{"id":40272,"date":"2021-10-16T22:57:46","date_gmt":"2021-10-17T02:57:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=40272"},"modified":"2021-10-16T22:57:46","modified_gmt":"2021-10-17T02:57:46","slug":"review-of-the-invisible-life-of-addie-larue-by-v-e-schwab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=40272","title":{"rendered":"Review of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, by V. E. Schwab"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue<\/em><\/p>\n

by V. E. Schwab
\nnarrated by Julia Whelan<\/p>\n

Macmillan Audio, 2020. 17 hours, 10 minutes.
\nReview written October 5, 2021, from a library eaudiobook
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

This is the amazing epic tale of a girl who sold her soul to the god of Darkness.<\/p>\n

She was at her wits’ end. She lived in a small village in France in 1714. At 23 years old, her family had decided she must marry an older man from the village. Her life stretched out before her bleak and hard. She wanted to live! And she wanted to be free.<\/p>\n

But when she prayed desperately to the gods on the day of her wedding, she hadn\u2019t realized that the sun went down and it was the Dark who answered. He was happy to give her the wish \u2013 but when she got tired of living, her soul would be forfeit.<\/p>\n

However, in granting her wish to be completely free, the Dark cursed her to never be remembered. She could interact with people, but as soon as they turned their back or a door closed between them and Addie, they would completely forget her. And there was more \u2013 she couldn\u2019t speak her name or tell her story. If she tried to write words or make any kind of mark, it was instantly erased. In fact, the only person who remembered her and knew her name was the god of Darkness himself.<\/p>\n

First, her family and the friends in her village forgot her, as if she had never existed. But Addie quickly learned that it was difficult even to order food or rent a room. Eventually, she learned that she could steal, because that is anonymous. But if someone saw her stealing and was able to stop her, she would still suffer.<\/p>\n

She could suffer \u2013 but she did not age or get illness or lasting wounds. She had immortality \u2013 and the Dark underestimated her stubbornness, as well as her excitement in discovering new things. She wasn’t willing to forfeit her soul. She even learned, over the years, that ideas are more lasting than memory. While she never could have an accurate painting or photograph made of her, she could and did inspire art and music.<\/p>\n

But one day in New York City, almost 300 years from the day she was cursed, she brings a book back to a bookstore that she stole from it the day before \u2013 and the bookstore clerk remembers her! And it continues! She finds she can even tell him her name.<\/p>\n

And so, after almost three hundred years, Addie LaRue\u2019s life changes. But the reason why this boy can remember her brings with it a new set of problems.<\/p>\n

This story tells about Addie\u2019s long life and adventures interspersed with scenes from the present (2014), weaving a rich tapestry of an amazing life, which may not have been entirely invisible.<\/p>\n

And of course it raises many questions. Would it be worth living a long life if you couldn\u2019t leave any mark on the world? Is it possible to love people who forget you? What are the things that make life worth living? And of course the big one: What would you be willing to give up your soul to get?<\/p>\n

The audiobook was wonderful, giving Addie a slight French accent and distinguishing the characters well, but it’s very long. I enjoyed a trip through Skyline Drive in early Autumn to finish it off, and it made the drive all the more incredible.<\/p>\n

macmillanaudio.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Fiction\/invisible_life_of_addie_larue.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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