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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue / Overall Discussion
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Really enjoyed it.I genuinely had no idea what the book was going to be like so really surprised by how quick I got into it.
Premise is really good. at a point it reminded me of an early John Boyne book, Thief of Time but the approach is different enough to be unique .
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Only up to page 60. Its a bit wordy, but there's something there that makes me want to read on. I hope it gets better, and expect it will, but I'm groping thru it so far, hoping something happens soon. Just finished The Searcher (Ireland) and that was over 400 pages of wordiness without much happening. But a good read regardless. This being French is a welcome change. But European authors it appears are all wordy--lately. I'd recommend this book so far, but don't expect much the first 100 pages or so. I do love the tried and true premise though. So must others as its selling quite well.
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It reminds of that Doctor Who episode, The Woman Who Lived.
I enjoyed the book in general. I have a few questions:How did the magic interact such that Addie and Henry were unaffected by the other's magic? I can see why Addie might not be affected, since she wasn't fully human.
Towards the end of the book, at the event in NYC, Luc said Addie could choose a person to trade a soul for Henry's. She points at a man, but he didn't follow through and the scene just changed. Was this just a ploy? What was the point?
In Part 6, Chapter 3, Addie went to a speakeasy managed by Luc. They talk, and the next day, Addie found that it was boarded up: "And just like that, new lines are drawn, the pieces set, the battle started." What does this mean? And why did this happen?
In Part 6, Chapter 13, one paragraph reads "They are here, together, in New York. And she wonders what would have happened if he hadn't said the word. If he hadn't tipped his hand. If he hadn't ruined everything." What is this referring to?
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Ryan wrote: "I enjoyed the book in general. I have a few questions:How did the magic interact such that Addie and Henry were unaffected by the other's magic? I can see why Addie might not be affected, since s..."
Hi Ryan. I did not read it this month , but from what I can remember about the event in question 2– I understood it to be Luc pointing out how difficult it is to decide who would replace Henry. Henry made the deal himself after all, why punish someone else? Who would YOU pick? Surprisingly Addie easily chose someone, showing her and us that she has lost some of her appreciation for human life by not having to worry about losing her own.
Ryan wrote: "I enjoyed the book in general. I have a few questions:How did the magic interact such that Addie and Henry were unaffected by the other's magic? I can see why Addie might not be affected, since s..."
As to event three, Addie herself says that she and Luc are playing a “game”(372). They are both trying to win little hits or jabs at the other on the way to the winning knock out. Who has won the battle in this chapter? Not the war...yet. Even they argue over who has won.....but the next day it starts over and Addie’s purpose (again) is to win the next battle with Luc.
Good thought on #1, Paul, I didn't think of that. But still, wouldn't Addie have seen him as more than he was, with the clouds in her eyes? I seem to remember she does think at some point that he's NOT perfect. I guess we should assume that since remembering her is the overriding concern, the rest falls by the wayside.Regarding #2, that makes a lot of sense. On #3 - I still don't get it. I understand the game they're playing, but it doesn't seem to me as if what happened at the speakeasy should count as a battle. And either way, it doesn't seem to explain the closing of the speakeasy.
Ryan wrote: "Good thought on #1, Paul, I didn't think of that. But still, wouldn't Addie have seen him as more than he was, with the clouds in her eyes? I seem to remember she does think at some point that he's..."Hi Ryan. On #3, Ultimately they are both lonely. But they have known each other longer than any other two people that we know of in the story. They seem to miss each other, long for each other when they are away from each other for long periods. Here, They argue over who has lasted the longest without seeking the other out. Addie argues she did not put on the ring- calling him , but he argues it was his speakeasy and that is why she was drawn there ( so he is arguing she did come to him). But she is learning his ways —finally after all these years- and says things that hurt him. He and she are ultimately hurt AND the game starts over. So whoever you see as the winner of the battle, Addie knows who is the owner of the speakeasy, Luc is angry, the gig is up ( is that what you say?) , so Luc has no use for it anymore.
Just my interpretation. I’m sure there will be other views.
That's a good point, Candace - I now see how that is indeed a battle. I should have gone back to reread that section.Are you implying that since Addie knows the owner of the speakeasy, that it must be closed? She wouldn't be able to tell anybody anyway.
I can see Luc closing it in a fit of anger, I suppose, but otherwise I don't see how the battle relates to having to close the speakeasy.
Ryan wrote: "That's a good point, Candace - I now see how that is indeed a battle. I should have gone back to reread that section.Are you implying that since Addie knows the owner of the speakeasy, that it mu..."
Hi Ryan! I agree with you Luc probably closes it out of anger. I just re-read the scene and it is a beautiful one. He is basically telling her that she can choose to be with someone more like her ( him, of course), or she can go back into the club and be with people who can never be anything to her, because she is a ghost. She chooses to walk back into the club- I think that is why he closes it. That AND he is closing the door (Doors in this case (-;) on this battle and readying for a new one.
Ryan wrote: "I enjoyed the book in general. I have a few questions:How did the magic interact such that Addie and Henry were unaffected by the other's magic? I can see why Addie might not be affected, since s..."
Regarding question 4, Because the paragraph you are asking about follows a section of Addie going through memories of her and Luc since the bargain, that is what I think this conversation is about. “They” being Addie and Luc .
“She wonders what would have happened if he hadn’t said the word.” Addie is wondering what would have happened if there had been no deal. His “binding word” was “done”. Part one, sections 9 and 10.
“Ruined everything “- that becomes clear, if they are referring to the deal. She was not as specific as he needed or wanted her to be. A couple of times he made her reword it before he would accept it.
Isn't it ironic that what caused her to lose the things that mattered most to her —Luc making sure each word is taken literally - is what she turns around on him and uses against him to save both her and Henry?
Ah, yes, that makes sense. I didn't think that it was referring to the deal all the way at the beginning of the book. The paragraph could have been more clear about that.And yes, it certainly is ironic, in a good way for Addie! As I was nearing the end of the book I thought to myself "I wonder how this is going to end, I can't think of anything that would really satisfy me" but the ending surprised me. I thought it was very well done.
Thanks for answering my questions so thoroughly, by the way, I like the book even more as a result.
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Spoilers allowed.