Reviews with content warning for Misogyny - La Vida Invisible de Addie Larue

Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

La Vida Invisible de Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab

87 reviews

froyobaggns's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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cutepatzie's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Intresting book with amazing feamale main character. Amazaing book that remind us what is the most important in life. And how powerful can memory be, the name and love in our life. And how dreaming big is important like also our belive in ourselves and not beiong afraid of trying to be the best version of ourselves. And being afraid of dreaming big.

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anastashamarie's review against another edition

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emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Edit 3 weeks later: I can't stop thinking about this book in the worst way. And more I think about it, the more disappointed I am about this book. I wish I could give it a half star because 2.5 seems more accurate, but because I'm stewing on it, I decided that 2 is probably more accurate than 3 doe my overall experience

Original review: Major spoilers for the ending in the majority of this review, but the end totally affects my entire perception of the book so...this is the way.

To start, I want to say I liked the writing style of this book. I liked the theming relating to the arts and memory. I liked the mix of fiction and historical reality. I loved the overall concept of Addie's bargain and the potential it held. But overall this book was a major letdown for me. From a literary perspective, I think so much more could have been done with the juxtaposition of past and present, with Addie's character arc, with the themes which were strongly laid.

But more than all that, the reveal that "you're reading a book written by a character (but not the title character)" is what nearly ruined it. And it's not even for the unnecessary meta-ness of it, in a book that really isn't very meta in any other way.

Let me explain.

First, I think Schwab severely limited the story that she could tell by using the format she did. The pacing of the story is odd, too slow at the beginning and too fast toward the end. After the reveal, the reader might be able to deduce that the pacing has to do with how Addie told Henry her story and how Henry's seemingly-limited time with her might have affected how much she could tell him. But without that information (which we don't have until the end of the story) the pacing and spacing of the story just doesn't make much sense to the reader. Instead it just seems like poor storytelling.

Second, and related to the first, I also think that the focus on this format, and making the reveal the "big thing" about about this book, was a cop-out that let the author get away with not making Addie's life very interesting. Fairly early in the book, Luc says something akin to that he expected more/better from Addie's freedom. Addie blames Luc for the "curse" he's given her, saying she can't do anything else, but I couldn't help but feel the same way throughout this story...that she was complaining and wasting so much potential. I was just genuinely bored throughout most of the book. Maybe that's because Addie was bored, so that's the story she told Henry, but that just feels lazy to me. Even the parts that could have been interesting, such as Addie acting as a spy in WWII, were glossed over and vaguely mentioned...as if Addie or Schwab or whoever couldn't be bothered to share the parts that make her more than just a party girl.

Third, whether intentional or not, having Henry tell Addie's story leaves out what arguably more interesting story of Addie and Luc circling each other, feuding, and trying to reconcile for three centuries. It's not even that I like Luc better, necessarily, but rather that there could have been so much more potential to tell a story about two immortals who only have each other for genuine company. Sort of "the only two people on earth" but with the more unique spin of how that looks outside of a post-apocalyptic setting.

Lastly, Addie's goal through the whole book, at least after her bargain, is to be remembered. This may be controversial, but I think having Henry tell her story is a disservice in to that goal. If Henry, who is in love with Addie and really only knew her a short while, is the narrator, is she really being remembered? Or is it just his perceptions of her -- the version she wanted him to see -- that carries on? Maybe you could say that that's all memories are, other people holding us to the present even when we're long a part of the past. But I find it hard to believe that Addie (or anyone) would want to be remembered only as a thief and a prostitute and a party girl...especially when Addie seemingly made contributions to wars and revolutions and possibly other moments of history that she didn't mention to Henry. But as I mentioned above, we don't get to see much growth or creativity or really ANYTHING from Addie, other than her doing morally questionable things to survive and partying with artists in the hope they might preserve a sliver of her essence some how.

Definitely not the life-changing book that other reviews made me think it might be. Do I think this is a bad book? No. The concept was interesting, even if the execution was flat at times. And even when the story itself was boring, the prose was pleasant. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded, and I wanted to finish the book even when I was bored, if only because I wanted to know what more there might be to the story. The ending portions that gave more insight to Addie and Luc's dynamic were also incredibly interesting; it was that relationship that really made me enjoy the book in general. I'm glad I read it, but it isn't a book that I'm likely to read again. If anything, I think the idea of Addie is a better take away for me than her story itself...and as the book itself says, ideas are wilder than memories, so maybe that's for the better.

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dearbhlanoonan's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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jojo_'s review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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mykes's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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caoimhekilleen's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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maddox22's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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rinku's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

When I finished The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, I gave it five stars without a hesitation. After some time passed, I lowered my rating just a bit to 4.5 stars.

Still, I really enjoyed this novel for various reason. The premise of Addie resonated with me instantly: After being forced to marry, Addie makes a deal with the devil which makes her immortal, but she also is forgotten by everyone instantly after they or she leave the room. We get a tour de force through Addie’s 300 years of life while simultaneously experiencing her story in the present with Henry, a boy she meets in a bookstore that can remember her.

When Henry comes into play, I was wondering from the beginning how Addie would tell him about her curse and how he would react. When she tells him the truth, a great surprise is revealed to us that

Henry made a deal with the devil as well. After knowing that everyone has to love him because of his curse, I really wanna reread the book someday to see how early this is noticeable. I think at the beginning, I was already wondering why so many people in the bookshop were interested in him

Some people complain that the book was boring and repetitive, but I had this feeling not one time. Instead, I found the pace and the way the story was told just perfect. It was interesting to see how Addie perfectionated her life more as more time passes since she has no other choice than doing so. Schwab wanders well back and forth between the different times and POVs. This was also by first book by Schwab and her writing style amazed me.

The ending was so well-written as well, and it made me almost cry. I wouldn’t stand behind it with hundred percent, especially since

Addie was way too fast ready to give up her life for Henry’s – they barely knew each other for a month

but I still appreciate it.

Generally, the characters are described in such a vivid and relatable way, even really small side characters, like a man selling books that Addie passes by everyday in today’s New York. When looking at the main characters, there are three important ones: Henry, Addie, and the devil aka Luc. Henry was okay and I was not so much interested in him but more in Addie herself. I can’t really put into words the reasons why, but I loved Addie so much and especially the view she has on the world and on art.

I’m also not supposed to like Luc and I realize how toxic his relationship to Addie is, but I was always excited when he appeared. I was honestly more interested into him than into Henry; Henry’s just there but Luc has such an intriguing and fascinating presence. Luc is for a long time the only person – or rather creature – in Addie’s life that is able to interact with her regularly, no wonder that she

even has a relationship with him at one point

. Later in the novel, the time passing until the present is well told through Addie’s meetings with him.

The reason I can’t give five stars though are some smaller critique points I have concerning the story itself. It has been mentioned by other people as well, but first, the lack of people of colour was a bit weird considering the fact that Addie has been alive for over 300 years. The whole story is Eurocentric in this aspect. Second, she barely experiences any of the wars or revolutions happening since the 18th century – and there were a lot!

Besides those critique points that should be reflected on, I can recommend The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue totally to people who want to read a fantasy story that’s a bit different with interesting leitmotifs, like decay, art, or obsession.

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stwriter92's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book broke my heart in such an amazing way. I have adored everything I have ready by V.E. Schwab and this was no exception. She has such a fantastic way with words and has a knack for always finding the exact right one. I don't know how she does it, but there it is!

The book itself centers on the eponymous Addie (Adeline) LaRue. Her story begins in eighteenth century France, where she lives in the small village of Villon with her parents. She grows up wild, unruly, and untamable. While this is seen as tolerable when she is a child, it quickly becomes less so when she grows into a young woman. To escape what she sees as a horrible fate of being forced into marriage and then buried in the same ten meter plot as the rest of her village, she turns to the heathen gods, begging for an escape. However, she forgets that one must never pray to the gods that listen at night. One swoops down and gleefully grants her freedom in return for her soul. However, there is a caveat. Addie LaRue will be forgotten by everyone, thus severing any and all bonds that might tie her down to one particular place. She will leave no mark and will not even be able to say her own name. That privilege will remain with the god that granted her her cursed freedom. However, three hundred years later, she stumbles upon a young man, Henry, who can remember her. Thus, the game between her and the devil grows new and terrible dimensions as she fights to keep her love and regain true freedom.

The story itself is so unique. I don't think I've ever really heard of a story like this one before. Of course there have been stories told about deals made with devils and trickster gods and monkey's paws for centuries. This was one iteration of that old story that I have not heard before, which was incredibly refreshing. I felt completely immersed throughout the entire story and found myself physically reacting to the events of the book. This story gave me hope for humanity, which is incredibly hard to come by. In all her years of loneliness, Addie never once gave up hope. She came to love humans, while Luc only saw them as playthings to be tossed at a whim. She saw that human beings are messy but redeemable. In her three hundred years, she did not become jaded. She learned, yes. She went through hardships and saw wars begin and end, empires rise and fall, kings come to power and die in rags. Instead of seeing humanity as a transient thing, to be watched from a distance in a bored manner, she sees something worth saving and loving. When Luc asks her what she sees in Henry and humanity in general and she responds, "You see only flaws and faults, weaknesses to be exploited. But humans are messy, Luc. That is the wonder of them. They live and love and make mistakes, and they feel so much. And maybe--maybe I am no longer one of them" (Part 6 Chapter 13, p. 407). In all her years, she has not grown bitter and hateful.

Even the ending,

while heartbreaking, still kept a kernel of hope alive. While she might never be able to see Henry again, she still has a plan to get out from under Luc's thumb. I think that was what I loved so much about her. There is not a single moment in which she loses all hope and gives into Luc and his demands. The book ends on an open note and we are left to wonder whether or not she will finally get out from under Luc's control and power. This ends much in the same way that Henry's novel under the same name ends. It's not a true ending because we will never truly know. I think that's how I ended the book. A goodbye, but a goodbye as described in the book. "Not a period, but an ellipsis, a statement trailing off, until someone is there to pick it up. It is a door left open. It is drifting off to sleep" (Part 6 Chapter 16, p. 419).

Some Quotes I Loved:

"What is a person, if not the marks they leave behind?" (Part 1 Chapter 1, p. 15)
"March is such a fickle month. It is the seam between winter and spring--though seam suggests an even hem, and March is more like a rough line of stitches sewn by an unsteady hand, swinging wildly between January gusts and June greens. You don't know what you'll find, until you step outside" (Part 1 Chapter 2, p. 20).
"Stories are a way to preserve one's self. to be remembered. And to forget. Stories come in so many forms: in charcoal, and in song, in paintings, poems, films. And books. Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives--or to find strength in a very long one" (Part 1 Chapter 7, p. 35).
"Day breaks like an egg yolk, spilling yellow light across the field" (Part 1 Chapter 8, p. 40).
"The day passes like a sentence. The sun falls like a scythe" (Part 1 Chapter 8, p. 41).
"Every day is amber, and she is the fly trapped inside. No way to think in days or weeks when she lives in moments. Time begins to lose its meaning--and yet, she has not lost track of time" (Part 2 Chapter 4, p. 114)
"But this is how you walk tot he end of the world. This is how you live forever. Here is one day, and here is the next, and you take what you can, savor every stolen second, cling to every moment until it's gone" (Part 3 Chapter 8, p. 202)
"Belief is a bit like gravity. Enough people believe a thing, and it becomes as solid and real as the ground beneath your feet. But when you're the only one holding on to an idea, a memory, a girl, it's hard to keep it from floating away" (Part 7 Chapter 2, p. 437)

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