Snakes and Earrings

Also known as Hebi ni Pisai in the original Japanese, Snakes and Earrings is a Seinen light novel that revolves around its female protagonist Lui, her boyfriend Ama and the sadistic tattoo artist Shiba.

It focuses heavily on body modification that Lui performs on herself and her downward spiral into alcoholism. She'll learn more about both Ama and Shiba in a world where pain bleeds into pleasure...

The original Japanese novel was published in 2003 and was translated to English in 2007. A live-action movie was made in Japan. The book is by Hitomi Kanehara, who won the Akutagawa Prize for literature.

Tropes used in Snakes and Earrings include:

The Alcoholic - Lui, dead on.
Awesome McCoolname - Ama's real name is Amadeus. His last name is Deus, which sounds similar to Zeus from Greek Mythology.
- Lui claims she's named after Louis Vuitton
Betty and Veronica - Ama and Shiba respectively
Bi the Way - Shiba is a bisexual sadist!
- But Not Too Bi - He doesn't mention any past relationships or show interest in any boys (or Ama) and the only person we see him having sex with is Lui...
- Ama's autopsy shows he was raped... What could this mean?
Casual Kink
Darker and Edgier - From body modification to BLOODY BLOODY MURDER!
Depraved Bisexual - Shiba
Masochism Tango - Shiba and Lui's relationship
Mind Screw
Sadist Show - If Lui's downward spiral with beer isn't enough, We never find out who murdered the gang member in the magazine. We also don't find out who killed Ama although there's evidence it could be Shiba...
- Lui's entire life could be a Sadist Show toward the end she questions why she wanted to split her tongue in the first place and why she wanted a tattoo anyway.. Not to mention that she pretty much starves herself out of depression...
- Then Shiba is... that...
Sex Equals Love - Lui and Shiba end up having sex a lot, but even after Ama is murdered, Lui never says she loves Shiba. Nor does she agree to marry him...
What Have I Become?