Creation Lake
2024 novel by Rachel Kushner
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Creation Lake is a 2024 novel by Rachel Kushner. It was shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize.[1]
| |
| Author | Rachel Kushner |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Scribner |
Publication date | 2024 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 416 |
| ISBN | 9781982116521 |
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.[2] 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.[3] The main character Sadie is based on the real-life events surrounding Eric McDavid's arrest and the UK undercover police officer Mark Kennedy.[4]
Publication history
The novel was published in the United States by Scribner on September 3, 2024.[2] It was published in the United Kingdom by Jonathan Cape.[5]
Reception
It appeared on 16 lists of the best books of the year.[6] In a starred review, Kirkus Reviews positively described the book as being a "deft, brainy take on the espionage novel."[2] Publishers Weekly also gave the novel a starred review, praising its themes and Kushner's integration of philosophical discussion into the narrative.[7] 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.[8][5] M. John Harrison, also writing in The Guardian, praised Kushner's characterization of Sadie, describing the character as "complex and fascinating."[9]
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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12][13]
The Wall Street Journal was more negative, criticizing the book's pacing and what the reviewer described as a lack of suspense.[14] Brandon Taylor, writing in The London Review of Books, described the novel as being "sloppy" and Sadie's characterization as being unbelievable.[15] The Financial Times criticized the book's reliance on email monologues for exposition.[16]
