The Old Woman with the Knife

I really liked it a lot. The writing was very stripped down, almost flattened, but in a good way. It felt like the author was telling you about things that happened, just the facts, and you could read into it what you wanted. Do you want to place symbolism on this thing? Go for it; the author won't stop you, or help you. Do you want to psychoanalyze why this character reacted that way? Go for it; the author won't stop you, or explain it to you. This could feel like the author abandoning the reader, but instead it felt like the author trusting us. It was exciting, both in plot and in style.

This would have made a great movie in the 90ies. A stone hard killer, who's a loner, never deviates from their self-set rules, and is therefore really good at their job. The twist - she's an old woman. And at the end of her life, she gets a little sentimental. Cue - a murderous villain who tests her newfound sentimentality and also unearths a story from her past.

It's plot-driven and quite short and entertaining. All good, yet, I am not so sure this movie would work well these days. Especially since it's lacking depth, and any form of humor.

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 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.

Hornclaw is a 65-year old “disease control specialist” who's been killing people for nearly 50 years. Lately she's been missing a step, and in her line of work that can get you killed. She's still working while deflecting well-meaning suggestions of retirement, to outright hostility for the presumption she can continue on at her age. But a few near botched jobs has her wondering if sabotage is afoot, or may she's just getting sloppy, sentimental even.

It's a fun romp through the corporate world of assassination that is reminiscent of Un-su Kim's The Plotters. Hornclaw is part of a functioning underground with its attendant fixers, doctors and disposal experts, and The Old Woman With the Knife feels like a small story within that universe. I've already fan cast this translated work, perfectly suited as a streaming actioner, with Helen Mirren in the titular role.