23. the book you just finished and what you thought (no spoilers!)
thanks for the question Fuse!
I just finished reading the book "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" by V.E. Schwab.
The book is about *insert blurb below*
France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever-and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.
Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.
But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore, and he remembers her name.
As someone who's slightly clingy 🤠 and needs external validation, I'd say the book's content resonated with me a lot. Being invisible and being uncertain of your own self - worth like the main character? Or being visible and hated for your flaws, being oppressed by those around you? That uncertainty is something I could empathise with.
On another random note, the book was from my local library and the cover was in absolutely pristine condition! The cover is this gorgeous indigo with twining purple flowers that are indented into it - I couldn't stop running my fingers across the surface every ten pages. It was just that fun to feel!
I've always loved Faustian bargain stories (another good one: Another Faust by Daniel Nayeri) so this one was right up my alley. I'd actually meant to read it online through Libby, but my elder brother happened to borrow it, so I was treated to this pleasant experience.
(by the way, he gave up reading it a few pages in. He's born in March, and at one point, the author goes "March is such a fickle month." He was totally offended.)
It's full of fanfiction tropes, to be honest. Hot devil? Yes! Bookstore meeting? Yes! Muse of famous poets across the ages? Yes!
But the prose is worth it, it makes up for the lack of originality plot wise. (Although the ending was surprising, but no spoilers!)
