CLEO

Helen Brown was born and brought up in New Zealand, where she first worked as a journalist, TV presenter, and scriptwriter. Now living in Melbourne, Australia, with her family, Helen continues to write columns for the New Zealand media, and she’s been voted Columnist of the Year several times. Cleo rose to the top of the bestseller list in its first weeks in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia and has been translated into more than eight languages.

“A remarkable memoir…I realized that Helen Brown didn’t break my heart at all—she opened it.”—Beth Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

“An absolute must.”—Cat World

“The next Marley & Me. Even non cat-lovers will be moved.”
—Good Housekeeping

What would you say are the main themes of Cleo?

Which characters do you identify with most? Faced with similar tragedy do you think you would behave differently?  

Has the book changed how you might behave towards someone experiencing grief? If so in what ways?

Cleo had an enormous impact on her grieving family. Discuss the importance of pets in an age of technology and splintering families. Has an animal changed your life in any way?

Helen claims not to be a cat person, partly because of her semi rural upbringing. Are “cat people” and “dog people” born or created? How would you describe yourself?

Conventional religion is not a source of comfort for Helen. How important is spirituality in this story? Is it a major factor in your own life?

For much of the book Helen struggles with forgiveness. How is it possible to truly forgive someone who has been responsible for the death of your child?

In what ways is losing a child different from losing a partner or parent?

Why is there tension in Helen and Steve’s relationship, even before the tragedy? Do you think they should have worked harder to make their marriage work?

Helen embarks on a relationship with Philip, a much younger man. Would you describe her as a typical Cougar? Why do you think there’s a spotlight on older women/younger men relationships?

Discuss Rob and his journey into adulthood. Does the loss of his older brother Sam enrich him in any way?

Which character do you think helps the family most? “Bubbles, darling?” Ginny; Rosie who knows everything about cats; Arthur Judson who waited at the accident scene or somebody else? Discuss everyday heroes, and the ones you have met.  

Cleo teaches Rob and Helen to smile again. How appropriate is light heartedness in midst of tragedy?  

Despite advances in grief counselling many people are unwilling to talk openly about death, the death of children in particular. Would society be healthier if dying was regarded as a necessary part of living?

Was Cleo special, or do all pets have the capacity to improve people’s lives?