This is interesting! I felt this way about the flamethrowers. Like it’s long and slow but I didn’t regret finishing it? She writes about worlds I’m interested in. But it’s never as exciting as I want them to be haha.
Interesting- i appreciated this Abra! I’ve been curious about it since THE list but there’s nothing I hate more than a blurb that does not live up to the book. I also saw someone from booktok I follow say it was boring so, specifically flat and a bit confusing and would it be fair to say you agree w that? An interesting consensus from you both !
Hi Martha! Yes, I think flat is a good word. Bruno’s a lonely old man who we know only from multi page email summaries. He’s a bit boring, as a character like that might really be. If you read The Flamethrowers you might remember some of the male characters go on these long digressive monologues that, realistically, contain a lot more words than needed to make the point or share the interesting part of the anecdote. Those happen in dynamic social situations but here Sadie spends a lot of time telling us what she’s reading, so it’s flatter.
And then another theme I didn’t get into in this review is the theme of luck and coincidence. From what I know of the traditional noir genre, no incident or odd character appearance goes to waste in the plot. Here I think Kushner pokes a bit of fun at that expectation, which might confuse readers. I didn’t feel confused exactly— but it’s not a typical novel of intrigue.
I think there’s a level on which she wrote this for her writer friends— what’s it like to spend a lot of time alone, making things up? From that lens parts are quite funny. But the reader has to fill in some gaps— I felt at times like I was working to enjoy it.
Your review is giving me flashbacks to The Ministry of Time - in theory it should work but in execution maybe not so much. I am still very interested to read just to judge for myself. Really, really great review!!!!
Thanks Natalie! I will be interested to hear what you think of Creation Lake. Yes it does remind me of your review of TMOT. With this book, it’s a bit of a conundrum because it’s giving an experience where little is really at stake most of the time. Which is kind of the point, about how we’re living. As a reading experience it requires a meta mindset to enjoy that, I think.
I did think of you when drafting headline and headings… I wished for your talent and confidence.
This is interesting! I felt this way about the flamethrowers. Like it’s long and slow but I didn’t regret finishing it? She writes about worlds I’m interested in. But it’s never as exciting as I want them to be haha.
Yes! You understand. It’s hyper-realistic that way.
Interesting- i appreciated this Abra! I’ve been curious about it since THE list but there’s nothing I hate more than a blurb that does not live up to the book. I also saw someone from booktok I follow say it was boring so, specifically flat and a bit confusing and would it be fair to say you agree w that? An interesting consensus from you both !
Hi Martha! Yes, I think flat is a good word. Bruno’s a lonely old man who we know only from multi page email summaries. He’s a bit boring, as a character like that might really be. If you read The Flamethrowers you might remember some of the male characters go on these long digressive monologues that, realistically, contain a lot more words than needed to make the point or share the interesting part of the anecdote. Those happen in dynamic social situations but here Sadie spends a lot of time telling us what she’s reading, so it’s flatter.
And then another theme I didn’t get into in this review is the theme of luck and coincidence. From what I know of the traditional noir genre, no incident or odd character appearance goes to waste in the plot. Here I think Kushner pokes a bit of fun at that expectation, which might confuse readers. I didn’t feel confused exactly— but it’s not a typical novel of intrigue.
I think there’s a level on which she wrote this for her writer friends— what’s it like to spend a lot of time alone, making things up? From that lens parts are quite funny. But the reader has to fill in some gaps— I felt at times like I was working to enjoy it.
Your review is giving me flashbacks to The Ministry of Time - in theory it should work but in execution maybe not so much. I am still very interested to read just to judge for myself. Really, really great review!!!!
Thanks Natalie! I will be interested to hear what you think of Creation Lake. Yes it does remind me of your review of TMOT. With this book, it’s a bit of a conundrum because it’s giving an experience where little is really at stake most of the time. Which is kind of the point, about how we’re living. As a reading experience it requires a meta mindset to enjoy that, I think.
I did think of you when drafting headline and headings… I wished for your talent and confidence.
Well compliment of the century!! I always wonder if I should take it a bit more seriously lol
It kind of seems like you found the book a bit boring
Yes, that's fair to say. But I didn't want to say it in a boring way? And I find the polarizing response to it interesting.