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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.
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.
These book club questions were prepared by Bookclubs staff. Warning: spoilers ahead.
Book club questions for The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
If you had been in Addie’s shoes in 1714 France, would you have struck the same bargain with Luc that she did? Why or why not?
Did Addie evolve significantly as a character over 300 years? How did immortality and the conditions of the deal she made with Luc impact her?
We follow Addie over the course of 300 years. What setting and time period did you find most compelling? Were there any real historical situations that weren’t included in the book that you would have liked to see Addie experience?
How well did you think the dual timelines and jumps between the past and 2014 were integrated?
What did you think of the way pieces of art framed each section of the story?
What do you think the author was trying to say with this book about the power or role of art and storytelling?
Why do you think Addie was so motivated to not just be remembered by individuals but to leave a mark on history? Is this something that motivates you personally?
What did you think about the dynamic between Addie and Luc? How did you interpret the interplay of love or desire and hate throughout their history?
Which relationship did you find more compelling: Addie and Luc’s or Addie and Henry’s? Why?
Were you surprised to find that Henry had also made a bargain with Luc or did you already suspect? If you suspected, what clued you in?
Can you relate to Henry feeling like he’s not enough? What did you think of Schwab’s depiction of Henry’s mental health?
Compare Henry’s bargain with Luc to Addie’s. Would you have made Henry’s bargain were you in his shoes?
Let’s talk about the ending of the novel. Were you surprised by Addie’s choices? What do you think motivated her?
Do you think Addie will be successful in her plan? If you could get the author to write an additional chapter of the book, or a sequel, what would you like to see happen?
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue Book Club Questions PDF
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