Genre
Humor, romance
Setting and Context
The novel is set in the Absaroka Mountains of Wyoming, Boston, and Evanston, Illinois.
Narrator and Point of View
The narrator is Helen Carpenter; the point of view stays with Helen.
Tone and Mood
The tone is self-deprecating, comic, and poignant; the mood is suspenseful and uplifting.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist in Helen Carpenter; antagonists include Jake, Duncan, Beckett, Mike, and Windy.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is that Helen believes a three-week wilderness survival course will enable her to subvert people's expectations and receive external validation that she has recovered from her failed marriage.
Climax
The novel reaches its climax when Jake and Helen confess their love for each other while stuck in an elevator.
Foreshadowing
Beckett's warnings not to step on fallen logs foreshadows Hugh stepping through one and breaking his hip.
