I’ve lived in California all my life and am a fourth-generation Northern Californian. The characters in my book, which is based on my family, lived through the 1906 earthquake, although it’s not central to that story. That earthquake and fire was one of the most memorable events in my beautiful home state’s history. Many books have been written about it, so I’ve decided to list my favorite novels you might not have heard of. They all include excellent descriptions of the earthquake and its aftermath, and they create strong, empathetic female characters. Enjoy!
I wrote...
Under the Almond Trees
By
Linda Ulleseit
What is my book about?
Three women. Three unprecedented dreams. Ellen learns independence when she is widowed and must lead men. Emily desires a career in a man’s field. Eva wants only a traditional family—until her husband refuses to pay for their daughter’s college education. In a time of great struggle as well as great opportunities for women, Eva VanValkenburgh is born into a family of strong pioneer women, chief among them her grandmother, Ellen VanValkenburgh, and her aunt, Emily Williams. These women are her role models as Eva grows up in Northern California at the dawn of the twentieth century.
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The Books I Picked & Why
A Splendid Ruin
By
Megan Chance
Why this book?
Lots of books focus on the 1906 earthquake itself, but I like that in this one the quake is almost ancillary. The story is about a young penniless woman who comes to live with a wealthy aunt in San Francisco. She experiences betrayal, madness, and murder, then is locked away from the world. The earthquake actually frees her. She meets a journalist who offers to help her get revenge and claim what’s hers. I enjoyed the fresh take on the 1906 quake and loved the characters. The cover is gorgeous, too!
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A Race to Splendor
By
Ciji Ware
Why this book?
After the earthquake, people had to rebuild. This one features a female architect who trained under Julia Morgan, rebuilding a luxury hotel that once belonged to her family. The tension rises she competes with a male architect to have the first finished hotel. This book is filled with great descriptions of the setting and events surrounding the quake. It is filled with people reimagining themselves and their city after tragedy and loss.
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Vera
By
Carol Edgarian
Why this book?
The young woman in this story is fifteen on the morning of the quake. She is the illegitimate daughter of a bordello madam who is trying to live a quiet life with the family paid to raise her. The quake causes her two worlds to collide as she collaborates with a former rival to create a new life. Although Vera is young, she’s savvy and determined to care for her younger sister. I loved the glimpse this novel gave into San Francisco’s seamier side, Chinatown, and wild politics as well as the opulent side of Enrico Caruso and Alma Spreckels.
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The Nature of Fragile Things
By
Susan Meissner
Why this book?
Sophie emigrates from Ireland and answers an ad from a widower in San Francisco who wants a bride. The novel is told in first person, which is somewhat unusual for historical fiction (although my own book is done that way). This point of view gives immediacy to the horror of the earthquake, which entangles Sophie’s life with that of a pregnant girl and a woman in the Southwest, creating a web of dark secrets and lies. I enjoyed this book because it told a greater tale of women’s solidarity, and what a woman will do to protect her children.
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Outrun the Moon
By
Stacey Lee
Why this book?
Another young heroine, fifteen-year-old Mercy Wong, is the main character in this book. Determined to get out of Chinatown’s poverty, she schemes her way into an exclusive school for white girls. The earthquake destroys Mercy’s home and her school. That’s when she jumps into action to help instead of simpering with the heiresses she goes to school with. I love characters with spunk, and Mercy has that. I enjoyed the snippets of Chinese culture woven into this one, especially the superstitions, puns, and wisdom from her parents that make Mercy who she is.
