The Empty Hearth

by Kitty Neale

A wonderfully gritty, heart-warming novel in the vein of Maureen Lee from the author of OUTCAST CHILD

'Dad loves Mum - loves her to the point of obsession. He's jealous when she shows us any affection.'

Set in Battersea in the Fifties and Sixties, the Pratchett family have to contend with coalman Alfie Pratchett's obsessive jealousy. Although Alfie is a bully, his two teenage children, John and Millie, have learned to dodge him and his moods. The main concern of ugly duckling Millie - who looks nothing like her handsome brother John - is to protect their mum, Eileen.

When a serious crisis occurs at the Pratchetts' home, Alfie is forced to watch his whole world gradually collapse around him. Their old life has gone forever, and a new one has begun - one in which rape, debt, alcoholism and insanity play their parts. And redemption is a long time coming

Kitty Neale is a storyteller of rare power, unafraid to uncover the dark secrets that lie behind the well-scrubbed doorsteps of family homes.

402 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family Saga

This was a lovely easy read that I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to fans of saga type books. 4⭐️

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what an amazing story following the life of Millicent known as Millie
Lives with her Mother lovely and a bully of a father and her brother John
Millie dodge her fathers bad temper and fears for her mother
Her Mother Eileen soon feels due to her husband her life is not worth living and takes her own life
With Millie left alone with him her brother joins the merchant navy
Unfortunately Millie’s life just goes from bad to worse
There’s sadness bullying rape through her short life
Until things make eventually a turn for the better
Showing that Millie’s strength and resilience shine through
More 10 stars than 5

[Kaye Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical fiction - 1950s London. This book is about a teenage girl that experiences the suicide of her mother, abuse from her father, rape by the neighbor, teenage pregnancy and the loss of her baby as her father sells it as soon as she is born. Millie is desperate to find her baby, and her brother. She is abandoned by her cruel father and is taken in by a kindly shopkeeper. As this is all going on, Millie finds out her bestfriend is a lesbian! An emotional read that is as good as Neale's other books about life in the 50's.

[Nicola Nicholson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just not my cup of tea. The relentless pace of the plot meant that all the events slid into each other without time to really take in characters or feel for them. There was an authenticity to the book,however. I did feel that the author knew this area and people and so they rang true in a general sense but specifically it just didn't cut it. Poor Millicent descended into abject misery and then ascended too quickly to a happy ending.

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love how Kitty Neale writes her books. This book was hard to put down many times. It was so vivid I thought I was a character in her book it was that vivid. I love how there are many struggles in the beginning of the book for the main character then life get better for Millie. I love all the characters in this book especially Millie & Vanessa friendship. I love sagas that are so gritty & deal with historical events

[Lynne maluszycki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting

I'm a big fan of Kitty Neal and this book was by far her best. Its a heartbreaking story with shocks and twists that keeps the reader begging for more I really didn't want it to end.

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millie

A fantastic book poor Millie what a life she has suffered but when her mother died it got worse but with sheer determination and the help from Vanessa she finally found she was able to live again 5 STARS .

[t m ell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why do you have to rate this book before you can move on to another book

This is silly .

[Sally Hussey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing read.

I would definitely recommend this book, another great read from a great author, I just couldn't put it down, looking forward to reading another of her books

[Tracey Carnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely read

I so enjoyed this book like I do all kitty neales books
Great believable characters
Lovely storyline
10/10 now for the next kitty neale book

[Uche · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why can't I read the book on here? It's not opening. Or isn't this an App for reading?

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the sort of book I normally read but I got totally submerged into Millie’s story of her horrific life in 1950’s London. Don’t want to spoil it so shall say no more.....

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

[Ruth Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reread enjoyed it again

[Corrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read but a bit slow to start

[c.young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Read

Twists and turns best book I've read for a long time Thank You kitty Neal at her best ... can't

wait to start my next book of hers

[Andrew Bridgman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

Brilliant page turner.loved this book.Every thing kitty writes turns to gold! A story of highs and lows ,feel like I know every character.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

I finished this book in about 24 hours, which is unusual for me. Being from Battersea I immediately found the subject of this book interesting and seeing as it was set 20 years before I came to live in the borough I was curious to see how it was portrayed, although some bits of it are still the same. This book tells the story of a young girl who is almost born to suffer and goes through hell and back before escaping the bleak world she inhabits.

There are a lot of characters and you have to be on the ball to keep up with who is who but the dialogue is so natural and the people so real that it’s almost like reading a memoir than a novel.

I can’t recommend The Empty Hearth enough and if you like a thumping good read with lots of ups and downs and tears and laughter, you will love this.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitty Neale she is one of the best storytellers, I have read many of her books. Sometimes they are on the same path but then a curve ball is thrown. What a hard time for this family, the Pratchetts have two children a boy and a girl. John is handsome and Millie plain. Their father is a brute in every way but the children occasionally manage to get out of his way before any blows start reigning on them. Millie has such a kind heart and tries to look after her mother. This story takes you on a journey where there is such sadness, brutality together with resilience and determination. You wonder to yourself why do people get treated this way. It is a fact you don't know what goes on behind closed doors. This was a great read. It really makes you think but for the grace of God go I.

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Empty Hearth is absolutely lovely. I felt as if Millicent was a real person, not just a character in a book. I found myself genuinely wanting to know what happened to Millie, as opposed to actually wanting to get through the book. I plan to read more of Kitty Neale's books. So happy I have my own copy of this book.

[Sarah Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended

I couldn't put this book down. Kitty's books have taught me so much about how life was for women back in the forties and fifties. They had such a rough time of it. Although the endings are sometimes cut short and slightly predictable, I love Kitty's books

[Sue Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read!

[Kate Cavanagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed this book! loved following the life of milly!