Helen Fogwill Porter (1930–2023)

Newfoundland writer Helen Fogwill Porter's novel, Finishing School, is an insightful examination of the working class of St. John's, Newfoundland during the 1980's. The story focuses on Eileen Novak, a forty-nine year old divorced hair stylist by day and a mature student by night, studying to obtain her high school diploma. The story is really a journal of Eileen's thoughts and feelings, initially started as a English class assignment from the community college teacher, Mrs. Penney. The reader quickly learns that Eileen is comfortable composing her thoughts and speaking frankly about the day-to-day event of her life within the covers of a notebook. The story is a compilation of Eileen's free-wheeling advice, opinions and words of wisdom from her experiences with her Mom, ex-husband Gary, her former boyfriend Bruce, her three grown daughters, her stepfather Herb, her classmate Tom and her group of friends and acquaintances.

A candid, observational view of society and family values of the 1980's, which is what made this novel such a treat to read now, some 30 years beyond the time period. No topic is taboo to Eileen, at least not within the confines of her journal covers. A really great story that I would recommend to others.… (mais)