Doc Hollywood

by Neil B. Shulman

En route to the job of his dreams, young doctor Otis Stone breaks down in the backwater town of Grady, Alabama, and must pay for his auto repairs by working in the emergency room of the local hospital

Genres: Fiction, Humor

212 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Brus883 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you come looking for this book because of the film, you like me will be sorely disappointed. If you've not seen the movie yet but found your way here anyways, you should watch the movie first. I first read this book over 13+ years ago and that was right after I watched the film. I didn't understand then what I've come to learn now after tracking down a copy and re-reading it. It's humor is understated and it's charm is beguiling. I didn't understand then why the film diverged so much from this book that it seemed a candy wrapper around the candy drop. Both are great in their own charming ways but don't try to compare hollywood to printed words they just don't mesh most times and all you're left with is disappointment and a puckered face.

[Sharon Bidwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally titled, What? Dead Again? first, I should stress the only similarities between the book and the film are minimal — names, doctors, some plot basics, and a few quirky stories and eccentricities of the patient cases. The romance here is toned down to the point of almost non-existence, so if anyone is looking to read this for the same experience, they’ll at least feel surprised. Both versions have their own charm, and this rare book remains delightful because of the situation — a doctor out of his depth in a rural community. It’s a sweet read, not as funny as the film.

[Anjum Choudhury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this was pretty good. Especially since my selling point for this book was that there was a goat on the spine (I love goats!). It was light-hearted and funny and it just didn't take itself to seriously. At the same time, I liked all of the doctor/hospital related jargon because it made the book credible in a way that that levity didn't. So it was a good balance between the real and the ridiculous. I liked the story, I liked how unimportant yet enjoyable the relationship between our main man and Shelly was.

This was easy. It was different; not just a breezy rom-com-esque book. I almost wish that it had been shorter so that it would facilitate the quick, easy read thing better. But this still only took me a few days to finish. It would be a great read after any long, difficult novel just to reset the brain.

Obviously this book was imperfect. But it was the kind of book that you just didn't think about that in. As of late, all of my book reviews on here have been thorough--analyzing characters, critiquing the plot--but I just don't care to with this one. I don't want to analyze it or think deeper about it. I'm not sure that was the aim with this. It was just entertainment. And it's great that that's okay.

[Muneer Uddin · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, this book is a hundred times better than the horrible movie they made out of it. This is the story of a young doctor on his to way to L.A. from Miami to do his residency. On the way, his car breaks down in a small town in Alabama. When the townsfolk learn that he is a doctor, they plead with him to help at their woefully understaffed hospital. This book is hilarious and poignant at turns. There are numerous hilarious situations involving the townspeople at the hospital, the funniest involving a traveling circus that gets the flu. But Shulman also shows a town that is in serious decline and unwilling to die without a fight. A great book.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I watched the movie "Doc Hollywood" the other day, and this book was listed as the inspiration for the movie. I have to say, the movie is a better story. However, the book wasn't bad, though a little outdated. There were humorous parts, but it felt contrived, like the author was having to try too hard to be funny. The town of Grady and the people who live there are not depicted as anywhere near as charming as in the movie, which I found disappointing. I managed to finish the book, but it was a bit laborious toward the end.

[Phillip · Rating 1 out of 5]

I meant for this shelf to be called: 'Wish I could get the hours back that I spent reading these books' but the form doesn't allow for enough characters.

This is Possibly the worst book I have ever read.

Other contributions would be most of the works of John Updike and some of the works of Kurt Vonnegut.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book (c. 1979) was written before the 1991 movie. There were parts of the movie that I liked better, as well as parts of the book that I liked better. Michael J. Fox did bring to life the character of Dr. Otis Stone.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

not as good as the movie. But still enjoyable. It makes me want to watch the movie.

[Allison Junkans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love this movie, but I almost gave up on this book. Total fumble.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to read it so badly because I saw the movie doc. Hollywood and loved it!

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is what the movie Doc Hollywood was based on. Both were very good in their own way. The book was far more interesting than I expected it to be.