The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - October CC Book Club Selection

Parent Cafe
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It’s October 1st! Welcome to our discussion of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. I enjoyed this book — it was a fun read. At times, it was a little repetitive, but then so is living for 300 years.

The word of the day is “palimpsest” — a word Addie uses repeatedly as a metaphor for her existence. It is "a manuscript or piece of writing material on which the original writing has been effaced to make room for later writing but of which traces remain.”

I think the word is equally appropriate for those of us who are not immortal. Our memories fade, but even experiences we no longer remember remain beneath the surface, influencing future choices and responses to new events. Part of the message of Addie LaRue seems to be that whether long or short, every life leaves a trace; our actions, seemingly forgotten, can actually have a profound, long-lasting impact on others.

I appreciated that message and I liked the story, but I had mixed feelings about the characters (which I think might be the author’s intent). I’m interested to learn what you all thought! Below are discussion questions, if interested.

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Discussion Questions

1. What are the best and worst things about Addie’s invisible life? What is the emotional toll of being unable to imprint herself on the heart and mind of another person? When does it give her an advantage?

2. Discuss the intense power struggle between Addie and Luc. What makes him such a master of seduction? How does Addie reclaim her power and agency over the course of the centuries?

3. Addie slips into the homes (and even the clothes) of people from all walks of life. Which abode did you like the best? If Addie borrowed your house, what would she enjoy the most about the contents of your cupboards and your closets?

4. As we meet Addie’s many lovers, Remy stands out as the first man who lived up to her girlhood fantasies. On the magical night they met, Addie was dressed in a pair of trousers, a buttoned coat, and a tricorne hat. How did her disguise (as “Thomas”) stoke their passion?

5. Living without a bank account or a phone or an address, Addie is reduced to pilfering and theft to quell her physical suffering. Is it a blessing or a curse that she only has to worry about momentary suffering, not survival? What new appreciation do you have for the ordinary things you count on to make it through difficult times?

6. In Part Three, Chapter II, the author writes, “The time between Thursday night and Saturday afternoon is merciless, every second doled out with the care of an old woman counting pennies to pay for bread. Not once does it seem to quicken, not once does she lose track of it. She can’t seem to spend it, or waste it, or even misplace it.” How does the possibility of an infinite lifespan change the way Addie sees life itself?

7. Addie’s situation is transformed when she steps into The Last Word for the first time. Discuss the role of the written word in her life. What does her taste in books say about her? What does it mean for her to be deprived of a lasting version of her own life story?

8. Belief plays such a central role in the narrative, specifically in the shaping of foundational identities, from the LaRue family’s rigid Christianity to Estele and her faith in the old gods, to Addie, whose belief in a fantasy shapes the physical representation of Luc, and Henry, whose loss of belief leaves him feeling lost. How does Estele’s immersion in the spirit world compare to Henry’s studious theology? Do you believe in the existence of gods that answer after dark?

9. How do Addie’s and Henry’s deals with Luc complete each other (the freedom of eternal youth paired with perpetual impermanence; constant acceptance paired with the obliteration of the true self)? If you could receive one of their “curses” for just 24 hours, which would you choose? Have you ever been pushed so far to the brink that you might have made a deal with Luc?

10. As the chapters unfold from the 17th century to modern times, and as the novel oscillates between rural life and spectacular cities, what timeless, universal aspects of human nature emerge? From warfare to popular culture, revolution to liberation, how much progress does Addie witness? To what degree does she also watch history repeat itself?

11. As the intention behind Bea’s project was revealed, what did you discover about the power of art to preserve hidden truths? In what way is Addie’s identity written in the stars?

12. How did you react to the novel’s ending? What had you been predicting for Addie? https://www.readinggroupguides.com/reviews/the-invisible-life-of-addie-larue/guide

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I found this a very interesting read. It was especially interesting that Luc had such endless power but was bewitched by Addie and really wanted her by his side. They were definitely a complex couple.

Henry was sweet but so much needier. He and Addie were an interesting couple that would never have normally happened—other than his being damned and remembering her.

It was interesting that Addie never got pregnant—maybe that was part of the curse.

The curse itself was confusing because would’ve people/Addie need to be out of sight to use the bathroom or something in the course of the day/night and then wouldn’t she be forgotten like Bea and others forgot Addie? In many of the escapades she/they were drinking, so even more need to use bathroom.

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Not much discussion yet! I really appreciated this book because it made me examine my own life - a bit of introspection. I sometimes feel invisible although people do know my name and I have quite a written record. But the idea of people not paying attention and feeling forgotten; that spoke to me. I started thinking about if it bothered me, should it bother me, how much does it really matter… I know that’s not Addie’s situation, but the concepts were interesting.

Partway through, I realized that Addie was an influencer! Not to get attention, not to make money, but to have her ideas take form through others. That gave her life purpose. It was interesting to see her realize that and help her move forward. In the end, although her wish might have been selfish, her eventual actions were for others to excel, not her.

I was a bit confused about the downside of selling your soul, other than trickery. But at the end, what happened to the soul? Just a shiny marble that Luc liked absorbing? It didn’t seem like the soul was writhing in torment through eternity, or missing heaven. Perhaps the shortened life? But that’s a theme throughout myth and history - consider Achilles and Alexander the Great. They both preferred a short glorious life to a long safe boring one.

I wasn’t so much a fan of the love story, if that’s what it was, between Addie and Luc, or “humanizing” Luc at all. The gods of mythology are careless and selfish and cruel, and play games with humans. It seems unlikely that Luc didn’t keep doing that through the end, and that he probably understood what Addie thought she was doing. She amused him, perhaps.

A couple of lyrics that popped into my head: for Addie, “lead the unexamined life”, and for Henry, “why do you write like you’re running out of time?”

Side note, it was timely to have the High Holidays included!

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I really liked this book. It evoked emotions that surprised. After the first quarter of the book I had this sense of sadness and grieving for the remainder of the book. I think that all of us wants to be remembered in some way. For most of us, it is through our children and grandchildren. I think that that is one of the reasons that genealogy is so popular. It puts an identity on someone in our past that we didn’t know but whose existence is essential for our being here.

For those who do something exceptional or historical, they will be remembered in some respect. But do they expect it? Did Homer ever think that his works would be read and studied 28 centuries later?

Luc is every temptation that we have encountered. What would you trade with him? I can’t think of anything. Vast wealth or being more intelligent would not really tempt me. Well, maybe. However, being religious, hell doesn’t sound very appealing. I felt sorry for the despair that Addie must have felt to make such a trade.

Sorry for rambling. I did love the book and it will stick with me for quite a while. I just started The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods and I kept thinking that Addie would appear somewhere in the first few chapters. I really had to switch gears.

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I’ve been pretty lucky—have had a fairly happy life and never felt as desperate as Addie obviously did when she made her deals nor Henry when he made his.

I wouldn’t want to trade my life, soul or much of anything else for making people like me more, travel or adventure more or much of anything else.

The book WAS thought-provoking.

Some reviewers didn’t think Addie showed nearly enough growth for her 300+ years and was stuck as a teenager. I found her ok. She and Henry were sweet together—both needy in different ways.

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But a blessing, really! Even if Addie were able to care for a baby, they would never be able to bond, because every day she would be a stranger to her own child. How awful for both of them.

I agree. They were a bit of a mismatch, and Addie recognized it from the start. Henry’s ability to remember her made him simply “enough” in her eyes (the word used in Henry’s deal with Luc). And while, as the saying goes, “Enough is as good as a feast,” it wasn’t true love. I’d like to think that Henry went on to find someone to whom he was better suited, but probably not. I imagine he kept Addie in his memory as the gold standard.

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Read more than half the book, and may go back and finish it, after following this discussion.

I wish I had liked it as much as many here. When I got to the point when Henry also had made a bargain I just put the book down and decided to wait for This group To motivate me to finish it

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I read the book in one session yesterday. It was a captivating story and I couldn’t (didn’t want) to put it down. I liked the story, and the writing was good too. I had gone in with the expectation of not liking the book but ended up liking it quite well.

That being said, I’m not able to find a lot to say about the book or the story. I liked that Addie was shown to be a strong character, even though many a woman from her times would’ve given up the struggle and surrendered their soul fairly soon.

Addie’s difficulty is that she’s born in the wrong century, when a woman had little or no choice about life decisions. Not an uncommon situation for women. I know that my own great grandmother had no choice about whom she married, as a fatherless girl, her uncle picked a husband for her. She died young leaving 3 children under 6. Her health was poor and the childbirths took their toll.

Addie was a rebel who wanted a way out and made a bad bargain. Interestingly enough I didn’t feel any sympathy for her as she realizes the bad consequences of her deal.

The desire to leave a mark in this world is strong in all of us. Addie was denied that in ordinary ways but over the years she was a muse to different artists who captured some part of her essential soul in their masterpieces.

If you could receive one of their “curses” for just 24 hours, which would you choose? Have you ever been pushed so far to the brink that you might have made a deal with Luc?

This is a tough one. I think I would choose being forgotten over being loved by everyone especially since it is only for 24 hours. Imagine the letdown after the 24 hours if you choose limitless love and adoration!

I hope to be strong enough not to make a bargain like this if ever pushed to the brink.

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Yes, I love this idea.

I think those reviewers missed the point. How could Addie truly grow when every single day was about survival? Every day struggling to have her basic needs met – food, shelter, clothing. I just had a flashback to grad school, thinking about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. If a person is consumed with basic survival at the bottom of the pyramid, they will never have the opportunity to reach their full potential at the top of the pyramid. And Addie is deprived of the middle levels as well, having no opportunity to develop close relationships with others.

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Good question. I wondered about that myself. I’d say that Luc is “fed” by souls – consumes them in order to survive. But as you say, I don’t see the downside for the person who makes a smart deal with Luc and is happy with the bargain. Loss of their soul doesn’t seem to mean eternal damnation or anything like that. For the old woman (near the end of the book), Luc is more like Brad Pitt in “Meet Joe Black” than the devil.

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Yes, the old woman seemed fine with putting down the burden that life was to her.

Yes, it makes sense that Addie was in survival mode for most of her extended life and therefore didn’t have spare bandwidth for much personal growth. She did pick up cues about Luc though, which was an important part of her survival.

I also think I’d prefer to be forgotten than universal adoration. The fake adoration would get tedious.

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And how could Addie grow without interaction and consequences? Growth thrives on feedback and resulting change. The survival needs forced the “me” aspect of finding food and shelter.

But looking at that pyramid, she did achieve a sort of self-actualization by realizing how she could guide others to create art. She went looking for potential and spent time slowly building it in the minds of others. That’s actually somewhat selfless - wanting the art to exist for others without seeking credit. Is that not maturity?

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Yes, what Addie accomplished was extraordinary, given the challenges of her day-to-day existence. She also managed to master several languages, all self-taught. She would not let the curse destroy her spirit or her drive, which is probably why Luc found her so captivating.

I would add this to your comment about creating art for others without seeking credit: I think that was the end result, but her initial motivation was not selfless; rather, she wanted to leave her mark, to prove to herself that her existence mattered and that she would, in some small way, always be remembered.

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Henry’s deal took a toll on him very quickly. And unlike Addie, he didn’t have to deal with it for eternity, or even for a single lifetime – only for a year.

At first glance, the two curses seem like polar opposites: one is to be always forgotten, the other is to be always adored. But in fact, they are nearly the same, because the result is never to be truly known. Addie has no opportunity to develop relationships beyond a single day, and Henry’s friends and family never see him for the person he truly is, flaws and all.

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Thinking about Luc and Maslow’s hierarchy - it seems that many of his “gifts” were essentially offering Addie a glimpse of experiencing parts of the hierarchy that she was missing, and then pulling them away. Sumptuous meals, the house in New Orleans, the relationship with Henry … all brief moments of happiness that disappeared at his whim.

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Great comments so far. I wrote my comments below before reading the thread and found myself nodding and agreeing with what had already been said.

I really enjoyed this book overall. Around the middle of the book I wasn’t sure I was going to love it, but then it recaptured me. There were times when the narrative felt a little long with the storytelling. I also found it difficult to believe the humanness of the dark god. I had difficulty believing the dark god would allow love to influence him and his decisions. But…in the end do we really know if any of his feelings were honest and truthful? We don’t. I love that both Addie and Luc were playing the long game. The fine details of the ending were not predictable to me. I suspected Addie would give herself up to Luc for Henry, but the rest of it was a surprise, and I appreciated that I couldn’t figure it all out ahead of time.

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I thought until Addie found the tree that had been struck by lightening on her friend’s grave that she’d want to become a tree. The ending was not one I had expected but I was glad she found a way to extend Henry’s life.

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Luc is really a mystery. Does he hang out with the other dark gods during those long absences or is his life as isolated and lonely as Addie’s? Can a dark god even feel things like loneliness (or love)? All I know for sure is I don’t trust him. And he always seems to be one step ahead of Addie, so I’m not convinced her long game will reap rewards. Also, who knows – immortality with the perks that Luc provides is a lot more comfortable than the life Addie had experienced without him, so she may decide to remain his consort longer than anticipated.

Luc’s character follows the pattern of many “devils” in literature and film: charming, charismatic and wicked smart – which I’m sure is to suggest the allure of the dark side and all its temptations. The archetype spans centuries, from Paradise Lost to “Bedazzled.”

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I probably won’t comment much because I hate typing on my phone and I am traveling in Spain (hiking and sightseeing). I found the first half of the book very boring, but I realized that life is pretty boring when no one remembers you and you are expending so much energy trying to feed yourself without being able to hold down a job. (I really wondered how she possibly managed to be a spy.) All these historic events happening and she is barely participating with that exception. Even though Henry is a bit of a wet rag the story picked up with his arrival. Finally she can have a friend! I foresaw Henry’s end but not Addie’s. I thought it was perfect. I really liked the idea that she really isn’t human anymore either. I wonder if she will find other projects of Luc and whether they will be able to remember her like Luc?

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