I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch Chapter 11 Discussion

Holy crap! This novel is absolutely amazing. Hysterically funny, and main character is a absolute riot.

I almost always wait a while to see how a series actually holds up before giving it a review. But this series is just so good that it can't wait.

But let's address the elephant in the room: the genderbender tag.

Simply put, those who like the GB genre will probably be starved and find none of the usual elements you look for in these stories. You will be like someone adrift in the ocean; surrounded by water that is of no use to you and doesn't quench your thirst. (You may still enjoy the series though even if it isn't like other gb series)

Those who usually run away like the plague when they see this tag, should pull their emergency brakes and give this story a go.

For all intents and purposes, the gender swap plays no significant part other than to make the series more entertaining, by how the character acts, how the other characters perceive "her", and the audience who knows what the reality is. It's literally the basis of comedy how it plays on tropes and stereotypes and expectations, and twists them. Even people who loathe genderswap normally could actively agree it was a great choice here.

This is one of those times where the MC could've just been a super masculine/tomboy woman (and the story would've been great still), but the fact the MC was genuinely a man actually makes it more entertaining.

MAIN Character:

In one word, fantastic. The character is that goldilocks "just right". "She" is powerful enough that she doesn't get bogged down by fodder and can walk her own path. But not excessively broken that nothing will ever be a threat to her.

Personality wise she can be brutal/ruthless against scum. She has a solid backbone and makes firm decisions (not a beta/spineless character). But she treats people fairly as they deserve, she isn't some unhinged maniac (though she does cut loose to sate her cultivation path chosen (berserker)). She can be a bit oblivious/dense, but it is not the annoying irrational kind. Rather the bulk of it is genuine misunderstandings primarily due to ignorance of the culture and society she finds herself in. Even the exception to that rule, her misunderstanding is something that could be a rational conclusion.

She is intelligent enough to be self aware and pick up her mistakes and the situations, where she directly addresses them. Which also manifests in her sharp wit and tr*shtalking and instigating others. My goodness the tr*sh talking is absolutely glorious!

Like *minor spoiler* when a jealous woman confronts her to back off from being around an acquaintance MC absolutely bodies her with words and puts her in her place

THE WRITING

Simply exceptional. The author has impeccable comedic timing, and a fantastic cadence to the story. Chock full of references to historic and modern society. Not in the annoying way media today will do the "remember the time we did this" in series.

But rather a way that genuinely keeps your interest and adds more color to the MCs thinking.

Like a perfect example: a recent chapter brought up the subject of how MC hates dealing with the crappy toilets/outhouses of the more primitive society. Thus the author uses that concept and creates shrodingers outhouse.

Spoiler

"But A-Q was also facing a major crisis.

It was a matter of whether the out house might be dirty, a matter of ones dignity.

Before opening the outhouse door, it's condition existed in a state of both cleanliness and filth.

In essence, it was Shrodigers shit;a mixed state that became fixed to reality based on the observers observation.

Humanity had always longed to overcome this chaos.

Believing that good deeds would bring them good fortune was the result of that desperate effort."

[collapse]

It's hard to say where things will end up as the story progresses, but the author currently does a great job balancing things. It's never dull drab prose.

THE TRANSLATION

Not much to say other than it is excellent. Which given the authors rich and skilled writing, is really impressive. Often series like this can be a nightmare to translate well. But this translator manages to make it sound natural, like it could've been written in English.

CONCLUSION

As it is, this is shaping up to be one of my absolute favorite series. It seems like it can fill the void left by Fake Saint in humor, but be a more mature series set in the murim.

I give this series a rating of: do not read while drinking milk/coffee, and people will give you weird looks on public transit as you can't resist laughing or suppressing it with a strange grin.