The Hollow Ground

By: Natalie S. Harnett

Narrated by: Luci Christian

The John Gardner Fiction Book Award, 2015

Appalachian Book of the Year (Fiction), 2014

Longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award

"We walk on fire or air, so Daddy liked to say. Basement floors too hot to touch. Steaming green lawns in the dead of winter. Sinkholes, quick and sudden, plunging open at your feet."

The underground mine fires ravaging Pennsylvania coal country have forced 11-year-old Brigid Howley and her family to seek refuge with her estranged grandparents, the formidable Gram and the black lung-stricken Gramp. Tragedy is no stranger to the Howleys, a proud Irish-American clan who takes strange pleasure in the "curse" laid upon them generations earlier by a priest who ran afoul of the Molly Maguires. The weight of this legacy rests heavily on a new generation, when Brigid, already struggling to keep her family together, makes a grisly discovery in a long-abandoned bootleg mine shaft. In the aftermath, decades-old secrets threaten to prove just as dangerous to the Howleys as the burning, hollow ground beneath their feet.

Inspired by real-life events in Centralia and Carbondale, where devastating coal mine fires irrevocably changed the lives of residents, The Hollow Ground is an extraordinary debut with an atmospheric, voice-driven narrative and an indelible sense of place. Lovers of literary fiction will find in Harnett's young, determined protagonist a character as heartbreakingly captivating as Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird.

©2014 Natalie S. Harnett (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Harnett’s deeply atmospheric historical novel of the harsh old mining life captures the despair of a family at the mercy of the earth’s elements and their own worst impulses.” (Booklist)

“Brigid is no ordinary hard-luck heroine; her voice rings true, offering a matter-of-fact telling that never falls into self-pity or melodrama. Set against the 1960s Pennsylvania coal mine fires, this debut novel is a dark and rewarding read.” (Library Journal)

"Narrator Luci Christian's youthful charisma provides a natural portrayal of preteen Brigid Howley, who is struggling with family secrets in a poverty-stricken coal town in the 1960s. Christian's clear, delicate voice belies the girl's impoverished upbringing and poor education--but does depict Brigid's naïve hopefulness amid her family's wretched circumstances." (AudioFile)

Wonderful

This is a sleeper .. And it's worth it. The last 3 chapters had me captivated. This is a must read .. Errrr, listen ... Particularly for those with abandonment issues.

Depressing story

Well performed tragedy . Entire lives of all characters in the book were terrible. The performer read this sad tale well. I did not know coal mines caught fire because coal dust can simply ignite! Heavens!

Totally Entertained

I Loved this story and the performance. Could not stop listening. I was so sorry to get to the end. So good I will relish listening to 8t again.

Living on Briquettes

An outstanding debut novel set in Pennsylvania in the 60’s that allows the reader an appreciation for nature, coal mining and the people of that area and time. This is a fiction based at a time of a true event in American history - when the land and the properties above them became compromised due to sink holes and underground coal fires. The fires in that area are still smolder today.

This coming of age story told through the view of 11 year old Brigid Hawley is so heartfelt. Brigid’s family is falling apart as the ground gives way. Losing her haven and care-giving aunt to underground fire, her parents are forced to take the family to the home of her grandparents where they are not welcomed with opened arms.

Each member of the family seems consumed by their numerous issues. Once forced to return to the origin of their dysfunctionality, their childhood homes, Brigid’s parents lose all semblance of being care givers. It’s an interesting pattern of the progression of parental dominoes.

Brigid really pulled at my heartstrings throughout as she strives to just want to act her age. There were times in this book I held my breath for I was so worried for her. The scene where Brigid and her friend Marisol meet the boys at the abandoned house is just one tense moment after another…, So well written. The story consumed me. Not always a happy story but it authentic. The setting of the ground burning and all of the fallout from it just fascinated me.

As for narration Luci Christian was just spot on with numerous of her performances. Speaking for a moxy 11 year old and a bitter mother and a cantankerous old grandmother has never been done better.

Natalie Harnett – I’ll be watching you.

slow book

I liked the book ok. It wasn't extremely exciting or dramma filled but it does make you wanna hear how it's resolved. The narrator didn't really change voices very well for the different characters, but you understand who's who by how they talk and what they say. .

Good Choice

A uni1ue and effective story of the people who lived through the real life tragedy of the underground fires in Pennsylvania. The narrator was a good choice who presented the story in a matter-of-fact, "don't judge or pity us" manner that was most effective. An educational, historical novel well worth the read.

great story.

I loved this book and found it very easy to listen to. The emotional depth of the characters was especially impressive, which added to the richness of the story.

Coal country Pennsylvania in the 1960's

A growing up and coming of age story set in coal country Pennsylvania in the 1960's.
I enjoyed learning about, but was disturbed by, the underground fires and how cave-ins occurred randomly. I'd read about this before, but I thought the author portrayed quite well how this was simple a way of life for the people of this area.

had to work to stay with it...

Not a bad story, but it moves so slow, there were times that I had to make myself keep listening. My husband gave up on to and moved on to another book. kind of feels like the play "Our Town."

coal mine disaster in Carbondale and Centrailia

based on the true story of coal mine disaster in the 50's. Awesome book. book club selection