William Shakespeare’s star-crossed protagonist once asked the fates “What is in a name?”
V.E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue focuses on the answer to that very question.
The novel begins in France in the year 1714 with young Adelyn. In her desperate need to escape an arranged marriage, she makes a deal with the devil per se and becomes immortal.
However, she is not only granted immortal freedom from that relationship. Additionally, she becomes destined to live a life where she cannot be remembered by anyone.
Her identity is literally stolen, which is both the most dominant theme and the conflict of the novel.
Additionally, Schwab also explores other serious themes of gender, sexuality, sexism, and mental illness throughout the 504 pages. Readers will find that Adelyn was woman ahead of her time in many ways.
This novel evoked many feelings and emotions with our book club members, providing some thought-provoking conversations. Which is really the best part of reading a good book and the discussion that can follow, isn’t it?
Winner of various awards such as the 2020 New York Public Library Best Books of the Year, this is the story of Addie’s 300-year journey and ultimate encounter with her very own star-crossed lover.
This was one of Pensacola Mom’s Collective Book Club’s Summer reads along with A.R. Torre’s, “Every Last Secret.”