The City by the Bay
Immerse yourself in San Francisco's history through some amazing historical fiction novels set in the City by the Bay
Hi readers,
San Francisco has a long and storied history of events that have shaped the City into what it is today. From the Gold Rush to building the massive and almost impossible to build Golden Gate Bridge, to the devastating earthquake and fire in 1906, to the days of flower power and the hippies, this City is one of the most unique cities in the US. I’ve visited it a couple of times and did many of the “touristy” things, and I hope to return after I retire next year to do more sightseeing.
The City has many nicknames, such as The City by the Bay (my favorite), San Fran, the Golden City, Fog City, and many more, but don’t call it Frisco as the locals hate it. Hey, I live in Frisco, which is in north Texas, and this Frisco does not resemble San Francisco in the slightest. I didn’t like history in school, but I find myself drawn to The City by the Bay again and again when I read about its history as it’s woven into wonderful historical fiction novels. I have a few to share with you today, so let’s get started.
China Dolls: A Novel by Lisa See - This is the first book I read by this author; it opened my reading world to her brand of historical fiction, and I’ve read three more of her books since then. From her first book exploring her rich Chinese-American history to historical fiction that brings people, places, and events to life through her storytelling, I will undoubtedly be a completist in reading See’s books. China Dolls begins in 1938 in San Francisco as the World’s Fair is set to open soon and follows three young women seeking employment as entertainers at a nightclub and continues through Pearl Harbor, WWII, and a reunion decades later. Each of the three is ambitious, many dreams have brought them to San Francisco and the nightclub, and all three hold secrets that can destroy them amid the ultimate betrayal. The characters are likable and then not; they are messy and jealous of each other, and then they are supportive and would do anything for each other. See’s website is a wealth of information about each of her books; the impeccable research shown on her website is filled with many pictures and videos, and many rabbit trails are to be found related to each of her books.
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner - This author is a master of historical fiction storytelling, and this book is one of her best yet. It opens as Sophie arrives in San Francisco a year before the great earthquake to meet her future husband Martin, who advertised for a wife to take care of him and his daughter after his former wife died. The characters are so well written that you feel like you are living through the same things they are. The writing about the earthquake is so masterful that you can almost feel the ground shake, smell the smoke from the fires and see the ashes fall around you. A mysterious woman shows up on Sophie’s doorstep, and that woman, the daughter Kat and Sophie, leads the reader on an adventure where they discover many secrets about Martin, following with a journey over time and arriving at a satisfying ending. Meissner also has a website with more information about all of her books. I have an ARC of her latest book, a joint venture with Kristina McMorris and Ariel Lawhon, that I will read closer to the publication date.
The Bohemians by Jasmin Darznik - This book landed on my radar two years ago from a presentation at the Newburyport Literary Festival, and it checked all the boxes of a book I knew I had to read. The book begins in the Jazz Age in 1918 in San Francisco and is historical fiction based on many real people from that time. The storyline is about two young women forging a friendship and coming of age in an artist’s colony along with a cast of characters, some real and some imagined, that includes friendship and betrayals that will push many friendships to the limits. It explores themes that were important in that day and time that are somehow eerily reflected in events of today’s times. Her website is chock full of information about her books and her other writing from many different publications. When you subscribe to her newsletter, you’ll receive “A Guide to Bohemian San Francisco” with many pictures and more information about the Jazz Age in San Francisco.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan - I remember reading this book many years ago and struggling to get through it. It was not my typical genre, and I fought it the entire way. After my reading tastes began changing several years ago, I reread it for a book club and enjoyed and appreciated it. This novel starts in 1949 as four women who are recent immigrants to San Francisco begin meeting for meals, playing Mahjong and talking, calling themselves the Joy Luck Club. Through the story, you learn about each woman, their families, and the joys and struggles of being Chinese immigrants. The history of the mothers is revealed and told through one of the daughters and goes back and forth in time with characters and history that leaves a lasting impression on many readers. It was written in the 1980s, and because of that, it does feel somewhat dated; however, I found myself thinking about this book long after I read it the second time. The Joy Luck Club was one of the first books to highlight the culture of Chinese immigrant experiences. Her website is a little outdated, but she does have a much more up-to-date and active Instagram page here.
It’s a shame that we learn about America’s history in school when most of us have little desire to learn about history or anything else. The older I get, the more I find myself wanting to learn about so many different things, and reading books is one of the fun ways to do just that. There are many more books about San Francisco, but these are just a few that I enjoyed, and you might too.
Do you have any favorite books about The City by the Bay that you’ve read and could recommend to other readers? You can tell us about those books in the comments below.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse of historical San Francisco through the books above. While all are novels, they are based on actual events brought to life by some amazing authors and their even more amazing imaginations. In the coming weeks and months, I’ll look at more American cities through the imaginations of writers and books we love to read.
Have a great week, stay cool—as much of the country is hotter than you know what, and happy reading!
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I like Lisa See a lot, though I haven't read any of her recent books. (If you like her, check out Anchee Min, too -- she hasn't written a single book I haven't loved.)
What a terrific theme! I loved being reminded of See's and Tan's books but also loved learning about The Nature of Fragile Things and The Bohemians. I love books that bring us closer to a place and time.