03-27-2013, 01:23 PM
And it's sequel 'An Irish Country Village'
Both books are just one long novel divided into two and separated by fifteen years.
The books tell the tale of Barry Laverty just starting his professional practice as a GP in a small mythical Northern Irish just south of Belfast on the way to Bangor. Dr. Laverty gets a job working for Dr. Fingal o'Reilly in the town of Ballybucklebo. Hilarity and wisdom ensues. The books take place during the sixties so we get to make fun of the Beatles how Americans are coming in busloads to see the old sod.
It was supposed to be similar to James Herriot's 'All Creatures Great and Small' with Doctors as the leads rather than Vetrinarians. I remember ACGandS fondly, but it has been thirty years since I read it. And from what I dimly remember, the Irish Country books don't really compare. They are simplistic and stereotypical. All the villagers seem to just be caricatures including to the main two doctors. Young Dr. Laverty is perplexed and amused by the folksy country ways. Dr. O'Reilly is a gruff task master which hides his heart of gold. O'Reilly will do anything and everything for his villagers.
It was all a bit too twee for my taste. I love novels about Ireland and it's people, but I don't get a sense this was a real place with real people and profound stories.
Both books are just one long novel divided into two and separated by fifteen years.
The books tell the tale of Barry Laverty just starting his professional practice as a GP in a small mythical Northern Irish just south of Belfast on the way to Bangor. Dr. Laverty gets a job working for Dr. Fingal o'Reilly in the town of Ballybucklebo. Hilarity and wisdom ensues. The books take place during the sixties so we get to make fun of the Beatles how Americans are coming in busloads to see the old sod.
It was supposed to be similar to James Herriot's 'All Creatures Great and Small' with Doctors as the leads rather than Vetrinarians. I remember ACGandS fondly, but it has been thirty years since I read it. And from what I dimly remember, the Irish Country books don't really compare. They are simplistic and stereotypical. All the villagers seem to just be caricatures including to the main two doctors. Young Dr. Laverty is perplexed and amused by the folksy country ways. Dr. O'Reilly is a gruff task master which hides his heart of gold. O'Reilly will do anything and everything for his villagers.
It was all a bit too twee for my taste. I love novels about Ireland and it's people, but I don't get a sense this was a real place with real people and profound stories.
So much for the flickr badge idea. Dammit