The Country Nurse Remembers

True Stories of a Troubled Childhood, War, and Becoming a Nurse

By: Mary J. MacLeod

Narrated by: Christine Rendel

From the best-selling author of Call the Nurse, the moving story of her young life and her path to independence through training to be a nurse.

Mary MacLeod's mother died in childbirth when Mary was five, an event that marked for the child a "before time" - a lost joyful time - and after. She was shunted from one relative to another while her father coped with his grief. He married again only nine months later, perhaps to have a mother for his child, but her new mum, harsh and withholding of her love, quickly exerted complete control over her thoughts and deeds, with her father oblivious. Her name was changed to her stepmother's choice of "Julia." Yet the pale, thin, quiet little girl didn't know she was unhappy: Things were just the way they were.

Narrating from the perspective of the child she was but with the understanding and empathy of the nurse and mother she became, the author of Call the Nurse recounts the moving, intimate, indelible story of her young life, growing up in rural England near Bath, relishing the good times when her stepmother was friendly or she helped her father in the garden, experiencing the world war-air raids and blackouts, the war effort, evacuees, German prisoners-winning a scholarship, leaving home to train for three years as a nurse, and gradually finding her way as an independent woman.

©2015 Mary J. MacLeod (P)2021 Tantor

Fantastic

This book was so very good All around. I just finished it and going to read again. Wow

What an amazing story 

I’ve read her other two books. So this was a  a prequel to her life on a Scottish isle It told how her life began as. A small child. It’s amazing the woman and nurse she became considering how her life began I didn’t want it to end. Just like her other book. Highly recommended 

Very real and awakening

At first I thought this was a novel. Then I realized it to be a real life experience of a very lonely , unhappy little girl. I am glad that she is at last at a place where she can share her feelings angd perhaps cleanse her spirit of all those years of anguish .
As long as we are alive I think my God gives us an opportunity to prepare for HIM in a unique way that He does not give anybody else. In some passages this girl’s innermost feelings were very evident and disheartening!
Very well done.

First review I’ve ever left

I wish I had more time to write just how interesting MacLeod’s life is. I listened to the first two novels already and couldn’t wait to hear this one when it came out.

I’m currently applying to nursing school and her stories gave me the insight I was looking for.

Somewhat sad storyline

Somewhat sad, but at the same time inspirational. Often it is how we respond to tragedy or difficulty dictates our future, and the changes that we make to ensure better future