The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – V.E. Schwab (English)

Hi everyone!

Sometimes you’ve been waiting for a book for such a long time you can’t believe you’re granted early access to it when it happens. Well I received this book a few months before it’s official publication date. It’s written by one of my favorite authors and it was translated to Dutch (my mother language) only a few months later! I couldn’t resist reading the English one and pre-ordering five different hardcover editions. Thanks again to Titan Books for providing me this e-arc in exchange of an honest review.

• Title: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
• Author: V.E. Schwab
• Published by Titan Books (and Tor Books)
• Read from August 2nd to August 5th 2020
• Soundtrack: Joseph Trapanese and Ramin Djawadi

A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.
France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world. But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

This story isn’t just a story. The tale of Addie LaRue is more than special. The introduction is built up slowly and the characters all get their own voice in different environments. But the story takes a different turn when Addie is married off and begs the gods or more time and a life of freedom. The exact moment of her spoken wish was crucial. She might have gotten what she wanted: more time, but not in the way the hoped. He gave her freedom, but won’t be remembered by anyone. It is not quite a supernatural or fantasy story, despite of the unearthy man that granted her wish. It just feels real.

The places where Addie’s character passes through are no different from the world as we know it. There are even moments in the story where great events, like the Great War or the death of a celebrity. The story also takes the reader through different time frames. From 2014 to 1714 and from 1826 to 1944. Each time the world Addie lives in is different, but her character remains quite the same. She is quirky, determined but lonely. She sees so much of the world but always misses the same thing. Recognition. In time, the structure of the story changes, with time jumps and later on some changes of perspective. But the story miraculously remains one and easy to follow. The idea of making a wish that comes true, but in such a different way than hoped for, is very interesting.

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Different forms of art area rrecurring and important theme in the story. Literature as well as music, photography and paintings. Each part of the story begins with a work of art that is described and later on it actually comes along in the story. As the story progresses, it becomes clear what these works of art have to do with Addie. The meaning of this, which was at first quite mysterious, is quite emotional and important to the story, it’ll astound you. Victoria has put all these elements together so well that when everything falls into place and becomes a whole, the story gets a different meaning. But, not only these different art forms are important. Addie also looks at the world around her in an artistic way. At some points, something simple happens, but it becomes of much importance because of the way Addie looks at it.  Some events remind her of something that she has seen or has happened to her before. Other things are still new to her, despite all her life experiences.

 When the end of the story approaches and the pieces of the puzzle start falling into place, emotions occasionally take over. As a reader you might have an idea of how the story is going to end, but Schwab has quite a few other ideas left for us. She somehow knows to outsmart the characters in the book and the readers aswell. She does this so beautifully yet sudden, that the story turns 180 degrees and she gives us the opportunity to look at the story in a whole different way. Addie’s life has been woven into the world over the years that you wonder if you have ever met her yourself, but you simply cannot remember. Just… What if…? This theory, this question is so beautiful and interesting to think about. It’ll leave you wondering for days.

Addie’s story is like no other you’ve ever read before. It’ll surprise you, move you and makes you wonder. They say as a reader you can live a thousand lives. Well this book makes you experience a thousand live within the pages of this book alone. Unbelievable, heartbreaking yet hopefull.

Rating:

~ Minca