Book Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab

 

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

By V.E. Schwab

Reviewed by Michelle Wells

Just a quick note to say that this review marks a change for the blog. I’ve decided to only write one review a month so that I won’t be so rushed in my reading and can do a more in depth review of the books. New reviews will be put up on the first Friday of the month and cover whatever I happen to be reading at the moment. I jump between genres with wild abandon. I apologize if that confuses anyone.

Why did I pick this book up? A friend raved about the writing and I needed something that I could sink my teeth into, something that would sweep me up in a story. This book did that fairly well.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue covers several hundred years and begins with a young woman being coerced to marry, “for the good of the village.” It is 1714 in Villon-sur-Sarthe, France. Addie does not want to marry and runs to the woods on the eve of her marriage to pray for deliverance, but Estele has warned her to beware the gods that answer after dark. The god, or devil, that answers Addie’s prayer demands a price. Even in her fear, Addie makes a bargain that at once frees her and damns her.

She is freed from the marriage, and all constraints of obligation, but now no one recognizes her, or remembers her once they have left her presence. Though it takes her time to learn the limits of this new life, Addie figures out ways to survive, and eventually to thrive and enjoy the beauty of art and life. She even figures out how to leave a mark on history.

While the story touches upon various major events in history during the time period covered, it is largely a glancing blow as the story focuses upon Addie, and her relationships with the god/devil she calls Luc, and other people she interacts with, most notably musicians and artists.

In looking back at the story, I was surprised at how early Henry Strauss is introduced. I thought it was much farther into the book, perhaps because he's a very average character, until we find that he can remember Addie. He runs a book store and she tries to steal a book, but it doesn't go down quite the way she expects.

The timeline is a little shallow, like a stone skimming across a pond through many jumps until it sinks in the end, though I did enjoy the ride. “Ooo, I recognize that, and oh, hey, yeah, I recognize that.”

I really wasn’t sure precisely where this was going, right until the final pages, so that is always a plus in my estimation. Things changed directions a bit several times throughout the book, and more often toward the end. I was very concerned at one point that it was turning into one of those books that extolls the virtues of an abusive relationship under the guise of romance, but thankfully that did not turn out to be the case.

Did it develop any deeper themes? Mainly that there is beauty to be found in life in between the pain.

The concept was intriguing, the settings lovely, and nicely described, but the book could have been condensed and not lost anything. Her interaction with her old friend Estele, after her pact with the devil, is echoed by her interaction with her friend Isabelle, without any useful addition. Fewer scenes included but developed more fully might have provided a richer reading experience.

The writing style drew me in and carried me along easily, but it was a long, slow, drawn-out ride. Is this zen or shallow? Addie can’t have any possessions or even leave a mark – with pencil or other tools. It almost forces her into a shallow life. There are mentions of more – trying to save people in World War II and a time of madness, but they aren’t drawn in any depth. It’s still always in relation to her and her relationships, just a framework.

Schwab is a prolific author, 20 books in under 10 years, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts which plays into this story through her use of art works to give Addie a presence in history. Various artists are inspired by her, though they cannot capture her directly. Bea, an art student and friend of Henry’s, notices the similarities in the art works and considers it for a thesis project. I loved this frame of the story, perhaps because of my own college experience. It was easily recognizable and gave me a tangible way into the story.

I listened to a lot of the book on audio and the narrator is quite excellent, bringing to life the French accent and the changing nature of it as Addie gradually loses it. Her male voices were believable too. Without such wonderful narration, I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it quite as much as I did.

The most important thing in a book is to tell a good story. I was entertained. Is it a book that is going to stick with me? I suspect not. Did it offer any revelatory thoughts or inspire me to new thoughts? No.

3.5 out of 5 stars.