Ma, It's a Cold Aul Night an I'm Lookin for a Bed: A Memoir of Dublin in the 1960s

Ma... #3

by Martha Long

The next installment of the Ma books—all bestsellers in Ireland and the UK—brings readers on the journey of Martha's first months of freedom in Dublin after leaving the convent where she spent her early adolescence. 

In the latest chapter of Martha Long's autobiographical series, Martha is for the first time on her discharged from the convent, she's finally 16, the age she'd long dreamed of as the doorway to her freedom from the whims of cruel adults. "Life is a bowl of cherries!" she reasons as she sets out to blend in with the middle classes and find love, acceptance, and respect therein. But this is also Dublin in the 1960s, where class aspirations ain't so easy for the likes of Martha. 

As one job and bedsit is found (and lost), another soon comes along with its own foibles and dangers . . . but with her signature spirit and true grit, Martha makes the best of every situation and manages to offer compassion even to the most downtrodden of characters who cross her path. Chance meetings with old friends from the convent and a fortuitous (yet brief) reunion with two of her brothers remind Martha of all she has experienced (and survived) and serves as the impetus for her to keep going . . . even when homelessness is all but certain. 

As with her previous books, Ma, It's a Cold Aul Night an I'm Lookin for a Bed has us cheering for Martha. This time she doesn't have any nuns or abusive stepfathers preventing her from making progress . . . but life does still get in the way, and that bowl of cherries sometimes proves to be a bit more sour than Martha would hope.

Genres: Nonfiction, Family

352 pages, Hardcover

First published September 3, 2009

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

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

On my first visit to Dublin as I went from the bus that had taken my wife and I from the airport to Temple Bar and walked the short distance to our hotel, we encountered a young woman sitting on the steps leading into the hotel attempting to prepare a fix of heroin for herself. The hotel staff shooed her off but it was quite a first impression for both of us. Now mind you, we both love Dublin and have enjoyed our stays there, but there is a homeless problem there and it can be a tough and unforgiving city. This volume is one of a series of "Ma..." stories by Martha Long, and they all purport to be her story as she made her way from childhood in the slums and convents for wastrels in and around Dublin to eventual success as a mother and author. This volume finds her at age 16 trying for the first time in earnest to join the adult world as an independent woman. She works hard but knows very little, and though she is long on pride and toughness, she is short on cash, resources, and references, and so the brief slice of time depicted in this volume is filled with dashed hopes and bitter recriminations against her upbringing, the nuns, God, and life in general, but all the while carried along by her sense of outrage and humor, and the colorful, authentic voice that pervades the narrative. Martha is a girl it is impossible not to root for, and her ability to bring the reader into the moment with all of its drama and fear and pain is uncanny and impressive. Her voice has little variation however, colorful as it is, and so as literature it became a bit tiresome for me, but I know other readers devour these volumes greedily, so I offer that caveat with diffidence.

[Toni Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read book three too fast!

I love reading how Martha is so strong and independent! Her will encourage s me to stay strong.
Martha's journey into a grown, adult world for a teenager with her spirit and gumption is exciting and reinvigorating! She can teach the teens or America a thing or two.
If only the next book could come sooner! I am eagerly waiting the next book.

[Emily Wiersma]

The world just doesn't seem to stop beating on Martha. The mouth on her never seemed to help, but I love that about her she doesn't take guff from anyone. I love how she gets back at the people who fire her making sure they should have known not to mess with her. She's extremely clever and uses it to help make her way through Dublin; working in a shop, a restaurant, and her last one working for a family who treated her worse than a dog. I was rolling when she was trying to work the washing machine and turned all their clothes pink. They earned it. Her only good job being in a family of five taking care of the children and being treated very well. The book ends with her homeless and sleeping in a bus so I can't wait to read the next one.

[Nicky Forrester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Martha! She's been unleashed on the world in this book and this is her first foray in the world of being a responsible grown up.

She's just a survivor and the wit with which she tells her tales make smile (and get a few funny looks on the bus home).

Life is still hard but her outlook and her never say die attitude is inspiring. I just wish she had've been able to have some proper support and friendship as it was all to sadly lacking - her struggle continues!

Don't pass this one up.

[Nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book,what an amazing person Martha Long is, such an inspiration to everybody, especially those who can relate to her terrible upbringing. looking forward to reading her next book, Ma,I'm goin up in the world!

[Lisa Lingrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible ordeal for someone so young. If you can get past the rambling, such as Martha's ability of incessant chat you can get sucked right into her depressingly dire situation. Her strong will to survive with such optimistic grit has me at every page. I love her.

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

Martha, 16, released from the convent & struggling to find ways to survive: employment, how to save money & how to be treated fairly are all things she tries to figure out. As always, sad, but Martha continues to be feisty & positive.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book i just want to read more and more about this amazing girl/woman i think its great loved it as i did all the books i hope there will be another one to follow

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing young girl who was able to survive under terrible circumstances. Always hopeful and optimistic. We can learn so much from the way she persevered.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sorry it finished where it did with Martha in dire straits but her positive outlook is an inspiration and I can't wait to read the next installment.

[Amanda Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read I can't get enough of Martha

[Denise Dowie · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good read want the next one!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read, never wanted it to finish I have all 5 in the collection and can't wait to finish the last 2

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Not harrowing like the first book, but well-written. She has a great talent for making you feel like you're right there with her as it happens.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

[Emily Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

My gosh this book has to be my favourite of this series so far. It’s so interesting how life can take you in different places. The last installment of this book is rated low because I didn’t like how it was set in a very religious context. Now im rating this book very highly because of Martha’s relationship with God. Funny how 2 different personal contexts can shape your perception.
I was so happy for Martha for most of this book until we get near the end where we are once again left feeling so heartbroken and ready to continue rooting for her in the next one. She really is growing up in the world I loved hearing about her hard work and how she tackles new stages in her life. So proud of this girl I feel like I know her. Can’t wait to read the next one.

[Magi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another WOW book

This picks up where the previous book left of. Martha has a great sense of humor. This young girl seems to not be able to get a break. I have to find out what happens next

[Angela Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The second book and this one could have been melded together to make one good book.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody amazing I love this woman!

[Lucie Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

at this point I was a bit disappointed by Martha, she was given some chances but without being emotionally and socially comparable with the world she failed them - I still wished the best for her but at some moments through the story I was like ohh Come on!