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Irish Country #3
Winter in Ierland
Het sneeuwt in Ballybucklebo. Dokter Barry Laverty heeft zijn handen vol aan de gebruikelijke griepgolf waar de bewoners van het Ierse dorp door worden geteisterd. Samen met zijn excentrieke mentor dokter O’Reilly snelt hij door de ijzige heuvels en dalen op weg naar zijn patiënten. Barry kijkt verlangend uit naar zijn eerste kerstfeest op het platteland. Maar wanneer ook dokter O’Reilly geveld wordt door de griep en Barry’s vriendin Patricia het laat afweten, wordt zijn humeur er niet beter op.
479 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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About the author
Patrick Taylor
87 books1,370 followersThere is more than one author with this name
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.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/patric...
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.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/patric...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 851 reviews
August 17, 2024
The time: 1964
The place: A wee village outside of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Some three months have passed since the events in An Irish Country Village. This is another tale of life in Northern Ireland in the 1960s. We follow new doctor, Barry Laverty, as he takes his first private practice job working for/with Dr. Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly in the colorful village of Ballybucklebo.
"He was glad now he hadn’t. In the five months during which he had gone from probationary assistant to assistant, with a view to a full partnership in one year, he had learnt a great deal about the practice of medicine in a rural setting."
The book opens a few weeks before Christmas and we go from a comical wedding reception to a burst spleen at a farm in the middle of a snowstorm in quick order. This story moves quickly through the weeks before Christmas with interesting treatments for ailing men, women and children. There are romantic difficulties and deadlines. In some ways the way Taylor describes Irish country life, its living conditions, food and distractions is the best part.
Taylor wrote this almost ten years after his first description of Ballybucklebo, but the continuity is seamless and things move along quickly and the resolutions (where applicable) are satisfying.
Whenever the cares of the real world are building, these books provided the needed distraction.
4*
The place: A wee village outside of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Some three months have passed since the events in An Irish Country Village. This is another tale of life in Northern Ireland in the 1960s. We follow new doctor, Barry Laverty, as he takes his first private practice job working for/with Dr. Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly in the colorful village of Ballybucklebo.
"He was glad now he hadn’t. In the five months during which he had gone from probationary assistant to assistant, with a view to a full partnership in one year, he had learnt a great deal about the practice of medicine in a rural setting."
The book opens a few weeks before Christmas and we go from a comical wedding reception to a burst spleen at a farm in the middle of a snowstorm in quick order. This story moves quickly through the weeks before Christmas with interesting treatments for ailing men, women and children. There are romantic difficulties and deadlines. In some ways the way Taylor describes Irish country life, its living conditions, food and distractions is the best part.
Taylor wrote this almost ten years after his first description of Ballybucklebo, but the continuity is seamless and things move along quickly and the resolutions (where applicable) are satisfying.
Whenever the cares of the real world are building, these books provided the needed distraction.
4*
December 24, 2016
Aw, man! How much does it suck when you save something like it's a treat, like it's your favorite ice cream you've earned at the end of the week, only to unwrap it and find that in fact it's just something that sounds like your favorite, with a key word missing that you didn't see when you grabbed it so fast, so excited, at the store? It's just not the same and it doesn't count at all. You feel cheated, you know?
That's pretty much how I feel about this. I saw signs of decline in the last book, but here it just reaches its full blown conclusion of increasing terribleness. This man is not a professional author, and while I suppose it is to his credit that it took me until book three to not be able to avoid noticing that, it's glaring now. This thing was repetitive and far too impressed with its own research and local color. I swear half of it was reminding us of plot from the previous two books. I also never thought I'd say this, but he actually took kindness to his characters waaaaay too far- everyone turns out to be just misunderstood and truly lovely! There is no evil here! Even the Catholics and Protestants magically get along in the magical land of Ballybucklebo! Because, I dunno, something happened twenty years ago and now everyone loves each other forever in *this* corner of 1960s Ulster. It means there is never any tension or growth or progress, because everyone's an undercover angel. I got to the point of rooting for Patricia to bail hard on Barry so she could live in a land of actual three dimensional people with actual personalities rather than repeated bits of colorful Irish dialogue and one story to remember them by. Taylor felt the need to redeem everyone's idiosyncrasies and I have no idea why. I liked the comforting aspect of this too, but there is a limit where it crosses the line into Hallmark card and walking-talking inspirational poster territory.
Ugh. I dunno. I guess the next one is a backstory in a totally different place, so maybe it would almost have to be more interesting? We'll see but I doubt I'll be back for awhile.
That's pretty much how I feel about this. I saw signs of decline in the last book, but here it just reaches its full blown conclusion of increasing terribleness. This man is not a professional author, and while I suppose it is to his credit that it took me until book three to not be able to avoid noticing that, it's glaring now. This thing was repetitive and far too impressed with its own research and local color. I swear half of it was reminding us of plot from the previous two books. I also never thought I'd say this, but he actually took kindness to his characters waaaaay too far- everyone turns out to be just misunderstood and truly lovely! There is no evil here! Even the Catholics and Protestants magically get along in the magical land of Ballybucklebo! Because, I dunno, something happened twenty years ago and now everyone loves each other forever in *this* corner of 1960s Ulster. It means there is never any tension or growth or progress, because everyone's an undercover angel. I got to the point of rooting for Patricia to bail hard on Barry so she could live in a land of actual three dimensional people with actual personalities rather than repeated bits of colorful Irish dialogue and one story to remember them by. Taylor felt the need to redeem everyone's idiosyncrasies and I have no idea why. I liked the comforting aspect of this too, but there is a limit where it crosses the line into Hallmark card and walking-talking inspirational poster territory.
Ugh. I dunno. I guess the next one is a backstory in a totally different place, so maybe it would almost have to be more interesting? We'll see but I doubt I'll be back for awhile.
January 19, 2013
This is the first book I've read by Patrick Taylor, and I was nicely surprised! I buy Christmas books every year as my own little tradition, to take a break from the fast paced reading that is my norm. I tend to read everything available, with a lot of thrillers, scifi and hot paranormal romance for fun. I love page turners.
An Irish Country Christmas is a true delight. I was drawn to the book after my recent vacation in Ireland, and I'm happy to report that Taylor captured the magnificent Irish beautifully.
Why do I love this book? It meanders along in such a beautiful way telling a lovely Christmas story. Dr. Barry Laverty is the young, new doctor in Ballybucklebo (I love that name!), and works with senior partner Dr. Fingal Flaherty O'Reilly. These are the men I want for my own doctors - smart, friendly, and caring. The glimpse into small town medical practices makes me yearn for a slower life.
Kinky Kincaid, Dr. O'Reilly's housekeeper and so much more than that. Amazing cook, a touch of the sight, and a caring/knowing way about her. I'd listen too what Kinky has to say, always.
There are love stories in this book, but they aren't the highlight. The people of Ballybucklebo are the real story. Times can be hard, and people come together during the holidays to make things better. The children in the story will make you laugh out loud!
Take a break from your hectic life, slow down a bit and enjoy a truly wonderful book.
An Irish Country Christmas is a true delight. I was drawn to the book after my recent vacation in Ireland, and I'm happy to report that Taylor captured the magnificent Irish beautifully.
Why do I love this book? It meanders along in such a beautiful way telling a lovely Christmas story. Dr. Barry Laverty is the young, new doctor in Ballybucklebo (I love that name!), and works with senior partner Dr. Fingal Flaherty O'Reilly. These are the men I want for my own doctors - smart, friendly, and caring. The glimpse into small town medical practices makes me yearn for a slower life.
Kinky Kincaid, Dr. O'Reilly's housekeeper and so much more than that. Amazing cook, a touch of the sight, and a caring/knowing way about her. I'd listen too what Kinky has to say, always.
There are love stories in this book, but they aren't the highlight. The people of Ballybucklebo are the real story. Times can be hard, and people come together during the holidays to make things better. The children in the story will make you laugh out loud!
Take a break from your hectic life, slow down a bit and enjoy a truly wonderful book.
March 11, 2021
An Irish Country Christmas
Author: Patrick Taylor
4 out of 5 stars
Travel back in time to a place of emerald enchantment. The third in the "Irish Country" series builds on a cast of characters and daily life set in 1960's rural Northern Ireland.
Dr. O'Reilly continues to mentor new physician Dr. Laverty. Along with the new doctor, we come to admire the keen and quick insight of the elder man as he manages their patients' medical care with a dose of savvy.
Expect to meet colorful and relatable folks along with Arthur Guinness and Lady Macbeth, a couple of four-legged friends added into the mix.
Patrick Taylor's historical, literary, and cultural references provide relevant, real-world depth. The author, a physician himself, showers the reader with medical tidbits all through the tale.
For the reader that happens upon a series book out of sequence, it is necessary to bring the characters' backgrounds into the story. However, this became tedious. I could tell when the watered-down catch-ups were coming. And for me, it took away from the flow of the narrative.
Consider listening to the audio version. John Keating's performance of the Ulster dialect and character voicing are a treat. They certainly add to the emerald enchantment this is encountered in the people of the village of Ballybucklebo.
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
Author: Patrick Taylor
4 out of 5 stars
Travel back in time to a place of emerald enchantment. The third in the "Irish Country" series builds on a cast of characters and daily life set in 1960's rural Northern Ireland.
Dr. O'Reilly continues to mentor new physician Dr. Laverty. Along with the new doctor, we come to admire the keen and quick insight of the elder man as he manages their patients' medical care with a dose of savvy.
Expect to meet colorful and relatable folks along with Arthur Guinness and Lady Macbeth, a couple of four-legged friends added into the mix.
Patrick Taylor's historical, literary, and cultural references provide relevant, real-world depth. The author, a physician himself, showers the reader with medical tidbits all through the tale.
For the reader that happens upon a series book out of sequence, it is necessary to bring the characters' backgrounds into the story. However, this became tedious. I could tell when the watered-down catch-ups were coming. And for me, it took away from the flow of the narrative.
Consider listening to the audio version. John Keating's performance of the Ulster dialect and character voicing are a treat. They certainly add to the emerald enchantment this is encountered in the people of the village of Ballybucklebo.
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
December 4, 2013
I haven't commented on the first two books I read that are in the same 'series,' so I feel I should rectify that after finishing this one (after staying up late last night to do so). When I was in high school, I read and loved James Herriot's books in the All Things Great and Small series, focusing on his daily adventures as a country vet in rural England in the 40's - 50's. If you've not read them, I highly recommend - good stories, warm characters that you take into your heart, and lots of laughs. The first book from Patrick Taylor, An Irish Country Doctor, has many parallels and I loved it just as much. The characters are true and believable, after you get used to the eccentricities many of them have (and growing up in a small rural town I know that there are plenty of eccentric people), the calls the doctors make are interesting, and since the author bases the setting and style of writing from life experience, the world of northern Ireland in a smal rural town comes alive. The local colloquialisms and phrases the author uses (with a helpful glossary in back, just in case) make me connect to my grandparents, who used some of them a lot as I was growing up.
PBS made a wheeker of a series on All Creatures Great and Small... and I think these three books should be a new series for them - I know I would watch as intently as I'm watching for the next book.
PBS made a wheeker of a series on All Creatures Great and Small... and I think these three books should be a new series for them - I know I would watch as intently as I'm watching for the next book.
December 22, 2015
Reading this book was like soaking in a hot tub with a glass of wine. I found the characters to be memorable, and their turn of phrase and slang brought me back to the Ireland of my childhood. Highly recommended, and given a fourth star for the comfort I felt in reading it.
November 24, 2008
I have never before read anything by Patrick Taylor, but I am a sucker for all things Irish and anything Christmas so I took a chance…and I am very glad I did!
Two country doctors care for the people in the cozy little town of Ballybucklebo in Northern Ireland. Dr. O’Reilly is the senior partner who has recently taken the younger Dr. Laverty into his already well established practice. Together the two of them share the office practice and on call responsibilities while nurturing there budding friendship.
The cast of characters are so well written and so vibrant it was so easy to picture them all, care for them all and feel like part of this quaint village. Mr. Taylor takes us through the daily lives of two country doctors where only part of their responsibilities is actual medicine, in Ballybucklebo a doctor is also therapist, friend, confidant, child care provider and in most cases…miracle worker.
The author writes in the Ulster dialect and that gives the reader a lesson in the Irish way of speaking and lends to the authentic feel of the story. At the back of the book are recipes from Kinky Kincaid, the good doctor’s housekeeper. There is also a glossary of the Ulster-Scots dialect’s phrases and words to help the reader along the way.
This was a thoroughly entertaining read that had me laughing out loud and flipping through the pages eagerly. Mr. Taylor is a gifted storyteller and he created a vivid and memorable tale. I can’t wait to visit Ballybucklebo again, and will read the first two books in the series now as I am hooked on this imaginary village.
So have a pew (take a seat) and enjoy this warm and wonderful holiday tale.
Cherise Everhard, November 2008
Two country doctors care for the people in the cozy little town of Ballybucklebo in Northern Ireland. Dr. O’Reilly is the senior partner who has recently taken the younger Dr. Laverty into his already well established practice. Together the two of them share the office practice and on call responsibilities while nurturing there budding friendship.
The cast of characters are so well written and so vibrant it was so easy to picture them all, care for them all and feel like part of this quaint village. Mr. Taylor takes us through the daily lives of two country doctors where only part of their responsibilities is actual medicine, in Ballybucklebo a doctor is also therapist, friend, confidant, child care provider and in most cases…miracle worker.
The author writes in the Ulster dialect and that gives the reader a lesson in the Irish way of speaking and lends to the authentic feel of the story. At the back of the book are recipes from Kinky Kincaid, the good doctor’s housekeeper. There is also a glossary of the Ulster-Scots dialect’s phrases and words to help the reader along the way.
This was a thoroughly entertaining read that had me laughing out loud and flipping through the pages eagerly. Mr. Taylor is a gifted storyteller and he created a vivid and memorable tale. I can’t wait to visit Ballybucklebo again, and will read the first two books in the series now as I am hooked on this imaginary village.
So have a pew (take a seat) and enjoy this warm and wonderful holiday tale.
Cherise Everhard, November 2008
January 4, 2009
This was a Christmas gift from a dear friend. With a strained back, I spent a day or so reading this charming book set in the fictional Ballybucklebo, in Northern ireland, wondering if the young Doctor's girl friend would come back from London for Christmas. If this sounds like chicklit to you, so be it. There are many references to Irish lore, language, etc. that rang a bell. I did get a bit of the feeling that these cultural references were a bit heavy handed and not skillfully woven into the storyline. While an enjoyable book, I did find that it wasn't particularly challenging reading. If you like Jan Karon, you'll like this. Am I too old for this kind of book? Perhaps. On the other hand, there are worse ways to spend a quiet winter aftenoon and my back IS feeling better.
January 24, 2009
I LOVE Patrick Taylor's books. Irish Country Doctor and Irish Country Christmas make me long to live in a place like Ballybucklebo...but only if I could have a housekeeper/cook like Kinky!
November 30, 2018
This is the third Irish Country book and this one has a lot of moving parts. It's still one of my favorites though. Not going to lie, though I initially felt for Doctor Barry Laverty in this one, I ended up losing all of my sympathy after a while due to how he was treating the woman he is dating (Patricia Spence). Him acting as if her studies or meeting new people, seeing new things is not as important as coming home to spend a few days with him during the holidays got old after a while. The star of this one really is Doctor Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly and his second chance romance with Sister (meaning nurse) Kitty O'Hallorhan. It's so weird though, the first couple of books acts as if O'Reilly and Kitty didn't really have much of anything until you read the later books. I am shocked that O'Reilly didn't look her up ages ago or at least get why she felt the way she did about him.
"An Irish Country Christmas" has the village of Ballybucklebo waiting for the Christmas season. Unlike in the first two books, we have Taylor switching between Doctor Barry Laverty and Doctor Fingal O'Reilly. Both men have the holidays and romance on their mind in this one.
Barry was an ass in this one. I can't say much more than this. I get that the book takes place in 1964 and of course men's attitudes about equality among the sexes had not set in yet, but good grief. Barry got involved with Patricia Spence in book #1 with the understanding that she was attending Cambridge. Him all of a sudden acting put upon because she is studying and meeting people got old fast. Barry I realized was quite selfish when it came to his relationship in this book.
I swear, after a while I started just sighing heavily and speeding past Barry's sections.
Fingal has a lot of thinking to do in this one. Kitty throws it out there that she could care for Fingal again, but she won't wait forever for him. Fingal is still haunted by his first wife's death.
The doctors are still doing what they can to take care of the villagers in Ballybucklebo. We get another antagonist in this one besides Bertie, we have an introduction to a former classmate of Fingal's, Doctor Roland Hercules Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick was awful in these earlier books and one wonders why Taylor ended up getting rid of all of the doctors antagonists in this series. It has started to make things dull in these books.
The writing in these earlier works was good to me. Taylor explains diagnosis and what people did back then with regards to labor and other things.
The flow wasn't great though. I always tell people if you read these books be prepared for some repetition and slowness to things. It's not a bad way to spend an afternoon inside.
The happy ending was funny to me based on what ends up happening next in the series with regards to Barry and Fingal's romances.
"An Irish Country Christmas" has the village of Ballybucklebo waiting for the Christmas season. Unlike in the first two books, we have Taylor switching between Doctor Barry Laverty and Doctor Fingal O'Reilly. Both men have the holidays and romance on their mind in this one.
Barry was an ass in this one. I can't say much more than this. I get that the book takes place in 1964 and of course men's attitudes about equality among the sexes had not set in yet, but good grief. Barry got involved with Patricia Spence in book #1 with the understanding that she was attending Cambridge. Him all of a sudden acting put upon because she is studying and meeting people got old fast. Barry I realized was quite selfish when it came to his relationship in this book.
“The same family own property with a big wood, and that was the very spot A. A. Milne called the Hundred Acre Wood in the Pooh stories.”
“Really?” He started to let his tone show his disinterest. He was certain she was using all this trivial chitchat as a smoke screen to avoid having to tell him she wasn’t coming home. “That’s interesting."
"Barry took a deep breath. “Look, Patricia, it’s great to chat, but I need to know so I can work out on-call schedules with Fingal . . . are you coming home?” He heard the edge of irritation creep into her voice. “I still don’t know.” Barry tried not to let his own disappointment show. “If you still don’t know, why did you call?” “Because, Barry, I like to hear your voice”—her tones were measured—“and I knew Jenny’s dad wouldn’t mind. I miss you, and I was happy we would be able to talk.”
I swear, after a while I started just sighing heavily and speeding past Barry's sections.
Fingal has a lot of thinking to do in this one. Kitty throws it out there that she could care for Fingal again, but she won't wait forever for him. Fingal is still haunted by his first wife's death.
The doctors are still doing what they can to take care of the villagers in Ballybucklebo. We get another antagonist in this one besides Bertie, we have an introduction to a former classmate of Fingal's, Doctor Roland Hercules Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick was awful in these earlier books and one wonders why Taylor ended up getting rid of all of the doctors antagonists in this series. It has started to make things dull in these books.
The writing in these earlier works was good to me. Taylor explains diagnosis and what people did back then with regards to labor and other things.
The flow wasn't great though. I always tell people if you read these books be prepared for some repetition and slowness to things. It's not a bad way to spend an afternoon inside.
The happy ending was funny to me based on what ends up happening next in the series with regards to Barry and Fingal's romances.
February 22, 2021
Book on CD performed by John Keating
4****
Book three in in the charming and popular story of 1960s country GP, Barry Laverty, M.B., his partner / mentor Doctor Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly, and the people of Ballybucklebo. It’s Christmas and love is in the air.
I came late to this party, but I’m glad I finally arrived, and now it seems that I may never leave. The books are charming and entertaining and just plain fun to read. I love the cultural references to the time period, as well as learning a little about medical practices “back in the day.”
Taylor peoples the novels with a cast of eccentric villagers, and a few lovely ladies. I particularly like the doctors’ housekeeper, Kinky. And appreciate Taylor’s including some of Kinky’s recipes at the end of each book.
John Keating does a marvelous job of performing the audiobook. He really brings these characters to life. I love the way he portrays Kinky!
4****
Book three in in the charming and popular story of 1960s country GP, Barry Laverty, M.B., his partner / mentor Doctor Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly, and the people of Ballybucklebo. It’s Christmas and love is in the air.
I came late to this party, but I’m glad I finally arrived, and now it seems that I may never leave. The books are charming and entertaining and just plain fun to read. I love the cultural references to the time period, as well as learning a little about medical practices “back in the day.”
Taylor peoples the novels with a cast of eccentric villagers, and a few lovely ladies. I particularly like the doctors’ housekeeper, Kinky. And appreciate Taylor’s including some of Kinky’s recipes at the end of each book.
John Keating does a marvelous job of performing the audiobook. He really brings these characters to life. I love the way he portrays Kinky!
December 31, 2015
This was a heart warming 3.5* read which I'm going to round up because of how much it defied my expectations. It's not my typical type of read, but I enjoyed the language, and the medical bits reminded me of Call The Midwife. I'm so glad GRI choose this as our final monthly read of 2015.
December 26, 2017
I've had this on my list of books for quite a while for my annual December holiday-themed festival of books. I've not read any of the other books set in the Northern Ireland village of Ballybucklebo during the early 1960's, but this one easily slid into my Christmas reading for 2017. We meet and hear the maladies, sometimes real and often imagined, of the village folks and see how young Dr. Barry Laverty and the crusty practice owner, Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly work together to keep everyone healthy and feeling good. The village has a great assortment of characters that keep things lively and fun.
Some random notes:
- this was a loooooong book, coming in at just under 500 pages or almost 17 hours of listening. The audiobook narrator contributed greatly to my hanging in there for all those hours. I don't think I would have had the patience to read in print.
- Laverty, right out of med school, has just been with O'Reilly for 5 months. And this is book three! The series must move at a snail's pace, reminding me of soap operas or comics that you can dip into occasionally and never miss a thing.
- Patrick Taylor must have some sort of medical training. Above noted maladies are described in excruciating detail, along with the medical procedures designed to cure them.
- O'Reilly is an integral part of the community, caring for his customers lives as a whole as well as their illnesses. Laverty is thrilled to be part of this kind of practice. This aspect made this book particularly enjoyable.
- The relationship of Laverty and O'Reilly reminded me of All Creatures Great and Small.
- Laverty is obsessed as to whether is love, Patricia, will or will not make it home for Christmas from her first year at Cambridge University. His anxiety-ridden ruminations about will she/won't she that go ON AND ON about this were my least favorite parts of the book.
- O'Reilly's housekeeper Kinky Kinkaid was my favorite character. She manages to keep things humming in the household and the practice, keeps everyone on an emotional even keel and churns out awesome food morning, noon and night for occasions large and small.
- No one's problems are insurmountable and everything ends in "happily ever after"!
Just what the Doctor ordered, so to speak! :)
Some random notes:
- this was a loooooong book, coming in at just under 500 pages or almost 17 hours of listening. The audiobook narrator contributed greatly to my hanging in there for all those hours. I don't think I would have had the patience to read in print.
- Laverty, right out of med school, has just been with O'Reilly for 5 months. And this is book three! The series must move at a snail's pace, reminding me of soap operas or comics that you can dip into occasionally and never miss a thing.
- Patrick Taylor must have some sort of medical training. Above noted maladies are described in excruciating detail, along with the medical procedures designed to cure them.
- O'Reilly is an integral part of the community, caring for his customers lives as a whole as well as their illnesses. Laverty is thrilled to be part of this kind of practice. This aspect made this book particularly enjoyable.
- The relationship of Laverty and O'Reilly reminded me of All Creatures Great and Small.
- Laverty is obsessed as to whether is love, Patricia, will or will not make it home for Christmas from her first year at Cambridge University. His anxiety-ridden ruminations about will she/won't she that go ON AND ON about this were my least favorite parts of the book.
- O'Reilly's housekeeper Kinky Kinkaid was my favorite character. She manages to keep things humming in the household and the practice, keeps everyone on an emotional even keel and churns out awesome food morning, noon and night for occasions large and small.
- No one's problems are insurmountable and everything ends in "happily ever after"!
Just what the Doctor ordered, so to speak! :)
December 22, 2014
I do so enjoy the Irish Country series. These books are like comfort food for my reader's soul. This was a tale of snow and Christmas pudding, turkeys, and ham, Jameson's whisky, and Father Christmas handing out presents, which transported me from my warm Australian Christmas over to Ireland for the month of December! Looking forward to the next!
November 26, 2012
What a fantastic read! It has no politics, no deep message, just a really great story! So refreshing!
December 20, 2023
Los adoro, adoro a los doctores Fingal y Barry y a la señora Kincaid, "vaya que sí".
Es una magnífica serie de libros que nadie debería perderse.
Eso sí, la pésima corrección editorial de estas novelas es de juzgado de guardia. Y precisamente sin unos Libros que de barato no tienen nada.
Es una magnífica serie de libros que nadie debería perderse.
Eso sí, la pésima corrección editorial de estas novelas es de juzgado de guardia. Y precisamente sin unos Libros que de barato no tienen nada.
November 11, 2019
What James Herriot did for the country veterinarian, Patrick Taylor does for the country doctor. In this charming tale, it’s Christmas, and if things tend to work out for the best, it can be forgiven in the spirit of the season. All the characters in the tale, from the two doctors to their housekeeper and the villagers are all well developed with their own quirky personalities. Reading about these delightful people as they go about their days is pure entertainment. But don’t make the mistake of thinking the the book is all light-hearted fluff; it has real depth in its plot. Highly recommended.
January 3, 2011
I'm sad to say that this book was a disappointment to me. Being part Irish myself, I was very interesting in reading this book when I saw it on the store shelf. I was even glad to see that it was part of a series, so that I might read the other titles.
However, it ended up being I had to force-feed myself the book, and it was well after Christmas before I finished it. I finished it out of sheer determination, because I have this self-loathing thing I do when I set a book down undone.
In this story, the reader is re-introduced to Barry, O'Reilly, Kinky, and the rest of the villagers. I say re-introduced, because I was able to determine that Barry's story started in another book prior to this one. I also was able to figure out that O'Reilly's story continues from this one in "An Irish Country Courtship".
Barry is a young GP, who has moved to the small Irish, country village to assist the elderly GP (O'Reilly) and hopefully become his partner at the surgery. Surgery is what they term as clinic or doctor's office.
O'Reilly, the elderly GP, was for me the best of the book. That old man is a hoot, and I absolutely loved his personality!
Kinky is the fiery housemaid for the 2 doctors and is force to be reckoned with in her own right. She's also a fun character as you watch her be stern with the doctors, soft on them as they need, and fierce to any who challenge her or them. Kinky also has "the gift", as in she will from time to time see events in the future. It really only occurred once or twice in the story, but was alluded to a few more times.
I think Taylor did a good job of describing life in a small village. How most people know your business almost before you do. How there will be issues amongst the inhabitants, but they band together when needed and against "foes".
Normally, I love a series where I get to return to characters, or where the story centers around one or a few main characters, but extend to a few others throughout the series. However, that wasn't the case here.
I will give a few concessions as to why I might not have enjoyed the book as much. I started the book right before Christmas, so I might have been a smidge burnt out on holiday themes. Christmas is a busy time of year, so I might not have been able to apply myself as diligently to the book as it needed. Christmas is also a time when my house is noisier than usual (family and all), so I might not have been able to fully immerse myself into the story as I normally do.
However, I found that for the story just came across as a filler story. There really wasn't a "traditional" sense of a story (conclusive beginning and end). It came across more as a running journal of the lives of Barry and O'Reilly.
I can't really pin down what bothered me most of the story or why I couldn't "get into it", but that's how it was. I walked away dissatisfied and feeling as if something was lacking.
However, it ended up being I had to force-feed myself the book, and it was well after Christmas before I finished it. I finished it out of sheer determination, because I have this self-loathing thing I do when I set a book down undone.
In this story, the reader is re-introduced to Barry, O'Reilly, Kinky, and the rest of the villagers. I say re-introduced, because I was able to determine that Barry's story started in another book prior to this one. I also was able to figure out that O'Reilly's story continues from this one in "An Irish Country Courtship".
Barry is a young GP, who has moved to the small Irish, country village to assist the elderly GP (O'Reilly) and hopefully become his partner at the surgery. Surgery is what they term as clinic or doctor's office.
O'Reilly, the elderly GP, was for me the best of the book. That old man is a hoot, and I absolutely loved his personality!
Kinky is the fiery housemaid for the 2 doctors and is force to be reckoned with in her own right. She's also a fun character as you watch her be stern with the doctors, soft on them as they need, and fierce to any who challenge her or them. Kinky also has "the gift", as in she will from time to time see events in the future. It really only occurred once or twice in the story, but was alluded to a few more times.
I think Taylor did a good job of describing life in a small village. How most people know your business almost before you do. How there will be issues amongst the inhabitants, but they band together when needed and against "foes".
Normally, I love a series where I get to return to characters, or where the story centers around one or a few main characters, but extend to a few others throughout the series. However, that wasn't the case here.
I will give a few concessions as to why I might not have enjoyed the book as much. I started the book right before Christmas, so I might have been a smidge burnt out on holiday themes. Christmas is a busy time of year, so I might not have been able to apply myself as diligently to the book as it needed. Christmas is also a time when my house is noisier than usual (family and all), so I might not have been able to fully immerse myself into the story as I normally do.
However, I found that for the story just came across as a filler story. There really wasn't a "traditional" sense of a story (conclusive beginning and end). It came across more as a running journal of the lives of Barry and O'Reilly.
I can't really pin down what bothered me most of the story or why I couldn't "get into it", but that's how it was. I walked away dissatisfied and feeling as if something was lacking.
September 30, 2020
Re-read 2018
The third book in the Irish Country series. This one has a bit of tension to it, due to some relationship issues. I will warn for cheating since some people have an issue with it. This is the obligatory Christmas book that most ongoing series seem to have. The main character is still learning what it means to be a General Practitioner in a small town in Northern Ireland during the mid-1960s. I'm still a huge fan of this series and can't wait for the next to be available at the library.
Re-read 2019
I love this series, it's a cleaned-up view of a fictional small town in Ireland set during The Troubles. Even though the doctors are the main characters the rest of the village are just as much fun to read about.
The third book in the Irish Country series. This one has a bit of tension to it, due to some relationship issues. I will warn for cheating since some people have an issue with it. This is the obligatory Christmas book that most ongoing series seem to have. The main character is still learning what it means to be a General Practitioner in a small town in Northern Ireland during the mid-1960s. I'm still a huge fan of this series and can't wait for the next to be available at the library.
Re-read 2019
I love this series, it's a cleaned-up view of a fictional small town in Ireland set during The Troubles. Even though the doctors are the main characters the rest of the village are just as much fun to read about.
March 13, 2012
I did not enjoy this one as much as the other two. Barry is kind of annoying in his insecurities surrounding Patricia. But overall, it is a cute story of a time and town that would never work in today's world...sadly.
December 28, 2018
An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor is book 3 of the Irish Country series, set in Ulster, Northern Ireland. Christmas season 1964 is doctor Barry Lafferty's first holiday season in Ballybucklebo. In this tiny rural town, everyone knows everyone else. Barry is well liked for his caring and healing skills. He has learned the foibles of country folk, and adjusted his demeanor and practices accordingly. Barry enjoys living and working with senior doctor Fingal O'Reilly. Their housekeeper Kinky Kincaid watches over them in a motherly way. She cooks them sensational feasts.
Fingal has been mourning his late wife Deidre for 25 years. He rekindles a long-ago friendship with Kitty O'Halloran (they met in med school), and starts opening up his heart. Together in an emergency they successfully delivered a breech baby at the mother's home, so they are well aware of each other's medical skill.
The emergency was caused by a quack doctor, new in town, who dismissed the experienced midwife and did not examine the pregnant woman properly. A breech birth is dangerous for baby and mother. The mother should have been under careful scrutiny through her pregnancy, and hospitalized for the birth. The quack also prescribed gunpowder for the husband of a woman who was trying (but failing) to conceive. At first Barry and Fingal were concerned the new doctor would steal patients from their practice. Once they realize his quack methods are endangering patients, they intervene.
A major annoying plot thread: Barry's girlfriend Patricia Spence is studying civil engineering in Cambridge. He's really looking forward to seeing her again. In her rare phone calls, she waffles whether she'll come to visit for Christmas. At first, the excuse is the uncertainty of her father's Christmas bonus, so she delays any plans. She refuses to let Barry pay for her ticket. Next phone call, no mention is made of the first excuse; the second excuse is that she has been too busy to ask for time on a telephone, so she couldn't call a travel agent; she spends her free time going to museums. Next excuse: she has gone to stay with a classmate in a lovely country house near some nature preserve. She yammers on and on about architecture and endangered ducks, while Barry is breathlessly waiting to hear if he will see her soon. He suggests she try a lower-cost ferry. And so on. Eventually her excuse is it's too late, plane and ferry tickets are sold out. As time goes on and the excuses mount, Barry questions the relationship. He's always feared that she would no longer be interested in a country doctor in rural Ulster, after the excitement of Cambridge and nearby London.
Meanwhile Barry and Fingal are busy every day treating their patients. Christmas holiday approaches, there are many community events to be arranged, many financial issues both with clubs and private citizens. Warm-hearted Barry and Fingal do their best to see that all children get a gift from Santa. Barry befriends several young women in their small town. He's beginning to appreciate their physical characteristics, too. The dress shop owner he previously thought to be a bitter hag (in an earlier book) proves to be a fascinating woman who grew up in India. The local school teacher is a warm and caring person, who reciprocates his interest. A student nurse at a dance in Belfast bores him with her taste in music, although she attracted him with a nice figure. Barry is ripe for a relationship. Perhaps a new friendship he formed in this book could lead to romance, with a woman who is happy with life in rural Ulster.
The first half to two-thirds of the book is well-paced with a plot that flows naturally from event to event. Later chapters seem anecdotal, repeating themes of holiday spirit and friendship (too much).
Fingal has been mourning his late wife Deidre for 25 years. He rekindles a long-ago friendship with Kitty O'Halloran (they met in med school), and starts opening up his heart. Together in an emergency they successfully delivered a breech baby at the mother's home, so they are well aware of each other's medical skill.
The emergency was caused by a quack doctor, new in town, who dismissed the experienced midwife and did not examine the pregnant woman properly. A breech birth is dangerous for baby and mother. The mother should have been under careful scrutiny through her pregnancy, and hospitalized for the birth. The quack also prescribed gunpowder for the husband of a woman who was trying (but failing) to conceive. At first Barry and Fingal were concerned the new doctor would steal patients from their practice. Once they realize his quack methods are endangering patients, they intervene.
A major annoying plot thread: Barry's girlfriend Patricia Spence is studying civil engineering in Cambridge. He's really looking forward to seeing her again. In her rare phone calls, she waffles whether she'll come to visit for Christmas. At first, the excuse is the uncertainty of her father's Christmas bonus, so she delays any plans. She refuses to let Barry pay for her ticket. Next phone call, no mention is made of the first excuse; the second excuse is that she has been too busy to ask for time on a telephone, so she couldn't call a travel agent; she spends her free time going to museums. Next excuse: she has gone to stay with a classmate in a lovely country house near some nature preserve. She yammers on and on about architecture and endangered ducks, while Barry is breathlessly waiting to hear if he will see her soon. He suggests she try a lower-cost ferry. And so on. Eventually her excuse is it's too late, plane and ferry tickets are sold out. As time goes on and the excuses mount, Barry questions the relationship. He's always feared that she would no longer be interested in a country doctor in rural Ulster, after the excitement of Cambridge and nearby London.
Meanwhile Barry and Fingal are busy every day treating their patients. Christmas holiday approaches, there are many community events to be arranged, many financial issues both with clubs and private citizens. Warm-hearted Barry and Fingal do their best to see that all children get a gift from Santa. Barry befriends several young women in their small town. He's beginning to appreciate their physical characteristics, too. The dress shop owner he previously thought to be a bitter hag (in an earlier book) proves to be a fascinating woman who grew up in India. The local school teacher is a warm and caring person, who reciprocates his interest. A student nurse at a dance in Belfast bores him with her taste in music, although she attracted him with a nice figure. Barry is ripe for a relationship. Perhaps a new friendship he formed in this book could lead to romance, with a woman who is happy with life in rural Ulster.
The first half to two-thirds of the book is well-paced with a plot that flows naturally from event to event. Later chapters seem anecdotal, repeating themes of holiday spirit and friendship (too much).
December 27, 2023
Patrick Taylor is a gentle author who has written a book that is the literary equivalent of a cup of hot tea - soothing, refreshing, and reinvigorating. The story is set in Ballybucklebo (a fictional town), and tells of the adventures of Dr. Fingal O'Reilly and his junior partner, Dr. Barry Laverty as they interact with their patients. Barry learns that being a country doctor is a lot more than just knowing medicine: it also means doctoring to the heart and spirit of the people. I heard very faint echoes of All Creatures Great and Small: O'Reilly is larger than life in the way of Siegfried Farnon, and Barry is the bemused, quiet observer like James Herriot. I enjoyed this novel, although I did feel it was a little too long. Unfortunately, all the attendant activity of Christmas is rush and activity, so the the soothing, slower pace of 1964 Northern Ireland village seemed a little out of sync. Having said that, I preferred my time in the village to my real life Christmas rush. Recommended to anyone who cherishes the memory of quieter, less commercial Christmases.
January 18, 2023
2.5*** cute but not as good as the first two.
November 21, 2024
Fingal O'Reilly and Barry Laverty are country doctors in rural Ballybucklebo, a small Irish town in Ulster. Christmas is approaching which means you have patients with the usual ailments, but the bustle of the holidays is mixing in. Barry is hoping his girlfriend comes home for the holidays from school, but, much to his dismay, it's looking less likely every time he talks to her. Fingal is showing some interest in Kitty O'Halloran despite his heartbreak many years prior. However, things won't be simple this holiday season as there is a new doctor in town who is not only poaching clients but also providing wacky herbal cures that seem to be doing more harm than anything. This, of course, enrages Fingal as he knows this new doctor from medical school. If you are looking for a cozy audiobook reminiscent of All Creatures Great and Small, look no further than An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor. I was so pleasantly surprised by this audiobook; I can't wait to dive into the other books in the series.
Read the rest of my review here: www.confessionsofabookaddict.com/2024...
Read the rest of my review here: www.confessionsofabookaddict.com/2024...
January 21, 2021
A lovely book that transports you to small village life in Northern Ireland in the 60's -- before all the civil unrest. It's a look at village life as seen through the eyes of a new doctor and an old one who live together almost like a family. They still pay house calls and are genuinely concerned about all their patients. Hilarious stories and sidebars abound about traditions, class, living conditions along with lots of food and animals thrown into the mix. Written by a man who was a country doctor himself, everything rings true and is very interesting as well as heartwarming.
December 16, 2009
I can't wait for Patrick Taylors next book in this series. It makes me want to visit Ireland, even in the winter. Especially at Christmas.
February 28, 2013
“An Irish Country Christmas” is the third of Patrick Taylor’s books about life as a general practice physician in small-town Northern Ireland in 1964. Taylor draws on his experiences as a doctor to write these stories.
Taylor tells the story by shifting the point of view between the two main characters, senior physician Fingal O’Reilly and his new partner Barry Laverty. This is a departure from the previous two books, in which the point of view was strictly that of Laverty. Having read the other books, I found this change unsettling. Up until now, we didn’t need to know what was going on inside O’Reilly’s head until it came out of his mouth, either confirming or refuting Laverty’s perceptions. Why do we need to hear his internal ruminations now? Especially since knowing doesn’t seem to help move the story along.
As in the other books, the narrative rambles on about the quirky, often uncouth inhabitants of Ballybucklebo, punctuated with medical case studies of their afflictions. Taylor feels it necessary to define the limitations of medical practice in the 1960’s even though today most of the same treatments would still be used for these ailments. As a Registered Nurse I have no problems with his management of most of the general medical-surgical complaints, but because my specialty is obstetrics, it irritates me no end when he unnecessarily sensationalizes his OB cases.
It’s human nature to make much ado about nothing, but Taylor’s crises seem more than usually contrived. His antagonists are unpleasant and unlikable, but they tend to cave in easily, making me wonder if they really constituted a threat after all. He has a hard time maintaining the tension that should characterize the love interest which, although not the main source of conflict in the stories, should be compelling if it’s going to be there at all.
Taylor tries to illustrate a poor standard of living for many of the residents of the village, but I find him unconvincing. By the 1960’s the British economy had recovered from the Second World War, and as a part of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland was receiving the benefits of that recovery. In contrast, despite not having participated in the Second World War, the Republic of Ireland experienced a long, slow struggle to build its economy, and at this time it was a third-world country where large numbers of people still lived in substandard housing that lacked toilet facilities.
It is in the area of political and religious persuasion that I find Taylor to be the least believable. He makes a point of remarking upon the universal respect, cooperation, and tolerance exhibited by Ballybuckebo’s Loyalist/Protestant and Republican/Catholic residents. A precedent for this kind of friendliness can be found in “The Quiet Man”, which I think takes place sometime between 1916-1937, and in which everybody in the village (which is located in the west of the Republic of Ireland) gets along swimmingly with only a couple of references to the Irish Republican Army. But Taylor’s story takes place in Northern Ireland, where the worst of Irish sectarian strife has always occurred. Historians date the escalation of violence called “The Troubles” to 1969, but it didn’t just happen overnight. Taylor is talking about life in 1964, and despite being reasonably close to Belfast nobody in Ballybucklebo takes their sectarian observances seriously.
My main interest in acquiring Taylor’s books (dirt cheap in hardcover, all three for much less than the price of one) was to get some feel for the culture of Northern Ireland, which with the Republic of Ireland counties of Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan constitute the province of Ulster. I had already read books by other authors that were set in the other three provinces (Connacht, Munster and Leinster), and I wanted to see if I could tell the difference. For the most part, I could not. All of the authors I read took the opportunity to stress provincial differences, but comparing all of the characters in these books I find that in general, their habits, attitudes, and vocabulary are practically indistinguishable (only in the book about people in Connacht did traditional behaviors and the use of the Gaeilge language play a significant role). My conclusion is that the differences that the Irish perceive among the residents of the four provinces are primarily based on accent and inflection.
I found “An Irish Country Christmas” to be an easy read, but not compelling. In this respect, it follows the quality of Taylor’s first two efforts, “An Irish Country Doctor” and “An Irish Country Village”. There’s a bit too much unnecessary description: Why is it important to know about the carpet on the floor of the hallway to the loo in the pub? (Who was it that said that if it’s mentioned that there’s a gun on the sideboard in Act 1, it needs to be fired by Act 3?) Do we really need to know that Laverty is using the loo? The strong emphasis on the coarse language used by many of the characters — including Dr. Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly — is grating. As a result, I think that in all three books there's really only enough material for perhaps two better-written books of this length.
Taylor tells the story by shifting the point of view between the two main characters, senior physician Fingal O’Reilly and his new partner Barry Laverty. This is a departure from the previous two books, in which the point of view was strictly that of Laverty. Having read the other books, I found this change unsettling. Up until now, we didn’t need to know what was going on inside O’Reilly’s head until it came out of his mouth, either confirming or refuting Laverty’s perceptions. Why do we need to hear his internal ruminations now? Especially since knowing doesn’t seem to help move the story along.
As in the other books, the narrative rambles on about the quirky, often uncouth inhabitants of Ballybucklebo, punctuated with medical case studies of their afflictions. Taylor feels it necessary to define the limitations of medical practice in the 1960’s even though today most of the same treatments would still be used for these ailments. As a Registered Nurse I have no problems with his management of most of the general medical-surgical complaints, but because my specialty is obstetrics, it irritates me no end when he unnecessarily sensationalizes his OB cases.
It’s human nature to make much ado about nothing, but Taylor’s crises seem more than usually contrived. His antagonists are unpleasant and unlikable, but they tend to cave in easily, making me wonder if they really constituted a threat after all. He has a hard time maintaining the tension that should characterize the love interest which, although not the main source of conflict in the stories, should be compelling if it’s going to be there at all.
Taylor tries to illustrate a poor standard of living for many of the residents of the village, but I find him unconvincing. By the 1960’s the British economy had recovered from the Second World War, and as a part of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland was receiving the benefits of that recovery. In contrast, despite not having participated in the Second World War, the Republic of Ireland experienced a long, slow struggle to build its economy, and at this time it was a third-world country where large numbers of people still lived in substandard housing that lacked toilet facilities.
It is in the area of political and religious persuasion that I find Taylor to be the least believable. He makes a point of remarking upon the universal respect, cooperation, and tolerance exhibited by Ballybuckebo’s Loyalist/Protestant and Republican/Catholic residents. A precedent for this kind of friendliness can be found in “The Quiet Man”, which I think takes place sometime between 1916-1937, and in which everybody in the village (which is located in the west of the Republic of Ireland) gets along swimmingly with only a couple of references to the Irish Republican Army. But Taylor’s story takes place in Northern Ireland, where the worst of Irish sectarian strife has always occurred. Historians date the escalation of violence called “The Troubles” to 1969, but it didn’t just happen overnight. Taylor is talking about life in 1964, and despite being reasonably close to Belfast nobody in Ballybucklebo takes their sectarian observances seriously.
My main interest in acquiring Taylor’s books (dirt cheap in hardcover, all three for much less than the price of one) was to get some feel for the culture of Northern Ireland, which with the Republic of Ireland counties of Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan constitute the province of Ulster. I had already read books by other authors that were set in the other three provinces (Connacht, Munster and Leinster), and I wanted to see if I could tell the difference. For the most part, I could not. All of the authors I read took the opportunity to stress provincial differences, but comparing all of the characters in these books I find that in general, their habits, attitudes, and vocabulary are practically indistinguishable (only in the book about people in Connacht did traditional behaviors and the use of the Gaeilge language play a significant role). My conclusion is that the differences that the Irish perceive among the residents of the four provinces are primarily based on accent and inflection.
I found “An Irish Country Christmas” to be an easy read, but not compelling. In this respect, it follows the quality of Taylor’s first two efforts, “An Irish Country Doctor” and “An Irish Country Village”. There’s a bit too much unnecessary description: Why is it important to know about the carpet on the floor of the hallway to the loo in the pub? (Who was it that said that if it’s mentioned that there’s a gun on the sideboard in Act 1, it needs to be fired by Act 3?) Do we really need to know that Laverty is using the loo? The strong emphasis on the coarse language used by many of the characters — including Dr. Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly — is grating. As a result, I think that in all three books there's really only enough material for perhaps two better-written books of this length.
July 4, 2021
Third book in the series. Still not sure I'll read the whole thing, mostly because I can't stop comparing it to James Herriot who always comes out on top, but it's good enough to be an acceptable back-up if I can't come up with anything else to read. Also a little dose of Christmas in July was fun too.
July 3, 2017
Priznavam sa, nemam sil, dočítať to. Nie je to nič pre mňa. Tak mi to na konci roka odrátajte z počtu strán :)
Read
December 29, 2020This is the third installment in the Irish Country series and I had just as much fun with it as I did the other two. I didn't like it as much as the first book, but I liked it more than the second one.
This once again follows Barry and Fingal in their small town medical practice and all of the crazy shenanigans that occur there, but this time it's Christmas and there's more chaos than usual it seems.
The writing, setting and plot were all about on par with the other books. The setting being one of the things I love most about these books. The dialogue is also great to read and I always enjoy having a glossary and recipes in the back of a book.
The characters and their interactions with each other and the minor characters from their little town of Ballybucklebo are really where these books shine. Barry and Fingal are always a delight, even if Barry can be incredibly irritating at times. Kinky is probably my favorite though. She's an absolute spitfire and a delight to read. And as always, I love the other minor characters from the town as well.
All in all, a solid and fun third installment.
TW/CW: medical content, sexism
This once again follows Barry and Fingal in their small town medical practice and all of the crazy shenanigans that occur there, but this time it's Christmas and there's more chaos than usual it seems.
The writing, setting and plot were all about on par with the other books. The setting being one of the things I love most about these books. The dialogue is also great to read and I always enjoy having a glossary and recipes in the back of a book.
The characters and their interactions with each other and the minor characters from their little town of Ballybucklebo are really where these books shine. Barry and Fingal are always a delight, even if Barry can be incredibly irritating at times. Kinky is probably my favorite though. She's an absolute spitfire and a delight to read. And as always, I love the other minor characters from the town as well.
All in all, a solid and fun third installment.
TW/CW: medical content, sexism
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