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The Hunter and the Old Woman
The intertwined story of a cougar and a man that portrays the strength, vulnerability, and consciousness of two top predators. Not since
Life of Pi
have we encountered such transcendence or walked so fully in the footsteps of a big cat.
The “Old Woman” lives in the wild, searching for food, raising her cubs, and avoiding the two-legged creatures who come into her territory. But she is more than an animal — she is a mythic creature who haunts the lives and the dreams of men. Joseph Brandt has been captivated by the mountain lion’s legend since childhood, and one day he steps into the forest to seek her out. A classic in the making, The Hunter and the Old Woman is a mesmerizing portrait of two animals united by a shared destiny.
The “Old Woman” lives in the wild, searching for food, raising her cubs, and avoiding the two-legged creatures who come into her territory. But she is more than an animal — she is a mythic creature who haunts the lives and the dreams of men. Joseph Brandt has been captivated by the mountain lion’s legend since childhood, and one day he steps into the forest to seek her out. A classic in the making, The Hunter and the Old Woman is a mesmerizing portrait of two animals united by a shared destiny.
440 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2021
11 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
About the author
Pamela Korgemagi
1 book5 followersPAMELA KORGEMAGI is a graduate of York University's creative writing program. The Hunter and the Old Woman is her debut novel. She lives and works in Toronto.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 37 reviews
September 25, 2021
"He sensed their presence, the sound of thousands of living bodies, the sound of their many breaths seeping into his daily thoughts, his dreams at night. So that when he was confronted with strangers, he felt alarmed, as if coming across unknown creatures, other predatory animals. He was no longer used to encountering other men. They have become strange to him. A plane droned by overhead. He looked up at the mechanical body propelling hundreds of men through this guy. He consider this a fantastic feat though the world was populated by such machines now. That was the natural world. He himself had devoted his life to maintaining these machines, a convert to the mechanical life."~pg.387
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~THOUGHTS~
A hypnotically savage debut!
A cougar roams the forest, the old woman as the towns people call her. She spends years raising her cubs, meeting other cougars and finding solitude and ferocity in the woods. In town lives Joseph a boy who had a tough start to life. Losing his mother at birth then immediately going to live with his aunt for a few years then back with his single father, early on he becomes obsessed with the old woman, fuelled by rage and a need to kill her. We see these two characters parallel each others lives throughout this novel.
Korgemagi really impressed me with the old woman's character. She was so well rounded and I preferred her to her human counterpart Joseph. Honestly I could have had almost the entire novel be about her, she facinated me so much! Narrated in third person this novel's premis has a nostalgic feel with a fresh take as the lines between animals and humans becomes blurred. Korgemagi's writing kept me equal parts gripped and compelled as she showed the progress of time in these two characters intertwined lives. And a unique look inside the natural world and the appeal of its beauty and simplicity.
And thank you @houseofanansi for sending me this book.
•
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
•
~THOUGHTS~
A hypnotically savage debut!
A cougar roams the forest, the old woman as the towns people call her. She spends years raising her cubs, meeting other cougars and finding solitude and ferocity in the woods. In town lives Joseph a boy who had a tough start to life. Losing his mother at birth then immediately going to live with his aunt for a few years then back with his single father, early on he becomes obsessed with the old woman, fuelled by rage and a need to kill her. We see these two characters parallel each others lives throughout this novel.
Korgemagi really impressed me with the old woman's character. She was so well rounded and I preferred her to her human counterpart Joseph. Honestly I could have had almost the entire novel be about her, she facinated me so much! Narrated in third person this novel's premis has a nostalgic feel with a fresh take as the lines between animals and humans becomes blurred. Korgemagi's writing kept me equal parts gripped and compelled as she showed the progress of time in these two characters intertwined lives. And a unique look inside the natural world and the appeal of its beauty and simplicity.
And thank you @houseofanansi for sending me this book.
•
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
February 18, 2021
This review is on the advance copy of an unpublished work I received through NetGalley. The Hunter and the Old Woman by Pamela Korgemagi is due for release August 3rd, 2021.
TLDR; Recommended to readers who are fascinated by the hidden lives of wild animals and nature. Not necessarily for those seeking depth out of the human side of the story.
This was an interesting tale – it’s different than what I usually read, and I generally like different. I was drawn to this story based on the blurb, that it was about a cougar (The Old Woman) and a man named Joseph Brandt who, enchanted by the myths surrounding her, goes into the forest to seek her out.
The majority of the book is dedicated solely to the Old Woman, starting from her youth and describing her experiences, growing, hunting, and learning about her environment and how to successfully raise her own cubs. The first ten chapters read very much like a nature documentary, with The Cougar’s actions and intents being described and dramatized only so far as to make her relatable to her human audience, without anthropomorphizing her too much. I enjoyed it in much the same way as I do such documentaries. I am fascinated and repulsed in equal measure by the manner of intelligence and lack of empathy that is required to live as a predator, whose day-to-day way of life is sustained not just by breath, but by the shedding of blood without regard to old or young (or even species, at times), only to advantage or disadvantage.
Then we are introduced to Joseph, likewise in his youth, and follow his journey and obsession to the inevitable encounter with The Cougar. I wasn’t sure what to make of him, to be honest. In most respects, he was a completely average boy… with the exception of his obsession with the cougar that honestly crossed the threshold into madness, in my opinion.
The Cougar’s world was richly detailed and coloured by interactions with other cougars, such as her romance with the Marauder, her flight from the Harbinger, her vexing relationship with the Neighbor, and of course the unique relationships she develops with her cubs. All of these influence and shape her, so that she was more the developing person, and Joseph was more the solitary wild animal, oddly enough. I wonder if this was the author’s intended purpose, for at the start Joseph is “The Hunter”, so we may deem him a predator, and the Cougar is “The Old Woman”, so that we may see her as a person.
I liked the better half of this book; the development of the Cougar and each litter of cubs she either failed or succeeded in raising and the lessons she learned were fascinating. These were memorable adventures. I hoped for her successes and grieved her failures. She became more human-like, and not so, as the story progressed and I was exposed to her memories, feelings, and dreams. However, at about halfway through the tale, I started to feel kind of lost in what the point of it all was. The deeper we get into the story, the older both the Cougar and Joseph become, and it seemed to me that the stakes were falling rather than rising. Joseph exists as a shadow in the periphery of the Cougar’s story, for the most part. His development as a character is void of love and loss and lessons learned, for he is solitary and the only meaningful relationship explored is with his father, to a degree. Personally, I felt we could have done without his side of the story altogether and been no worse for the wear.
Ultimately, with the experiences and expectations I brought into my read of The Hunter and the Old Woman, it seemed to me like a frontier telling of Moby Dick, if the majority of the book had been from the Whale’s perspective and Ahab’s obsession was driven only by a fascination for the creature instead of revenge. I would be happy to hear the perspectives of others and what they got out of this book. I recommend it for readers who are fascinated by the secret lives of wild animals and nature, who might not necessarily need a strong human connection to the tale.
What did you think of The Hunter and the Old Woman? I'd love to discuss on my blog: http://whitemeadowbooks.com/the-hunte...
On my star-rating: Two stars given according to Goodreads' ranking: I felt this book was "ok" to my personal preference. I would have rated it at "I liked it" had it ended near the 50% - 60% portion of the book, but as it went on I became more lost and eventually eager for the end.
TLDR; Recommended to readers who are fascinated by the hidden lives of wild animals and nature. Not necessarily for those seeking depth out of the human side of the story.
This was an interesting tale – it’s different than what I usually read, and I generally like different. I was drawn to this story based on the blurb, that it was about a cougar (The Old Woman) and a man named Joseph Brandt who, enchanted by the myths surrounding her, goes into the forest to seek her out.
The majority of the book is dedicated solely to the Old Woman, starting from her youth and describing her experiences, growing, hunting, and learning about her environment and how to successfully raise her own cubs. The first ten chapters read very much like a nature documentary, with The Cougar’s actions and intents being described and dramatized only so far as to make her relatable to her human audience, without anthropomorphizing her too much. I enjoyed it in much the same way as I do such documentaries. I am fascinated and repulsed in equal measure by the manner of intelligence and lack of empathy that is required to live as a predator, whose day-to-day way of life is sustained not just by breath, but by the shedding of blood without regard to old or young (or even species, at times), only to advantage or disadvantage.
Then we are introduced to Joseph, likewise in his youth, and follow his journey and obsession to the inevitable encounter with The Cougar. I wasn’t sure what to make of him, to be honest. In most respects, he was a completely average boy… with the exception of his obsession with the cougar that honestly crossed the threshold into madness, in my opinion.
The Cougar’s world was richly detailed and coloured by interactions with other cougars, such as her romance with the Marauder, her flight from the Harbinger, her vexing relationship with the Neighbor, and of course the unique relationships she develops with her cubs. All of these influence and shape her, so that she was more the developing person, and Joseph was more the solitary wild animal, oddly enough. I wonder if this was the author’s intended purpose, for at the start Joseph is “The Hunter”, so we may deem him a predator, and the Cougar is “The Old Woman”, so that we may see her as a person.
I liked the better half of this book; the development of the Cougar and each litter of cubs she either failed or succeeded in raising and the lessons she learned were fascinating. These were memorable adventures. I hoped for her successes and grieved her failures. She became more human-like, and not so, as the story progressed and I was exposed to her memories, feelings, and dreams. However, at about halfway through the tale, I started to feel kind of lost in what the point of it all was. The deeper we get into the story, the older both the Cougar and Joseph become, and it seemed to me that the stakes were falling rather than rising. Joseph exists as a shadow in the periphery of the Cougar’s story, for the most part. His development as a character is void of love and loss and lessons learned, for he is solitary and the only meaningful relationship explored is with his father, to a degree. Personally, I felt we could have done without his side of the story altogether and been no worse for the wear.
Ultimately, with the experiences and expectations I brought into my read of The Hunter and the Old Woman, it seemed to me like a frontier telling of Moby Dick, if the majority of the book had been from the Whale’s perspective and Ahab’s obsession was driven only by a fascination for the creature instead of revenge. I would be happy to hear the perspectives of others and what they got out of this book. I recommend it for readers who are fascinated by the secret lives of wild animals and nature, who might not necessarily need a strong human connection to the tale.
What did you think of The Hunter and the Old Woman? I'd love to discuss on my blog: http://whitemeadowbooks.com/the-hunte...
On my star-rating: Two stars given according to Goodreads' ranking: I felt this book was "ok" to my personal preference. I would have rated it at "I liked it" had it ended near the 50% - 60% portion of the book, but as it went on I became more lost and eventually eager for the end.
August 8, 2021
The Hunter and the Old Woman opens with a powerful scene, showing readers immediately that this will be a story highlighting the natural order of life, with episodes both brutal and beautiful. A highly skilled omniscient point of view minimizes the difference between humans and other animals, and there is much of the archetypal throughout, especially in the journey undertaken by one of the title characters in the final section. Surrealism or magic realism is also incorporated at opportune locations.
The descriptions throughout are lush and detailed, and the pacing is deliberate and methodical. Both of these choices have moments of deep impact and sections in which they appear to bog down. A contemplative approach will be much rewarded.
A concern: as the work progressed, I found myself bothered by what seemed excessive anthropomorphism. Having wild animals thinking as humans and experiencing human emotions weakens an otherwise very strong offering.
Thank you to Pamela Korgemagi, Anansi Press, and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
The descriptions throughout are lush and detailed, and the pacing is deliberate and methodical. Both of these choices have moments of deep impact and sections in which they appear to bog down. A contemplative approach will be much rewarded.
A concern: as the work progressed, I found myself bothered by what seemed excessive anthropomorphism. Having wild animals thinking as humans and experiencing human emotions weakens an otherwise very strong offering.
Thank you to Pamela Korgemagi, Anansi Press, and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 27, 2021
This is a thoroughly unique book that carefully constructs the experiences of a panther and the young boy who grows into a man obsessed with hunting her. The “Old Woman” of the novel is an enigmatic figure and Korgemagi depicts her life empathetically and with beautiful, lyrical prose. I found the bits about Joseph, the hunter, slightly less interesting as his obsession felt a little unfounded.
I would have likely given this novel five stars, but it’s last third was slow and its focus on Joseph’s perspective took me out of the story of the Old Woman, who I found much more interesting. Of course, I do think that’s part of the point of the novel, so I understand.
Read this if you love: Lyrical prose, character-driven stories, nature documentaries
Overall: 4.2/5
I would have likely given this novel five stars, but it’s last third was slow and its focus on Joseph’s perspective took me out of the story of the Old Woman, who I found much more interesting. Of course, I do think that’s part of the point of the novel, so I understand.
Read this if you love: Lyrical prose, character-driven stories, nature documentaries
Overall: 4.2/5
January 10, 2022
I got lost, too many WHYs. What was your point Joseph? The Cougar was just a Cougar but Pamela Korgemagi gave it an air of superiority that Joseph had to best. Why? Passage to manhood? In the end TIME wins, as it will always do. The life of the Cougar was well described and this reader was fascinated by all the elements that challenged her and her cubs and kept me reading. The obsession of Joseph and his determination to best the Cougar was pure EGO. What the hell was your point! I pulled for the Cougar. Glad I read it, you will to. Later. Keep Reading.
November 3, 2023
La Fauve est une jeune cougar qui doit apprendre à vivre seule dans la forêt, à combattre ses prédateurs, à défendre sa famille. Joseph est un jeune garçon, élevé par son père, qui se fait la promesse de défendre son village des cougars. Ces deux chasseurs grandissent en même temps pour se retrouver pour un ultime combat.
En terminant ce récit, je me suis demandé quel message l'autrice a voulu nous transmettre. Nous apprenons certes beaucoup sur le quotidien des cougars, mais l'humanisation de ses sentiments m’a beaucoup perturbé. Nous n’arrivons pas à s’imaginer une cougar nostalgique, amoureuse, rêveuse…
En terminant ce récit, je me suis demandé quel message l'autrice a voulu nous transmettre. Nous apprenons certes beaucoup sur le quotidien des cougars, mais l'humanisation de ses sentiments m’a beaucoup perturbé. Nous n’arrivons pas à s’imaginer une cougar nostalgique, amoureuse, rêveuse…
June 2, 2021
I enjoyed the first half of this book. The character of Old Woman was fascinating, and I enjoyed seeing the world through her eyes. Joseph's early story was also interesting, although his obsession with the panther was a bit disturbing.
At times the reptition got to be a bit much. There were too many scenes of her hunting and too many of him obsessing about her, and then too much of the blow-by-blow details of his quest into the forest. Overall, however, the book kept my attention at the beginning.
**Spoiler Alert**
The last part of the book was completely and utterly disappointing. We become invested in this cat, and then he goes and kills her. This magnificent creature dies because Joseph has an inexplicable desire to destroy her. When he started off into the forest it seemed like he wanted to see her, maybe even live close to her, but not to kill her as he had fantisized about for so many years. Her death was pointless. She was this great creature struck down by a naked, hallucinating madman.
The last part, where Joseph dreams of her killing him and we learn that he has died, was expected and formulaic. Frankly, who cares that he gave himself to her in his dream or that it led to his actual death. At that point, I couldn't have cared less about Joseph.
The book tries very hard to philosophical and thought-provoking, but it falls very short. I feel like I wasted several hours reading a book that had no point. I would not recommend it..
At times the reptition got to be a bit much. There were too many scenes of her hunting and too many of him obsessing about her, and then too much of the blow-by-blow details of his quest into the forest. Overall, however, the book kept my attention at the beginning.
**Spoiler Alert**
The last part of the book was completely and utterly disappointing. We become invested in this cat, and then he goes and kills her. This magnificent creature dies because Joseph has an inexplicable desire to destroy her. When he started off into the forest it seemed like he wanted to see her, maybe even live close to her, but not to kill her as he had fantisized about for so many years. Her death was pointless. She was this great creature struck down by a naked, hallucinating madman.
The last part, where Joseph dreams of her killing him and we learn that he has died, was expected and formulaic. Frankly, who cares that he gave himself to her in his dream or that it led to his actual death. At that point, I couldn't have cared less about Joseph.
The book tries very hard to philosophical and thought-provoking, but it falls very short. I feel like I wasted several hours reading a book that had no point. I would not recommend it..
March 6, 2021
The characters that are animals are described in third person, and hint at communication rather then there being a direct - he said she said, which goes quite a long way to avoid anthropomorphizing the animals while still keeping them sympathetic. I’m a fan of warrior cats, so I really loved this book. This book is beautiful and well written. However, unless you are used to reading from animal POV’s or interested in it - you may not connect with this novel. I on the other hand ate it up!
It was so well written from the cougar’s POV, and conveyed her well. Everything wrapped up nicely. It starts with a memorable scene of her losing her Cubs. The juxtaposition helps create the authors point.
I want to sincerely thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this great book!
It was so well written from the cougar’s POV, and conveyed her well. Everything wrapped up nicely. It starts with a memorable scene of her losing her Cubs. The juxtaposition helps create the authors point.
I want to sincerely thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this great book!
September 14, 2021
This is a debut novel and it is an achievement. We follow in the footsteps of a North American cougar (Old Woman) who has become a terrifying mythic figure for a small town. As we travel with the cougar while she experiences her life without ego or time as we mark it, we also follow a motherless boy (The Hunter) whose father is worried about his tendency for destruction. This book excels in portraying multiple perspectives and is an absorbing read. I haven't read something this beautiful and thought provoking since Ishiguro's brilliant "Klara and the Sun." I would recommend this book for adults who are interested in reading about the perspective of animals and for those who want a lyrical read set in the wilderness.
September 10, 2021
I am sad that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. The premise was what made me pick it up in the first place (besides the cover) the struggle between man vs beast living in two different worlds plagued by different problems, except one common issue, the other exists. While this caught my attention, the rest of the story however flopped. So here's a couple of reasons why this book wasn't for me :
Characters: In the novel as I mentioned above we follow two characters the Old Woman and Joe. The book focuses more so on the cougar's side of things than Joe's. I was surprised by this since for most Man vs Beast stories the humans tend to get more attention leaving the animals' lives secret making them seem more like monsters. While I do love this, I think we should've had an equal chance to invest in Joe, for he barely fits the criteria of a monster, if that's what she was going for. He definitely got the short end of the stick on this one. His chapters are very short, and to me his motivations to decide that he wants to hunt her down was weird. He decides this as a young boy when there wasn't any historical accounts of repeated cougar attacks on the town. They just feared her for the sake of being scared. I found his character to be inconsistent as well, his obsession with the Old Woman waxed and waned like the friggin' moon. The author at one point calls it "madness", but he goes in search of her twice throughout the novel and this is prompted by two incidences ( sheep killing and a young girl who was scratched by another cougar and was fine). He listens to the towns' myths about her though he barely wanders the woods looking for the infamous "Old Woman" himself. His "obsession" was only brought out by the townsfolk more so than her living "rent-free" in his mind. It seemed more of a plot convenience than anything else for the final showdown. The cougar's point of view was very nature documentary-esque, which I was okay with.
Repetitions: One of the reasons this book took me so long to finish was how repetitious it got. Every other word in the Old Woman's pov was "the Cougar", while she had a name, and we knew from the start that this cougar that the novel follows in her day to day life is the Old Woman, she was only called "the cougar". The other cougars get names like "Transient" and "Harbinger", but our main character is just "the Cougar". This drove me insane. This book could've been a lot shorter too. Some of the chapters is just the characters doing the same thing as they were doing in the last chapter. The cougar hunts, finds a weird smell of another cougar in the area, stalks it, fights it, mates with it, or kills it, and then has babies this also happens in the next chapter as well. While ,like I mentioned above, I don't mind the nature documentary thing, but she barely interacts with the humans and I was wondering how this fits in with the myths that "plague" the town if she never meets them. This also happens in Joe's point of view as well, especially towards the end of the book, where we follow him on a painful step by step shopping trip to grab peanut butter as he reminisces how things have changed in his not-so-little town.
Supernatural Stuff: When first diving into this book there wasn't any mention of a spiritual world, either in nature or with the townsfolk. It was a straightforward novel that seemed to be grounded hard into reality. So later when death is mentioned it has a capital D, then a crimson red cougar shows up, seemingly to be the big cat's version of the Grim reaper and when Joe fights the Old Woman in the spirit world, I was surprised. The tone of the novel shifted pretty drastically, and while I don't mind magical realism, I feel it needs to be hinted at early on.
The Writing: I did enjoy the writing for the most part, some things were wonderfully written and very thorough. Too thorough at times. On the other hand the author would leave you hanging and then jump into the next section without warning which I found incredibly distracting.
I had originally given this book 3 stars, but as I was writing this review I felt two stars were more appropriate to what I actually feel about this novel. I know this is the author's debut novel, so I hope I wasn't too harsh, but this was just a complete miss for me. If she writes anymore novels on the lives of animals I think I would be curious enough to give her another shot.
Characters: In the novel as I mentioned above we follow two characters the Old Woman and Joe. The book focuses more so on the cougar's side of things than Joe's. I was surprised by this since for most Man vs Beast stories the humans tend to get more attention leaving the animals' lives secret making them seem more like monsters. While I do love this, I think we should've had an equal chance to invest in Joe, for he barely fits the criteria of a monster, if that's what she was going for. He definitely got the short end of the stick on this one. His chapters are very short, and to me his motivations to decide that he wants to hunt her down was weird. He decides this as a young boy when there wasn't any historical accounts of repeated cougar attacks on the town. They just feared her for the sake of being scared. I found his character to be inconsistent as well, his obsession with the Old Woman waxed and waned like the friggin' moon. The author at one point calls it "madness", but he goes in search of her twice throughout the novel and this is prompted by two incidences ( sheep killing and a young girl who was scratched by another cougar and was fine). He listens to the towns' myths about her though he barely wanders the woods looking for the infamous "Old Woman" himself. His "obsession" was only brought out by the townsfolk more so than her living "rent-free" in his mind. It seemed more of a plot convenience than anything else for the final showdown. The cougar's point of view was very nature documentary-esque, which I was okay with.
Repetitions: One of the reasons this book took me so long to finish was how repetitious it got. Every other word in the Old Woman's pov was "the Cougar", while she had a name, and we knew from the start that this cougar that the novel follows in her day to day life is the Old Woman, she was only called "the cougar". The other cougars get names like "Transient" and "Harbinger", but our main character is just "the Cougar". This drove me insane. This book could've been a lot shorter too. Some of the chapters is just the characters doing the same thing as they were doing in the last chapter. The cougar hunts, finds a weird smell of another cougar in the area, stalks it, fights it, mates with it, or kills it, and then has babies this also happens in the next chapter as well. While ,like I mentioned above, I don't mind the nature documentary thing, but she barely interacts with the humans and I was wondering how this fits in with the myths that "plague" the town if she never meets them. This also happens in Joe's point of view as well, especially towards the end of the book, where we follow him on a painful step by step shopping trip to grab peanut butter as he reminisces how things have changed in his not-so-little town.
Supernatural Stuff: When first diving into this book there wasn't any mention of a spiritual world, either in nature or with the townsfolk. It was a straightforward novel that seemed to be grounded hard into reality. So later when death is mentioned it has a capital D, then a crimson red cougar shows up, seemingly to be the big cat's version of the Grim reaper and when Joe fights the Old Woman in the spirit world, I was surprised. The tone of the novel shifted pretty drastically, and while I don't mind magical realism, I feel it needs to be hinted at early on.
The Writing: I did enjoy the writing for the most part, some things were wonderfully written and very thorough. Too thorough at times. On the other hand the author would leave you hanging and then jump into the next section without warning which I found incredibly distracting.
I had originally given this book 3 stars, but as I was writing this review I felt two stars were more appropriate to what I actually feel about this novel. I know this is the author's debut novel, so I hope I wasn't too harsh, but this was just a complete miss for me. If she writes anymore novels on the lives of animals I think I would be curious enough to give her another shot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2021
Okay WOW (scroll to the last sentence and read it for no spoilers)
I am so so captivated by the story of the old woman and growing and learning with her. The book is so well written and obviously this writer knew a lot about the lifestyle of cougars because she wrote in such a fashion that it made me really feel like I was there with her. Every word I held onto that was written in the cougars perspective. Particularly the wolf scene, that part blew me away.
The perspective of Joseph didnt thrill me quite as much but I found myself anxious to the moment they met and then when he went to live in the forest I started gripping onto his words though what I felt lacked was that I really hoped for some chapters from the cougars Perspective while they were in the woods together and what her thoughts were. I found my heart break and be so let down to find out she had become an old cougar with cataracts just to be killed at the hands of Joseph. I’m glad his life goal came to fruition and all but I really wanted them to live together in peace somehow and she live her days until she gently passed as she deserved for being such a marvelous cougar.
However its almost poetic because I came to find that not only she but also Joseph lived these huge noteworthy lives but on their final days they both live these meh, bleh, mediocre lives. I especially loved but hated the section where Joseph is sitting in front of the tv watching the nature show and how he lived in nature becoming part of it to watch this show that literally is so stupid and idiotic if you think about it compared to what it actually is. I loved it due to the poetry of it all but hated it because how true is it that we all live our lives trying to have all these great experiences but end up spending our final days meh and bleh?
One other noteworthy thing was when Joseph came out of the woods naked I almost saw it as his rebirth in a way because when you see him next its a new world he’s living in and hes a completely changed and new person with quite literally nothing to remind him of his life before exiting the woods except the scars. The book starts with him and the cougar both being born, having some what of a rebirth period and then eventually their deaths, in which they come together once again and she gets her justice. I could go on and on but to save whom ever reads this from reading a novel I will finish with saying I give this book a 10/10. Wonderful story, wonderfully written, wonderful.
I am so so captivated by the story of the old woman and growing and learning with her. The book is so well written and obviously this writer knew a lot about the lifestyle of cougars because she wrote in such a fashion that it made me really feel like I was there with her. Every word I held onto that was written in the cougars perspective. Particularly the wolf scene, that part blew me away.
The perspective of Joseph didnt thrill me quite as much but I found myself anxious to the moment they met and then when he went to live in the forest I started gripping onto his words though what I felt lacked was that I really hoped for some chapters from the cougars Perspective while they were in the woods together and what her thoughts were. I found my heart break and be so let down to find out she had become an old cougar with cataracts just to be killed at the hands of Joseph. I’m glad his life goal came to fruition and all but I really wanted them to live together in peace somehow and she live her days until she gently passed as she deserved for being such a marvelous cougar.
However its almost poetic because I came to find that not only she but also Joseph lived these huge noteworthy lives but on their final days they both live these meh, bleh, mediocre lives. I especially loved but hated the section where Joseph is sitting in front of the tv watching the nature show and how he lived in nature becoming part of it to watch this show that literally is so stupid and idiotic if you think about it compared to what it actually is. I loved it due to the poetry of it all but hated it because how true is it that we all live our lives trying to have all these great experiences but end up spending our final days meh and bleh?
One other noteworthy thing was when Joseph came out of the woods naked I almost saw it as his rebirth in a way because when you see him next its a new world he’s living in and hes a completely changed and new person with quite literally nothing to remind him of his life before exiting the woods except the scars. The book starts with him and the cougar both being born, having some what of a rebirth period and then eventually their deaths, in which they come together once again and she gets her justice. I could go on and on but to save whom ever reads this from reading a novel I will finish with saying I give this book a 10/10. Wonderful story, wonderfully written, wonderful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2022
I've been a reporter at a handful of newspapers in northern British Columbia as well as on Vancouver Island over the years, and if I've learned anything it is that a story headlined "Cougar passes through town" draws traffic like no other. Perhaps one of the most notable stories I've covered was about a man in Port MacNeill, a small community on the north end of Vancouver Island, who was issued a ticket by a conservation officer for using his bloodhound to tree a cougar. None other than the National Enquirer got wind of the episode and a reporter there wrote a story for that publication - and they bought a photo of the guy and his dog from me for $75. The mayor and others raised such a ruckus that the ticket was rescinded.
All this is to say that Pamela Korgemagi develops a very accurate portrayal of life in a small town - and possibly of a big one too. After all, I imagine a story headlined "Cougar passes through city" would attract plenty of attention in Vancouver or the suburbs. Either way, I had to laugh at how the reaction of the townsfolk in her novel was so much like that of the people in the communities I have worked in.
I loved how the novel was constructed. The chapters were alternately devoted to the cougar and Joseph with little interplay between the two until their showdown. The climax had a "Heart of Darkness" feel too it as Joseph confronts and becomes the thing that he fears most, wild and feral.
Indeed, my takeaway was that humans too are driven by instincts and urges. We're often slaves to our emotions whether we want to be or not. It's not much of a spoiler to say Joseph "conquered" the Old Woman but it seemed like a questionable, even sad anti-achievement. In the end who won the game of life?
Unfortunately, the writing gets a little repetitive and maybe the story could have been pared down into a novella-length tale, likes Conrad's. Then again, novellas don't sell these days. Overall, however, a good effort.
All this is to say that Pamela Korgemagi develops a very accurate portrayal of life in a small town - and possibly of a big one too. After all, I imagine a story headlined "Cougar passes through city" would attract plenty of attention in Vancouver or the suburbs. Either way, I had to laugh at how the reaction of the townsfolk in her novel was so much like that of the people in the communities I have worked in.
I loved how the novel was constructed. The chapters were alternately devoted to the cougar and Joseph with little interplay between the two until their showdown. The climax had a "Heart of Darkness" feel too it as Joseph confronts and becomes the thing that he fears most, wild and feral.
Indeed, my takeaway was that humans too are driven by instincts and urges. We're often slaves to our emotions whether we want to be or not. It's not much of a spoiler to say Joseph "conquered" the Old Woman but it seemed like a questionable, even sad anti-achievement. In the end who won the game of life?
Unfortunately, the writing gets a little repetitive and maybe the story could have been pared down into a novella-length tale, likes Conrad's. Then again, novellas don't sell these days. Overall, however, a good effort.
October 17, 2021
I was intrigued at the opportunity to read a novel by a writer who followed a similar path to my own as a graduate of York University’s Creative Writing Program, although many, many years after my time there. “The Hunter and the Old Woman” is billed as a “hypnotically gripping novel” and it lives up to that billing.
“The Old Woman” of the novel is an American Cougar. Korgemagi’s narrative gets inside the mind of the cougar and embodies it with many human traits – reason, emotion and curiousity – while also bringing to life its role as a predator at the top of the food chain. The novel follows the cougar through most of its adult life and vividly portrays both its strength and its vulnerability.
“The Hunter” is Joseph Brandt – a motherless, young boy who grows up in a small town surrounded by wilderness. He hears tales of “The Old Woman” and develops a passionate desire to hunt her down and kill her. He fights the urge for many years but ultimately realizes he must test himself against his adversary and fulfill his destiny.
The two narratives run in parallel, although weighted to “The Old Woman” who becomes a mythical creature to both Joseph and the other townspeople. The result is an epic journey into the relationship of man and predator and how they exist in a fragile harmony that must inevitably clash.
My only criticism is that Korgemagi tagged on several chapters at the end that flash forward in Joseph’s life and a bit beyond. The novel reaches a logical end before these chapters and would have been better served to end where the storyline dictated.
“The Old Woman” of the novel is an American Cougar. Korgemagi’s narrative gets inside the mind of the cougar and embodies it with many human traits – reason, emotion and curiousity – while also bringing to life its role as a predator at the top of the food chain. The novel follows the cougar through most of its adult life and vividly portrays both its strength and its vulnerability.
“The Hunter” is Joseph Brandt – a motherless, young boy who grows up in a small town surrounded by wilderness. He hears tales of “The Old Woman” and develops a passionate desire to hunt her down and kill her. He fights the urge for many years but ultimately realizes he must test himself against his adversary and fulfill his destiny.
The two narratives run in parallel, although weighted to “The Old Woman” who becomes a mythical creature to both Joseph and the other townspeople. The result is an epic journey into the relationship of man and predator and how they exist in a fragile harmony that must inevitably clash.
My only criticism is that Korgemagi tagged on several chapters at the end that flash forward in Joseph’s life and a bit beyond. The novel reaches a logical end before these chapters and would have been better served to end where the storyline dictated.
December 28, 2021
This book is told in alternating POVs; the hunter and a cougar who is referred to as the old woman as a result of a community legend. This is a sort of coming of age story about both characters. The cougar's chapters are a bit repetitive as she finds shelter, defends herself, hunts for food, hides from other predators (including those humans), and cares for her cubs. We grow with the hunter from a young boy to an old man and come to understand that his hunt for the cougar turns into a bit of an obsession. The alternating chapters are pretty cool since you understand that they are both doing this dance for a long time of just missing each other, until the explosive interaction. I think the writing of this book is very well done and the point of view from the cougar is an interesting take. I do find that the cougar seems a bit more humanized than I think a real animal would be, which I guess leads into the legend of the cougar and the old woman. I think there is also some commentary being made about hunting in general and the relationship of man and animal. I felt like the latter 1/3 of the book had much more of a punch that I was hoping for earlier in the book. And we got a lot more chapters of the hunter when he was younger and then it speed up to fast when he was older, I wish that was paced a little bit different. All in all, I still think this was a good debut and I will continue to look out for future works from Pamela Korgemagi.
Thank you to NetGalley and House of Anansi Press for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and House of Anansi Press for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2022
A librarian I work with named this as her favorite book of the last year, and I was intrigued by the premise of writing from the perspective of a cougar. It did not disappoint. Throughout the audiobook, I kept wanting badly to know what kinds of research Korgemagi did for this, her debut novel. Surely she must be a cat owner, right? I also want to know what time period specifically the events take place in, because I was thrown off a bit at the end. The only criticism I could make of this book is that the many fights The Cougar gets into felt a little repetitive at times, but then, those were all significant life events for her.
I loved that we get to see two parallel lifespans, and was very satisfied with the ending. I will be observing my two cats with new insight and wonderment. What do they dream about? How complex are their observations of the world and themselves, even without needing complex language?
Speaking of language, if you wondered what the difference is between a cougar and a mountain lion or puma, guess what! They're basically the same and "the cougar holds the Guinness World Record for having the most names [of any non-human animal]!
I myself have never seen one in the wild, but I have a feeling at least one of them has seen me. Here's to these incredible and adaptable creatures and respecting their right to live out their lives without taking so much of their habitat away.
I loved that we get to see two parallel lifespans, and was very satisfied with the ending. I will be observing my two cats with new insight and wonderment. What do they dream about? How complex are their observations of the world and themselves, even without needing complex language?
Speaking of language, if you wondered what the difference is between a cougar and a mountain lion or puma, guess what! They're basically the same and "the cougar holds the Guinness World Record for having the most names [of any non-human animal]!
I myself have never seen one in the wild, but I have a feeling at least one of them has seen me. Here's to these incredible and adaptable creatures and respecting their right to live out their lives without taking so much of their habitat away.
October 21, 2023
This isn't the type of book I usually pick up. However, I love animals and was very interested in the premise of this book.
Pamela Korgemagi has beautiful writing. It was soothing but also created a lot of strong emotions. I enjoyed learning about the Old Woman and her relationship to her environment and other animals. It was interesting to read from her perspective.
There were some strong moments in this book, where I was really enjoying the book.
However, I was expecting much more from this book. I didn't love the pace. I also found some parts to be quite repetitive. I wish we could delve deeper into certain elements and scenes of this story. It felt as if we only scratched the surface.
I also really wanted to see the Cougar's thoughts about the Hunter. We see Joseph's perspective in the end, and it seems like there's a connection between them. However, since Joseph is very obsessive, it's hard to truly understand if he's making things up in his head or not. I had a hard time grasping what the story aimed to show. I felt the last chapter just confused me a bit more. I didn't like it and wished it had ended before it.
I'd be interested in reading more of Pamela Korgemagi's work in the future. This book showed great potential.
Pamela Korgemagi has beautiful writing. It was soothing but also created a lot of strong emotions. I enjoyed learning about the Old Woman and her relationship to her environment and other animals. It was interesting to read from her perspective.
There were some strong moments in this book, where I was really enjoying the book.
However, I was expecting much more from this book. I didn't love the pace. I also found some parts to be quite repetitive. I wish we could delve deeper into certain elements and scenes of this story. It felt as if we only scratched the surface.
I also really wanted to see the Cougar's thoughts about the Hunter. We see Joseph's perspective in the end, and it seems like there's a connection between them. However, since Joseph is very obsessive, it's hard to truly understand if he's making things up in his head or not. I had a hard time grasping what the story aimed to show. I felt the last chapter just confused me a bit more. I didn't like it and wished it had ended before it.
I'd be interested in reading more of Pamela Korgemagi's work in the future. This book showed great potential.
January 26, 2023
I know you're not supposed to do this... but I was drawn to this book cover at a Gala I volunteered at a few months ago. Then, when I saw it in a bookstore at its Publisher I knew it was a sign to pick it up.
I thought this was such a unique and beautifully told story, spanning the entire lives of the Old Woman (a Cougar) and the Hunter (Joseph). There were a lot of powerful elements of the book, and I enjoyed diving into the point of view of a wild animal - cougars seem a little less scary and more relatable after this book! Not that I'll be venturing out into the woods myself to find one..
Similar to another review, I got a little lost in the 'why' of the sudden intense draw Joseph had to hunt and find the Old Woman. The last 20% of the book or so was also a little drawn out for me but I enjoyed the very end and its tie back to the story as a whole. Though this is not the type of novel I'd usually go for I really enjoyed the story and thought Pamela's writing style was beautiful!
I thought this was such a unique and beautifully told story, spanning the entire lives of the Old Woman (a Cougar) and the Hunter (Joseph). There were a lot of powerful elements of the book, and I enjoyed diving into the point of view of a wild animal - cougars seem a little less scary and more relatable after this book! Not that I'll be venturing out into the woods myself to find one..
Similar to another review, I got a little lost in the 'why' of the sudden intense draw Joseph had to hunt and find the Old Woman. The last 20% of the book or so was also a little drawn out for me but I enjoyed the very end and its tie back to the story as a whole. Though this is not the type of novel I'd usually go for I really enjoyed the story and thought Pamela's writing style was beautiful!
August 23, 2021
4.5 but I'm still pondering the story. I think parts of this book will stay with me for a long time. I loved the nature scenes, the lyrical writing. Reading about the Cougar was like watching a really good nature documentary. I loved the scene with the wolves! Korgemagi has an evocative writing style. She created wonderful atmosphere in the book. The theme of survival was strong.
While the book/story wasn't gripping plotwise, it certainly propelled me through it. I read it in 2 days, while tending an ill parent. I like the parallel lives Korgemagi portrayed and all the dichotomies she presented (man/animal; killing to live; wild/civilized; etc.) Joseph seemed realistic as a character (youthful rebellion, pushing the limits by drinking), yet he tended to go to extremes (obsessing over the Cougar then willing away that obsession at the end of chapter 8.)
Overall, I think this was a masterful debut. I look forward to more from this author.
While the book/story wasn't gripping plotwise, it certainly propelled me through it. I read it in 2 days, while tending an ill parent. I like the parallel lives Korgemagi portrayed and all the dichotomies she presented (man/animal; killing to live; wild/civilized; etc.) Joseph seemed realistic as a character (youthful rebellion, pushing the limits by drinking), yet he tended to go to extremes (obsessing over the Cougar then willing away that obsession at the end of chapter 8.)
Overall, I think this was a masterful debut. I look forward to more from this author.
February 27, 2021
This summary of this book sounded like it was going to be a great read! However, at least for me, that wasn't the case. It states that these two charachters are intertwined, but the first half of the book is just about the Cougar. Joesph ends up feeling like a background character to me, which makes him feel less important. I also found the chapters to be very repetitive where the Cougar was involved, same things each time. I think that when the two characters finally met, and what happened, was over too quickly. I feel like therr should have been more for the buildup that was given throughout the book.
I wish the author the best of luck and nothing but the best in the future and for future works as well!
I wish the author the best of luck and nothing but the best in the future and for future works as well!
May 7, 2021
For about a year now I've held off on giving books star ratings on Goodreads, but since this one is so new and seems to be misunderstood by other readers, I'm rating it.
Since this is a book for a review, I won't go into too much detail, but somehow it was both gentle and distressing, soothing and fierce, a forward march of time and a dive back into the past. It really poses the question: who is animal? What is animal? And where is the line drawn or blurred?
Beautiful cover for a beautiful book.
Since this is a book for a review, I won't go into too much detail, but somehow it was both gentle and distressing, soothing and fierce, a forward march of time and a dive back into the past. It really poses the question: who is animal? What is animal? And where is the line drawn or blurred?
Beautiful cover for a beautiful book.
June 25, 2021
I found the first half of the book really interesting. The descriptions of the cougar's life and her interactions with other animals and learning to survive and raise her cubs was fascinating to me. I didn't enjoy the Hunter's point of view nearly enough. Perhaps that was due to my love of cats of all sizes.
While the last half of the book was a bit of a slog, I think the author shows a lot of potential. I will be looking for more of her work in the future.
While the last half of the book was a bit of a slog, I think the author shows a lot of potential. I will be looking for more of her work in the future.
November 16, 2022
The Hunter and the Old Woman, by Pamela Korgemagi, walks you through the life in the wild, where a Cougar lives. The tale is fascinating, you feel the leaves, the wind, the river and all the details on this Cougar’s life. When the time comes to read about the humans it has be of small child to accept the infiltration on them in this powerful story. The details on the hunting are just surprising, interesting. Good job Pamela on your debut novel.
March 20, 2021
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a “did not finish” for me. The description was great, and I was very intrigued. For me, I have to be hooked from the start. The intro didn’t do it for me. The transitions in the first chapter weren’t smooth. I gave it up shortly after.
I’ll try to pick it up again later because I feel the storyline is unique.
This was a “did not finish” for me. The description was great, and I was very intrigued. For me, I have to be hooked from the start. The intro didn’t do it for me. The transitions in the first chapter weren’t smooth. I gave it up shortly after.
I’ll try to pick it up again later because I feel the storyline is unique.
March 3, 2021
In some ways the blurb was better than the book. The tale is OK, and told in a good way. It just didn't hold my attention, I'm disappointed to say. This author has potential, and I hope she keeps writing.
Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!
Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!
March 24, 2021
I'm not sure what to make of this book, a story mostly about a cougar--known as Cougar--whose life progresses as I would expect many cougars' lives to progress; and a boy who grows to become obsessed with the cougar. The writing is fine, but I didn't find this to be very engaging or compelling.
September 25, 2021
This novel is written in dual perspectives of the Hunter, Joseph, and the Old Woman, a cougar. My fave parts in the book were the cougar’s since she was such a well rounded character and her life was so interesting as she raised her cubs, hunted and encountered other cougars. Overall I found this to be a good debut novel and I’m interested to read more from this author in the future.
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Thank you to House of Anansi for my advance reading copy!
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Thank you to House of Anansi for my advance reading copy!
August 29, 2022
I took a month to read this. I don't think it needed to be as long as it was.
This book doesn't really have a plot, but I think that is ok.
Reading from the POV of the cougar was the best part and I enjoyed taking my time with this one.
This book doesn't really have a plot, but I think that is ok.
Reading from the POV of the cougar was the best part and I enjoyed taking my time with this one.
December 31, 2024
The Hunter and the Old Woman by Pamela Korgemagi is an exploration of the connections between humans and nature, set against the haunting beauty of the Canadian wilderness. The novel follows a cougar, a solitary hunter, and an ancient, enigmatic she-wolf as their lives intertwine in a narrative that blurs the boundaries between predator and prey, humanity and the wild.
Korgemagi’s prose is poetic, bringing the wilderness to life in a magical and raw way. Her ability to inhabit the perspectives of both humans and animals is remarkable, offering insights into survival, loneliness, and the instinct to protect.
Rating: 3.5/5
Korgemagi’s prose is poetic, bringing the wilderness to life in a magical and raw way. Her ability to inhabit the perspectives of both humans and animals is remarkable, offering insights into survival, loneliness, and the instinct to protect.
Rating: 3.5/5
November 17, 2025
a really unique story, I really really enjoyed it. I wish there was a little more to go on regarding Joseph's motivation, which is the only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars. a powerful narrative about the nature of life, death, and everything in-between
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