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bonnybonnybooks's review
5.0
I don't know what it says when the best works on elderly female serial killers that I've read were both written in a non-English language (this and [b:An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good|40104741|An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good (Äldre dam, #1)|Helene Tursten|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1526077553l/40104741._SX50_.jpg|62169561]).
This is a South Korean book that tells the story of Hornclaw, who has worked as an assassin her entire adult life and is now facing the specter of retirement. The hard flint around her heart has also started flaking away, as shown by her sweet relationship with her dog and her inexplicable fondness for a young doctor and his family. Unfortunately for Hornclaw, it is not only aging that is making her final assignments so dangerous. There's a young rival who has a decades-old vendetta against her (which the audience learns but in a darkly comedic vein, she is completely unaware of).
Byeong-mo does an excellent job with Hornclaw - she's tough and ruthless, but also polite and at times empathetic. Even through translation, Hornclaw's "voice" is clear and engaging.
Perhaps part of why I enjoy this and An Elderly Lady so much is not only that they are interesting psychological books from a fascinating perspective, but also because they give insights into another culture, without the usual depressing tone of most books in English set elsewhere or elsewhen. There's discussion about some serious topics here - corruption, gentrification, how women and the elderly are treated - but it's wrapped up in murders and explosions. The final action scene feels right out of a Hollywood movie. Even in bleak moments it is never a downer, but a quickly paced ride.
This is a South Korean book that tells the story of Hornclaw, who has worked as an assassin her entire adult life and is now facing the specter of retirement. The hard flint around her heart has also started flaking away, as shown by her sweet relationship with her dog and her inexplicable fondness for a young doctor and his family. Unfortunately for Hornclaw, it is not only aging that is making her final assignments so dangerous. There's a young rival who has a decades-old vendetta against her (which the audience learns but in a darkly comedic vein, she is completely unaware of).
Byeong-mo does an excellent job with Hornclaw - she's tough and ruthless, but also polite and at times empathetic. Even through translation, Hornclaw's "voice" is clear and engaging.
Perhaps part of why I enjoy this and An Elderly Lady so much is not only that they are interesting psychological books from a fascinating perspective, but also because they give insights into another culture, without the usual depressing tone of most books in English set elsewhere or elsewhen. There's discussion about some serious topics here - corruption, gentrification, how women and the elderly are treated - but it's wrapped up in murders and explosions. The final action scene feels right out of a Hollywood movie. Even in bleak moments it is never a downer, but a quickly paced ride.
siob___'s review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
nodogsonthemoon's review
dark
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? It's complicated
3.25
letstalkreads's review
4.0
3.5- recommended by Dayna.. very intriguing translated book- inconsistent. It could really get you in your feels and it is quite a clever character, however, some passages were confusing and left unanswered.
I still think if you enjoy translated novels, this should be on your TBR.
I still think if you enjoy translated novels, this should be on your TBR.
phubbard's review against another edition
3.0
Unfortunately this book asks the age old question: why should I care about this?
anardana's review against another edition
3.0
Very interesting premise but I found this book very slow, dark, humorless. I see that the English blurb says it's "mordantly funny" ... I'm sure reading it in French translation didn't help. I've found other Korean novels very slow as well.
saguaros's review
4.0
3.5
Some parts dragged a little but overall a good story exploring aging/being old, memory, death, loss, and violence through the character of an elderly hired killer. (I think my mom would kill me if she knew I was calling someone in their mid 60s ‘elderly’ but I can’t think of another word).
Some parts dragged a little but overall a good story exploring aging/being old, memory, death, loss, and violence through the character of an elderly hired killer. (I think my mom would kill me if she knew I was calling someone in their mid 60s ‘elderly’ but I can’t think of another word).
lexisunshine's review against another edition
4.0
Loved: our protagonist being an elderly woman! Who kills people! True diveristy!
Didn’t love: mmmm, nothing I particular except perhaps how dry some translated Korean books can come off.
Didn’t love: mmmm, nothing I particular except perhaps how dry some translated Korean books can come off.
bookeared's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5