The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

[Alison]

I just am a little bit into Part 4 and wanted to put down my thoughts before they become fuzzy :)

(view spoiler)[ For some reason, this book is very slow reading for me and I was expecting not to be able to put it down! Maybe it is just this middle part of the book...I am a bit bored, I have to say! I just got to the part where Henry revealed that he also made a deal with "Luc" and was happy to finally have his backstory (I have spent since Henry was introduced wondering what was different about him! What made people attracted to him and what he looked for in people's eyes?! I think he saw cloudiness in people's eyes and clarity in Addie's and now I know why :) Now to see why Addie feels that Luc making a deal with Henry was a mistake on Luc's part...

I am finding that I enjoy the parts of Addie's life in the 17th and 18th century. I agree with you, Jackie, the development of Addie's character is very interesting (how she learned to survive and thrive when no one remembers her)! And Henry's character is a little bland...
I also enjoy the description of the works of art in the beginning of each section...they seem to relate to Addie's life. She makes an impact even though people don't remember her (as a muse or giving people ideas in their writing/songs, etc). In some ways, she is defeating the curse by doing this, I think!

I agree with all of you that I can't see a "happy ending" between Henry and Addie. I also think she is attracted to Luc in a way...yes, he was the only connection/"person" who remembered her and that is emotionally attractive to her but I feel like she is also wanting to be with him. I will have to see how having Henry remember her will affect that feeling she has toward Luc!

Question: I still haven't quite figured out what is the deal with the wooden ring...did I miss something? She is always carrying it and seems to want to get rid of it but it comes right back to her. She also doesn't want to put it on for some reason...wasn't it a ring her father made?
(hide spoiler)]

[Chika]

Just finished the book (view spoiler)[ I loved this story. It speaks of life and how precious time is, of moments and seconds and how life isn't to only be lived for the future but also in the present. Enjoying every second we have and living it to the fullest because we might not have a tomorrow, a later.
Being in medical school and dreaming of this for as long as I can remember, time flies by. You almost chase till you forget that time is flying by.
I enjoy the way the book handles the idea of being forgotten, of the importance of a name, a life, and living a mark on the world, any mark (though a positive one would be preferred).
I'm not sure if this is also intended but I still wonder... what would you do if you had all the time in the world? or rather... What are you willing to sell your soul for? (hide spoiler)]

[Chika]

Illona (view spoiler)[ Yes I agree the book became repetitive. Drink every time the word 'Palimpsest' was used. I did not like that she ended up with Luc either but I felt it more realistic in a way. It's bittersweet but I can live with it, I'm satisfied with it (hide spoiler)]

To anyone who has finished the book or far enough to risk it (view spoiler)[ Am I the only one who preferred reading about the present? I did enjoy the stories of the past and I probably wouldn't like the present so much if it wasn't mixed in like it was but Henry and Addie!!! I guess I'm a little sucker for them but I think the present explored the workings of her curse a little more (since I was really intrigued by it), I don't know (hide spoiler)]

[Alison]

I finished this book yesterday and here are my thoughts:

@Chika (view spoiler)[ I totally agree with you about how the book spoke to how precious time is and how life should be lived in the present! I also found myself liking the parts that were written in the present instead of the past more toward the end of the book...probably because I wanted to see what would happen with Addie, Henry and Luc and how everything was resolved! (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ I feel the ending of the book was perfect for me...I was a little bored in the middle but maybe I was distracted and not paying as much attention as I should have to my reading. I liked how Henry ended up actually writing this book! I also liked how dynamic a character Luc was...I feel he and Addie's relationship really made the book and kept it going! They had a very "love/hate" relationship and we find Addie plotting Luc's takedown at the very end! (hide spoiler)]

Thank you for allowing me to Buddy Read with you all...I really enjoyed reading all of your comments and look forward to keeping up with this thread to see what you all feel once you finish the book...:)

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

Chika wrote:
To anyone who has finished the book or far enough to risk it [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I preferred the present day stuff too! You are not alone (hide spoiler)]

[Desiré]

I just finished this today!

Chika (view spoiler)[ Took the words out of my mouth. For some reason I have been thinking about how quickly time goes by recently and this book really puts it all in perspective. (hide spoiler)]

My Thoughts (view spoiler)[ There were parts of this book that got a bit boring and repetitive to me but I am so glad I kept going and finished it! Going off what Chika said, it’s a lovely story that reminds you how short life actually is and to not take anything for granted. It has actually made me start thinking about what I want to be remembered for. Love books that make you pause days after reading them, as the story keeps winding it’s way through your thoughts. All in all I think it was the best possible ending we could hope for, love that Addie is actually holding the cards in the end. (hide spoiler)]

[Chika]

Alison (view spoiler)[ You weren't the only one who found the middle parts kinda boring, I did too. I also enjoyed Addie and Luc's banter (Preferred her with Henry but was extra entertained with Luc) (hide spoiler)]
SarahKat (view spoiler)[Thank goodness I'm not alone :) (hide spoiler)]
Desiré (view spoiler)[ I have too, been thinking about time and how quickly it goes I mean... and like you also said, it ha pushed me to think about what I want to be remembered for, what mark I'll leave behind, what impact I can make while still enjoying each day to the best of my ability. Love books like these too (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

I am about halfway through part 1. I have had two songs in my head as I have been reading this and I think they represent Addie's story so far.
(view spoiler)[
1. Belle from Beauty and the Beast: particularly the lyrics "little town, it's a quiet village / every day like the one before" and "there must be more than this provincial life"
2. Who Wants to Live Forever? by Queen (hide spoiler)]

[Alison]

Rachael wrote: "I am about halfway through part 1. I have had two songs in my head as I have been reading this and I think they represent Addie's story so far.

1. Belle from Beauty and the Beast: particularly the..."

Racheal....I love your two songs and think they are totally appropriate to this story!! :D

[Rachael]

Just finished part 2.
(view spoiler)[I am intrigued by Henry and want to know more of his backstory. Is the fact he can remember Addie something to do with only true love can break the curse? (hide spoiler)]

[Sunny]

Rachael wrote: "I am about halfway through part 1. I have had two songs in my head as I have been reading this and I think they represent Addie's story so far.

Your song choice is spot-on! (view spoiler)[Can't believe I didn't think of
Who Wants to Live Forever?, myself. Goodness knows I've sung it enough -- especially when I was hooked on Highlander -- "There can be only one." (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

It takes a lot for me to get emotional but I have to admit this book makes me feel very sad but I still really like it. It's heartbreaking yet beautiful.
Part 4 (view spoiler)[I feel so sorry for Addie and Henry and their stories. I have this strong feeling that something is going to happen to Henry soon - I think that Addie's curse is for ever but Henry will only have a year for some reason. (hide spoiler)]
Also (view spoiler)[ I'm guessing Luc erased Addie completely from existence so the 23 years before her curse started have gone too i.e. her parents didn't have a child (hide spoiler)]

[Sunny]

Read Part II yesterday afternoon.

(view spoiler)[The going back and forth through time is less jarring because, after Rachael's post mentioning the song Who Wants to Live Forever?, I started to view the story as being done in the fashion that was carried out in The Highlander series, which I enjoyed. And it's interesting getting bits and pieces of Addie's past that give a picture of how she became what she is in 2014.

I looked up some images of fashions during 1715 and etc. Ye gads! Beautiful, but how annoying it all looks.

Addie's encounter with Sam must have felt really weird to her -- like living a re-run. And having to act as though she doesn't already know the stuff she's encountering. What a mental trip that would be -- even if you've had practice at it!

I wasn't surprised Henry was able to remember her. I somehow figured he is special. I'm not sure, though, if he's going to be good or bad. He obviously has some sort of issues. Is he trapped by The Darkness, too? Is he an agent of The Darkness? Is he The Darkness in disguise?

I would love to visit "The Last Word" bookstore; and to meet Book. "The Last Word" sounds a bit symbolic. Wonder if there's some sort of truth hidden in the name?

I loved when Addie discovered Chocolate in 1719! I never thought about discovering chocolate before. I wonder when I discovered it?!

I have never come across marchioness before. I figured out what it meant because of the context it was used in, but looked it up in the dictionary for the pronunciation. I have a feeling it sounds more highfalutin with a French accent that it does with my southern drawl :) (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

Sunny wrote: "I would love to visit "The Last Word" bookstore"
Me too!

Chapter 4 of Part 6: (view spoiler)[NO! I knew it was coming but it was still heartbreaking to see it on the page. 😢💔 I love the way it was written though because it is full of emotion and Addie's slow realisation. I think this was one prediction I didn't want to come true but knew it would (hide spoiler)]

[Rachael]

A few hours later. Finished (view spoiler)[I like that there was a twist about Henry but the ending is still very bittersweet.
Does anyone else want a prequel about Luc? I was intrigued about the clubs he owned and also some of the other deals he made (hide spoiler)]

[Niya]

I finished it last night! I think that the story was very interesting as a whole and had a lot of potential but there were a number of aspects I didn't appreciate, which made me feel a bit disappointed in the end. (view spoiler)[ The concept of the curse and the Darkness was very interesting for me. I also enjoyed reading about Addie both in the past (more so in fact) and in the present. It wasn't until I read a few reviews that I realised what was missing from her story in the present - it's the fact that she seems to remain the same person with regard to her mentality and emotional maturity over a period of 300 years. I became more interested in her present day story once Henry was introduced and I didn't suspect he would also be cursed, which made the twist quite thrilling for me. I found Addie and Luc's relationship one of the most exciting things to read about and I am very disappointed that it wasn't explored in more detail and that overall we don't get to learn much about Luc or see anything from his perspective. My issue with Addie and Henry was that although they were sweet together and I believe each of them needed the other's support, their relationship didn't feel like a romantic one. I really liked the twist in the end, but I think it would have had much greater impact if Addie was truly in love with Henry and that leaving him to save him from his curse was breaking her heart. There were a number of other smaller aspects I didn't particularly like but I don't want this post to get ridiculously long, so I think the only other thing I'd like to mention is that I feel like the idea of the book having been written by one of the characters, while good on its own, has been done too many times and I got quite annoyed to see it again, but while this was the case for me, I assume many readers weren't bothered at all. (hide spoiler)]

[Sunny]

Read more yesterday -- the 20th.

Part 3 (view spoiler)[ Aha! Henry made a deal! Wonder what it was he wanted that's now got him trapped ...

To read or not to read Part 4 today?

Read! I'll wait 'til after lunch, though. (hide spoiler)]

Part 4 (view spoiler)[ Henry is invisible, too. Poor fellow. I wonder how long The Darkness is going to let Henry and Abby stay together? Then, it probably doesn't matter in the over-all scheme of things because he's probably using their relationship to be the final straw that causes them to surrender to him. (hide spoiler)]

Looking forward to finishing this one up over the weekend.

[Desiré]

Rachael wrote:
Does anyone else want a prequel about Luc? I was intrigued about the clubs he owned ..."

A prequel about Luc would be a good read I think! Would love to read some short stories about other deals he has done.

[Heather]

I just finished! I would also love a prequel!

[Veronica]

I finished the book! Actually almost 2 weeks ago now, but I just got back around to this post to share my thoughts :)

(view spoiler)[ I really love this story and gave it 5 stars. Henry was by far my favorite, I think I related personally to some of his struggles and emotions, and I was really rooting for him and Addie. It didn't surprise me that the ending was so emotional and I figured something would happen that involved them no longer being able to be together. I figured though that Addie would have ceased to exist in Henry's stead, so I liked that aspect of her still getting to "live" her life with Luc. Overall though I felt a lot of empathy for Addie and how difficult a life like that would be.

I would also enjoy a prequel!! (hide spoiler)]

[Sunny]

Finished this on the 24th. Here are my thoughts:

Parts 5, 6, & 7:

(view spoiler)[Wouldn't being introduced over and over again to Bea & Robbie become annoying -- start getting on the last nerve?

Well, I was right about Luc knowing and not caring if Addie was with Henry. And I was a bit frustrated with Addie for not realizing that Luc knew all along what was going on -- she's known him for 300 years for goodness sakes.

How utterly awful for things to be so bad for Henry that he would be tempted to make such a deal and to only have it last for a year. The poor fellow.

I enjoyed that Addie got to see Wagner's Tristan & Isolede. Got to see it myself a few years ago when it was on Public Television so I could appreciate how she felt about seeing it.

I wasn't surprised by what Addie did in the end -- how ironic, though, that she ended up in a relationship that she didn't want to be in -- the way she would have done back on her wedding day had she not made her deal with the Darkness.

I feel sorry for Henry that he lost Addie, but I'm glad he was able to pull his life together and start living it to the fullest. (hide spoiler)]

A marvelous story! Enjoyed reading it with y'all!

[Desiré]

Sunny wrote: "Finished this on the 24th. Here are my thoughts:

Parts 5, 6, & 7:

(view spoiler)[ wow I didn’t even think about how she ended up in an unwanted relationship after all that. At least she has a plan for this one but still so sad. (hide spoiler)]

[Sunny]

Desiré wrote: "Sunny wrote: "Finished this on the 24th. Here are my thoughts:

Parts 5, 6, & 7:

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I think maybe the deal she made with the Darkness back when this started made her more like him than he ever thought about. In spite of his being around for so long ... in a way she has created/molded him in ways no one else seems to have done over the years. I know he has control of her, but she finds loop holes that he allows and I think that gives her more strength than even he might think about. (hide spoiler)]

[Desiré]

Sunny wrote: "Desiré wrote: "Sunny wrote: "Finished this on the 24th. Here are my thoughts:

Parts 5, 6, & 7:

[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ True, I had that thought a bit when he showed up looking like her “Luc” to Henry, and pretty much anyone else from the moment her met her. Very good point. (hide spoiler)]