Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - The Old Woman with the Knife

Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

The Old Woman with the Knife by Gu Byeong-mo

11 reviews

janiceinwonderland's review

mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

this was originally intended to be a quick read to hold me over on another hold that i had, but i honestly loved this read. i enjoyed how matter-of-fact hornclaw was and the cast of characters & circumstances they all met carried me through to the bittersweet end. i’d love to see this adapted into a movie or series tbh.

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bookish_purrsuits's review against another edition

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3.0

This book was sold to me as a cozy murder mystery and it definitely is not. There is

animal death

which I wasn't prepared for and always like to know about ahead of time. Overall, I think the book was fine but mostly forgettable (besides

the animal death

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clavishorti's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

As I first flipped through the pages of The Old Woman with the Knife by Gu Byeong-Mo, translated into English by Kim Chi-Young, a surge of awe swept through me. Amidst the rows of pages beckoning to be explored, lay a premise so captivating: the tale of an elderly female assassin with a cold heart in Korea, nearing the twilight of her career. My mind raced with possibilities and intrigues that could unfold within these pages. “Woah,” I whispered to myself in utter admiration, “this story concept is truly riveting.”

However, as I delved into the storyline, I quickly realized that adjustments were needed. It felt like navigating through uncharted territory, where the plot seemed hazy and directionless. The narrative presented felt somewhat lackluster, demanding an ample amount of time to truly forge a connection with the story. It was akin to sailing through murky waters, where the characters felt completely devoid of dimension and lacked depth. It proved challenging for me to genuinely engage with them, as if they were mere fleeting shadows drifting through the pages of the book.

What’s more confounding, the primary conflict in this story appeared to resolve swiftly and without leaving a significant impact. As a reader expecting tension and build-up in a thriller-action narrative, I felt somewhat disappointed with how the book failed to fully embody the essence of its genre. I yearned for more spine-tingling moments and heart-pounding plot twists, yet they seemed inadequately served within these pages. Throughout the story, I searched for solid ground but found myself lost amidst confusion. I hoped to find a glimmer of light at the end of the narrative tunnel, yet even then, I remained adrift in a storyline that felt perplexing and unsatisfying.

Moreover, as I read about the relationship between the main character, Hornclaw, and her dog, a sense of discomfort crept into my mind. Although Hornclaw acknowledged her neglect of her pet, the empathy I felt towards the animal, abandoned for so long and left unfed, only intensified. Imagine the plight of the dog, faithfully waiting for its owner but receiving minimal attention, even to the point of starvation. It not only violated humane norms but also disturbed the conscience of the reader.

Hornclaw’s indifference towards the welfare of her pet raised serious questions in my mind. Was this merely a reflection of the cold and unfeeling nature of an assassin, or was there something deeper that the author wished to convey? I pondered whether Hornclaw was intended to be portrayed as a psychopath lacking empathy towards other living beings. These questions lingered in my mind, adding a layer of emotional complexity to my reading experience.

However, amidst the disappointment that shrouded this reading journey, there was one part of the story that managed to capture my attention strongly. It was when the author delved into the depths of Hornclaw’s character, taking us through her formative years to the person we encounter in this story. I felt like I was uncovering a hidden treasure trove as I traversed each page recounting Hornclaw’s journey from childhood to adulthood.

In this section, the author seemed to find greater freedom in storytelling. The narrative became more vivid, colorful, and followed a clearer direction. Details about Hornclaw’s background were told with meticulous depth, providing a more tangible portrayal of who she truly is behind the cold facade of an assassin.

Every moment of Hornclaw’s childhood, every obstacle she faced on her journey to adulthood, resonated strongly within this narrative. From past traumas to her relationships with loved ones, each element added new dimensions to Hornclaw’s character, making her feel more human and complex. This not only provided a deeper understanding of Hornclaw as an individual but also gave me hope that the story would take a turn and become even more compelling.

Nonetheless, despite my efforts to re-immerse myself in the initial storyline, I still found it challenging to fully enjoy The Old Woman with the Knife by Gu Byeong-Mo. Even as the story approached its conclusion, a sense of dissatisfaction lingered in my mind. It wasn’t easy to determine whether the lack of appeal in this narrative stemmed from a writing style that didn’t align with my taste or from a translation that may not have fully preserved the essence of the original story. However, in all respects, this book fell short of meeting my personal expectations. Additionally, I also recognize that readers’ tastes and preferences are highly subjective, and The Old Woman with the Knife by Gu Byeong-Mo may well be a favorite for others. This serves as a reminder of the importance of appreciating the diversity of reading preferences and providing space for each work to find its place in the hearts of readers.

“Not just because you’re a dog. It’s the same with people. They think that an old person can’t live the rest of her life with her mind intact, that an old person gets sick easily and spreads disease, and that nobody will take care of the elderly. That’s what they think about all living things.”

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isobelthefrog's review against another edition

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dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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headinthepages's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated

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nath_py's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

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agirlnamedellie's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Found the beginning half of the book to be quite slow but the second half really picked up in pace and plot. I liked that book was focused on an older women at the point in her life where she wants to retire. I felt like her backstory was really well told and established. This made you understand how she ended up in her job and the decisions she makes. I did really feel for her at times. I enjoyed reading about the relationship she had with her dog. The last few chapters felt like you were watching an action film!

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ka_cam's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This book’s preside reads like a thriller when the book itself reads more like a character study- I think this set up coming in left me more bored than I otherwise would be. There’s some thriller/action elements but a lot of it is Hornclaw reflecting on her life and working through the last tasks of her career, and how they weave into her past assassinations and entanglements. I’d have liked it to commit more to examining hornclaw, I found the background on her some of the most compelling sections.

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blewballoon's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wanted to like this more. I found that there would be times I would get yanked out of the story by the feeling of "oh yeah, this is a translation" where things just didn't quite flow right. I also found the characters to be too flat for me. The main character isn't actually very likable, although she is at least better than the villain who is awful and has motivations that don't even make much sense.

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atamano's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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