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After Helen
From international Lit-Idol winner and critically-acclaimed author Paul Cavanagh, this novel tells the story of Irving, an unassuming history teacher grieving the recent death of his larger-than-life wife, Helen, whom he first met during a chance encounter at her father's bookstore. Their teenage daughter, Severn - angry at Irving, angry at Helen - has disappeared after stealing a book that may reveal more about her mother than she ever wanted to know. On the road in search of Severn, Irving revisits his past with Helen as he follows a trail of clues that reveal why Severn has disappeared. Along the way, he comes face-to-face with some long-buried family secrets - secrets that he'll have to confront if he wants to save his relationship with his daughter.
- GenresFiction
292 pages, Paperback
First published January 26, 2006
1 person is currently reading
453 people want to read
About the author
Paul Cavanagh
4 books11 followersPaul Cavanagh burst onto the international literary scene when he was crowned the world’s first Lit Idol at the London International Book Fair in the UK. The novel that won him the title, After Helen, was published by HarperCollinsCanada to glowing reviews. His deft touch for creating compelling characters comes in no small part from working for some 30 years in health care. He developed his literary talents at the Humber School for Writers and Western University. He currently lives in London, Ontario, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 2, 2014
I enjoyed this book very much. I think the fact that it was placed in London Ontario made it familiar. Also the trips to Toronto was great. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to read about the complexities of a relationship. The give and take that is needed to make a marriage work. I certainly had a love/hate relationship to Helen the antagonist. I could not believe how she treated Irving, yet, I was not surprised by some of her actions. At times, I wanted to throttle Irving for being such a sap and a doormat but then, I think that is exactly what the author wanted me to feel.
I thought his use of words was wonderful. Very precise and eloquent. I loved all the characters, although, I would have liked the daughter's character to be better developed.
The secondary characters (Will the book clerk, Walter the book shop owner and father of Helen and even Marla the meddling parent) were all an asset to the story and gave this story a layered feel.
Overall, it is a very well written first novel (in 2006). I would pick up another of his books.
I thought his use of words was wonderful. Very precise and eloquent. I loved all the characters, although, I would have liked the daughter's character to be better developed.
The secondary characters (Will the book clerk, Walter the book shop owner and father of Helen and even Marla the meddling parent) were all an asset to the story and gave this story a layered feel.
Overall, it is a very well written first novel (in 2006). I would pick up another of his books.
November 14, 2014
Paul Cavanagh’s “After Helen” was a wonderful read. In two days I zoomed through
this novel that, much like a film, drew me in through the complex personalities and
relationships of the seemingly everyday characters. I was driven from page to page
by my curiosity to learn how each would resolve his or her history with the elusive Helen.
this novel that, much like a film, drew me in through the complex personalities and
relationships of the seemingly everyday characters. I was driven from page to page
by my curiosity to learn how each would resolve his or her history with the elusive Helen.
July 7, 2020
I can see why this debut novel was chosen to win an award. The characters are richly drawn, from curmudgeon to rebellious teen, from selfless and insecure to totally selfish and insecure.
If you love books and quirky independent bookstores as much as I do, you will certainly enjoy the setting of this story. People in all their glorious humanness.
If you love books and quirky independent bookstores as much as I do, you will certainly enjoy the setting of this story. People in all their glorious humanness.
September 11, 2014
Highly recommended! This book is a fabulous read! Remarkably warm, inviting and entertaining. Very difficult to put down!
November 12, 2019
Another story about a very unlikeable, selfish and hurtful woman. A quote from Helen to Irving "why you've stuck with me I'll never understand". Neither did I.
August 2, 2017
Definitely a novel built around relationship. Irving (the history teacher) Helen (his lover and eventually his wife) Severn (the teenage daughter) Jack Livingston (an author with whom Helen runs away, returns, and then maintains a relationship) Walter (Helen’s father) and Will (the main help at the book store who is also Severn’s father) are all intermingled in a frustratingly believable story. Helen has had many short term relationships prior to Irving, most of them with well-to-do and apparently older men. She seems to be in charge or her life and what she wants. Irving is a weak character—a history teacher with a love of the Franklin expedition who enjoys teaching and does a lot of marking and is quite prepared to dress up at the book store—but the author presents him as being unable to take charge of his life.
Helen goes to Vancouver to writing school and Irving gets no answers to his calls and when she comes home at Christmas she doesn’t contact him. Finally he goes to the store and she tells him that she was put out of writing school and didn’t contact him because of his expectations. She marries him. Then meets the writer and leaves him. Then comes back because she is pregnant and the child needs a father….but doesn’t want a relationship. Continues on some kind of relationship with the writer that she tells her daughter about—“don’t tell your father----“
The daughter is well drawn, the father is okay, the writer is the villain..the neighbour lady is the heroine—she gets Irving through the trip to Toronto to find his daughter—but is not really all that realistic.
Both major characters drove me nuts but I finished it because it was plausible. The dust jacket presents it as being far more meaningful than I found it to be.
Helen goes to Vancouver to writing school and Irving gets no answers to his calls and when she comes home at Christmas she doesn’t contact him. Finally he goes to the store and she tells him that she was put out of writing school and didn’t contact him because of his expectations. She marries him. Then meets the writer and leaves him. Then comes back because she is pregnant and the child needs a father….but doesn’t want a relationship. Continues on some kind of relationship with the writer that she tells her daughter about—“don’t tell your father----“
The daughter is well drawn, the father is okay, the writer is the villain..the neighbour lady is the heroine—she gets Irving through the trip to Toronto to find his daughter—but is not really all that realistic.
Both major characters drove me nuts but I finished it because it was plausible. The dust jacket presents it as being far more meaningful than I found it to be.
August 13, 2025
It was a little slow starting at first, but i was hooked once I kept going. Helen was definitely a love/hate character. She treated Irving like crap and took advantage of how much he loved her, it made me mad reading it, definitely how this book is made to make you feel.
Overall super interesting and love that it’s set in Ontario.
Overall super interesting and love that it’s set in Ontario.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2022
Another Canadian book. Wasn't sure if I would enjoy it but it was really good. I wanted to smack the female character for being so selfish and I felt like I knew her. Takes place in Ontario which again is interesting as I live here.
May 28, 2022
A good Canadian read, set in London Ontario. The story took a different direction to what I was expecting, which is usually a good sign : ) Well drawn characters and believable, compelling plot.
March 19, 2015
Buy futures.
A novel-length short story of events tracing a romance between Irving, a moderately disgusting dominant woman, and Helen, a wearisomely pathetic submissive man, spiced up with a stereotypically obnoxious teen; set in late 20thC London ON. Other characters, some attractive/interesting (Marla), were not deeply developed beyond their plot roles.
The successfulness of the novel as a coherent piece of work with stimulating writerly values exceeded my expectations of this first time author. Of course, he made the predictable mistakes in minutiae like chronology, factual consistency, control of register [incl. occasional lapses into lyrical or leaden prose], gratuitously introduced incident left as loose ends, etc. -- but these are all forgiven when weighed against the many and characteristic strengths. His performance suggests that his subsequent novels will demonstrate a much improved mastery (and merit more stars). Already in After Helen there seems to be a progress in writing skill and judgement from early to late sections. For example, splotches of proto-porn (penis poses) in early chapters were happily avoided later.
He showed remarkable precision and arresting skill in the right hand side of similes, often selecting and neatly providing startlingly vivid images (though the vividness sometimes jarred). His descriptions of characters' mental processes, emotional reactions, and states of mind in action were mostly impressively insightful and convincing. His chapter-limited alternation of narrative tenses with textual times was an effective device that helped carry the flow of intense and complex events without inundating the reader.
One outstanding feat of skillful writing was in the profound and sensitive treatment of the phenomenon of abortion -- wonderfully pro-life without the slightest preachiness.
Jane Austen mars P&P with two chapters that wind things up; so also here -- the last two chapters subtract value.
All in all, recommended. I will read his forthcoming Missing Steps. I mostly read dead authors, but I met this author years ago and knew his wife slightly from work; I was surprised that this fact affected how I read (and maybe interpreted) the novel... the biographical fallacy at work! 3 days read
A novel-length short story of events tracing a romance between Irving, a moderately disgusting dominant woman, and Helen, a wearisomely pathetic submissive man, spiced up with a stereotypically obnoxious teen; set in late 20thC London ON. Other characters, some attractive/interesting (Marla), were not deeply developed beyond their plot roles.
The successfulness of the novel as a coherent piece of work with stimulating writerly values exceeded my expectations of this first time author. Of course, he made the predictable mistakes in minutiae like chronology, factual consistency, control of register [incl. occasional lapses into lyrical or leaden prose], gratuitously introduced incident left as loose ends, etc. -- but these are all forgiven when weighed against the many and characteristic strengths. His performance suggests that his subsequent novels will demonstrate a much improved mastery (and merit more stars). Already in After Helen there seems to be a progress in writing skill and judgement from early to late sections. For example, splotches of proto-porn (penis poses) in early chapters were happily avoided later.
He showed remarkable precision and arresting skill in the right hand side of similes, often selecting and neatly providing startlingly vivid images (though the vividness sometimes jarred). His descriptions of characters' mental processes, emotional reactions, and states of mind in action were mostly impressively insightful and convincing. His chapter-limited alternation of narrative tenses with textual times was an effective device that helped carry the flow of intense and complex events without inundating the reader.
One outstanding feat of skillful writing was in the profound and sensitive treatment of the phenomenon of abortion -- wonderfully pro-life without the slightest preachiness.
Jane Austen mars P&P with two chapters that wind things up; so also here -- the last two chapters subtract value.
All in all, recommended. I will read his forthcoming Missing Steps. I mostly read dead authors, but I met this author years ago and knew his wife slightly from work; I was surprised that this fact affected how I read (and maybe interpreted) the novel... the biographical fallacy at work! 3 days read
December 1, 2014
Irving's wife Helen died of cancer and he is trying his best to carry on with his life. Continuing to work, caring for his daughter Severn whilst coping with a grief that is all consuming.
Severn is angry. She is angry that Helen is dead, she blames Irving, she blames Helen and she's disappeared. Irving and Marla set off on a road trip to Toronto to try to find Severn and her unsuitable boyfriend Avery (Marla's son), to try to work out just why Severn has taken off like this.
The story of Irving and Marla's journey is told in chapters that alternate with the story of how Irving and Helen met years ago. Alongside these two stories the reader learns about Sir John Franklin, who led a doomed 19th century expedition to find the Northwest Passage, a passion of Irving's with echoes of his and Helen's own particular story.
Paul Cavanagh writes very well, expertly exploring relationship issues between a father and daughter, and a husband and wife whilst also concentrating on how loss and grief can affect the mind, and have a huge impact on actions.
Irving discovers many things during his journey, some things that have been buried for many years, and things that now uncovered, must be dealt with.
Whilst Helen and Irving are the predominant characters in After Helen, the author has created a cast of supporting characters who also bring this story to life, and I was especially drawn to Will, the bookseller, and whilst Marla could be seen as annoying and irritating to some, she certainly brings an edge to what could have become a quite heavy and dark novel.
Severn is angry. She is angry that Helen is dead, she blames Irving, she blames Helen and she's disappeared. Irving and Marla set off on a road trip to Toronto to try to find Severn and her unsuitable boyfriend Avery (Marla's son), to try to work out just why Severn has taken off like this.
The story of Irving and Marla's journey is told in chapters that alternate with the story of how Irving and Helen met years ago. Alongside these two stories the reader learns about Sir John Franklin, who led a doomed 19th century expedition to find the Northwest Passage, a passion of Irving's with echoes of his and Helen's own particular story.
Paul Cavanagh writes very well, expertly exploring relationship issues between a father and daughter, and a husband and wife whilst also concentrating on how loss and grief can affect the mind, and have a huge impact on actions.
Irving discovers many things during his journey, some things that have been buried for many years, and things that now uncovered, must be dealt with.
Whilst Helen and Irving are the predominant characters in After Helen, the author has created a cast of supporting characters who also bring this story to life, and I was especially drawn to Will, the bookseller, and whilst Marla could be seen as annoying and irritating to some, she certainly brings an edge to what could have become a quite heavy and dark novel.
April 10, 2009
Very interesting story!! From cover:
"I realized long ago that I'd been searching for a Helen who never truly existed. And yet now that she was gone, I was tempted to hold on to the shining idea of her, to offer her up as some kind of tragic hero, to defend her memory at all costs...
Irving's wife, Helen, passed away over a year ago, but her presence is still very much felt by those she left behind. From the moment he met the red-headed force of nature that was Helen Donnelly, in a chance encounter at her father's bookshop, Irving knew his life would never be the same. He, an unassuming history teacher, and she, a larger-than-life aspiring writer, were not an obvious match - yet with Helen's death, Irving is consumed by a grief he can't articulate.
Now Severn, their teenage daughter - angry at him, angry at Helen - has disappeared, after stealing a book that may reveal more about her mother than she ever wanted to know. On the road, in search of Severn, Irving revists his past with Helen as he follows a trail of clues that reveal why Severn has disappeared. Along the way, he comes face to face with some long-buried family secrets - secrets that he'll have to confront if he wants to save his relationship with his daughter.
A novel that deals in a refreshingly original way with the bond between fathers and daughters. AFTER HELEN is a deeply moving and satisfying story."
"I realized long ago that I'd been searching for a Helen who never truly existed. And yet now that she was gone, I was tempted to hold on to the shining idea of her, to offer her up as some kind of tragic hero, to defend her memory at all costs...
Irving's wife, Helen, passed away over a year ago, but her presence is still very much felt by those she left behind. From the moment he met the red-headed force of nature that was Helen Donnelly, in a chance encounter at her father's bookshop, Irving knew his life would never be the same. He, an unassuming history teacher, and she, a larger-than-life aspiring writer, were not an obvious match - yet with Helen's death, Irving is consumed by a grief he can't articulate.
Now Severn, their teenage daughter - angry at him, angry at Helen - has disappeared, after stealing a book that may reveal more about her mother than she ever wanted to know. On the road, in search of Severn, Irving revists his past with Helen as he follows a trail of clues that reveal why Severn has disappeared. Along the way, he comes face to face with some long-buried family secrets - secrets that he'll have to confront if he wants to save his relationship with his daughter.
A novel that deals in a refreshingly original way with the bond between fathers and daughters. AFTER HELEN is a deeply moving and satisfying story."
October 23, 2015
This book was recommended to me because the plot takes place in London, ON (where I happen to live). Aside from location I knew nothing about this novel. First things first, the title is a little bit deceiving given that the plot jumps from "before Helen" to "after Helen" between chapters so that the title accurately describes only half of the novel. It also didn't help that I grew to really REALLY dislike the character of Helen (her narcissist and juvenile values, personality and behavior left me a little on edge).
It was refreshing to see a father-daughter dynamic take the plot-spotlight, however the depth that the author examined this relationship with was a little capricious. I did enjoy the simplicity of the plot though. Father and teen daughter have a rocky relationship that was shaken up even more with the passing of the mother. Daughter runs away, and in an effort to find her, father travels down memory lane and comes face to face with the choices that were made in his marriage and in the parental role.
In the end, I am not sure if the novel changed me in any way, if it gave me much to think about and reflect on (this is a way that I tend to evaluate a read). It was neat to follow the characters through streets and cities that I know of first hand, but that also sums up the 'value' of this novel for me unfortunately.
It was refreshing to see a father-daughter dynamic take the plot-spotlight, however the depth that the author examined this relationship with was a little capricious. I did enjoy the simplicity of the plot though. Father and teen daughter have a rocky relationship that was shaken up even more with the passing of the mother. Daughter runs away, and in an effort to find her, father travels down memory lane and comes face to face with the choices that were made in his marriage and in the parental role.
In the end, I am not sure if the novel changed me in any way, if it gave me much to think about and reflect on (this is a way that I tend to evaluate a read). It was neat to follow the characters through streets and cities that I know of first hand, but that also sums up the 'value' of this novel for me unfortunately.
July 16, 2015
Paul Cavanagh was London first Lit Idol winner at the London International Book Fair in the UK, and his debut novel After Helen was the novel that helped him win in the UK.
This novel focuses on a man named Irving Cruickshank who is mourning the loss of his wife Helen, and is left to raise his rebellious teenage daughter Severn. Irving teaches history at a local high school, and is surrounded by teenage students everyday, yet he cannot seem to figure out his own daughter. Severn is left feeling angry at her mother for leaving her too early, and at her father for pretending that she no longer exists.
See my full review here --> https://fictiondepictions.wordpress.c...
This novel focuses on a man named Irving Cruickshank who is mourning the loss of his wife Helen, and is left to raise his rebellious teenage daughter Severn. Irving teaches history at a local high school, and is surrounded by teenage students everyday, yet he cannot seem to figure out his own daughter. Severn is left feeling angry at her mother for leaving her too early, and at her father for pretending that she no longer exists.
See my full review here --> https://fictiondepictions.wordpress.c...
November 6, 2015
I read this one in the summer so I'm going off of memory for this review.
I love the idea of this book. I enjoyed the idea of the main character loving to read and wanting to write. I loved the man of this book too because I found him to be very interesting for the most part.
But I didn't love the sex scenes. I could have done without all of those. I felt like it was too much.
At times I found the characters hard to deal with, but I know that I won't love every character out there.
This book just wasn't for me... I wanted to like it, but I just couldn't do it.
I love the idea of this book. I enjoyed the idea of the main character loving to read and wanting to write. I loved the man of this book too because I found him to be very interesting for the most part.
But I didn't love the sex scenes. I could have done without all of those. I felt like it was too much.
At times I found the characters hard to deal with, but I know that I won't love every character out there.
This book just wasn't for me... I wanted to like it, but I just couldn't do it.
April 16, 2015
The book did not live up to the hype of it's cover quotes. First of all, Helen was totally unlikeable alive and dead, she wasn't wild or enchanting or mischievous as implied, she was self- absorbed and selfish. And Irving wasn't just "unassuming", he was dominated by and , in a sense, abused by Helen. The "trail of clues" he followed was a trail of the obvious. And the "twist" that was revealed near the end was just silly and unnecessary. Just not very original in my opinion, though the inclusion of the history of Franklin was interesting.
May 27, 2021
For a first novel, I thought Paul Cavanagh did an outstanding job. His skill at putting to words the very complex feelings of a man who's life is in turmoil. I felt as if I was prying into the lives of Irving, Helen, Will, Severn and old man Walter. Even characters on the fringes of the story, Livingston and Marla were portrayed with care. His prose was so real, so current, the common vernacular. Well done and well worth reading.
January 26, 2009
I really didn't care for this book. It wasn't the writing that I didn't like but the characters. Helen was incredibly selfish person and Irving's idolizing her made me sick. She treated Irving horribly and he just put up with it. Ugh. I really wasn't interested in the whole Artic story either.
April 4, 2015
A bereft husband, a distant and antagonistic 16 year old daughter, both locked in their own grief for Helen the wife and mother. But all is not what it seems, Helen has been a pretty awful mother and wife and the book is the back story to where we begin.
January 11, 2015
THIS BOOK STARTED OUT SLOW BUT THEN GOT BETTER. AFTER I GOT INTO THE STORYLINE IT WENT FASTER AND GRABBED MY ATTENTION
July 21, 2015
I picked this up while on vacation in Toronto. It was another way to see a bit of my surroundings.
There were a few inconsistencies, but the story was interesting.
There were a few inconsistencies, but the story was interesting.
July 25, 2015
enjoyed even though i thoroughly hated helen
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews