Helen Hoover

Helen is the wife of Adrian Hoover and in addition to being the protagonist, is also the author and narrator. A scientist by trade, Helen begins the novel as a Chicago-based metallurgy researcher. Early on in the story, Helen reveals to a psychiatrist that she has, since a very young age, dreamed of writing about nature while living in a natural setting such as a state park. It is this dream, in part, which spurs Helen to give up civilization in favor of the "simpler" life and to eventually become a writer.

Helen enjoys watching woodland creatures, often setting out food so that she might observe them from the safety and comfort of her cabin. She is, however, cognizant of the risks associated with feeding non-domesticated animals, taking care that certain animals, such as bears, do not realize that people are the source of its food. Curiously...