Description
Fiction. Literature. Thriller. HTML:*A New York Times Editors' Choice* Pick *A Most Anticipated Read in LitHub, CrimeReads, Thrillist, and Popsugar* The kinetic story of a sixty-five-year-old female assassin who faces an unexpected threat in the twilight of her career�??this is an international bestseller and the English language debut from an award-winning South Korean author At sixty-five, Hornclaw is beginning to slow down. She lives modestly in a small apartment, with only her aging dog, a rescue named Deadweight, to keep her company. There are expectations for people her age�??that she'll retire and live out the rest of her days quietly. But Hornclaw is not like other people. She is an assassin. Double-crossers, corporate enemies, cheating spouses�??for the past four decades, Hornclaw has killed them all with ruthless efficiency, and the less she's known about her targets, the better. But now, nearing the end of her career, she has just slipped up. An injury leads her to an unexpected connection with a doctor and his family. But emotions, for an assassin, are a dangerous proposition. As Hornclaw's world closes in, this final chapter in her career may also mark her own bloody end. A sensation in South Korea, and now translated into English for the first time by Chi-Young Kim, The Old Woman with the Knife is an electrifying, singular, mordantly funny novel about the expectations imposed on aging bodies and the dramatic ways in which one woman chooses to reclaim he… (more)
Publication
Hanover Square Press (2022), Edition: Original ed., 288 pages
User reviews
LibraryThing member arubabookwoman
The elderly woman sitting on the subway "is a model senior citizen, wholesome and refined and respectable. Rather than making a show of how deserving she is of a seat she stands by the occupied priority seats at the end of the car and doesn't complain. Her clothing is appropriate for a middle-class
But this "granny" is a little different. She is an assassin, the co-founder and part-owner of a firm of assassins for hire. She has been ruthlessly and cleverly killing people since she was a teenager.
Now however, though she is in excellent physical and mental shape (for her age, or even for a much younger woman) she is beginning to wonder if she is "losing it," and is considering retirement. She nevertheless decides to undertake one last job. But as she begins the process of tracking and setting up her prey, she begins to notice small snags and anomalies, and it soon becomes apparent that there is someone after her, somewhat setting her up as their prey.
This short Korean novel was a quirky and fun read. Along with being a decent crime novel, it was also an exploration of aging.
Recommended
3 stars
First line: "So this is what it's like on the subway on Friday night."
Last line: "So Ryu, it might not be my time to join you yet."
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senior citizen perfectly aligned with the standard of old age; off-brand but decent clothes....She exists like an extra in a movie, woven seamlessly into a scene, behaving as if she had always been there, a retiree thrilled to take care of her grandchildren in her gold years living the rest of her days with a frugality baked into her bones." In other words, this woman "skated under the radar."But this "granny" is a little different. She is an assassin, the co-founder and part-owner of a firm of assassins for hire. She has been ruthlessly and cleverly killing people since she was a teenager.
Now however, though she is in excellent physical and mental shape (for her age, or even for a much younger woman) she is beginning to wonder if she is "losing it," and is considering retirement. She nevertheless decides to undertake one last job. But as she begins the process of tracking and setting up her prey, she begins to notice small snags and anomalies, and it soon becomes apparent that there is someone after her, somewhat setting her up as their prey.
This short Korean novel was a quirky and fun read. Along with being a decent crime novel, it was also an exploration of aging.
Recommended
3 stars
First line: "So this is what it's like on the subway on Friday night."
Last line: "So Ryu, it might not be my time to join you yet."
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LibraryThing member cathyskye
The story of a sixty-five-year-old female assassin captured my imagination, so I opened The Old Woman With the Knife with a great deal of anticipation. We learn almost the entirety of Hornclaw's life: her childhood, her work as a "disease control specialist," some of her targets that she's killed,
The story weaves between two major plotlines: her growing connection with the doctor and his family and her realization that she has an enemy who wants to kill her. How she manages to deal with both is compelling, but no matter how well-written the story is-- and it is-- the tone is so dispassionate that I had a very difficult time connecting with Hornclaw and, by the book's end, was left feeling disappointed. Your mileage may certainly vary, and I hope that it does.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
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and her growing awareness that her skills are diminishing almost as quickly as she begins feeling compassion for others.The story weaves between two major plotlines: her growing connection with the doctor and his family and her realization that she has an enemy who wants to kill her. How she manages to deal with both is compelling, but no matter how well-written the story is-- and it is-- the tone is so dispassionate that I had a very difficult time connecting with Hornclaw and, by the book's end, was left feeling disappointed. Your mileage may certainly vary, and I hope that it does.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
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LibraryThing member Citizenjoyce
This South Korean novel is about Hornclaw, an aging, amoral, emotionally stunted paid assassin who works for an agency that takes contracts with no regard for reason. It's just a job, and a job she has done well her whole life, but now she's concerned that she's slipping a little and no longer
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valuable to her agency. Her mistakes are mocked by a younger agent in the firm who is valuable for his special skills. He is chosen by clients who want their object to suffer before death. I don't think any of us would want to trade places with Hornclaw even with her special talents, but her contemplation of aging in the face of strict self-reliance is absorbing. Show Less
LibraryThing member hcnewton
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader as part of a Quick Takes Catch-up post, emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.
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I think I need to read this, so I can focus on some things I didn't give enough attention to (and a couple of the names confused me a bit, so I know I missed some
But this story about an aging assassin who might be having memory issues, and could be developing a conscience of sorts—while trying to put a young up-and-comer in their place was just great.
Every front worked—the emotional moments, the dry wit, the action and intrigue, the character development...all solidly delivered. I'd probably have rated this higher if I'd read it and could've been more careful in understanding. Strongly recommended.
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I think I need to read this, so I can focus on some things I didn't give enough attention to (and a couple of the names confused me a bit, so I know I missed some
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things while I figured out the context).But this story about an aging assassin who might be having memory issues, and could be developing a conscience of sorts—while trying to put a young up-and-comer in their place was just great.
Every front worked—the emotional moments, the dry wit, the action and intrigue, the character development...all solidly delivered. I'd probably have rated this higher if I'd read it and could've been more careful in understanding. Strongly recommended.
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LibraryThing member AnnieMod
Being a female assassin is hard. Being 65, a female and an assassin is a different level of hard. And yet, Hornclaw somehow is still pulling it off - living in a small apartment with a dog she never planned to have, appearing to the world as a normal Korean grandmother (without a family to call her
The novel mixes the assassin story with a story of a woman who is trying to hold off to her job and life while management and the younger coworkers want to push her out. Some of the challenges have nothing to do with her chosen work -- everyone is prone to experience them sooner or later. But adding the unusual job, the extent of which is revealed in flashbacks, makes the novel shine.
I really enjoyed this novel - the mix of Korean culture and almost standard genre elements was seamless.
PS: I've seen a lot of comparisons between this book and Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn. If someone reads one of these and then goes for the other expecting something similar, they will be disappointed - they both have aging female assassins and someone who wants to eliminate them but that is where the similarities end. This book is like a John le Carré spy novel while the Raybourn novel is like James Bond or Burn Notice -- same genre, different niche and style. Both are good - in their own way. And in some ways the two of them complement each other.
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that). Everyone in her organization expects her to just silently melt into the shadows - she is of age after all. She on the other hand, would rather keep working. Except that these last few jobs had been harder than they should have been - she is tired and getting old but there seems to be also something else going on - it feels as if someone is trying to make her fail. And when someone actually shows her some care, she realizes that for the first time in a very long time she has feelings - and these can be exploited. Getting conscience just when your life depends on not having one is a bit inconvenient... The novel mixes the assassin story with a story of a woman who is trying to hold off to her job and life while management and the younger coworkers want to push her out. Some of the challenges have nothing to do with her chosen work -- everyone is prone to experience them sooner or later. But adding the unusual job, the extent of which is revealed in flashbacks, makes the novel shine.
I really enjoyed this novel - the mix of Korean culture and almost standard genre elements was seamless.
PS: I've seen a lot of comparisons between this book and Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn. If someone reads one of these and then goes for the other expecting something similar, they will be disappointed - they both have aging female assassins and someone who wants to eliminate them but that is where the similarities end. This book is like a John le Carré spy novel while the Raybourn novel is like James Bond or Burn Notice -- same genre, different niche and style. Both are good - in their own way. And in some ways the two of them complement each other.
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LibraryThing member GeauxGetLit
The synopsis of this book hooked me…I love reading about women in older generations than your stereotypical 20s and 30s in literature.
Imagine a badass woman in her 60s still active in a killer for hire agency! The plot was a bit one dimensional as it related to her age and chosen career. I
Overall, this book was a really quick read. Get this if you like strong female characters where age has no limits
Thank you Hanover Square #htpbooks & NetGalley for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review
Imagine a badass woman in her 60s still active in a killer for hire agency! The plot was a bit one dimensional as it related to her age and chosen career. I
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thought the characters could have been more finessed; however, this is a translated book and I’m sure some fine tuning will get lost in translation. Overall, this book was a really quick read. Get this if you like strong female characters where age has no limits
Thank you Hanover Square #htpbooks & NetGalley for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review
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LibraryThing member TheGalaxyGirl
This novel is unlike anything I have ever read. I'm not normally drawn to assassin stories but I did enjoy this one, mostly because the character is so interesting. The dilemmas she faces -- the rigors of aging and the rivalry of younger colleagues -- would be applicable in any sort of profession.
Although the supporting characters have an individual flavor, none of them are much more than one-dimensional; even the main antagonist is pretty flat, but the feeling I got from this is that this is how the main character, Hornclaw, sees the people around her. But this is how one would have to be if one were an assassin, none of this 'justifiable homicide' nonsense.
I would have rated this book higher, but I really didn't like the ending. It felt very implausible, and thematically removed from the rest of the story.
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I enjoyed the vexation of an amoral character completely removed from her feeling, suddenly developing traces of empathy and emotion. The author doesn't moralize about the choices Hornclaw makes, just presents the reader with the facts of the case, so to speak. Although the supporting characters have an individual flavor, none of them are much more than one-dimensional; even the main antagonist is pretty flat, but the feeling I got from this is that this is how the main character, Hornclaw, sees the people around her. But this is how one would have to be if one were an assassin, none of this 'justifiable homicide' nonsense.
I would have rated this book higher, but I really didn't like the ending. It felt very implausible, and thematically removed from the rest of the story.
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LibraryThing member quondame
In Seoul a 65 year old woman has been an assassin since her teens and is slowing down, has suffered some injury and is being harassed by her agency's hot new boy. This is a story of minimal, blighted lives in a Korea that doesn't seem to have anything real on offer.
LibraryThing member srms.reads
3.75/5
“She exists like an extra in a movie, woven seamlessly into a scene, behaving as if she had always been there, a retiree thrilled to take care of her grandchildren in her golden years, living the rest of her days with a frugality baked into her bones.”
Our protagonist is a
“You can’t last in this line of work if you show your feelings. It doesn’t matter if it’s rage or discomfort or regret. The most important thing is to let insults wash over you. And you’re a woman, which means you’ll often have to ignore insults.”
She lives with her dog, a rescue she has named Deadweight who understands her perfectly and has “learned her human’s preferences and understands that she still finds it strange to feel the warmth of a living being and how unbearable it is for her to get used to it.” Despite her age, Hornclaw still works in the field with her weapon of choice - a knife laced with poison. Though alert and agile, she feels her physical strength and stamina gradually diminishing and though not quite ready to retire, she knows that her days of active involvement are drawing to a close. She feels a bit out of place among the younger “disease-control specialists” entering the field. She understands how the younger members of the “agency” view her in light of her age. One particular specialist, Bullfight, is openly disrespectful, seems to hold a grudge and appears to be keeping tabs on her. One night, she is injured in the course of an assignment and is forced to take the help of a young doctor instead of the regular physician who has been doing work for the “agency” – an encounter that impacts Hornclaw on a personal level, resulting in an unexpected turn of events leading up to an action-packed finale.
The narrative is sharp and engaging and takes us through Hornclaw’s life as an assassin in the present day with her backstory revealed through flashbacks. The author’s characterization of Hornclaw is superb- with both her detachment and attachments depicted with aplomb. The author excels at both describing the tense moments of Hornclaw’s work-life as well as the more mellow moments of reflection and introspection. The protagonist, Hornclaw, commands respect and admiration. This book is part thriller and part character study with a strong female protagonist. The narrative is well-paced for the most part and even in the slower segments, I did not lose interest. However, if you are expecting an intensely suspenseful, twisty story, this is not it though it has some truly action-packed moments. The writing is direct and factual with emphasis on Hornclaw’s thoughts and actions as she contemplates retirement from a long career in the “disease-control” game and as she faces one last dangerous confrontation that is more personal than professional. I was attracted to this book based on the premise and was not disappointed. Overall, I found The Old Woman With the Knife by Gu Byeong-Mo (translated by Chi-Young Kim) an intriguing read that was put hard to down.
“Maybe all living beings get to experience a bright shining moment at least once in their lives, precisely because they all crumble like overripe fruit, disappear like fireworks in the night sky.”
“She exists like an extra in a movie, woven seamlessly into a scene, behaving as if she had always been there, a retiree thrilled to take care of her grandchildren in her golden years, living the rest of her days with a frugality baked into her bones.”
Our protagonist is a
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sixty-five-year-old Korean assassin who goes by the name of Hornclaw and has been in the business of “disease-control” for forty-five years and counting, associated with the “agency” she helped build with her late mentor Ryu. She is smart and precise, approaching her target with an almost clinical detachment focusing on the “how” of the extermination of the “vermin” in question and not bothering the “why”.“You can’t last in this line of work if you show your feelings. It doesn’t matter if it’s rage or discomfort or regret. The most important thing is to let insults wash over you. And you’re a woman, which means you’ll often have to ignore insults.”
She lives with her dog, a rescue she has named Deadweight who understands her perfectly and has “learned her human’s preferences and understands that she still finds it strange to feel the warmth of a living being and how unbearable it is for her to get used to it.” Despite her age, Hornclaw still works in the field with her weapon of choice - a knife laced with poison. Though alert and agile, she feels her physical strength and stamina gradually diminishing and though not quite ready to retire, she knows that her days of active involvement are drawing to a close. She feels a bit out of place among the younger “disease-control specialists” entering the field. She understands how the younger members of the “agency” view her in light of her age. One particular specialist, Bullfight, is openly disrespectful, seems to hold a grudge and appears to be keeping tabs on her. One night, she is injured in the course of an assignment and is forced to take the help of a young doctor instead of the regular physician who has been doing work for the “agency” – an encounter that impacts Hornclaw on a personal level, resulting in an unexpected turn of events leading up to an action-packed finale.
The narrative is sharp and engaging and takes us through Hornclaw’s life as an assassin in the present day with her backstory revealed through flashbacks. The author’s characterization of Hornclaw is superb- with both her detachment and attachments depicted with aplomb. The author excels at both describing the tense moments of Hornclaw’s work-life as well as the more mellow moments of reflection and introspection. The protagonist, Hornclaw, commands respect and admiration. This book is part thriller and part character study with a strong female protagonist. The narrative is well-paced for the most part and even in the slower segments, I did not lose interest. However, if you are expecting an intensely suspenseful, twisty story, this is not it though it has some truly action-packed moments. The writing is direct and factual with emphasis on Hornclaw’s thoughts and actions as she contemplates retirement from a long career in the “disease-control” game and as she faces one last dangerous confrontation that is more personal than professional. I was attracted to this book based on the premise and was not disappointed. Overall, I found The Old Woman With the Knife by Gu Byeong-Mo (translated by Chi-Young Kim) an intriguing read that was put hard to down.
“Maybe all living beings get to experience a bright shining moment at least once in their lives, precisely because they all crumble like overripe fruit, disappear like fireworks in the night sky.”
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LibraryThing member capewood
2023 book #46. 2022. Hornclaw is a 65-yo Korean woman nearing the end of her 45 year career as a contract killer. She grows reflective as a former colleague turns against her. Interesting and a good book club read. A best seller in South Korea.
Awards
NPR: Books We Love (2022)
The New York Times Notable Books of the Year (Fiction/Poetry — 2022)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2013
Physical description
288 p.; 7.16 inches
ISBN
1335425764 / 9781335425768