Although in the late 1980's boxing is socially frowned upon and illegal for women in Ireland, a young women named Deirdre Gogarty has one dream: to be the first world champion. Unable to fit in at school and in the midst of her parents' unraveling marriage, she plans her suicide. Death hovers in the back of her mind, but boxing beckons as Gogarty defies the odds and finds a gym and coach who is willing to train her. Her fierce determination leads to underground bouts in Ireland and Britain. But how can a shy, young misfit become a professional boxer in a country that bans women from the sport? Gogarty follows her calling to compete and journeys from the Irish Sea to the Gulf of Mexico, from outcast to center ring, from the depths of depression to the championship fight of her life.
My Call to the Ring: A Memoir of a Girl Who Yearns to Box
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Ron
Format:Kindle Edition
I have read this book cover to cover. Whether you are reading for the purpose of women's equality, a come from behind victory, true guts and determination or a sports champion, it is all here! I want to meet this champ to have my copy signed. It will remain with my collection of favorite books
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By jrennie
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The story was compassionate and compelling. Well written. A great read. A story that will uplift any man or woman who faces adversity and has the will to overcome.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Jennifer
Format:Paperback
Wonderfully descriptive and lively memoir set in Ireland and the United States. It's narrated in a very likable, easy-to read voice.
Deirdre Gogarty struggles at school with harsh teachers and bullying students and at home with an autistic brother and a depressed mother. After seeing an interview on television with Jack Dempsey, she asks her dad for a punching bag. He gives her a makeshift one, and she stuffs it with newspapers. And this changes her life. She says, ""I don't need a nun's blessing because I know my salvation is buried in a punch bag stuffed with newspapers and rags."
By sixteen, she loves boxing and studies its history and from her summer job saves enough money to buy boxing gloves. And is able to train at a boxing club.
Then she gets to come to the United States where it's not forbidden for women to fight. And she gets to fight in Louisiana, Mississippi, and even in my hometown of Fort Smith, Arkansas. And then finally in Vegas. Great descriptions and insights--"Waiting is the worst part of fighting." I hate to reveal too much more about what happens. I just want to say that this is a truly inspiring story. I loved it.
Deirdre Gogarty struggles at school with harsh teachers and bullying students and at home with an autistic brother and a depressed mother. After seeing an interview on television with Jack Dempsey, she asks her dad for a punching bag. He gives her a makeshift one, and she stuffs it with newspapers. And this changes her life. She says, ""I don't need a nun's blessing because I know my salvation is buried in a punch bag stuffed with newspapers and rags."
By sixteen, she loves boxing and studies its history and from her summer job saves enough money to buy boxing gloves. And is able to train at a boxing club.
Then she gets to come to the United States where it's not forbidden for women to fight. And she gets to fight in Louisiana, Mississippi, and even in my hometown of Fort Smith, Arkansas. And then finally in Vegas. Great descriptions and insights--"Waiting is the worst part of fighting." I hate to reveal too much more about what happens. I just want to say that this is a truly inspiring story. I loved it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Paul Bishop
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
My Call To The Ring: A Memoir Of A Girl Who Yearns To Box is the story of Deirdre Gogarty, an Irish lass whose love for the fight game in the `80s sets her on a quest to become a world champion - not exactly an easy task even without the fact Ireland banned women from the sport at the time.
Gogarty's story (written with Darrelyn Saloom) is well told and inspiring. However, there are two things setting this memoir apart from other similar boxing travails. The first is the atmosphere captured by the prose as it delineates the underbelly seediness of the training conditions faced by all but the highest level of boxers. There is no glamour here, just hard graft - hitting and being hit in tattered rings jerry-rigged in sheds and garages, stifling hot air, and the uncertainty of where the next fight, the next dollar, and sometimes even the next meal are going to come from.
Secondly, and most important to the success of the narrative, is the way Gogarty's `voice' has been captured. You believe Gogarty is sitting next to you, sharing her fears, shortcomings, uncertainties, defeats and triumphs.
As with her opponents in the ring, it is ultimately Gogarty's unrelenting courage and determination that leaves its mark on her readers. My Call To The Ring is a standout addition to the shelves of boxing literature.
Gogarty's story (written with Darrelyn Saloom) is well told and inspiring. However, there are two things setting this memoir apart from other similar boxing travails. The first is the atmosphere captured by the prose as it delineates the underbelly seediness of the training conditions faced by all but the highest level of boxers. There is no glamour here, just hard graft - hitting and being hit in tattered rings jerry-rigged in sheds and garages, stifling hot air, and the uncertainty of where the next fight, the next dollar, and sometimes even the next meal are going to come from.
Secondly, and most important to the success of the narrative, is the way Gogarty's `voice' has been captured. You believe Gogarty is sitting next to you, sharing her fears, shortcomings, uncertainties, defeats and triumphs.
As with her opponents in the ring, it is ultimately Gogarty's unrelenting courage and determination that leaves its mark on her readers. My Call To The Ring is a standout addition to the shelves of boxing literature.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Esra Arsan
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Inspiring, challenging, encouraging story and a great narrative. Must-read for all female athletes. As a journalism scholar, beyond reading it I thought, how awesome story it was to cover.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I read this book on Kindle edition primarily because of my connection to one of the authors as a fellow blogger. I would not have picked up a memoir about a woman boxer otherwise. But I loved the book on its own merits. Beautifully structured. About a woman's growth into full flower in every way, not just as a boxer. I mention the book in my own blog post about e-reading here[...]
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Dave
Format:Paperback
My Call to the Ring is such a rich and powerful story. I found myself incredibly drawn into the life of this girl who first has to survive the nuns at school and then knows deep inside she wants to be a boxer--so her first order of business is to construct a makeshift punching bag filled with newspaper. This memoir is that kind of story--rich in detail, rich in emotion. In Ireland in the 80s and following, women aren't allowed to box, and so I was so pulling for Deirdre to overcome all those obstacles--which is analogous of life to each of us. And that is a big draw about this book to me, you don't have to be a boxer, a woman, Irish to feel deeply these moments--life is about challenge, failure, success, love. In addition to My Call being this amazing tale, the prose is clean, vivid, and packs a punch as hard as Deirdre's fists surely do. But I'm not one who wants to find out that particular detail!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
An inspiring well written story (you don't even have to be a boxing fan to enjoy).
If you like a book that expresses many emotions of an human being, you won't be disappointed. You want won't to put the book down until you read the last page of the last chapter.
If you like a book that expresses many emotions of an human being, you won't be disappointed. You want won't to put the book down until you read the last page of the last chapter.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Million Dollar Story
This terrific memoir captures the courage and tenacity of a woman who refuses to quit on her dreams. Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. J. Crown
5.0 out of 5 stars
Getting in the ring
Darrelyn Saloom knows how to take you on a journey. "My Call To The Ring" captures the story of Deirdre Gogarty and brings you along. Read more
Published 2 months ago by sidelines
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deirdre's Call To The Ring
Wow, what a great book! This young lady boxer was a brave and fantastic person in addition to being a non-stop, non-stoppable boxer. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Denis Mouton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
Couldn't put it down! Was a great book about a young woman with grit! Looked at video's of her fighting and she is quite the gal. Read more
Published 5 months ago by professer
5.0 out of 5 stars
AN AMAZING WOMAN WITH PURE GUT, SOUL AND HEART
After reading Deirdre's book, I have developed a profound admiration and respect for this highly recognized woman. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Carole Credeur
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE LADY IS A CHAMP
"THE TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION" and "THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE". This passionate inspiring story will keep you glued within it's pages. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Phil D. Mayers
