Seaside Practice: Tales of a Scottish Country Doctor

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 River Muck, and a gaggle of giggling nuns, to name but a few of the extraordinary cases that he comes up against in his first few years there. Heartwarming, gloriously eccentric, Dr Tom's stories will touch everyone with their easy comic charm. They capture the beauty of the Scottish lowlands, the joys and sorrows of its inhabitants, and the richly rewarding experiences of life as a Scottish country doctor. Whoever thought that a job could be so wildly unpredictable .

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

327 pages, Paperback

First published April 5, 2007

About the author

Dr Tom Smith

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Vanya Prodanova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Книгата е описана като wholesome, heart-warming и подобни приятни и създаващи уютно чувство прилагателни. И на моменти е такива, няма спор, но и има моменти на откровен и чист хорър - от висящия само на кожа смазан крак, описанието на това как изглежда лицето му след катастрофа, как е било прието да си махаш всичките зъби, и т.н. Смисъл, много "стоплящи" душата неща за четене. :)

Иначе книгата е интересна. Авторът я чете сам и е много приятно да слушаш акцента му, който е нещо средно между шотландски и английски. Историите са изключително интересни и някак си изумително съчетават уютно чувство с тотален ужас. Историите са за неговата практика от 60-те години и е наистина интересно да видиш как се е практикувала медицината тогава в Шотландия и като цяло какви са били порядките.

Уникално е, че само до преди около някъде 50 години нещата са били много, ама много различни и то в негативен смисъл в повечето случаи. Кара те да настръхваш и да си благодарен, че не си роден тогава. От друга страна обаче ти дава поглед как хората са приемали нещата по-спокойно, с примирение и по-добър фокус от нас. Може би са били също толкова тревожни и стресирани като нашето общество, ама се усеща разлика в начина на възприемане на живота - никой не е търсел instant satisfation например. Това си е само наше модерно заболяване, което ще си носим и цял живот ще се борим да се справим с него. :/

[Colin Sh · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

[Tuesdayschild · Rating 4 out of 5]

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”. ☺

[Asha Hawkesworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Susan Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

*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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Sandy Voegtlen · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious.

[David Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Very light and easy to tead

[Amyruszkiewicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Stella Maybury · Rating 4 out of 5]

A somewhat more indignant James Herriot for humans.

[Ka · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Marygrace · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Melody Rudenko · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Eva Falconer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Loved the voices and Scottish phrases.

[Kaiti Laughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved his true stories of a country practice. Very entertaining and heartwarming.

[Ruthie Schaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and fun memoir