Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner: Book Review
I prefer not to know a single thing about a book before I read it. Accordingly, as I work my way through the Booker Prize shortlist, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a literary lady spy novel — especially since I recently binged Lioness, The Diplomat, and The Night Agent.
In Rachel Kushner's Booker Prize-longlisted novel "Creation Lake," an American spy infiltrates an eco-activist group in rural France. The novel weaves together elements of espionage, environmental activism, moral ambiguity, wine and prehistoric Neanderthalic philosophy. The first person narrator seems untrustworthy, as a spy should be. Yet I rooted for her. It is so weird and so good.
Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
A Fresh Take on the Female Spy Narrative
Other than reading a Louise Penny/Hilary Clinton book a long time ago, I can’t remember the last spy novel I came across. The psychology of a deceiver makes for an amazing novel - a new genre for me to discover!
Kushner brings a compelling perspective to the espionage genre. Our protagonist is a professional chameleon – an alcoholic spy who weaponizes everything from her surgically enhanced body to her sexuality. In addition to action, Kushner delves deep into the psychological toll of constant deception. The narrator's unreliability stems not just from her drinking, but from her professional necessity to maintain emotional distance while being physically intimate with her targets. I liked her though she does despicable things.
Rural France and Neanderthals
Set against the backdrop of rural France's ancient cave systems, the novel interweaves modern surveillance with prehistoric human history. I knew very little about French history, not to mention evolutionary history, and enjoyed learning about it. Through intercepted emails between activists, Kushner explores fascinating parallels between Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens, creating an unexpected philosophical dimension that elevates the narrative beyond typical genre conventions.
Structural Innovation
Kushner employs a sophisticated narrative structure across eight parts, using brief, unnumbered chapters to maintain momentum. The story incorporates multiple layers:
The primary espionage plot following the protagonist's infiltration
An epistolary element through the activists' philosophical correspondence
Glimpses of the protagonist's past missions, including a failed entrapment case involving a domestic terrorism plot
The quick-paced vignettes maintained tension throughout, even when the narrative sidetracked into topics such as whether Neanderthals smoked tobacco. I was impressed by her structure - it inspired me to try something more daring in my second manuscript, especially the short, quick chapters.
This is how I imagined the narrator.
Although Zoe Saldana is probably more of a bad ass.
Final Verdict
"Creation Lake" succeeds by subverting spy thriller expectations, delivering instead a nuanced exploration of identity, truth, and human (not to mention, Neanderthal) nature.
While it shares thematic territory with eco-thriller "Birnam Wood," I liked Creation Lake better, especially following the single point of view. The result is a literary achievement that challenges genre boundaries while remaining compulsively readable.
P.S. Also, I listened to Kushner on a few podcasts and very much appreciate how similar she sounds to actress Abbi Jacobsen - I might listen to the audiobook version on my next road trip as I believe the author narrates it.
