“A stirring, beautiful memoir that is alternately hilarious and heartbreaking, and ultimately a triumph” from the Wall Street Journal–bestselling author (Publishers Weekly, starred review).Carolyn Jourdan, an attorney on Capitol Hill, thought she had it made. But when her mother has a heart attack, she returns home to the Tennessee mountains, where her father is a country doctor and her mother … country doctor and her mother works as his receptionist. Jourdan offers to fill in for her mother until she gets better. But days turn into weeks as she trades her suits for scrubs and finds herself following hazmat regulations for cleaning up bodily fluids; maintaining composure when confronted with a splinter the size of a steak knife; and tending to the loquacious Miss Hiawatha, whose daily doctor visits are never billed. Most important, though, she comes to understand what her caring and patient father means to her close-knit community.
With great humor and great tenderness, Heart in the Right Place shows that some of our biggest heroes are the ones living right beside us.
“This is a wonderful book. I would have enjoyed it even if Carolyn wasn’t a neighbor of mine in East Tennessee. She is a great writer.” —Dolly Parton
“With lavish affection, genuine respect, and exuberant humor, Jourdan offers a zestfully compassionate portrait of a poor community rich in the ways of true humanity.” —Booklist
“A beautiful memoir . . . Making a difference can be as simple as getting up in the morning and helping those around you.” —Family Circle
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So, an attorney for the government goes home when her mother gets ill and her doctor father needs help with his country practice. Had it been fiction, I think I would have found that a bit difficult to believe, but it was true. I loved her transformation from an uptight professional to an all around assistant to her dad.
Saw this on Bookbub last week and couldn’t resist the cover – love that goat! LOL! Glad I made the investment! One of the most entertaining memoirs I’ve read in a while, and I couldn’t put it down. Very easy to read and keeps your interest because the situations are both real, and outlandish. Caught myself chuckling over this one several …
Sometimes life isn’t always what you expect. Sometimes better things come along when you least want them. Reading how the author went from a high powered job to a receptionist was very entertaining.
An unforgettable book about the beauty, tragedy and hilarity of life.
Heartbreaking at times but overall it made me laugh.
A truly sweet book about the life of a doctor.
Love Carolyn Jourdan’s writing. This is one of my favorite. Hard to pick which one is my favorite as I’ve enjoyed her books so much. I learned from this reading, I laughed reading some of the accounts. I cried reading parts that made me feel as if I was right there and witnessing the event. The author’s life experiences are intriguing and that’s …
I laughed all the way through this book
This wasn’t my usual type book, but I’m glad I read it. Real life is stranger and funnier than fiction, sometimes.
I grew up not do far from here. I could relate to the country and the people. It is interesting to see some one struggle with what she wants and has worked toward and where she is most needed. The struggle is told with humor, grace and honesty.
I liked this book a lot. The characters touched my heart. The story was well written & kept me wanting to read more.
Being a nurse,I loved this book. Memi
Enjoyed this book as light reading. I’m sure lots of readers will enjoy this story of a well-educated young lawyer coming home from DC to help her older parents through her mother’s “short” illness by taking over the office manager job at her father’s country medical practice while Mom recuperates. If you like “Doc Martin” on PBS, you’ll like …
I couldn’t put it down. Very well written!
Interesting read about real choices in life.
Makes you think about life.
Enjoyable, easy read.
I enjoyed this a lot . . found the life in the more rural areas interesting and the people there good hearted and at times inspiring.
I love this book. It was not what I expected at all. Sometimes life interferes with plans. I love how she handled & learned from change. The local characters were so colorful & interesting, while also real.
This is a heartwarming story of a high powered female attorney who leaves the nation’s capital to help out her folks in their rural medical practice while her mother is recovering from a serious illness. I loved the way the author told the storied that reflected the rural lifestyle. She was always sympathetic to the characters and even though …