What do you think?
Rate this book
I Called Her Mary: A Memoir
Peg Holland became pregnant as a teenager in a conservative village in 1950s Ireland. She knew her life would never be the same again. She was sent away in shame only to find courage and wisdom deep within her soul.
After her baby, Mary, is born, Peg and Mary are heckled and ridiculed by townspeople for nine months until Peg decides she must give Mary up for adoption so she can have a better life. This decision haunts Peg the rest of her life.
Having nothing left to keep her in Ireland, Peg leaves home to work in America. Mick O'Hagan is swept away by Peg and wants to marry her. She refuses due to the secret of her baby that no one knows about but eventually relents.
Fifty years after the birth of Mary, Peg receives a phone call from her daughter. They are reunited and the family only grows bigger and stronger because of their love. They share many stories of what each other missed out on but as the stories are told new details emerge. Fighting past the trauma of giving Mary up at such a young age, memories come flooding back and a new truth of what actually happened comes to light.
Peg’s tales of hardship and unconditional love carry the reader through to the end. This heartbreaking tale shares the power of faith, hope, and love.
After her baby, Mary, is born, Peg and Mary are heckled and ridiculed by townspeople for nine months until Peg decides she must give Mary up for adoption so she can have a better life. This decision haunts Peg the rest of her life.
Having nothing left to keep her in Ireland, Peg leaves home to work in America. Mick O'Hagan is swept away by Peg and wants to marry her. She refuses due to the secret of her baby that no one knows about but eventually relents.
Fifty years after the birth of Mary, Peg receives a phone call from her daughter. They are reunited and the family only grows bigger and stronger because of their love. They share many stories of what each other missed out on but as the stories are told new details emerge. Fighting past the trauma of giving Mary up at such a young age, memories come flooding back and a new truth of what actually happened comes to light.
Peg’s tales of hardship and unconditional love carry the reader through to the end. This heartbreaking tale shares the power of faith, hope, and love.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 16, 2021
29 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 9, 2023
I usually do not read memoirs but this one was recommended to me and I couldn’t put it down. Sad in a lot of ways but typical about Irish culture and immigration to the US. Even though I am not Irish, the story brought memories of our life when we first came to the US
December 30, 2021
I can’t say enough good things about this book! I had the pleasure of reading the manuscript of this story prior to publishing and it only took me a day, as I didn’t want to put it down! Even though I know Mary, or Maggie as we call her, this story truly shows how choices can affect our lives in so many ways. This is a story of a mother’s love for her child and how they reconnected many years later.
March 12, 2022
3.5 stars
Memoir written by someone who lives in my town now and her son-in-law. I've heard of the family but I don't know any of them personally.
It's about a girl growing up in Ireland and giving up her child for adoption and what happens to her after she came to America.
I wish the authors had employed a good editor. Too many sentences were in the passive voice, and it became repetitive in the last third. The first two thirds were much better.
I was sad to read about how the nuns and Irish people were so abusive to teenage mothers and their innocent babies. Peg certainly has an interesting life story.
Memoir written by someone who lives in my town now and her son-in-law. I've heard of the family but I don't know any of them personally.
It's about a girl growing up in Ireland and giving up her child for adoption and what happens to her after she came to America.
I wish the authors had employed a good editor. Too many sentences were in the passive voice, and it became repetitive in the last third. The first two thirds were much better.
I was sad to read about how the nuns and Irish people were so abusive to teenage mothers and their innocent babies. Peg certainly has an interesting life story.
February 3, 2022
Amazing
Such a remarkable life and story of a family I’ve known from my little hometown of Hawthorne. God bless you all. Such strength in love and overcoming obstacles for happiness.
Such a remarkable life and story of a family I’ve known from my little hometown of Hawthorne. God bless you all. Such strength in love and overcoming obstacles for happiness.
September 25, 2023
This is a wonderful memoir focused on a mother’s love of a child and family I had a special spot in my heart for this book since the author attended my dear friend Diane’s book club and shared this personal connection and storiy with me.
February 8, 2022
Nice memories
Having lived in the same areas as identified in this memoir, I found the book engaging. It is very redundant but still kept my attention to the story.
Having lived in the same areas as identified in this memoir, I found the book engaging. It is very redundant but still kept my attention to the story.
August 9, 2022
Very emotional story which brought me to tears a few times while reading it! If you are Irish or close to anyone Of Irish descent, you will surely connect and enjoy this story!
August 25, 2022
I just finished I CALLED HER MARY. I liked the story; I was happy the mother and daughter were reunited, but I felt sad how the mother was treated in Ireland.
August 26, 2022
This is an excellent book about a woman’s journey from childhood in Ireland to her family and how it has grown. I loved reading all about her life.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews