Tired of the pace and noise of life near London and longing for a better place to raise their young children, Mary J. MacLeod and her husband encountered their dream while vacationing on a remote island in the Scottish Hebrides. Enthralled by its windswept beauty, they soon were the proud owners of a near-derelict croft house—a farmer’s stone cottage—on “a small acre” of land. Mary assumed duties … duties as the island’s district nurse. Call the Nurse is her account of the enchanted years she and her family spent there, coming to know its folk as both patients and friends.
In anecdotes that are by turns funny, sad, moving, and tragic, she recalls them all, the crofters and their laird, the boatmen and tradesmen, young lovers and forbidding churchmen. Against the old-fashioned island culture and the grandeur of mountain and sea unfold indelible stories: a young woman carried through snow for airlift to the hospital; a rescue by boat; the marriage of a gentle giant and the island beauty; a ghostly encounter; the shocking discovery of a woman in chains; the flames of a heather fire at night; an unexploded bomb from World War II; and the joyful, tipsy celebration of a ceilidh. Gaelic fortitude meets a nurse’s compassion in these wonderful true stories from rural Scotland.
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Wow, such harsh conditions to work as a home care nurse! What a gift she provided to the people with such limited access to medical care. Through all cycles of life she cared for her patients in some treacherous situations. She paints a beautiful picture of the people and the island that she came to love.
Loved the stories. Captured culture, peoples and place without any pretense. Absolutely lovely.
There was much pain in this book and the stories were distressing.
Charming
Enjoyed going back a few decades to another country and learn about their local history and lifestyles.
This book makes us remember there are and have been people in the world who gave of themselves to us.
A nice book about the real life of an RN and her family on a tiny Scottish island.
Beautiful story. A must read..
A delightful book about an off the beaten path place we would all like to go and a lifestyle we would all like to sample.
Loved this book and the characters, Don’t know if I could live that way but I give them a lot of credit for all they did. The stories were wonderful.
I believe this was a realistic portrayal of her experiences.
I like reading g about different cultures. And places. These islands were. Someplace o knew little about.
This book gives a glimpse into a world of the past, what life was like on a remote Scottish island where community really meant you could rely on your neighbors.
True family values of loyalty, compassion, and joy are within.
Refreshing! I really enjoyed this book.
In the same vein as James Herriot, though his characters were more thoroughly drawn. Still a fun read.
Interesting to read about Hebrides Islands and how remote they are. Amazing how resilient and resourceful the people are. How everyone helps one another.
I’m still reading this entertaining tale of a nurse who lived on one of the outermost isles off the coast of mainland Scotland.
This was such a joy to read especially if you enjoy history, and how people live in another time and place.
Kept my interest. Very cool juxtaposition of work-home-village all working together.
Wonderful book that we read outloud.