Attack the bakery again

Author: Haruki Murakami
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-12-01
Features: A transitional work situated between "The Early Works Trilogy" and Norwegian Wood, comprising six cleverly crafted short stories that collectively portray another Murakami-style youth—one who is always lazy and carefree, always full of witty remarks, laughs at serious people, feels discomfort when doing serious things, gets lost in inexplicable thoughts, and gets hyped up by strange occurrences. A misfit in the bustling metropolis, an outcast of mainstream society. The six seemingly unrelated short stories depict the inevitable experiences of adulthood: the romance of youth and the impulsiveness of youth are becoming increasingly distant; the trivialities of daily life and the burdens of society are hard to shake off. Look at the "I" who spans six stories: at the beginning, he still dares to take risks at night, accompanied by his wife to "attack the bakery again," and even has the leisure to spy on the "disappearance of the Likeness," boasting about the topic in front of young women; but later, he is forced to get involved in "family matters," catering to the solemn future brother-in-law, having to leave the interesting "Tuesday Girl," and engaging in the dull and playful act of searching for a cat in a dead end. "If everyone in the world were like you, the world would probably go to hell." After being scolded by his sister, the playboy "I" finally starts pondering, "Where are we really heading?"