The Rabbi Wore Bell-bottoms

Book Cover

COMEDY HISTORICAL FICTION MEMOIR FUNNY DRAMA RELIGIOUS

1960s & '70s

Art Novak

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Logline

Drafted fresh out of grad school, Dan Berman feels ambivalent about organized religion, but at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri he finds himself assigned Jewish chaplain's assistant. Thanks to a kindhearted rabbi and the Lutheran daughter of the bigoted post chaplain, he finds himself.

Genre

Comedy,Historical Fiction,Memoir,Funny,Drama,Religious

Short Summary

After a series of humorous experiences trying to escape the Vietnam-era army and survive basic training, Dan is assigned as Jewish chaplain's assistant. When he falls in love with Harriet, daughter of the bigoted post chaplain, the wise and witty rabbi helps him navigate life, love, and lunacy.

Setting

Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri (primarily); Chicago-area (briefly)

Based on a True Story

Yes

Plot - Premise

Internal Journey/Rebirth

Plot - Other Elements

Coming of Age,Happy Ending,Meaningful Message,Philosophical Questions,Twist

Mature Audience Themes

Language/Profanity

Main Character Details

Name: Dan Berman

Age: 23

Gender: Male

Role: Protagonist

Key Traits: Engaging,Funny,Romantic,Educated

Additional Character Details

Name: Stephen Weisberg

Age: 27

Gender: Male

Role: Mentor

Key Traits: Blunt,Heroic,Engaging,Strong Moral Code,Leader,Educated,Honorable,Funny,Decisive,Empathetic

Additional Character Details

Name: Harriet Marshall

Age: 22

Gender: Female

Role: emotional

Key Traits: Charming,Complex,Confident,Engaging,Educated,Romantic,Sexy,Outspoken,Strong Moral Code

Additional Character Details

Name: Herbert Marshall

Age: 45

Gender: Male

Role: antagonist

Key Traits:

About The Author

Art Novak has published two novels. The Rabbi Wore Bell-bottoms draws heavily on his experiences as a Jewish chaplain's assistant in the army, and he has also narrated an audiobook version. An earlier novel, Doglegs, focuses on the relative merits of humans and canines. In his prior lives, Art was an Emmy-winning advertising copywriter and a professor in the advertising department at Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD).

Target Audiences

Age: 18-34,35-54,55+

Target Gender: Universal

Group Specific

Information not completed

Publishing Details

Status: Yes: self-published

Publisher: Self-published

Year Published: 2018

Hard Copy Available

Yes

ISBN

978-1-54393-377-2