Dr. Fitzpatrick, in spite of apparent quackery and questionable cures, is quite adept at stealing Barry's and Fingal's patients.

The charm of rural Ireland shines in this story of these two engaging doctors who find time to help the villagers in many ways. Ballybucklebo is rife with interesting, comedic characters. The story is chock full of humorous episodes, an array of odd village ailments, and romantic troubles. Despite a tendancy to over-explain, Taylor's wit and charm shine through. An Irish Country Christmas has all the ingredients for a satisfying winter's read. Enjoy.

If, like me, you like the writing styles and stories of Patrick McManus The Grasshopper Trap and James Herriot All Creatures Great and Small then you will truly enjoy An Irish Christmas. Often humorous, it's a heart-warming story set in the idyllic, fictional town of Ballybucklebo, Ireland in the 1960's. It is chocked full of eccentric and loveable characters who help to remind us that the simple pleasures are absolutely the best pleasures.

This is the first book I have read by Patrick Taylor but I now want to read the two previous ones, as well. I loved it!

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.

I gather that this book is the latest in a series of novels about country/small town doctors in Ireland. While it doesn't have the absolute charm and coziness of the English village novels of Miss Read, An Irish Country Christmas definitely has more depth and action. There is plenty of atmosphere, humor, drama, and vividly-drawn characters that you quickly come to care about as they, in turn, care for the people of Ballybucklebo--despite (or maybe even because) of their foibles. While the books is a continuous story, I like the fact that each chapter is fairly complete so the reader can lay the book aside when necessary and pick it up later without interrupting the story's flow. An Irish Country Christmas is quite an enjoyable read that would be appreciated at any time of the year, not just at Christmas. Recommended!

This was a charming James Herriot-esque story of the life of a country doctor, his older partner, and the residents of a small Irish town. At first I found this tale confusing and a bit slow. But after about 100 pages I began to get into it.

I enjoyed in particular the stories about the doctor's patients. The lonely woman who was raised in India, the single mother with the sick child, the couple who was trying to conceive. It was these characters that really brought the story to life.

At times I felt some of the dialog could've used some editing. I skimmed parts that I was less interested in: Example: such as the rugby match and the romantic interludes the doctors had. I enjoyed the story of the Christmas pageant and the discussion of Kinky's baked goods. I thought it was a nice touch to have recipes added at the back of the book.

I probably will pick up another by this author. Perhaps if I read the series from the beginning I might be more interested in the minor characters such as the doctor's girlfriends who I found less interesting than the protagonist, his partner and their housekeeper.

I do get in the mood to read a simple, sentimental book once in a while. I thought this series was going to be a nice fix for me, but I couldn't stand the overwrought, preachy tone of this book. It strains credibility to think any two characters would both know every single word to every story, speech, poem, or song that ever came out of the history of Ireland, but the doctors in this book do... The characters are wooden, and stereotypical--the jovial, loud, beloved village doctor, and his naive, well-meaning new assistant. Every line of dialogue is followed by at least two lines of explanation--even of the most simple things. Example:"In Ulster, crossed fingers meant that the person didn't really mean what he was saying." URGGG!! If you want to read books of a different, easier time, please read the Miss Read series, or the James Herriot series about a country vet that are especially well-written, and taken from real life. Both Read and Herriot are a much better bet, and both evoke life in Great Britain in the 1940's and '50's. Skip this drivel, and save your money!

The year is 1964. The village is Ballybucklebo in Ulster, Ireland. It's winter, and Christmas is fast approaching. Dr. Barry Laverty is assistant to the infamous Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly, whose florid nose turns alabaster when he's angered. Barry lives in a little upstairs room at Number One Main Street with Fingal, his efficient and fuss-pot housekeeper Mrs. Kinky Kincaid, a white cat named Lady Macbeth, and a daft black Labrador named Arthur Guiness. Barry's mind is fully occupied these days not only by keeping busy in the surgery (meaning the doctor's office) but also with whether or not his beautiful young girlfriend Patricia Spence will make it home from college for the holidays.

Dr. O'Reilly is busy with surgery, and the unfortunate task of fixing some mistakes made by a new doctor in The Kinnegar name Dr. Ronald Hercules Fitzpatrick. Dr. Fitzpatrick starts out on the wrong foot by attempting to bypass Kinky's stolid stance against visitors to "Himself" when O'Reilly is up with a cough. He makes matters worse by dispensing ridiculous home remedies such as primrose roots and goat's milk whey shoved up the nose for infection, and gunpowder in a young man's tea for infertility. Dr. O'Reilly has also been setting aside treasured memories of his long-dead wife Deidre in favor of a certain Ms. Kitty O'Halloran, who herself has taken up visiting the doctor on more frequent social calls.

Occupying both doctors' time, other than treating patients in surgery and on-call, is the upcoming Christmas pageant, a Rugby game, the Rugby Club's first annual raffle event (dreamed up by Fingal to see to it that young, single, working mother Eileen has Christmas for her three young children), Christmas Eve, and the Marquis' party on Christmas Day.

'An Irish Country Christmas' is the third book in Patrick Taylor's 'Irish Country' series, but the first book of his that I've read. Immediately upon finishing, I ordered 'An Irish Country Doctor' and 'An Irish Country Village', the first two books in the series. It seems I can't get enough of the wonderful characters Mr. Taylor has created. The story isn't about any particular event other than culminating with Christmas Day, but about the everyday lives and events that surround those who reside in Number One Main Street. You can feel the small town atmosphere (and long for it's peacefulness), feel the gentler time of 1964, and respond to the fully fleshed-out characters. The enjoyment is in all the little details and the personalities of all involved. There's more to being a country doctor than dispensing medicine; there's advice in the form of finding a sitter for Eileen's little Sammy so Eileen can resume work, resolving a Christmas fund problem at Sammy's house, seeing a young boy in surgery (the office) about not wanting to go to school because he wasn't picked as Joseph for the Christmas Play, and watching old spinster Alice Moloney blossom as she tells the tale of being a vibrant young woman in India.

The book uses country brogue language, most of which is easy to understand. (such as "pew" for chair, and "briar" for pipe). The book is 471 pages, with an Afterward by Mrs. Kinky Kincaid including some Christmas recipes, an Author's Note, and a full Glossary of terms for any who have trouble with the language. This is truly one of the most "quaint" stories I've read, and while not fast-paced still conjures an "I can't put it down" interest in the reader. I highly recommend this book. Enjoy!

"An Irish Country Christmas" is another in Patrick Taylor's series of the adventures of Dr. Fingal O'Reilly, M.D., Irish GP, village Santa Claus and all round eminent person of Ballybucklebo. With him are his assistant doctor, Barry Laverty, his house keeper, Kinky and other good citizens of Balybucklebo. On these pages the reader follows the doctors on house calls, office visits and on their errands, both medical and otherwise. Throw in a protagonist, Dr.Fitzgerald, a new quack who threatens their practice and livelihood, and a sweetheart for each one and you have the makings for a real page turner. Dr. O'Reilly has to reconcile his affection for Kitty with the memory of his wife, Deidre, killed in an air raid twenty years before. Dr. Laverty is experiencing the jitters of an uncertain first time venturer in Cupid's realm. I better not give away any more.

This book is a delightful, light read. Chapter by chapter, the reader follows the characters through their entertaining and wholesome daily lives. As readers of my reviews can detect, I tend toward history and biography, generally heavier reading than this book. I enjoyed it thoroughly and, toward the end, had trouble putting it down. Whether you like light reading or are just looking for a lighthearted break, you will relish "An Irish Country Christmas."

This is the first book I've read from the author Patrick Taylor, but it certainly won't be the last. An Irish Country Christmas revolves around a pair of doctors in the Christmas season of 1964 in a small town of northern Ireland. The story is rich and fulfilling, and even if you haven't read the other books in this series, you aren't left in the dark as the author does an excellent job of keeping you in the know. The story is very atmospheric and the characters are given a depth that really puts you in touch with who they are. An Irish Country Christmas is a definite must read for not just the Christmas season, but for any time of year.