How Do You Respond To Karen Lynch's 'Refuge'?

This story is about philosophical and intellectual infatuation, and consequently it isn’t action packed. The two lovers constantly communicate through letters for over a year of time. The connections they make are deep enough for them to take it a step further and consider marriage. I, sometimes, relate to such connections, which are not necessarily romantic, even via modern texting and emailing. These emotions and deep connections, to me, are determined by things such as usage of emoticons, to the insinuation of the text itself.
“Frances and Bernard”, like any typical couple in a classic, face troubles within their relationships, whether it is their family and friends disapproving their choices, or initially struggling to accept a trait in one another. This is similar to one of the well-known classics, Romeo and Juliet. Both couples face disapproval from both or one side by more than one family member of the other. Also, the story somehow reminds me of the book “Refuge” by Karen Lynch when Frances struggles to accept the fact that Bernard has converted when she sends a letter to her close friend, Claire, stating, “He converted a few years ago, here I frown: could be a sign of delusions of grandeur, when a Puritan returns to Rome.” …show more content…
Regardless, the novel is a captivating reflection on how the romantic life and the life of the creative mind can both reinforce and hinder each other. It doesn’t evade some of the larger tribulations of the era, either, such as class and gender concerns. The conflict Frances wages between indulging in love, marriage and family and being a devoted author is incredibly remarkable. Giving readers a well-constructed glance at how much tenacity a female writer of that period needed in order to be taken