Creation Lake

Research the French intellectual Left. Which figures, other than Guy Debord, are in dialogue with the Moulinards? Where in the text do you see evidence of the history of leftist intellectual production and activism?

Research agricultural practices in France. Is Kushner’s depiction of the French government’s interest in industrialized agriculture accurate? What impact has this shift had on people and the environment? How might that history inform Creation Lake?

Kushner is known for novels that explore the experiences of Americans abroad. How does Sadie compare American culture (and language) with French culture and language, or European culture more broadly? How does Sadie understand herself within the context of her American identity, and how does she differentiate “Americanness” from European identity?

How does this novel depict love and relationships? Are any functional examples of romantic relationships presented? How does Sadie understand such relationships, and how does the novel complicate or critique Sadie’s view?

Compare Creation Lake’s depiction of social, political, or economic issues to that found in other novels by Kushner. What broader ideas connect these novels, and what do those points of connection say about Kushner’s interests as a writer?

Research some of the key themes, tropes, and characteristics of spy thrillers. In what way does Creation Lake represent spy thrillers as a genre, and how might it deviate from other novels that depict espionage?

How might Creation Lake be in dialogue with global, contemporary environmental issues? Can you find examples from current events of communities in other parts of the world wrestling with issues like the ones depicted in Guyenne? How does that dialogue contextualize this novel?

Analyze the novel’s ending. Which aspects of Bruno’s arguments does Sadie find compelling, and how do her choices and moments of self-reflection evidence Bruno’s influence on her?