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A review by jen1804
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
4.5
Addie is born in late 1600s and in 1714 when she’s 23, she accidentally makes a deal with the darkness, pleading for more time to live. She is granted more time, essentially becoming immortal until such a time she agrees to surrender her soul to the darkness. The catch is that she becomes forgettable every time she’s out of sight. She cannot plant any roots, cannot make friends, or long lasting relations, has no ties to anything or anyone because as soon as they go through a doorway or fall asleep, she’s forgotten.
Addie’s memory stays in perfect tact and she can recall everything clear as day. She tries to leave impressions on people, features as the muse for multiple artists through the centuries. She has months-long relationships with people, having to live through them re-meeting her every single day just to enjoy their company🥲 nothing is permanent. Addie isn’t able to write or say her own name, she isn’t able to leave a mark on anything, or even be properly rendered in a piece of art or a photograph. Not without her face being hidden or blurred or in shadow.
In the present day, she’s 323, though still retains her 23 year old body and its health, and we see her navigating the modern world as she has any other decade until she meets Henry❤️.
This book was very poetic, and very romantic, and very thoughtful, and quite profound in places. It fees as though there’s an underlying subliminal message about not taking anything for granted in life. Remember to find joy in the little things, remember to treasure the ones who love you, remember to be mindful that we have one life and one time on this earth, make the most of it.
I enjoyed the centuries long relationship between Addie and Luc. All of the characters in this story were so very interesting.
The chapters switching between her journey from then to now exaggerated the feeling of Addie telling her stories to Henry. And I loved the ending, how Addie was selfless but clever, how she was able to save Henry, who in turn was able to have her life’s memoirs beautifully wrapped up into a book he was able to publish on her behalf.
Addie’s memory stays in perfect tact and she can recall everything clear as day. She tries to leave impressions on people, features as the muse for multiple artists through the centuries. She has months-long relationships with people, having to live through them re-meeting her every single day just to enjoy their company🥲 nothing is permanent. Addie isn’t able to write or say her own name, she isn’t able to leave a mark on anything, or even be properly rendered in a piece of art or a photograph. Not without her face being hidden or blurred or in shadow.
In the present day, she’s 323, though still retains her 23 year old body and its health, and we see her navigating the modern world as she has any other decade until she meets Henry❤️.
This book was very poetic, and very romantic, and very thoughtful, and quite profound in places. It fees as though there’s an underlying subliminal message about not taking anything for granted in life. Remember to find joy in the little things, remember to treasure the ones who love you, remember to be mindful that we have one life and one time on this earth, make the most of it.
I enjoyed the centuries long relationship between Addie and Luc. All of the characters in this story were so very interesting.
The chapters switching between her journey from then to now exaggerated the feeling of Addie telling her stories to Henry. And I loved the ending, how Addie was selfless but clever, how she was able to save Henry, who in turn was able to have her life’s memoirs beautifully wrapped up into a book he was able to publish on her behalf.