Question 5. Michael and Patrick

[Ashley]

Did you feel that Honora and Michael's marriage was realistic, or was it romanticized and idealized? What about Honora's relationship with Patrick?

[Cheryl]

I THINK THAT THE WHOLE "I-SAW-HIM- EMERGING- FROM- THE- SEA" THING WAS A BIT ROMANTICALLY SOPHOMORIC, BUT HONORA WAS A SHELTERED TEENAGER ON HER WAY TO NUNDOM. I LIKED THE CHEEKINESS OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP, AND THE HONESTY THAT THEY SHARED WAS REALLY REFRESHING. I LOVED THE WORK ETHIC AND THE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE THAT WAS UNFLAPPABLE.

[Carol]

I agree completely with Cheryl. For a young girl on her way to become a nun, with the convictions that involves - then to meet Michael and to fall in love with him on such deep levels, was sweet.