further in the "why are all these stories downers" files

[alexseanchai]

Richard Ford's "Rock Springs": racist (though possibly character not author), classist (ditto), yech. I feel no sympathy for anyone except the black woman and the little white girl, neither of whom is a major character in the story.

Mary Gaitskill's "A Romantic Weekend": pretty sure that's all on the abuse side of the line between abuse and BDSM. I don't sympathize with the woman so much as pity her.

And these are the stories for "build sympathy for the protagonist" week?