V.E Schwab’s bestseller, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is a fantastical-fiction and romance novel that walks the reader through the perspectives of Adeline LaRue and Henry Strauss, solely speaking in third-person throughout their journey. Addie was a prisoner of her own fate and Henry was tired of his life full of “almost.” With her desperate to escape marriage and him dying to be enough, they each struck a deal with a devil. Their story presents the message of being careful what one wishes for and to whom, for the scent man’s greed and desperation bring about the most merciless of gods. The book warns to never, no matter the circumstances, pray to those who “answer after dark” (Schwab 30). The story begins with an unsatisfied Addie LaRue. She was tired of the cookie-cutter path her life was following and on the night before her wedding, she prayed to the gods, any gods. She pleaded to escape this wedding and this life that is not hers, and she begged to never again belong to anyone to forever be free and she frantically wished for more time. Sensing her desperation and a willing soul, he answered. This story's exciting plot and engaging, vivid story-telling helped to create a memorable and imaginative experience while reading the book. The author provided many theories and her passion and beliefs were shown in her writing. She voiced the message of taking care of your deepest desires and never lose hope in what your future could become. This idea truly resonated in me as I often lose my head over the doubt the future holds. Schwab juxtaposes the personified darkness who only takes and never gives, with the light-hearted hope that is carried with second chances and the lessons learned from them. Despite the involvement of powerful gods and malicious deals struck, Schwab’s inclusion of gender roles, feminine objectification, and suicide proves the book’s relevance to today’s society. Schwab explores the possibilities of deadly bargains and the trading of one’s soul for the truest desire. She also entertains the idea that the world’s greats, such as Beethoven, had given their soul to be remembered for something. Like most stories involving any sort of magic, the logic of the character’s curses is dismissed, most likely to not overcomplicate the book’s plot. But, I mainly agree with Schwab’s opinions which relate to those of Hyginus, a second-century Greek writer, in his retelling of the story of Midas. Both reference the unforeseen consequences of greed with deals that were more curses than gifts. Just as many Greek writers and poets have touched their audience, Schwab’s beautiful and cunning poetry has touched me. Her unique writing style, use of italics, and careful foreshadowing opened my eyes to a different way to view the world and the English language. Another topic she explored was the loud voice of wanting, but when the call was answered a different sound rang out, the sound of regret. Henry Strauss’s paradox is an example of how the devil can twist any wish into one to regret. Henry dreamed to never again fall short of enough and the devil brimmed him to be everything for everyone. The routine of being the perfect boyfriend, brother, son, and the employee became exhausting and Henry found himself yearning for normalcy. As a perfectionist, I strive to meet and exceed all expectations. Prior to reading this novel, I would never imagine that being enough would become strenuous work, but Henry is a prime example of why. Addie’s tentative dance with the devil and Henry’s internal struggles contribute to making the thrilling and heart-throbbing story The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Schwab does a fantastic job of eloquently narrating their lives and star-crossed love stories while simultaneously warning the reader of overwhelming greed and the consequences of it. I recommend to readers to annotate the book or jot down your ideas of how the story may play out. It is surprising to look back on your previous thoughts and observations after finishing the novel.
Comments