Fiction: Reading for Fun

A novel about four lives that intersect in romance and scandal in the locker rooms and newsrooms of Chicago.

A fictionalized account inspired by the life of Lili Elbe, one of the first known recipients of sex reassignment surgery.

The book follows the life of Raymond Tyler, a young, successful African American man living in New York. Raymond grapples with his sexuality and the difficulties of coming out in a society where acceptance is limited.

A novel that follows the life of Calliope Stephanides, later known as Cal. The story is narrated by Cal, who was born intersex (with both male and female genitalia) and raised as a girl until adolescence when he discovers his true identity.

The story follows Chick, a professor, and his close friendship with the brilliant and controversial intellectual, Ravelstein, a character inspired by Bellow's real-life friend, Allan Bloom. Ravelstein, an influential philosopher, is facing his final days due to complications from AIDS. Chick, serving as the novel's narrator, reflects on their relationship, Ravelstein's impact, and the complexities of friendship and mortality.