Out Of The Ruins-Karen Barnett

Out Of The Ruins Karen Barnett Abingdon, May 6 2014, $14.99 ISBN: 9781426780578 In 1905 San Jose, California, Dr. Greene informs the family of Cecilia Fischer that she is dying from leukemia. Her distraught sister Abby prays to god for a miracle, but also threatens the Lord with never speaking to him ever again if he allows her sibling to die. While their Mom Clara struggles with accepting the death of one of her daughters as moms should pass away before their children; their despondent Papa Herman calls Cousin Gerald who says doctors in San Francisco are experimenting with a potential cure. Gerald and Dr. Robert King drive to San Jose in the former’s new car to conduct a physical of their new patient. However, Gerald sees how weak his cousin is and has little hope for a cure as he believes they are too late. Still the family and the researchers agree to try. In San Francisco, Robert uses the recently discovered X-ray as a treatment, but Cecilia dies anyway. Attracted to Robert, a grieving Abby needs time away from him; but an earthquake devastates the city stranding her alone struggling to survive and God not answering her prayers (from the fiery trenches). The first Golden Gate Chronicles is a wonderful inspirational historical that asks the question why God allows bad things to happen to good people. The background look at experimental medicine and road conditions for cars before the quake, and the city during and after the deadly tremors in the first decade of the twentieth century are powerful. Although the drama feels like two related novellas rather than a cohesive storyline, readers will appreciate this enjoyable tale. Harriet Klausner