It is difficult for me to dislike anything which is well written, let alone a book with characters named "Blue Rhonda Latrec" "Hercules" and "Banana Mae." Hercules, a 16 year-old black youth in segregated society, has a few trysts with a white, "society" woman many years his senior; only to die shortly in a railway accident, but not before impregnating the older white woman. This smacks a little contrived, as does Rita Mae's overuse of cliches, but the book is still a joy to read. The author writes characters SO well that I find it difficult to dislike this book except for a few complaints (probably because I'm a man and don't understand women :). And as a former Virginian, I love anything which excoriates my former state--yet manages to keep ALL humanity in full flower. I preferred "Venus Envy" and "Rubyfruit Jungle," but "Southern Discomfort" remains a minor treasure!