The Young Country Doctor Book 3: Bilbury Revels

The Young Country Doctor #3

by Vernon Coleman

Bilbury Revels is the third in The Young Country Doctor series of books (though it can be read as an individual title) and continues the account of the doctor and his young wife, Patsy, who are settled happily at Bilbury Grange. Disaster strikes during a long, relentless storm which batters the village and blankets the whole area in a thick covering of snow. The doctor nearly loses his life and the village schoolteacher loses her cottage roof. The excitement really starts when the villagers join together to raise money to repair the devastated cottage. Vernon Coleman describes an old fashioned music hall evening (during which just about everything that can go wrong goes wrong), and one of the funniest cricket matches ever described is reported in chapters 16 and 17 (People's Friend magazine warned that this chapter was likely to produce so much uncontrollable laughter that it should not be read in public). There is also a village produce show where the locals compete to find out who has grown the biggest and best vegetables. And, as if all that were not enough, the doctor has to promote his first book. He travels to London, makes his first (and hilarious) television appearance and is invited to speak at a local village hall where things don't go entirely to plan. Vernon Coleman's comic books have been compared to Jerome K.Jerome's classic Three Men in a Boat. Vernon Coleman and his wife still lives in Bilbury - as do Thumper Robinson and Patchy Fogg et al. This book was re-edited in 2014. `Settling down with Vernon Coleman's latest book set in the Devonshire village of Bilbury is the one of the best restorative treatments I know for relieving the stresses and strains of modern living.' - Lincolnshire Echo `Entertaining and amusing - full of humour and sharp characterisation.' - Sunday Independent `Coleman handles the humour with the assured touch that comes from having already written a string of successful titles (and) manages to retain a heartwarming affection for his fellow man.' - Yorkshire Evening Post `Very readable, funny and full of richly drawn characters.' Southern Evening Echo `You can sniff the clean Devon air... Dr Coleman harnesses the essence of village life with a wealth of characters and strings them along on a tide of gentle humour.' Western Morning News `Set in 1971, the mixture of rural beauty, human nature and the odd whisper of nostalgia make this book a real delight.' Western Gazette Vernon Coleman studied medicine at Birmingham University in England and is still a registered GP. He has written over 100 books, including many international bestsellers, and his books, which have sold over two million copies in hardback and paperback in the UK alone have been translated into 24 languages. An award winning film starring Pauline Collins was made of his novel Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War. His medical books include Bodypower and How To Stop Your Doctor Killing You. Vernon Coleman has presented hundreds of TV and radio programmes and has written columns and articles for many of the world's leading newspapers and magazines. What the papers say about Vernon Coleman and his Vernon Coleman writes brilliant books - The Good Book Guide No thinking person can ignore him - The Ecologist A godsend - Daily Telegraph Superstar -Independent on Sunday Brilliant - The People Compulsive reading - The Guardian The man is a national treasure - What doctors don't tell you Revered guru of medicine -Nursing Times It's impossible not to be impressed - Western Daily Press Marvellously succinct, refreshingly sensible - The Spectator Probably one of the most brilliant men alive - Irish Times King of the media docs - The Independent His advice is optimistic and enthusiastic - British Medical Journal He wri

Genres: Fiction, Historical

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 24, 2014

About the author

There is a full biog on www.vernoncoleman.com
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Reviews

[Peggy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, I'm finished reading this series.
The author's underlying character had at last been revealed. In this 3rd book of the series, he shows his true colors as a reverse snob (a bright man living in a very rural village and sneering at everything urbane: people, traffic, possessions, values...), an arrogant, opinionated jerk clothed in false modesty and humility.
And, OMG, if you know next to nothing about cricket, you can skip about 50 pages devoted to an exaggeratedly slapstick cricket match between the ill-dressed, half-drunk, overweight and totally lovable bumpkins of his village - and a visiting spiffy and totally fit team from a bigger city.
There are loooong passages filled with WAY too much unnecessary detail, and I just skimmed over them, muttering to myself, Okay, okay, get on with the story. The cricket match goes on 90% too long, every stall and vegetable and flower and jam of the produce judging in the village revel goes on 80% too long, and the intricate description of EVERY act in a clumsy, local fund-raising talent show goes on 70% too long.
Much of this book reads like padding to lift word count.
Very disappointing after the charm and innocent humor of the first two books in this series.
Glimpses and glances of his character in the previous 2 books are visible, but not often enough to offset my growing irritation w this guy. He is WAY too puffed about himself.
I'm done.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed with this book and I feel so sad about it. The title is "The Young Country Doctor" but in this third book of the series, our main character is no longer practicing but concentrating on a writing career. Although it has the same loveable characters it just lacked the charm of the previous books. Honestly I skimmed through much of it as I found it boring. This is a 16 book series and I am not sure if I am going to continue.... what a shame.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readable and enjoyable!

The Bilbury series is a fun collection of stories about an English village in Devon, the trials and successes of its very colorful characters. I have read this series from the beginning and enjoyed each installment very much. I'm on to Book Four now, and looking forward to the continuing adventures of the inhabitants of Bilbury village...

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I now completely understand why some readers were disappointed in this third installment in the Young Country Doctor series. Where does being a doctor have much to do with this story? I so wanted to finish that I skimmed through significant portions without, I don't think, missing anything important. Still, I will continue reading the subsequent entries because it's so soothing to read a story where you just know all problems will be solved and the righteous shall endure. I do like the characters and will re-visit their exploits when I need a lift. In the Kindle edition, I found it really annoying that someone forgot to finish formatting the book — it is left-justified; there are line spaces between paragraphs; and paragraph indents are missing from the straight text. Didn't anyone care enough about the book to finish?

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Young Country Books are definitely addictive, but I will have to stop reading them soon as I will have read the series, as I only have eight more to go. But they are so entertaining and easy to read and I have got to know all the characters. This one has the Bilbury Village Fete festivities in it to raise money to cover the cost of rebuilding the school mistresses's thatched cottage after the disastrous storm and the report of the cricket match on the village green is hilarious. But be warned, it you start reading one of these books you may become addicted. like me.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is a charming escape in the time of a pandemic. One of the attractive features of the first two books in the series was that the stock character of curmudgeonly ex-military man did NOT appear. He does appear in this novel, but only briefly and humourously. I do not expect him to appear again. In this book the villagers raise funds to repair the schoolhouse with a week of summer 'Revels.' The story is slightly over the top, but for those of us who have lived in small places and have suffered the travails of fund raisers and amateur theatricals, it rings true. I am so glad Vernon Coleman is credited with 100 books or so (not all in this series). I should just about manage to read them all before I die.

[Rowena Onions · Rating 1 out of 5]

So terrible I've returned it just over half read. What a disappointment after the first two charming books. It appears to be written by a self opinionated man who thinks the only person with a right to make decions about the way they live is himself. Like him, we've moved to the country, renovated a house and grown our own vegetables. Unlike him I think this is not the only right way to live... just what suits us. It doesn't seem possible to give it 0 tats but if it were I would.

[Kimberly Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love!!!!

I simply can't get enough of this series! The writing is so entertaining, the characters I feel like I personally know and the humor is so original! I have laughed so hard, I've cried and by the end of each book, I'm left hungry for more!!! Can't wait to read the next one!!!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm still reading this series and currently on number 3. Mr. Coleman is a great writer. His knowledge of medicine, current events, and politics are only eclipsed by his ability to write warm and memorable characters in fiction. When reading Mr. Coleman's work, I am challenged to think but also to read those things which help me to remember what I love about the world.

[Sylvia Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Happy Simple Time

I love this series- but this is such an uplifting, extremely witty and beautifully written book. I have been laid-up with chemo-side-effects and I can honestly say this book lifted my spirits and had me laughing, smiling and just generally feeling happy for this wonderful cast of ‘Bilburians’ - well don’t Vernon Coleman.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I read it too near the others but this book didn’t have all the charm as the previous two had. Felt like I kind of slogged through it. He completely lost me during the cricket game—way too much detail for so,wine who doe t know the game. The Who,e book seemed like a series of short stories rather than a novel.

[JEANNE FISCHER · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the first two in this series. However, it was becoming clear as I read this one that the writer was no longer "doctoring" but writing. I then looked him up to see if he at some point would go back into being a country doctor. Found out he is nuts. Covid is not real, most immunizations are terrible, etc, etc. I am sorry I spent money on him.

[D Mohr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unsatisfying

I love Bilbury and all the people you meet. Great storyline, but this edition spent WAY too much time rambling details about a game and village fundraiser. Monotonous. Yuck. Seems the author was scrambling for content and quantity and missed both.

[Nick Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

The familiar joys of simple countrylife, written in a easygoing and enjoyable style. This time it all centers round the Village Fete organised to restore the schoolteacher's cottage. A good read for cold winter evenings.

[Shari · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not as Advertised

This is not about a young country doctor. The first two books were but he quit to be a writer after a year or so. He also became rather sanctimonious and condescending. Apparently the rest of this series just follows in this vain and are about a writer writing.

[Joyce Sapon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful read

Book 4 doesn’t have the same as the first 3 but there are new adventures and characters to love. In the end it was a wonderful story again! Never disappointed

[Christine Rosskopf · Rating 2 out of 5]

Preachy at times and although the story is cute, there isn't much to it. Why is this series called The Young Country Doctor Books when he stopped being a doctor in book two? Pet peeve when the writer turns the main character into a writer then goes on about the solitary process of writing.

[Teri Pre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this is a cute series, I started it because I thought it would be more about a doctor and patients. Instead, it's about a doctor becoming an author. Maybe I'll come back to it in the future but it's not what I was hoping for.

[Charlene]

Had to give up about halfway through. The storyline got weaker and weaker, and the pontificating got too strong for me to take. Lecturing started to take the place of a plot line. I had read this was how it would go, so I'm not surprised.

[William B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

So picturesque! I felt like I was traveling along the hedgerows with this young country doctor! Loveable characters and heartwarming stories.

[Margaret Dowding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

Best book I've read in a long time. The exploits are hilarious, you will laugh out loud. Very uplifting book.

[Joanne Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun to read

I am enjoying reading of these these books very much. Well written. I highly recommend them you won't be disappointed.

[Sharon Hare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read

I enjoyed the book very much, however the cricket match went on and on. I eventually skipped much of it.

[Wil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have finished the 3rd book in the series; I can't stop now!

[CAROLYN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another funny and loving tale

An exciting village revel, a hilarious cricket match, and more country happenings. This is a continuous tale of a small English village.

[Felicia Caruso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

A good escape from our current world to a simple, wholesome place & time. The characters are lovable, the story amusing and enjoyable.

[Marilyn M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

I read Vernon Coleman when I need uplifting. The Country Doctor series is brilliantly written, warm, hilarious, and deeply satisfying.

[Cate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying these books.. expect James Herriot-esque (almost to the point of plagiary in the first book) though the country GP career has been given up by this book and "young doctor" is now an author.

The series is very wholesome and calming, with no major tragedies or extreme scenes of horror. The worst tragedy in this one was the school mistress' house being damaged in a storm and the village coming together to rescue her - quite dramatic but all handled very stoically. The rest is the local community coming together to put together a fete, concert, cricket matches and more to fundraise for the new house. And a trip or two to meet with publishers and TV crews in London.

My only issue with these books is the mild sexism (potentially could be anchored to the main character being traditional and stuck in his time, though comments about women in this book to push even further than that) and the sermons (on women, the school system, city life, or just about any other sociological subject) given in the guise of being the main characters thoughts, but that do frequently go on and on...

Also disappointed to discover the author is a conspiracy theorist and anti-vaxxer. I don't know if I can justify supporting someone like that even if they do write calming books.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series. I live in a small Cornish village and can see so many similarities.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I thoroughly enjoyed the first two in this series, this one bogged down in the middle for me. After the massive snowstorm, everything seemed in slow motion.