| Author | Rachel Kushner |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Scribner |
| Publication date | 2024 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 416 |
| ISBN | 9781982116521 |
Creation Lake is a 2024 novel by Rachel Kushner. It was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize.
Synopsis
"Sadie Smith," a pseudonymous freelance spy, works to undermine environmental activists. After being hired to disrupt a farming cooperative in France, she begins to suspect that her mission risks undermining her own humanity.
Development history
Creation Lake is Kushner's fourth novel. She has cited Jean-Patrick Manchette and John le Carré as inspirations for the book, along with time spent with performance artists in the 1980s.
Publication history
The novel was published in the United States by Scribner on September 3, 2024. It was published in the United Kingdom by Jonathan Cape.
Reception
According to review aggregator Book Marks, Creation Lake received a generally positive response from critics. It appeared on 16 lists of the best books of the year. Kirkus Reviews positively described the book as being a "deft, brainy take on the espionage novel." Publishers Weekly praised the novel's themes and Kushner's integration of philosophical discussion into the narrative. NPR noted that Kushner's writing used clear language and did not lean into realism, with Kushner instead crafting a disturbing, threatening world, while The Guardian's Anthony Cummings described the book as being "hugely enjoyable," praising the characters and worldview of the novel. M. John Harrison, also writing in The Guardian, praised Kushner's characterization of Sadie, describing the character as "complex and fascinating."
Dwight Garner, writing in The New York Times, described the novel as an improvement over Kushner's previous works and noted the integration of philosophy and historical flashbacks into the story. The Atlantic noted that the book built on themes from Kushner's previous novels, singling out "failures of self-liberation" as a key theme in her work. Slate and The New Republic were similarly positive, with the former noting that the novel explored "universal" ideas and the latter praising the novel's plot.
The Wall Street Journal was more negative, criticizing the book's pacing and what the reviewer described as a lack of suspense. Brandon Taylor, writing in The London Review of Books, described the novel as being "sloppy" and Sadie's characterization as being unbelievable. The Financial Times criticized the book's reliance on email monologues for exposition.
References
- "The Booker Prize 2024". The Booker Prizes. September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ "Creation Lake". Kirkus Reviews. May 31, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- Dwyer, Kate (August 31, 2024). "Is a Writer a Kind of Spy?". The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Cummings, Anthony (August 25, 2024). "Rachel Kushner's new espionage thriller may be her coolest book yet". The Guardian. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- "Creation Lake". Book Marks. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- Temple, Emily (December 17, 2024). "The Ultimate Best Books of 2024 List". Literary Hub. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- "Creation Lake". Publishers Weekly. June 3, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- Corrigan, Maureen (September 10, 2024). "Rachel Kushner's new espionage thriller may be her coolest book yet". NPR. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- Harrison, M. John (September 4, 2024). "Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner review – a thrilling novel of ideas". The Guardian. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- Garner, Dwight (October 7, 2024). "A Smart, Sinuous Espionage Thriller Brimming With Heat". The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- Meyer, Lily (September 3, 2024). "Rachel Kushner's Surprising Swerve". The Atlantic. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- Miller, Laura (September 10, 2024). "The Secret Agent". Slate. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- Marsh, Laura (August 28, 2024). "Rachel Kushner's Spy Games". The New Republic. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- Sacks, Sam (August 28, 2024). "Fiction: Rachel Kushner's 'Creation Lake'". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- Taylor, Brandon (September 12, 2024). "Use your human mind!". London Review of Books. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- Levitin, Mia (September 22, 2024). "Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner — eco-philosophy and dirty tricks". Financial Times. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
