{"product_id":"a-lost-paradise","title":"A Lost Paradise","description":"\u003cp\u003eHere the lovers are Kuki, a 54yearold employee in a publishing company, and Rinko, a childless, 37yearold woman unhappily married to a cold fish of a husband, a professor of medicine. Stuck in a deadend job and an uneventful marriage, Kuki is irresistibly drawn to Rinko from their first encounter, seeing through her demure demeanor to the passionate woman beneath. She returns his feelings with everincreasing abandon, despite lingering fears about where her sexual awakening may lead her. In the end, both are prepared to risk all for their relationship: family, career, and social standing, even life itself.The story contrasts the lovers defiantly freewheeling passion  described in imaginative, smoldering detail  with a rigid society where people are expected to play a prescribed role, whether as dutiful wife or compliant office worker. In escaping these conventional roles, the lovers often escape the city as well, immersing themselves in the traditional beauties of Japanese nature and art as they give themselves over to each other and the pleasure of the moment. And ultimately they make a much more radical escape: one that will ensure that they are left in peace, to enjoy an abiding love.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Brand: Kodansha International (JPN)","offers":[{"title":"Watanabe, JunIchi \/ hardcover","offer_id":47838005625077,"sku":"SONG4770023243","price":45.08,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/5804\/8501\/files\/41ZG2LiSziL.jpg?v=1773725838","url":"https:\/\/ergodebooks.com\/products\/a-lost-paradise","provider":"Ergodebooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}