Allreaders.com

Ravelstein Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Ravelstein


Literature professor and narrator Chick talks about the life and obsessions of his good friend Abe Ravelstein, a colleague at the Chicago university where both of them have taught. Chick's marriage to a fascinating, beautiful, but distant physics professor from Eastern Europe is unraveling, while Ravelstein, a closeted gay with a devoted Chinese companion, enjoys the pleasures of money after writing a bestselling book at Chick's urging. Many powerful men in government have been Ravelstein's students, and they keep in touch with him, sharing ideas and gossip. This 2000 novel is apparently a thinly-veiled portrait, almost a memoir, of Bellow's good friend Alan Bloom, author of _The Closing of the American Mind_. It doesn't have a lot of forward plot movement, and may seem a bit aimless and gossipy, but there's a lot of fine writing and wisdom in it.
Click here to see the rest of this review...

The review of this Book prepared by David Loftus



Chapter Analysis of Ravelstein

Click on a plot link to find similar books!

Plot & Themes

Tone of book?    -   thoughtful Time/era of story    -   1980's-1999 Romance/Romance Problems    -   Yes Life of a profession:    -   teacher Internal struggle/realization?    -   Yes Struggle over    -   nature of existence (heavy philosophy) Kind of sex:    -   two guys doing it Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Job/Profession/Status story    -   Yes Taboo sex story?    -   Yes

Main Character

Gender    -   Male Profession/status:    -   teacher Age:    -   60's-90's Ethnicity/Nationality    -   Jewish

Setting

How much descriptions of surroundings?    -   2 () United States    -   Yes The US:    -   Midwest City?    -   Yes City:    -   wealthy    -   Chicago Misc setting    -   resort/hotel

Writing Style

Sex in book?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   vague references only Amount of dialog    -   roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

Books with storylines, themes & endings like Ravelstein

Saul Bellow Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
2 Ways to Search!
Or



Our Chief Librarian