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  • Close to Where the Heart Gives Out

  • Stories from an Island Doctor
  • By: Malcolm Alexander
  • Narrated by: David Monteath
  • Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (22 ratings)
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Close to Where the Heart Gives Out cover art

Close to Where the Heart Gives Out

By: Malcolm Alexander
Narrated by: David Monteath
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Summary

Set in the wild and remote landscape of Eday, part of the Orkney archipelago, Close to Where the Heart Gives Out is the unflinchingly honest and moving tale of rural life, from the only doctor on the island.... 

As a young boy, Malcolm Alexander knew exactly what, and who, he wanted to be. He dreamed of becoming a doctor; he was mesmerised by the process of illness and obsessed with preventing it. He wanted to help others.  

In his 40s, Malcolm gave up his job in suburban Glasgow when a persistent seed that had been growing inside him started to bloom, disrupting the foundations of his life. When he saw the job advert, 'urgent: island doctor needed', he applied immediately. What he didn't anticipate was how much Orkney would affect his family, for better or worse. 

In stories that range from the humorous to the deeply moving, Malcolm describes what it's like adjusting to life without modern conveniences and to the extreme - and constantly changing - weather; and what it means to be providing the best medical care to the local population with limited resources. Which often includes the wildlife as well.... Malcolm's journey evokes the awe that the Orkney landscape can inspire as well as the challenges of island life and the demons that the dark, cold winter months can give birth to. Gripping and beautifully written, Close to Where the Heart Gives Out reminds us of the importance of listening to our heart as well as to the rhythms of the landscape.  

©2019 Malcolm Alexander (P)2019 W. F. Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

"Wind-whipped and salt-stung, Malcolm’s account of island life is both grounding and immensely heart-warming. He is to GPs what James Herriot is to vets." (Matt Gaw)

"A fascinating, funny and utterly heartwarming family adventure. Beautifully written and completely unforgettable." (Ruth Hogan)

What listeners say about Close to Where the Heart Gives Out

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Loved it!

Apart from the fact I am not a doctor, this is my dream! This tale of the ups and downs of island life just confirmed that it is indeed my dream! An absolute joy to listen to. Now I need a sequel please!

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An absolutely beautiful story

I took a long time to finish listening to this book. Not because I struggled with it, but because it’s absolutely lovely. It tells a narrative of how life can be so precarious, on a remote island & how the inhabitants have to deal with the harshness of their environment.
I very much recommend this audiobook.

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Loved it.

Love narrator, great story.
Fascinating view of a particular way of life at a particular time.

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