Ma, Jackser's Dyin Alone

by Martha Long

On hearing that Jackser, her childhood abuser, is seriously ill, Martha is elated, thinking that finally she will be able to watch him suffer. But in the hospital she sees a frightened, lonely old man and realises with a shock that he seems to regret his earlier actions.

During her vigil, she is joined by Charlie, her beloved little brother, then the ma and some of her other siblings. All of them have suffered greatly and it is clear that no one connected to Jackser has escaped unscathed.

But as she sits with him during his dying days, other memories of Jackser come back to Martha - fleeting moments of concern and kindness, and a sense of closeness as he recalled his own tormented past in one of Ireland's industrial schools. It is a vicious cycle of cruelty and loss that has played out, from which only her own tenacity and wit has provided an escape.

Poignant, ribald, poetic and defiant, with its resolution of many unanswered questions about her life this is Martha at her best.

Genres: Memoir

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2013

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

[Amanda Cassidy · Rating 1 out of 5]

SPOILER !
I am so angry with Martha, I have loved her books right from the get go. But this book is such a let down.
Martha I feel has condoned the treatment that Jackser and her mother did to her, sitting by Jackser’s bed holding his hand and forgiving him for raping her, making her steel, starving her, and beating her within an inch of her life, I just don’t understand it.
Rebuilding her relationship with her mother also does my head in, how can she be so nice to her?
Knowing that her mother gave her to him to rape then introducing her own children to this evil manipulative person is wrong, I know that Martha wouldn’t have let anything happen to them, but isn’t that what all mothers say?
I don’t doubt that Martha thought that she was doing the right thing by forgiving Jackser and her mother, but I feel it gives the wrong message to people that have been abused in one form or another.

[Sergiu Pobereznic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Touted as a phenomenal novel, needless to say, I heard a lot of good things about this book before making the purchase. Initially, it was quite interesting to me. I read a couple of pages in the store and decided to buy the book. But, soon after the book seemed to really slow down.
This was an absolute shame because the story is good and interesting and her writing style is unique. The problem, for me, is that it felt longer than it actually was. For me it came down to the editing aspect, it needed tightening up and at least 30–50 pages could have been cut.
I feel really bad saying this, given that this is a true story.
However, I did read the entire novel and there were gems in there, but buried far too deep within.
Having said that, I am sure many readers will enjoy her tale.
Sergiu Pobereznic (author)
amazon.com/author/sergiupobereznic

[Alicia Mikulandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with all of the Martha Long Ma series. It was an excellent read. I'm just sad this is her last book. I feel like I know her so well by now and it's like saying goodbye to an old friend.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book. The whole series is so touching. Hard to believe children survived through their early years in such circumstances.

[Chezza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ma, Jackser’s Dyin’ Alone by Martha Long is another emotional and powerful part of her life story. In this book, Martha reflects on her past and the people who shaped her difficult childhood.

The story focuses partly on Jackser, her stepfather, whose actions caused a great deal of pain and suffering in Martha’s life when she was growing up. As the years pass and his life comes to an end, Martha is faced with complicated emotions about the man who had such a strong and damaging influence on her childhood.

The book explores themes of reflection, forgiveness, and coming to terms with the past. Martha looks back on the hardships she endured and tries to understand how those experiences shaped the person she became.

I found this book very emotional and thought-provoking. It shows how deeply the past can affect someone, but also how important it can be to face those memories and find a way to move forward.

Overall, Ma, Jackser’s Dyin’ Alone is a powerful continuation of Martha Long’s memoir series and gives a deeper insight into her journey of healing and understanding.

[Emily Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so sad this is the last book on Martha’s journey. I’ve been reading her story for years now and to see it all come to a close, wow I am so happy for her so impressed that with the will of God she was able to forgive Jackser and her Ma.. I am disappointed that after everything he put her though she was able to put it down to his own traumas because some of the stuff he did was abominable and for Sally to allow him to be around the children all those years? Wild times. I appreciate how up and big Martha has come in the world, her life seems to really have come altogether. So happy reading the last chunk of this book leading to the letting go and writing the books, had some chuckles in there too. There was a lull in the first half that just felt like it was going to be forever but clearly this story here is the beginning of Martha’s story shared with us, so I’ll take any of it. Wishing you peace and blessings Martha Long ❤️

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

In this, the last of the Martha memories. Jackser, the man who served the role of stepfather (insert 'evil') to Martha, is dying, & she is the one to see him through his last days, giving him & herself peace as she forgives him for what he did & understands how he became who he was. We meet some of the familiar characters, her mother & siblings, & the ending is considerable years later as Martha fills us in on how her surviving family members are doing.

[Angela Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this one hard to get into, throughly enjoyed all the rest of the series, couldn't understand how Martha could sit with Jackser that long!!! I don't think i could have done that after the things he did to her when she was younger

[MIchelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book but not as good as the others. Having said that I really do love Martha’s story ❤️

[Anthony Flynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all seven books in the Martha Long series. Very well written and acclaimed in detail. Martha Long has been compared to the great author Charles Dickens.

[Clare Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow just wow what an amazing series of books I’ve been gripped all the way through with every book Martha has written highly recommend x

[lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Amazing do wish she had given Ralph a chance tho did love them together. Perfect love soul mates. A love lost 😢

[Linda Eyman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had read the first six books, so I felt I had to read the 7th. It was as the others. Very depressing and very detailed in some aspects and yet, many important periods were skipped.

[Lucie Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would still need a little edition of volume 8...too many issues of Martha life are still open - and she said so much I think she owes us to say everything - about Ralph, about her mum, and especially about her first daughter.