The Key (Vintage Blue) (original 1956; edition 2004)

Even more intense than I thought. I've been catching drips and drabs of Tanizaki lately and he never fails to impress me with his studies of domination and power and human relations.
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this was a quick read and pretty satisfying. the point of view shifts between the two characters through their diaries then settles on just the one point of view, which results in lacunae. i thought this was both effective and unsettling. the dramatic elements of the story are brought out through the use of this 'ping-pong' point of view and is thus somewhat lost in the dénouement. i suppose it rounds out the book nicely, but whatev.. at least it's an interesting literary device.
i thought the novelistic style of writing was unrealistic of diaries (especially in the wife's diary), but this is a 1950's japanese novel and not two diaries. realism isn't taken all the way here, but rather, just enough. ( )

This is my personal favourite of Tanizaki's work. Seductive, deceptive, and eerie; it is composed of excerpts from a married couple's diaries as they negotiate their sexual relationship and engage in an implicit power struggle which culminates in death. ( )

My second Tanizaki book, and I must admit that I am not really a fan. While I appreciated the premise of this novel, it just didn't manage to draw me in - I didn't find it erotic, or even interesting. I just didn't care about the characters. While Tanizaki appeals to a wide range of discerning readers, sadly I am obviously not one of them. ( )

So captivating it was difficult to put down. I read it in a matter of hours. Illustrates a web of erotic obsession that ultimately leads to destruction, fragmentation, and loss. I plan to read much more of Tanizaki's work. ( )