Ma, I've Reached for the Moon an I'm Hittin the Stars

Ma... #6

by Martha Long

'Never again will I let myself plunge so low, it nearly cost my life then ended in the mad house,' Martha vows, as she sits back in the taxi wrapping the fur coat around her.





A young Russian monk from the mental hospital has proposed marriage. Then she receives a shock. A letter from Father Ralph Fitzgerald, the man who rescued her as a sixteen year old from the streets.





With no one to care whether she lived or died, he took her into his life and into his heart, leaving her in the care of his family. They fell in love when she was still a young girl of eighteen, now a young lady with a very bright future. Ralph, who had become the most powerful person in her life, felt he had done all he could do for her. Now it was time for her to fly away on her wings, and meet her life head on. He left for the African Congo to work as a missionary doctor, where he has spent the last sixteen years.





Now he has returned, and is living in France. By chance he learned about Martha's breakdown, and has invited her to write, or phone him. She does neither. Now Martha draws us once again into her life as we follow her to France. She has decided to arrive on his doorstep and meet him face to face.





Even after all these years, Ralph Fitzgerald is the only man she has ever loved. She needs to know if he still feels the same. Do they have a future together?

Genres: Memoir

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2012

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

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did like this book, hell, I have been waiting for it forever and finally got it for Christmas. I was totally expecting it to end the way we ALL wanted it to end but unfortunately I felt it was rather redundant. As I was reading chapter after chapter, I found myself thinking, "Wait, is this a new chapter or did I accidentally just reread the last one?"

All I can say is that I will read and buy whatever Martha Long writes and publishes, that I can't wait for the next book but I was slightly disappointed in this book and not just because of Father Ralph.

[naan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm so dissapointed. This book is so boring, save for maybe one chapter. I read all previous "Ma" books and this one is one long description of breakfast, dinners, and smoking. Same thing over and over again - weak on plot. I think Martha Long got herself lost with this one - and I'm disappointed b/c I read all other books in the series - there was an attempt to convey emotional depth rather than an intrique plot, for goodness sake, this book is painful to get to the end. And the end is.... won't spoil it, but overall this book gets the lowest rating in "Ma" series from me. I'm onto to he last installment in the series, sure hoping it won't end up being a sequel to thi book. Sorry to give it such low review, b/c i simply adored earlier books by Martha Long - this one she was re-writing the same chapter for 25+ chapters - it is painfully dull.

[Vivienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It honestly took a very long time to get through this book as the story line was fairly slow, but still engaging. This is the first of the series I have read, I don't believe its the first? Im not too sure, the librarian recommended it. Anyway the description in the book is detailed making it so easy too imagine characters, location, everything. I give 3.75, engaging, lacking exciting? If that makes sense, very relaxing read

[Claire Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bloody Brilliant!

[Nicky Forrester · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an improvement on the last one, although there were times in middle of the book that I found myself drifting again.

I desperately wanted things to work out for Martha & Ralph. Ralph frustrated me - a lot - so I can't imagine what Martha went through (I had an indecisive one once!).

It read like a love story and I was hoping that they could finally move things to the next level but it wasn't to be. At least Martha was mature enough to realise this, make peace with it and move on with the next stage of her life.

This leaves me with 1 last book of Martha's to read, I almost don't want to read it as I don't really want to let her go so I'll maybe leave that book to Christmas.

[Diane · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first few Ma books but I was tired of the nonsense of this book very early. This is literally the worst of the series of 7 books. I think the entire story of her life could have been told in maybe 4 books rather than 7.

[Kazimiera pendrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

i hate to give this book a bad review but i have no choice this book was really awful i must admit i had to force myself to finish it

[Jennifer Dobos-Bubno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an incredible series.. I might have to read again..

[Emily Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Martha so much, have been following her journey from the beginning and I just want nothing but her happiness. But wow this book was slow to get through. If I wasn’t so invested in her life I might’ve dnf’d this one. I expected the ending and yet it still hurt a little that she’s back on the way again.
After finishing this book I can understand why the story needed to be told like this, how dragged out and lengthy and so in the moment and repetitive it was because Ralph was such an important figure in her life. The information almost read like a journal entry, so personal and intimate you must only know love to remember all this details.

But still, not a good feeling thinking “can’t wait to finish” hense the lower rating.

[Deborah Sowery-Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many reviewers of this memoir series complain of how the author rambles on a lot & this book is no exception. This one was the most depressing to me - yes, it was horrible to read of Martha's childhood in the earlier books but this book allows the reader to have some hope of Martha & her longed for lover Ralph to finally come together & the book is just one long tease with it ending in a bust. I found Ralph quite abusive emotionally & Martha, I guess, was just a lovesick fool.

[Tracy Kruck · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book in the autobiography series is very disappointing. 60% is the same boring pages i.e bath, breakfast, lunch, dinner, wine, smoking & chat. The best part was the last 40 pages. Therefore this book could have easily been combined with the previous book.

[Magi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though in some places Martha seems to ramble, I wanted to know how things turned out. Such a great sense of humor.

[Linda Eyman · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was the slowest read and the least impactive.

[Angela Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyed this book but really wanted to slap Ralph on a number of occasions!!!

[Aileen · Rating 1 out of 5]

A story that never progressed anywhere, totally found it boring.

[Lucie Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

you just have to follow the Martha...on her every step, she is witty she had a hell of a life and she is still going on with a smile. this time a better turns in her life, but also hear breaking news.