Some Prefer Nettles by Junichiro Tanizaki

Some Prefer Nettles by Junichiro TanizakiThe marriage of Kaname and Misako is disintegrating: whilst seeking passion and fulfilment in the arms of others, they contemplate the humiliation of divorce. Misako's father believes their relationship has been damaged by the influence of a new and alien culture, and so attempts to heal the breach by educating his son in law in the time honoured Japanese traditions of aesthetic and sensual pleasure. The result is an absorbing, chilling conflict

we expect dragons to be gigantic

an old friend who provides the missing link in the story they are all a part of

their brief sojourn in Anaheim

Deep undercover

He fell in love with her and overcame many obstacles to marry her

Does 'reality' lie with him

The two men couldn’t be further apart: The narrator is cerebral

disturbing and beautiful

But soon she discovers a trail of dark secrets

known to Romans as Hercules

deceit and jealousy

he painstakingly documents a world of unrelenting drudgery and squalor - sleeping in bug-infested hostels and doss houses of last resort