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A review by dreaminfables
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
4.0
“What she needs are stories.
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.”
V. E. Schwab is an excellent writer and she has outdone herself with this one.
Addie La Rue's story begins when she prays vehemently to the old gods in order to escape the mundane prospects of an ill fated marriage. She gains her freedom but at a price. No one would remember her after she has left their sight.
The book goes back and forth within a span of three centuries which essentially is a lot of time. I have mixed feelings about the events that unfold within the book.
For the majority the book is focused primarily on Addie's internal world, her deal made with the devil. Addie as a character is complex, feels real in some aspects and is very interesting to follow, given that she's been around for hundreds of years. However, her narrative glosses over many events in history that would have made an impact within the storyline and only references them in hindsight. Henry as a character was quite one dimensional and I found his contribution to the novel underwhelming despite how much he affected Addie and I cared more for their relationship than Henry as a character.
The book is very well written; all sentences have been crafted with such meticulous care, indicative of coming from a personal space. Addie's story is magical realism juxtaposed with the complex nature of our desires. It is quite a sad novel, Addie's pain is very well woven into the novel and I felt it incredibly. It is a slow and burning novel.
“Three words, large enough to tip the world. I remember you.”
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.”
V. E. Schwab is an excellent writer and she has outdone herself with this one.
Addie La Rue's story begins when she prays vehemently to the old gods in order to escape the mundane prospects of an ill fated marriage. She gains her freedom but at a price. No one would remember her after she has left their sight.
The book goes back and forth within a span of three centuries which essentially is a lot of time. I have mixed feelings about the events that unfold within the book.
For the majority the book is focused primarily on Addie's internal world, her deal made with the devil. Addie as a character is complex, feels real in some aspects and is very interesting to follow, given that she's been around for hundreds of years. However, her narrative glosses over many events in history that would have made an impact within the storyline and only references them in hindsight. Henry as a character was quite one dimensional and I found his contribution to the novel underwhelming despite how much he affected Addie and I cared more for their relationship than Henry as a character.
The book is very well written; all sentences have been crafted with such meticulous care, indicative of coming from a personal space. Addie's story is magical realism juxtaposed with the complex nature of our desires. It is quite a sad novel, Addie's pain is very well woven into the novel and I felt it incredibly. It is a slow and burning novel.
“Three words, large enough to tip the world. I remember you.”