Patrick Taylor (1) (1941–)

The third book I've listened to in this Irish country doctor series...might just he my last. The premise is charming and the characters are well done especially when listening to them on audiobook. But the repetition, Barry's whining about Patricia not revolving around his desires, and the lack of plot gets old. Plus the weird sexual bits seem really ill fitting with the book like Barry checking out his bosses' girlfriends ass. I don't know. This might be the end of the series for me. The show more books are entertaining but I don't know if it's enough to override the annoying stuff. show less

It's a good thing the accents are so compelling, because there is a lot of repetition in these books. Anyhoo. I liked this installment very much, even if it stretches the credulity a bit -- I mean, what father is so annoyed by his son wanting to be a doctor that he cuts off his inheritance? Yeah, yeah, families are weird but this one is really hard to wrap my head around.

Nonetheless, young Fingal in Dublin, studying and chasing Kitty is a really nice story. Like in previous installments, I show more love how these aren't just a totally separate storyline, but rather interwoven flashbacks within current events. I'm really appreciating the depth of their previous relationships, even as it feels like Taylor has written himself into a corner -- how on earth does their relationship end? How is there time for Fingal to fall for someone else? I guess we will find out in one of the next installments. P.S. I don't miss Barry. show less

Audiobook performed by John Keating


Taylor tells the tale of a young physician learning the ropes from an older, wiser, well-established practitioner in an Irish village, in the mid 1960s. Barry Laverty is happy to have this position, and he has an experienced, if unconventional, teacher in Dr Fingal Flaherty O’Reilly.

I’ve heard this described as “James Herriot for people” and I think that’s a perfect description. Some of the cases are quite serious, some patients are malingerers. show more While O’Reilly’s main advice is to “never let the customers get the upper hand,” he still shows great compassion for serious problems, teaches the young Laverty how to admit being wrong and helps him learn to apologize for his own mistakes. Which, of course, doctors do make – being human, after all.

The book is full of wonderful characters, from the steadfast housekeeper Mrs Kincaid, who prefers to be called Kinky, to the young doctor’s first love, Pamela, from elderly patients suffering mostly from loneliness, to young children with appendicitis, from shopkeepers with heart disease, to farmers with work-related injuries. There are some very humorous moments, and a few tender ones as well. Very entertaining.

John Keating does a marvelous job of performing the audiobook. I loved how he interpreted both O’Reilly and Laverty. And he does a passable job of the various women characters, as well. show less

A Dublin Student Doctor took us back to O'Reilly's student days with all its ups and downs. One thing I appreciate about Taylor is his ability to create authentic characters. O'Reilly is a larger than life figure, even in his student days, going against his father's wishes to pursue medicine as a career. He comes at the world full tilt and gets himself in trouble sometimes. He never lacks for compassion for his fellow humans and we see his development in this novel.