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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue,
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Matthew
I'm 50% in and ready to DNF. These characters are boring and stupid. How can such a cool premise be done so poorly.. What a waste. Henry is a pathetic dumb man child and Addie is a 300 year old teenager who apparently has not grown at all in all of her 300 years. So many people love this book.. WHY???
Liz
It dragged for me. I finished it but I gave it 2/5 stars and severely meant it. Not sure how such a fantastic idea for a story could be so boring and repetitive. Like we get it... (SPOILERS IF YOU CONTINUE READING THIS COMMENT)
we get it... you both made a deal with the devil and are screwed.... move on
we get it... you both made a deal with the devil and are screwed.... move on
Ana
You can kind of skip the middle, you know? The story really happens in the first 25% and last 30% of the book. Then it's great! The rest? Just filler stuff. And even though I really liked the story, but how annoying is it that a 29 yro guy is referred to as a "boy"??
Steven
I had such hopes for this book, it would have been a better novella. I really can't muster any sympathy for Henry. A spoiled, pampered man boy who boo hoo's when dumped.
Traci
I pushed through. I didn't think it got much better. I finished it but won't be recommending it to anyone to read.
Claudia Alzraa
No, give up, it's not worth it. It's garbage. Read my review.
Alia
I think it's worth it. I think the reason why a lot of people think it stretches a lot in the middle is because the book doesn't have a lot of dialogues, there's just her, Henry, and Luc, and even her and Henry don't have as much dialogues as they should've (in my opinion). So it's kind of a long story about time and life, and these kinds of stories will always have some slow rhythm to them but they're worth it because the writing really is beautiful. Also, Henry is a really great character, he's being labeled as a man child for being too sensitive but really it's more of a mental thing in my opinion, he suffers a lot with who he is, and what others see in him, which is very relatable and grounding. His and Addie's relationship is also beautiful and refreshingly realistic. So in my opinion, definitely keep going.
Lydia
KEEP GOING! The first 50% of the book is all her backstory, but then....there is Henry. If you want to check out my review I give a percentage breakdown of the book to help you push through!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Deb Lancaster
It's a poor book. I finished it because I became grimly fascinated by the awfulness. Do not recommend.
Daniel
I'm 75% in and it's still garbage. Hoping the ending is a little bit interesting? Just to redeem itself. Started off as an interesting concept but now its just really bad over-dramatized language that is very repetitive. This book could be half as long and still maybe be too long.
Biff
I just finished and it was well worth it!
Amanda
Agree with the previous poster. I was a bit bored for the first 25% of the book and ALMOST gave up, but it gets better!
Rachel
I switched to an audiobook version about 40% of the way through and that really helped. Then once I got to Henry's part of the story, I wanted to pick the book back up and physically read the rest. To me, it was totally worth it! The audiobook is available on Scribd if you wanna do a free trial and listen to it on there!
Bhavina!
Honestly, I'm sooooo bored too. Read the responses from others so I'm going to push through it. Better be worth it because I'm soooo boreddddd
Emma Hip hip horray
its bad and continues to be bad. don't waste your time.
Rae
Such an awesome premise yet nothing was done with it. You'd think that if you made to to 300 years old you be smarter. I thought it was awful.
Dana Monroe
I'm almost done and really enjoying it; didn't find it slow at all
Tammy Tsonis
It does. I'm at the part where she meets the bookstore guy & things are getting interesting. I agree, a bit too long before we get to this point.
Michelle
I pushed through the book. I'm glad I listened but this book is definitely over-hyped in my opinion. At the end I was like, "that's it?" I not sure how I wanted it to end but I was happy when it did.
Monica
For me it was a bit of a rollercoaster plot/pacing wise: The start was good, the middle dragged, then she meets Henry – where it picks up and gets good again but the ending IMO was predictable and anti-climatic. But yeah there's some nice imagery and well written prose throughout... so I guess the answer is based on how much much you enjoy the writing and if you can hang-on until she meets Henry about 70% of the way through.
Maureen
Books, movies, music, art not sure it’s always about good or bad, it’s about the person behind the book, watcher of the movie, listener of the music, viewer of the art. Who they are, what they like, what they feel and see. That is what determines a good book, good music, beautiful art, it’s in the eye/ear of the beholder. Talent, “the gift” are all important I agree. But insight, openmind and life have a part too.
Bientje
I LOVE THIS BOOK. I'm about to finish it and i really like it. I love the way the story starts unraveling towards the end. A lot of people found it a very boring book, but to me it is an extremely nice book
Mia Anastasia
Honestly same! I am 150 pages through and I can't read 10 pages before falling asleep. The writing is beautiful but the book is a total snooze.
Juliette
Hang in there. I think the book could have been edited by about 30%, but it's still worth it. Good writing and a textured yarn that doesn't disappoint in the end.
Marissa
Totally gets better. I was really starting to wonder where the story was possibly going to go in the first part ... and then Henry shows up.
John Updike
I am about 60 percent finished, finding the literature in this to be fantastic. I don't like Addie very much and find her to be pathetic. Slow? Yeah, there are parts that were overdone and a bit too descriptive. But I can walk in their world. It's about young people. If you are old, you need to remember that.
No book is "garbage" and people who describe them as such aren't good for the process.
No book is "garbage" and people who describe them as such aren't good for the process.
Lori Palmer
Yes, there were parts I felt could have been left out, but I thought it was well worth the read! It could very easily have been shortened by leaving out some of the historical parts, but some of those parts are there to show how resourceful she had to be to survive. I loved this fresh new concept of completely being forgotten. I was really hooked as soon as she met Henry.
Eric Bae
I found this book to be fascinating and heart wrenching. It dives deep into the background and history of the characters, so if you can't stand this slow paced style read, which is completely understandable, this book may not be for you. However, the author's decision to introduce only a few key characters and make them complex through descriptive accounts was what I found the ending to be so profound. It talks about the difference between life and survival. It tells tales of loss and love. It encourages us to continue to push on and live because "'nothing is all good or all bad,...life is so much messier than that'” (Part Six, Chapter 16).
Monica Selvaggia
I was bored at about 30% and read some comments about how the last 30% or 10% is the best part of this book, which encouraged me to hang on to it until the end...and I regretted it, A LOT. What a waste of time! The ending is even worse than the boring and tedious middle part...such cliche...especially when the author had come up with interesting backstory, you start to wonder how can it end up so awfully boring...
K
I gave up at 1/4 through because I didn't care about any of the characters, it was already super long and dragging, and the themes were not interesting or well developed either.
Suzanne Horne
I'm about a third in and want to DNF it. My problem is that the story isn't strong enough to compete with the trope of her "forgettableness". I keep asking myself how can an 18th century peasant girl read a book in ancient greek? How and when did she learn that? No one can teach her and she can't go to classes. It just doesn't hold up. After 300 years I guess all she's learnt to do is steal without getting caught.
Leah Southern
I'm in the same position, I hate DNF books but I'm really struggling to even pick this up and that is so not like me. I just don't feel captivated by the story like I thought I would which is a disappointment. I know so many people have loved this book but I've found the first 25% a real chore.
Joyce Rapoport Habalow
I am 1/3 in and it is not holding my interest. I am tempted to just read the last few chapters and call it a day.
Ana Belén
Yes! It does get better, the beginning is a little slow but it sets the story perfectly well. I really recommend that you keep reading.
Anastasia
It gets better around 29%, just wait for it
Jill Banwell
Yes, keep going. I will say no more.......................
Emerson Black
Pushed through because a friend loved it, but I felt it dragged and was bloated.
Cindy Meredith
I made it to 60 % but can’t go on. Don’t like the characters, the story is just dumb and the book rambles. It’s way too long.
Jules
I pushed through, and I'm sorry I did. Don't waste your time.
Mary
I'm on page 142 and I'm feeling the same way... I'm questioning why this book is so popular. I'm really hoping for a stellar ending to make it worthwhile.
Anna Lara
It does NOT get better
Nageen
Give up. seriously
Liz Mackey
I am struggling! I want to love it, but its so bad. but so good.
Jackie Kloppenburg
Does anyone notice the author's repetitive use of the word "fold"?
Addie "folds" things she steals in her skirts, the shadow "folds" his arms around her, the clouds "fold" as the storm gathers, etc, etc. etc.....
Addie "folds" things she steals in her skirts, the shadow "folds" his arms around her, the clouds "fold" as the storm gathers, etc, etc. etc.....
Alessia Spalvieri
I don’t think it’s worth finishing. I felt the same way when I started reading it: not getting hooked, finding the beginning incredibly slow, the plot dragging but I pushed through thinking maybe I’d end up liking it more once I got further into it but I never really connected with any of the characters and by the end I wish I would’ve just listened to my first impression that this book was not for me. I can understand why some people have rated it highly, but it was not my style and I regret forcing myself to waste time reading something that I didn’t connect with.
Alvin Lo
Wait till you try Stephen King's IT, or Hundred yrs of Solitude...
Wise Cat
It was a struggle for me to read but I did finish it. It wasn't at all what I expected or hoped it would be. The synopsis was somewhat misleading. Great premise, but it could have been 200 pages shorter as 3 centuries were not covered in depth in over 400 pages.
I see my answer is years late but posted anyway. I read this a few months ago and it's for the benefit of anyone thinking of reading it, and maybe reading this thread also. :-)
I see my answer is years late but posted anyway. I read this a few months ago and it's for the benefit of anyone thinking of reading it, and maybe reading this thread also. :-)
Kathryn
I have read 100 pages and am calling it quits. I am bored to tears.
Tim Greenwood
Finish it. I never found it at all tedious, but a little under half way through my wife considered it to moving too slowly, but at about 50% she was completely hooked again.
Gabriela
I was bored too, but after the middle, it starts to get interesting.
Lee
Just read the first 15% and the last 15%.
Churyl
I felt the same way, but then absolutely loved it and am so sad it's over. The audio book version helped - I was listening while doing other things so I wasn't worried about wasting my time. Then I completely fell in love with it.
Sharon
I had to give up around the same point. She is so unlikable. And it was so repetitive. After reading other reviews, I could tell it didn't get any better so I dumped it. I am really surprised anyone likd it. I
Suzanne Thompson
Yes, the middle section was a bit overdone, but it gets really good later on. Pay attention now to subtleties in Addie's attitude toward Luc.
Myriam Schärz
you posted a year ago and will probably never even look at this answer. I loved it! there are some beautiful quotes in the last quarter of the book. Even though the relationship to the dark develops as well, it's the messiness of the humans, Addie's development and how she deals with her very, very long life and the fact that nobody remembers her. Until someone does...
ana ♡
It's worth it trust me! I don't know why all the replies are hating on the book.
RhC
Basic "watch for what you wish" story. Much better stuff from the Greek tragedies and have been around over the millennia since.
Josie
LMAO. I am in the same boat. I am reading and it is telling me that whether you are immortal or definitely going to die someday, we are all trying to get sex wherever we can get it. TLDR? It does not look good for the human race. We are definitely going to over populate the earth. Dwight Schrute from The Office said it best "The world needs a new plague" Oh wait...
Webhost WH
I loved every inch of the book.
Loved them as I can feel the characters and feel the world around me.
Loved them as I can feel the characters and feel the world around me.
Skye
This is the best book I have ever read , it took me out of a 2 year reading slump so for sure keep reading it , is worth it .
Bel Dacumos
I just took this book out of my DNF and giving it a second chance. Hoping I can get past 25%.
Alex
No it does not get better. I was tired of the book at 50% - made myself finish it, but I wish I DNFed it then.
Joy the Crank
KEEP GOING! it might not make sense at first but the first bit Is necessary back story and new characters start to come in. This book was on elf the best books I've ever read idc what others say.
Sidna
If I was not reading this for my book club, I would never have finished it.
Tina
Not really. It's super frustrating, bordering on appalling, that characters so into literature and art learn nothing from their studies of it and remain so immature after so many years.
The Sudden Appearance of Hope, by Claire North, does this idea better but with no deals with the devil.
The Sudden Appearance of Hope, by Claire North, does this idea better but with no deals with the devil.
Louisa Charlotte Phillips
Me too Emily. I need some hope that the situation is 'improve-able!'
Jamie
Yeah definitely felt the same. You won't miss much if you DNF. Start was great but got boring.
Dena Evers
I'm surprised to read that this story is losing the interest of so many readers! I am about 50% done and I'm enjoying it quite a bit, -- so much so that I find myself looking at the clock all day at work in anticipation of returning to the story. I've noticed that the author uses a lot of the same wording and terminology throughout the book (ex: "curls tumbling", "blink and...") but the storyline outshines any lack of originality within the text. I'll update my rating when I have finished the book, but for now, it is a pretty solid 5-star story!
Carolyn
I'm with all of the responders. I finished the book but was disappointed. She lived through so much history and yet the author provides hardly any mention of it. My review says it was an opportunity missed.
Terrie
Last half of the book is better than the first half. There's more fun things happening.
una 🪐
Yes, the plot doesn't really take off until like halfway through
Jennifer Hunter
Could have been a short story...yet wasn’t..sigh! Wondering if I should just stick to her middle grade books which I love?! Kept trying to love this book but the sweet story and symbolism really could have been cut to a nice sweet short story.
Alexis
I also thought the middle dragged, but it got better towards the end.
Karen
Exactly why I came back here to read the reviews...guess I'll keep reading on...
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Aug 07, 2022 10:10AM · flag
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