BOOK#10 (FROM THE LONGLIST) CREATION LAKE, RACHEL KUSHNER, SHORTLISTED FOR #BOOKERPRIZE2024

What started as a seemingly ordinary novel quickly evolved into a thriller. The protagonist, Sadie Smith, working under a pseudonym, is a 34-year-old American woman. She befriends a filmmaker named Lucien and eventually becomes his girlfriend, using this relationship to gain access to key places. Through Lucien, she infiltrates an eco-commune in France.

Sadie is portrayed as a highly intelligent, beguiling, and resourceful woman who stops at nothing to achieve her goals.

One of the most fascinating characters I encountered was Bruno Lacombe, a lonely cave-dweller trying to understand how prehistoric humans lived in such environments. Sadie, intrigued by Bruno, uncovers everything about him—even tapping into his email correspondences.

As someone who enjoys learning about prehistoric facts and human origins, I found the exploration of Neanderthals especially captivating. The novel is peppered with philosophical discussions about their dwellings, lifestyles, and eventual extinction, reminding me of reading excerpts from Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari.

Although the novel has garnered much praise, I personally felt a bit of a disconnect with it and struggled to relate.