The second bakery attack by Murakami Haruki

 The story begins with the couple waking up in the middle of the night, both feeling immense hunger. They try to satisfy the hunger with the food they have (onions, beer), but it doesn’t go away. Then, the husband tells his wife about his first bakery attack, and the story of hearing to classic and getting the bread. He intended to ‘steal’ the bread, but instead he ‘exchanged’ it with hearing the music. Wife suggests that it has a curse on them now, and they should commit a bakery attack to resolve the issue. They get prepared; ski mask, gun…and finds a McDonald’s and attacks it. They rob 30 hamburgers and eats it, and as the sun rises, the story ends. 


 Although this story was based on magical realism, the ‘magic’ in this story was slightly more realistic compared to other stories we learned. Yes, a couple attacking McDonald’s at night with a shotgun is magical, but it is not that extensive compared with old man with wings, dragon in the house, or a handsome drowned man. 


 The purpose of the couple’s McDonald attack was first, to resolve the extensive hunger and second, to get away from the curse. But I thought that there is no reason for them to justify their attack, and I thought that the story flow was irrational. If I was hungry in the middle of the night, I would drink water a lot or go out to 24hour-convenience store and buy stuff, not robbing the food shop. I also do not fully understand the ‘curse’ of the first bakery attack. Yes, it is true that the husband felt somewhat eerie after listening to classics and got the bread, but I don’t know why the wife so eagerly tries to resolve the supposed ‘curse’ that is on them. 


 It was interesting to see some elements in the story helps the story flow and provide meaning. During their McDonald’s attack, there is a couple sleeping on the table, not noticing their attack at all. This gives more magical aspect to the attack, as something happens (to the McDonald’s employee and the attackers) and not happens (to the sleeping couple) at the same time. The husband alludes the couple to ‘deep sea fish’, and I think it is a good example because deep-sea fish usually have poor eyesight and ignorant of nearby changes. The rising sun, gives a proper ending to the story, since the story starts in the night and continues, and as the couple devours the hamburger and resolves the hunger, the sun rises, marking the end of the curse and the story. Well….not much as James Joyce but still quite good.