The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue starts in a quiet, almost gentle way, and before you know it you are completely invested in a woman who has made the worst deal in history: immortality… with the tiny side effect that nobody remembers her five minutes after she leaves the room. Imagine spending centuries meeting people who immediately forget you. It is basically the ultimate social ghosting experience. The story itself is original and wonderfully imagined. The premise is fascinating, but what really carries the book is the writing. The prose is beautiful without being annoying about it. Some books try very hard to sound poetic and end up sounding like a scented candle description. This one actually earns it. Addie is a fantastic character. She is stubborn, clever, lonely, resilient, and occasionally makes decisions that make you want to gently shake the book and say, “Addie, please.” The supporting characters are also strong, especially the dark, charming antagonist who shows up throughout the story like a well-dressed cosmic problem. What I loved most is how emotionally moving the story becomes. It unfolds slowly, but in a good way. The narrative takes its time, building the weight of centuries, loss, identity, memory, and what it means to leave a mark on the world. By the time the emotional punches arrive, they land hard. I did not cry, but I did stare dramatically at the ceiling for a while thinking about life choices. The pacing is definitely slow and atmospheric, so if you are looking for nonstop action you might get impatient. But if you enjoy thoughtful storytelling, beautiful writing, and characters that feel real even when they are making deals with supernatural entities, this book is absolutely worth the time.

It's good and ultimately hetero (not that there's anything wrong with that). Clever concept doesn't get old, doesn't go too far beyond its grasp, has a satisfying ending that doesn't feel unearned or annoying.

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue is a favorite of my more recent reads. Its premise has an original aspect, the protagonist Addie Larue is sympathetic, there are intriguing twists to the story, and the prose is excellent. The basic premise of this magical realism book is an old one. Addie Larue sells her soul to the Devil, or a devil, or an old god, or maybe simply a magical being. It never is clear. From this initial start, the story is all original. Addie is a uniquely independent French girl, born 1691 in the provincial town of Villon-sur-Sarthe. She yearns for more than a life of bearing children and married subservience. She eludes that fate for some years, until it is decided she must be wed. On the wedding day she runs. About to be caught she meets a man, or an old god. She pleads with him, “I want a chance to live. I want to be free…I want more time.” He asks “How long?” She doesn’t know. He becomes frustrated, and explains that he deals in souls. He will wait for her soul, but not forever. She tells him, “…take my life when I am done with it. You can have my soul when I don’t want it anymore.” This is a deal the old god will do. Addie accepts, not realizing the old god has rigged the game in his favor. No one will ever remember Addie. She can knock on a door and have a conversation, but when the door closes and reopens, the person has no recollection of her. Even her mother and father don’t remember her being their daughter. This would make life impossible for most people, but Addie persists and finds a way to manage over the years without going insane. She seems to be immortal. I found it fascinating how she forges a life for herself. Periodically the old god visits her, hoping to take her soul. Their changing relationship over the centuries is an interesting subplot of the book. Finally, in New York in the present, she meets a man who remembers her. That leads to the climax of the book, although not necessarily the end of Addie’s story. Or maybe it is the end of her story. I don’t want to spoil the finale for you. Once I always finished a book once I started it. Now, I finish a minority of the books I start. I am a tough grader of books, but on a scale of one to five, I give this book a six.

V.E. Schwab’s *The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue* is a poignant and haunting exploration of immortality, identity, and the need to be remembered. This intricately woven narrative transports readers across centuries and continents, following the life of Adeline “Addie” LaRue, a young woman who makes a fateful deal with a dark God. With breathtaking prose and a story that lingers long after the final page, Schwab delivers a masterpiece that is as heartfelt as it is heart-wrenching. Set in 18th century France, Addie LaRue is a dreamer trapped in a world that offers little freedom for women. In a moment of desperation, faced with a marriage of convenience that threatens to snuff out her spirit, she prays to the gods for escape. But as warned by her mentor, Estele, one must never pray to the gods after dark. Ignoring this advice, Addie strikes a deal with a shadowy figure, granting her immortality but cursing her to a life where no one remembers her. She leaves no mark on the world—no written words, no artistic creations, no lasting connections. She is forgotten the moment she slips from a person’s sight. What follows is a journey of resilience and determination as Addie navigates the centuries, finding ways to leave an imprint on the world despite her curse. Her story takes an intriguing turn when, after 300 years of anonymity, she meets Henry Strauss, a man who, to her astonishment, remembers her. Their connection becomes a cornerstone of the novel, unraveling layers of emotion, mystery, and existential inquiry. The enigmatic antagonist, referred to as Luc or “the darkness,” is both Addie’s tormentor and her reluctant companion. He grants her wish with a sardonic cruelty, reveling in her struggles as he waits for her to surrender. Yet, there is a strange intimacy between the two. Luc is not a one-dimensional villain; he is charming, seductive, and occasionally vulnerable. He challenges Addie, pushing her to confront her fears and desires, making their dynamic one of the most compelling aspects of the novel. Henry is a character whose presence turns Addie’s world upside down. The first person to remember her in centuries, Henry carries his own burdens and secrets. His story interweaves with Addie’s, delving into themes of self-worth and the longing to be loved. Their relationship is tender and bittersweet, offering moments of solace and heartbreak as they navigate the complexities of their intertwined fates. The story is told in a multiple timeline narrative alternating between Addie and Henry’s pasts and the present. Schwab’s prose is lyrical and evocative, capturing the nuances of emotion and the passage of time with elegance. The descriptions of Addie’s experiences, from the bustling streets of 18th century Paris to the modern-day cafes of New York, are immersive and atmospheric. Schwab has a gift for crafting sentences that resonate, lingering in the reader’s mind long after the book is closed. This is a novel that will stay with you, its echoes reverberating in your thoughts long after the final page. It is heartfelt, heart-wrenching, and, above all, unforgettable. Schwab has crafted a story that is as timeless as Addie herself, a testament to the enduring power of love, art, and the human desire to be seen. "I remember you" Addie LaRue.

When the highly talented V. E. Schwab writes a standalone novel like The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, it garners instant attention. I read the 442 page physical book, wanting to get lost in this novel. Unfortunately, it is a mixed bag. On the plus side, the premise is wonderful and the theme Schwab pairs with it is delightful. Some have criticized Schwab’s style as she departs from more conventional prose to a lyrical way of relating the story. For me, it works and puts the reader in Addie’s head. The historical fiction element of the story is well-researched. Many readers will likely get lost in Schwab’s voice as they live life through Addie’s eyes. However, I found the plot dragging with too much back story, not advancing to the back jacket’s description for over 100 pages. And then, the author decides to delve into the past of a secondary character halfway through the book, repeating the issue at the start. And a twist of Addie’s character at the end didn’t ring true to this reviewer. I believe many will find The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue a delightful read. My rating reflects the creative idea, the beautiful style, and the solid ending.

An absolutely mind captivating tale. You can see her,feel her trials and triumphs. Who could bring forth such a tale? This is truly one of the most pleasant reads of the summer.

This book is the kernel of a fantastic idea that seems still unfinished, with the plot needing more editing. I gave it 4 stars because I still highly enjoyed the read, but at the end, I couldn't help feeling that it could have been so much more. The book starts with Addie, a young woman who in 1719 makes a deal with the devil to break free of her provincial life and live for as long as she wants. But then, once life gets hard, she rails against the deal she made, and how unfair it is, despite the fact that if she simply ran away from home, her life probably would have been much harder. The story of her early life presents the book with its first missed opportunity: focusing on the plight of women throughout the last three centuries, and how dramatically it has changed. Addie comments about how hard it is to be an independent woman in the world she was born in, but the book never goes back to that line of thought, never completes it, never demonstrates how much easier it is three centuries later, or perhaps how much harder it is in other ways. Due to the fact that no one can remember Addie, a small inconvenience gets introduced to the plot: it is very difficult to build other main characters that touch her life and move the story forward. That leaves us with two characters: Henry, and the devil. The more we encounter the devil in the book, the less believable he seems (and yes, even in a completely imaginary fantasy world, all characters need to be believable to the reader). He seems to take on a more and more human shape, with magical powers to boot. While he is a thrilling and well-written character, the plot would have been better off without him. Addie's plight, without encountering the devil again at all after that first night, would have been that much more terrible and oppressive, and the meeting of Henry, the one who remembers, that much more important and dramatic. The author clearly loves art, and has been a student of Western history. But she seems to me to have grabbed a bit too much to chew, and so instead of thoroughly developing a plot that stays in a time and a place, she throws photographs at us: Addie now, Addie 50 years later, Addie 150 years later. Yet, Addie herself says that history is not photographs. One cannot put a girl in the 17th century and then just whisk her away to Florence when the revolution is just getting started! What I really wanted to see in this book is something a bit more like Daniel Defoe's writing, in the spirit of Moll Flanders. Addie seems to be a bit too perfect for her own good: she is always a victim, always a heroine, and has no faults. On top of that, she also casually picks up 8+ languages, piano study, and Western art appreciation. She sometimes seems to me to be the conjured up image of a perfect girl someone else always wanted to be, as opposed to a fully formed character that is complex and mesmerizing. Also missing is any mention of travels outside of Europe: has Addie gone anywhere else, or is she stuck in the Western Canon? The world is bigger than that, and has many more colors. I would have been ok with Addie staying in Europe, if the author didn't place Addie in the middle of such a broad historical sweep. Although Addie has seen world wars and revolutions, if she's never been to Asia - to Africa - to the Middle East - she has still seen very little, and knows very little. The parts that touched me most about the book are the parts that described her early childhood, and her early years of escape. Her repeated returns to Villon and the pain that accompanies them ring true, and raw, and representative of the experience of many who've been uprooted from their homes, whether by choice or not. The passage of time, and what it does to a place and to the memory of a place, touched me deeply. The book seems like it's in the middle of being written. It needs to lose a few major plot points, and stay focused, instead of pan out so much. I would have loved it so much more if it became a series of books that took us to the 21st century much, much later than it did.

• This is a fantastic book that I highly enjoyed, despite the author’s love affair with commas. So many commas. Seriously. (If you're missing a comma, it's probably in this book.) Unless the author was getting paid by the comma, she could remove many of the unnecessary ones (e.g., the ones mid-clause) and no one would notice. But that’s about the only bad thing I can say about this book (and yes, I recognize it’s petty). It is a great read the first time through, and I suspect it will be even better on subsequent reads. • The rhythm of the author’s prose might take a little while to get into, but I found it hypnotic and suggestive of a time long past. Although it’s not written in first person, this hypnotic style of repeated phrases, long sentences with lots of parallelism, and just spot-on descriptions made it FEEL like Addie LaRue was talking to me directly about her incredible life. The prose is so well written that it's almost poetry. • The story puts a unique twist on the old theme of a Faustian bargain. Reminiscent of the phrase “Be careful what you ask for,” Addie is forced to deal with the aftershocks of an agreement made in haste. Her anguish is palpable, her decline gut-wrenching, her desire to be remembered, insatiable. You will ACHE and FEEL so much for this character by the time the story is over. The tension between Addie and the antagonist (Luc) is so exquisite, that you’ll find yourself holding your breath when he shows up, wondering what torture is in store for our heroine. Luc’s barbs are sharp, but the retorts and sarcasm Addie throws back at him eventually become just as keen and cutting. You will plead for her to get back up off the mat, and cheer for her successes, the limited few she scores. I can’t say enough good things about the plot and the author’s captivating writing style. • Some reviews have complained about the scenes being too brief. I respectfully disagree and found that plot device necessary to move through the many years of Addie’s life. Otherwise, the book would have been 1000 pages long. The author gives us just enough color and substance to fill out the scene, makes her point (which is typically about the conflict between Addie and Luc), and then moves on. At times, it was a breathless read for me, the style allowing me to devour many chapters before I looked up and realized I was late for an appointment! • From a historical aspect, I also enjoyed the book very much. I personally enjoy historical novels, alternative history dramas, and time travel stories. This book was a little light on the historical details for my tastes, but what the author provided makes perfect sense when you think about it. After all, would you necessarily KNOW a person would become famous or which art piece would become worth millions of dollars if you were living as a CONTEMPORARY with that person or artist? No, you would not. Thus, it is so for Addie LaRue. • This is not a time-travel story with knowledge brought into the present from some time in the future. Instead, it is a wonderful story that explores the psychological weight of living much longer than others around you, and in Addie’s particular curse, how she maneuvers through many societies that will only ever interact with her on a purely superficial level. Like the classical character Sisyphus, Addie LaRue bears the weight of trying again and again, only to fail repeatedly… until she doesn’t. • Since my reading time is limited, there are very few books I would go back and re-read. This is one such book.

One of the best books I've read in recent memory! Every page is a poem, with language that is breathtaking without being overwrought. You really feel like you're right there with the characters, smelling what they smell, feeling what they feel. The descriptions are beyond engaging, and the storyline is expertly crafted. I was so worried that the ending would let me down but it was pitch perfect. I highly recommend this beautiful book that makes you think about life, love, living in the moment, and what it means to leave your mark on the world (not to mention the old adage, be careful what you wish for!).

Victoria Schwab é uma escritora de fantasia Americana. Ela tem uma série de livros de sucesso, e mais recente um dos livros mais falados dos anos de 2020 e 2021, A Vida Invisível de Addie LaRue. Conhecemos Addie, uma jovem francesa que vive no início do século XVIII, e logo entendemos sua ânsia por liberdade, por fugir da vida que lhe era imposta. Em um momento de crise, ela foge para a floresta a fim de oferecer qualquer coisa por liberdade. Só que é o Deus da escuridão que responde, e ela acaba por cometer um erro grave. A escuridão concede sua liberdade, mas em troca receberá sua alma. Addie passa a ser esquecida por todos que já conhecia, e a cada pessoa nova que cruza o caminho. Basta fechar uma porta, virar a esquina, ou dormir, para que ela se torne uma desconhecida. “Como você caminha até o fim do mundo? Um passo de cada vez.” Além do esquecimento, Addie também ganha a imortalidade, sem nunca envelhecer. E assim, atravessamos 300 anos de história, entre guerras e amores, decepções e arte. Addie atravessa continentes, e aprende a falar muitas línguas, mas não por mais que algumas horas ela é lembrada. Teria ela deixado algum legado? Tudo o que ela escrevia sumia, nem seu nome verdadeiro podia ser pronunciado, mas havia uma possibilidade de não ser completamente apagada: através da arte. “Não consigo segurar uma caneta. Não consigo contar uma história. Não consigo segurar uma arma, nem fazer alguém se lembrar. Mas arte, ela diz com um sorriso mais calmo, arte é sobre ideias. memórias. Eles são como ervas daninhas, sempre encontrando seu caminho para cima" A narrativa é em terceira pessoa, e se alterna entre os flashbacks dos 300 anos, e o momento atual (2014). Poucas vezes na vida eu vi uma escrita tão bem-feita, a autora soube deixar claro todas as suas intenções, e tudo fez muito sentido. É um livro impecável e sem falhas. Nos dias atuais, Addie conhece Henry. Seria mais uma paixão de um dia (para ele) e talvez alguns meses (para ela), até quando ela se cansasse de vê-lo esquecê-la a cada noite. Só que Henry lembra. Para ele, ela não era invisível. Por que? Este livro é uma obra de arte. É um livro perfeito para fazer jus ao seu plot: suas ideias nunca serão esquecidas. Addie LaRue toca nosso coração, toca em assuntos tão reais quanto ignorados. “O que é uma pessoa, senão as marcas que ela deixa no mundo?” Este é um livro obrigatório. Não viva esta vida sem conhecê-lo.

That should be studied in contemporary fiction classes in higher education. While exploring the theme of selling your soul to the devil that has been known even before Faust, it is a contemporary version of such a tale. The imagery, from the seven moles on Addie’s face to not only mark her but also suggest the Pleiades along with the wooden ring carved from wood by her father to represent eternity, heightens the tale through such clever literary devices. Addie represents the human desire for freedom that we all feel, whether it be a desire to be free from time constraints or the constraints of others, Addie represents this rebellion in us. I must admit that I started to find the novel pointless and wondered where it was going. Then I turned the page and Henry fell into the story. He represents our human desire to be loved for who we are. The relationship that develops despite one having wanted to escape the expectations of other and the other wanted to be accepted by others and thus fulfilling, through sorcery, the expectations of others, the reader learns that the two can cohabitate. Henry’s arrival makes the novel become a page turner and you want to get to the end to know how it does, though you fear that you already know. Yet keep turning those pages. A timeless read with a timeless character.

The product is a scam, it is a cheap copy of the original book in paperback

MÜKEMMELL