Ma, Now I'm Goin Up in the World

Ma... #4

by Martha Long

At 16, Martha collapses on the streets, suffering from starvation and exposure. She has reached rock bottom, but after Martha is taken to hospital, Lady Luck smiles kindly on her and she is given the opportunity to get off the streets for ever.

Before long, Martha is on the way to leading the normal life she has so long dreamt of. She makes friends, begins to put the misery of her past behind her and even experiences her first taste of love.

For her, love is a powerful feeling. She has never experienced real affection before and is now plunged into the complex world of love between a man and a woman. The intense emotion consumes her, for this is a forbidden love that can never be requited. After all, Ralph Fitzgerald is a priest, and he will never break his vow of chastity. This love brings heartbreaking consequences and changes the direction of Martha's life for ever . . .

Genres: Nonfiction

448 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2010

About the author

Martha Long was born in Dublin in the early 1950s and still lives there today. She calls herself a ‘middle-aged matron’ and has successfully reared three children. The Bookseller described her as a ‘truly gifted storyteller’ & Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, compared her to Charles Dickens. Her seventh and final book in the bestselling Ma series will be published by Mainstream Publishing in the UK, Australia and New Zealand in September 2013. Her first book was published in North America by Seven Stories Press in November 2012.

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not think anything would compare to Long's first book, Ma He Sold Me For A Few Cigarettes, but this fourth novel in the series was fantastic. It is so well written. This book is quite uplifting and I was pleased to see some good things happening to Martha at last. There is true heartbreak in this book too, and as usual, I had a few tears. I am not massively into this kind of genre, and only picked up the first book by chance. I highly recommend Long's books. It's a wonderful journey. I have forced myself not to read these back to back as I want to savor them. I love Long's style and the language she uses. She certainly takes you right to the heart of Dublin in that era. You can feel it, taste it, smell it, and practically experience it!

[Nicky Forrester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this follow on to Martha's earlier work, I love how she tells her story and her wit and humour is right up my street. She's a remarkable woman with a great talent for telling her story in such an engaging (sometime hilarious) way.

I love that for the most part, her life was happier in this edition and the ending always leaves you hungry to learn where life took her next.

[Linda Downey · Rating 5 out of 5]

best book iv ever read!!

[paula8966 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read previous books of Martha Long's story. Once I started reading I did not know it's a part of the series. I was starting the book quite a few times going more than one time through first few pages. Then I put in my mind to read and finish all the books on the shelf before purchasing new ones. That's how I managed to go through the beginning of the book. About in one third of the book I really started enjoying the plot and be interested at Martha's story. After I found out it is based on true story I have got hooked. I finished the rest of the book in one day. I will read prpably the rest of the series but I a not excited about it as I was with some other series I've read.

[Sheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4th in a series of books detailing the life of Martha Long. It covers only 2 years of her life from 16 to 18 and left me wanting to know what happened to her next. I found it very easy to read and to connect with Martha's story.

[Lynda Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Left Hanging

I hope that there will be another book in this series. I love reading these books but this one leaves you hanging and there is not another one at least not yet. Martha is in yet another predicament. Surely there's another book coming, hopefully soon.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody brilliant!

[Tahnee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! Can't wait to read the next one. The relationship between Martha is interesting and frustrating. Found the ending just stopped but was a good cliffhanger.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as good as the rest. <3 Martha Long

[Anthony Flynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written. This is my third book of the Martha Long series.
On to my fourth now.

[Emily Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martha Long your writing gets better and better with each edition im so sad ive finished yet another book, ive been trying to broaden the times between reads because i just dont want this to end!! The narrative is so well written I completely forget this is a real human beings story. I was so happy for Martha in this book I mean wow she was killing it! She found her voice, her diction got better and wow the experiences this girl went on! I love her philosophy of you’ll die when your time comes and that’s what doesn’t hold her back. I don’t have enough words to explain how brilliant this young girl is it was a thrill watching her grow into a young adult and become more relatable with all the challenges and triumphs she faced and persevered through. And that damn suitcase will always be there 🥹🥹

I can’t believe that cliffhanger though!! My heart hurts for Martha your first love heartbreak does not sit well at all, her depression reminded me of the scene in Twilight ‘there’s a possibilityyy’ and i just love how many universal girlhood moments she has in this book, i mean not to make her situations seem anything less than they are because it’s all valid but it’s beautiful and so full circle to see her making her way in the world and watch her have THESE be her pits when we’ve seen her at rock bottom. Ugh idk how i felt about the priest man wasn’t he twice her age at least? It’s icky yet another person in her life with a power imbalance dynamic. Bug god my heart hurt for her. Those pages are dog eared for me, so relatable. I love you Martha darling 😭 I can’t wait to re read these books knowing what i know, it’s so hard to find a book that’s as close to your favourite book and this series is the closest I’ll get to A Little Life

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just cannot really explain why I find this series so addictive.
Martha Long's authentic use of the childish language and dialect in the first book, and it's development, along with it's autobiographical authenticity, together with her insightful personal developmental and experiences, just combined to make it just a fekking good read!
Just returned from Dublin, celebrating 70th birthdays...helped me love the Irish half of myself!
Thankyou Martha, going to buy the others of your Dublin Series.

[Linda Eyman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very depressing. Not sure why, but I continue to read this series. The author goes into excruciating detail on some topics and then leaps ahead without any explanation of what came before. I am sure that most of the story is fictional as she was very young when they were written, and yet she writes in detail.

[Deborah Sowery-Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 4 in the memoir series by Long sees Martha on the streets, struggling for every penny & every scrap of food, when she encounters a priest who helps her by boarding with his mother temporarily & accessing a program that pays for her secretarial training. This one was quite good.

[Magi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow

I wish I found this author sooner so I can know how things turned out next. Poor, Martha, she is having such a rough time from day one in her life.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good story,had sad bits in it and good bits to.

[Jacqueline Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Think there must be another book after this as ending left he hanging

[Angela Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutley loving reading these books. off to start the next in the series now

[Lucie Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

she is on the mission again ...and now she is taking it seriously. go Martha go!