Saul Naumann from Bee Season: A Novel was formerly known as Sal Newmann for the first 17 years of his life. When he learns of his family's Jewish heritage, he embraces it, changes his name, and embarks on a study of the kaballah and other spiritual quests (some of which include brief stints with LSD). Finally, he settles and marries his wife, has two children, and lives a nice and orderly life. He is distant from his children as they age, though he was involved with them more when they were younger. After Eliza wins the spelling bee he sees his own spiritual hunger in his daughter and decides that he will show her the mystical writings that inspired him.
