A Seaside Practice

by Tom Smith

When he arrives to take up his first posting as a GP in Collintrae, a small fishing village on the West coast of Scotland, young Tom Smith isn't quite sure what to expect. Certainly, nothing in his medical training could have prepared him for what he finds - a baker with nine lives, Mad Maggie in the Muck and a gaggle of giggling nuns are just a few of the extraordinary cases that he comes up against. Heartwarming and gloriously eccentric. Dr Tom's stories capture the beauty of the Lowlands, the joys and sorrows of its inhabitants and the richly rewarding experiences of life as a Scottish country doctor.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Audiobook, Medical, Scotland, Biography, Biography Memoir

6 pages, Audio CD

First published April 5, 2007

About the author

Dr Tom Smith

Reviews

[Jean]

I saw this memoir and thought it was a good way to learn about medical practice in Scotland and get to know what life in rural Scotland was like. I got hooked on these types of memoirs back in the 1970s after reading all of the James Herriot’s books.

The story takes place in the 1960s in Collintrae, on the west coast of Scotland. Smith tells what it was like to be a young physician in a small rural town. His descriptions of the fascinating people that lived in the area are great. The book has humor, warmth as well as being interesting. It is a highly entertaining read.

The book is well written and appears to be taken from his diary. The audio version is the best way to read this memoir so you can fully enjoy the Scottish accent.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is seven hours long. Tom Smith read the book himself and he has a delightfully accent.

[Colin Sh]

I stay in the village that the author is writing about and he has it down to a tee. Some of the names have been changed about who he is talking about but you know exactly who he is meaning. Its a great read and the man Dr Tom Smith is a genius. 1 of the old school of doctors - pity there arent more like him left in the world.

[Emily]

Wonderful!

[Asha Hawkesworth]

The author wrote and read his book about his life as a Scottish country doctor. If you like "All Creatures Great and Small," then you will love, this too. You get an insight into the life of a medical man in a small community full of interesting characters. Tom's reading has this straight-faced Bob Newhart feel to it, which makes it all the more entertaining. A quick read, and great fun.

[Phil]

I've seen a number of reviews comparing this author to James Herriot, but the only similarity is that Smith is writing about having a career in a rural setting. I do wish people would stop flinging the Herriot comparison around so carelessly - just about any time someone writes a book about working in the countryside, people talk about the author being the 'James Herriot of [location] [career type]'.

Smith's book about his Scottish seaside medical practice is readable and mildly entertaining. The writing style is sometimes awkward and I could have done without some of the medical details, but overall, it's a pleasant read. I wouldn't go out of my way to track down his next book, but I'd read it if I came across it. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

[Tuesdayschild]

4+*
Once I adjusted to the author reading through the first chapter, the stories really held my attention which were by turn humorous or sobering, with some generating incredulous disbelief and disgust - how psychiatric patients were mistreated was heartrending.
I definitely want to listen to the next book in the series.

After the swearing filled books I've encountered lately, I just have to share this comment made by Dr. Smith’s father, who was a teacher, “People who swear must have no command of the English language”. ☺

[David]

I really enjoyed it. Narrated by the author which adds warmth and authenticity. It offers a glimpse into a bygone era, not just of rural community life but also of a healthcare system that has changed considerably.
The author comes across as genuinely dedicated to his job, with a self-deprecating sense of humour. I found the stories both amusing and captivating, and I enjoyed his writing style. There’s a gentle nostalgia running through the book without it ever becoming overly sentimental. A very enjoyable book.

[Sharone Powell]

I listened to half of the audiobook. I think that a proper narrator instead of the author reading his work would have helped. I still got into it because the stories were amusin and sometimes incredulous. However, at some point they became too gory and graphic for my test, so I didn't finish the book. It's a good window to the way medicine used to be practiced a century ago in Scotland.

[Susan Brown]

Charming, lighthearted memoir, reminiscent of and at least as enjoyable as good old James Herriot. If you're looking for something heartwarming, life affirming, and pleasant (say, perhaps as a break from current events), I recommend this.

[Chris]

What a lovely easy read this book was. The life of a country Doctor and his wife in those days was very hard and rewarding. Dr Smith is right how times have changed its a shame we have lost that village feel and the friendships and time from our GP's now.

[Emily Wallace]

*Not for school.
A delightful book to listen to while painting! It loved the stories and the accent. Made the work go by quickly. The author was also the narrator and that added a bit of charm to the story.

[Amanda]

You feel the warmth and humour of the author straight away, interesting characters and situations all make this is a real feel good book.

[Graham]

Didn't get into it as much as Going Loco, which I read first

[Sandy Voegtlen]

I really enjoyed this book. It was an eye opening look at medicine in the middle to late 1960s.

[Bethany]

The adventures of a compassionate and kind doctor, a look at rural life and community in Scotland. This audiobook is read by the author, and is just wonderful, funny and heartrending!

[Joe Vess]

Absolutely hilarious.

[David Ford]

Really enjoyed this. Very light and easy to tead

[Amyruszkiewicz]

Listened to this book in and off. Really lovely. If you enjoyed Call the Midwife or James Herriot I think you’d like this one

[Gisele]

It's a human version of Herriot's books. Comfort reading for all of us, tired souls

[Stella Maybury]

A somewhat more indignant James Herriot for humans.

[Ka]

I always enjoy hearing the bizarre work stories of people who have interesting jobs. I have a good friend who is a doctor and she's always got some really interesting stuff going on in her life (in the medical-work sense, not like Gray's Anatomy). I also think well-written memoirs in a setting (or time period) that's unusual to me are great. Combine those things together and the appeal of this book is clear! I listened to the audiobook, which is read by the author, and that added even more charm since he has a delightful accent (IMO, but I'm American).

[Jina Howell-Forbes]

This book is the true story of the author's first years as a General Practice Doctor in Scotland. It is told sort of like a diary, with an anecdotal format. It was mildly interesting and entertaining, but the pace was pretty slow and simple. The best part for me was that the author read the audio version himself, and he has the most wonderful Scots accent. It has some similarities to the Country Doctor series by Patrick Taylor, but not as funny, and without much plot-line.

[Debra]

A young doctor starts his professional life in a small Scottish village. Although it unfolds in the way you'd expect, he did keep my interest.

I enjoyed the narration - the Scots accent made the setting real. And I learned that there were words I mispronounced. Like Glenmorangie.

[Lesley]

This book is about a young english doctor who goes to Scotland to practice medicine in the 1960s. It reminds me a lot of the All Creatures Great and Small series by James Heriot, but Heriot is better at spinning tales. Dr Smith's stories read more like a memoir. It was a very sweet book.

[Hayati]

Wonderful book. I actually felt sad when it came to an end, I will now ever have a burning desire to visit Ballantre and the Ayr peninsula and see that place for myself. So much I learnt and I know I will be returning to this book in the future.

[Andrea]

A delightful easy read about life in the 1960s as a west coast Scottish village doctor.

[Marygrace]

A cute little listen. Audio book from Lesley. The author is reading and he does a good job relating his story!

[Melody Rudenko]

Nice little stories of doctors lessons from their patients. Reminiscent of Patrick Taylor and James Herriot both by the historical and country setting and the tone of the stories.

[Beth]

Gentle, humorous , fascinating. I enjoyed this quite a bit - this book makes a pleasant companion.

[Eva Falconer]

Loved it. Loved the voices and Scottish phrases.