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A review by bryiennefaye
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
3.0
3.5 stars
An intriguing and beautifully written book that you’ll find yourself shedding tears. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is the story of a girl who wanted to escape her life in a small town and in desperation to do so, found herself in a Faustian bargain. With her wish granted—a chance to live, to be free, and to have more time—she was bound to live forever but no one to remember her. In the three centuries that Addie livedwith no marks of her existence and only the darkness to know her real name, she one day found herself hearing the words, “I remember you” from someone at a bookstore in New York.
The prose of this book was so beautiful I couldn’t put it down from the moment I started reading it. I enjoyed how this book discusses the meaning of art, history, hope, and love. V.E. Schwab has delivered her poetic prose so well that you can’t help but sympathize with Addie’s experiences—too connected that at some point, it felt like you were also with her throughout those centuries. There were moments when Addie’s life was so vivid you could feel the coexistence of fullness and emptiness living inside her. It captured human existence so well; however, some parts were lacking, and I was left underwhelmed.
Despite capturing Addie’s life for centuries, it wasn’t enough for a book that, somehow, claims to be more character-driven than plot-driven. Instead, I was only given little to no glimpses that made the book fall short after having an interesting beginning.
Overall, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a book with captivatingly, whimsical storytelling with interesting characters; albeit I was left reeling with more could-have-been and what-ifs than answered questions.
“Blink and you’re twenty-eight, and everyone else is now a mile down the road, and you’re still trying to find it, and the irony is hardly lost on you that in wanting to live, to learn, to find yourself, you’ve gotten lost.”
An intriguing and beautifully written book that you’ll find yourself shedding tears. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is the story of a girl who wanted to escape her life in a small town and in desperation to do so, found herself in a Faustian bargain. With her wish granted—a chance to live, to be free, and to have more time—she was bound to live forever but no one to remember her. In the three centuries that Addie lived
Spoiler
—going from one city to another, across the continent, and even witnessing wars—The prose of this book was so beautiful I couldn’t put it down from the moment I started reading it. I enjoyed how this book discusses the meaning of art, history, hope, and love. V.E. Schwab has delivered her poetic prose so well that you can’t help but sympathize with Addie’s experiences—too connected that at some point, it felt like you were also with her throughout those centuries. There were moments when Addie’s life was so vivid you could feel the coexistence of fullness and emptiness living inside her. It captured human existence so well; however, some parts were lacking, and I was left underwhelmed.
Despite capturing Addie’s life for centuries, it wasn’t enough for a book that, somehow, claims to be more character-driven than plot-driven.
Spoiler
With that, I expected the full potential of this book to show Addie’s participation during the wars, those moments where she wasn’t invisible but a work of art, and to see more of the world that she dreamt of seeing in exchange for her soul—which I believe was the driving force of this story.Overall, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a book with captivatingly, whimsical storytelling with interesting characters; albeit I was left reeling with more could-have-been and what-ifs than answered questions.