Challenge Corner discussion

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.

Wow, this one's a treat. I've got issues with the plot (I almost always do) but still it's a real treat!

That stuff with her dreamy nature - just imagine living in those sad times when (view spoiler)[a girl would not be taken to a town for the sake of her being perceived marriageable. Nah, not my favourite times! (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[All the stealing she's doing. I'm not sure what I think about it. It's irritating, isn't it?

I get it, before freelancing and telecommuting were a thing, it was a problem for her to find work. But couldn't she make an, I dunno, made up identity, or steal an ID and live with it? Would that work or would her curse make her still forgettable? if so - poor gal, that would mean she's in for a life of theft and abject poverty! (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Poor gal. Robbed of a large part of her identity, isn't she?
Q:
But she only gets as far as that before the letters dissolve. It’s not the medium—no matter how she tries to say her name, no matter how she tries to tell her story. And she has tried, in pencil, in ink, in paint, in blood.
Adeline.
Addie.
LaRue.
It is no use.

The letters crumble, or fade. The sounds die in her throat. (с) (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Beware of the moody gods...
Q:Addie marvels, the way she always has, at the moodiness of gods. (c) (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Q: “The night is ours,” he says (c) Is it just me or is it remining of the Blood and Chocolate? Need to reread that one! (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ Now, this piece is so Hannibal!
Q: The dancing stops.
The music fades.
A tear slides down her cheek. “All you had to do was set me free.”
Luc sighs, and lifts her chin. “I could not.”
“Because of the deal.”
“Because you are mine.” (c) (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[What do you think about that wooden ring that keeps chasing her? Was there only one or were there unending replicas lying around in her wake or would the ring when lost just stay there for some time and then disappear at that place and reappear back in her possession? (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ This passage is beautiful, hands down, but shoot me, is that an allusion to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at the end?
Q: She fell in love with the darkness many times, fell in love with a human once.
And she is tired. Unspeakably tired.
But there is no question she has lived.
“Nothing is all good or all bad,” she says. “Life is so much messier than that.”
And there in the dark, he asks if it was really worth it.
Were the instants of joy worth the stretches of sorrow?
Were the moments of beauty worth the years of pain?
And she turns her head, and looks at him, and says, “Always.” (c) (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Q:
And Addie looks at him as if she can read his mind, see the storm building in his head. But she is sunshine. She is clear skies. ...
This is the last gift she can give him, these moments he will never have.
And this is the last gift he can give her, the listening. ...
That time always ends a second before you’re ready.
That life is the minutes you want minus one. (c) Another great passage! (hide spoiler)]

The Library of The Last Word. Nice, huh?

(view spoiler)[ I can just imagine how after all the dreaming she was surprised with life: smelly, bonkery, needing to eat (no skipping meals for humans!)
Q: “And how was it, your human love? Was it everything you dreamed of?”
“No,” she says, and it is the truth.
It was messy. It was hard. It was wonderful, and strange, and frightening, and fragile—so fragile it hurt—and it was worth every single moment. (c) (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Addie's final plan does feel like something ripped from Hannibal and developed into something saner than what we had over there. Here she has a daunting plan to carry out ahead of her.

Q: She only smiles, and sets the book back on its shelf.
And follows him out into the dark. (c) (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[Her love for books defiinitely set her onto getting all those stories to Henry. Once again, all his notebooks and memories and all the writing out the story made me remember Master from The Master and Margarita. No, just look at this:
Q: He sets the photograph aside and reaches for the first journal, then stops, so convinced that if and when he opens it, he will find the pages blank, the ink erased like every other mark she tried to make.
But he has to look, and so he does, and there they are, page after page written in his slanting script, shielded from the curse by the fact the words themselves are his, though the story is hers...
He sets the photograph aside and reaches for the first journal, then stops, so convinced that if and when he opens it, he will find the pages blank, the ink erased like every other mark she tried to make.
But he has to look, and so he does, and there they are, page after page written in his slanting script, shielded from the curse by the fact the words themselves are his, though the story is hers. (c) Don't you think? (hide spoiler)]

Anyway, the ending (view spoiler)[was so very spoiled for me by Addie not being free... Drat. I'm sad. (hide spoiler)]

All the allusions: do you think they were real or is it just me going bonkers on the look-alike things/phrases/prompts? I'm not saying here anything about any kind of borrowing lines or pieces from books, not at all: all the similarities have been reworked nicely and incorporated in a very original way. All to the extent where I'm not sure myself if I'm seeing extra things in here or not :)

Part 1 - (view spoiler)[Loving this so far! I'm wondering if that Henry is going to be a love interest.. (hide spoiler)]
Part 2 - (view spoiler)[How can he remember her and why the God (not sure what he is or isn't) didn't came for their "anniversary"? (hide spoiler)]

Ugh so jelly! I don't have my book yet. I thought I was going to get it over the weekend but the email of it being shipped LIED. Dagger to the heart.

Alaina wrote: "Ugh so jelly! I don't have my book yet. I thought I was going to get it over the weekend but the email of it being shipped LIED. Dagger to the heart."

I hate when that happens. I didn't want to wait for my copy so I'm listening to the audio instead ^^ I'll probably re-read the physical someday though

Part 4 - (view spoiler)[He made a deal too! It was so interesting to learn about Henry and how that deal changed his life. He can't have anything real anymore since everyone "love" him. It's so sweet that they found each other but I'm scared it's too good to be true. Also, she's immortal and he's not and eventually he's going to die :( (hide spoiler)]

Finished - (view spoiler)[OMG I loved this book so freaking much!! I expected her to make a deal to save Henry but the last twist at the end was great... all the feels... (hide spoiler)]

Misericordia, I agree (view spoiler)[that the ending was a bit sad but I liked that it wasn't rainbows and unicorns everywhere you know? I feel like it'll make a bigger impact in my memories because of it. (hide spoiler)]

I'm sooooooooooo behind on my physicals! I will definitely dive into this over the weekend!

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RESTARTING NOVEMBER 8TH, 2020
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Okay finally starting!

25% (view spoiler)[ So far this is decent. I'm not super into it but god the narrator for the audiobook is PHENOMENAL!! I'm kinda thinking Henry has some sort of weird curse on him, but instead of being forgotten everyone wants him. Wasn't a huge fan of how Addie was orchestrating the relationship between her and Tobey. It was weird, bc she knows he won't remember in the end and she doesn't even try to warn him?? Shady. I love seeing her become a thief tho! (hide spoiler)]

50% (view spoiler)[ I knew Henry had to have a curse or a deal or something!! I definitely think Luc did this intentionally. (hide spoiler)]

75%(view spoiler)[ I can't decide if I like Addie with Luc more or with Henry. Like!?! What the heck. I know Addie and Luc is more a hate ship but I just dig it?? Someone help lmao (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Okay I am almost teared up at the end. But my little heart was so soft!! I'm so glad Henry is okay, and I love Addie's devious-ness! That was such a good twist. And the fact that her story got out there in the end. Loved it. (hide spoiler)]

Starting this now!

I just bought this audiobook!

Aly wrote: "I just bought this audiobook!"

Oh man! I got the audio from Overdrive lol but I also own the actual book but I haven't had time to dive into it.

I have 2 physical copies, but it will be forever before I get to them so audiobook is better

Part 1: (view spoiler)[Oh shit, does this mean Henry might remember her? Or am I just making shit up now. Either way I am loving this book so far. (hide spoiler)]

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit

33%: (view spoiler)[I knew it! I knew he was going to remember her. I AM FREAKING OUT! (hide spoiler)]

Part 2: (view spoiler)[Okay, so I love Addie and Henry BUT is he like also sort of cursed? Or maybe the God.. Ugh, please don't tell me he is the God. Ugh. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS TO ME. (hide spoiler)]

Part 3: (view spoiler)[I FUCKING KNEW IT. HE MADE A DEAL. OH SHIT. MY MIND IS ON FIREEEEEE. (hide spoiler)]

67%: (view spoiler)[Not gonna lie.. Vanessa is psychooooooooooooooo. How dare she burn his ex girlfriends shit? (hide spoiler)]

I absolutely loved this one! I hope you do too Alaina!! Ugh, it's so good!

100%: (view spoiler)[OMG OMG OMG THIS BOOK WAS AMAZEBALLS. I totally thought she was going to do one thing and then wham bam thank you mam, she did the opposite. Loved the twists!!! I don't know how I'm going to recover from this book. (hide spoiler)]

I'm here!
Part 1 (view spoiler)[ How terrible to be constantly forgotten. No friends or lovers for more than a couple hours, can't tell anyone your name. I'd get sick of that, especially after 300 years. (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "Part 1: [spoilers removed]"

Ooh I hope so!

Aly wrote: "I'm here!
Part 1 [spoilers removed]"

Yes 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Aly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Part 1: [spoilers removed]"

Ooh I hope so!"

GIRLL 💅🏼 I’ll wait to spill the tea

Alaina wrote: "Aly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Part 1: [spoilers removed]"

Ooh I hope so!"

GIRLL 💅🏼 I’ll wait to spill the tea"

I'm dying! I'll keep listening as much as I can tonight

Aly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Aly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Part 1: [spoilers removed]"

Ooh I hope so!"

GIRLL 💅🏼 I’ll wait to spill the tea"

I'm dying! I'll keep listening as much as I can tonight"

You got this!

Part 2 (view spoiler)[ I'm so excited that Henry remembers her! I wonder why though? And I want to know more about Luc (hide spoiler)]
Part 3 (view spoiler)[ Oh Henry made a deal, that makes sense. I wonder what his deal is for? (hide spoiler)]
Part 4 (view spoiler)[ Henry's deal is almost as bad as Addie's. To have people become almost obsessed with you and never trust that anyone truly likes you (hide spoiler)]

Part 5 (view spoiler)[ I think Luc likes having Addie around. She remembers him, doesn't fear him, and he's the only one she can really talk to. I wonder if he'll let her out of her deal, or if that's something he can even do? (hide spoiler)]
Part 6 (view spoiler)[ Awh, Addie gave up everything to save Henry. She and Luc definitely fit together, but I don't know how capable he is of love. Maybe someday she can come back to Henry (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I like that Addie is playing a game with Luc and that Henry wrote Addie's story so people will know who she is. I didn't love that the author kind of put herself in as Henry but oh well. (hide spoiler)]

Andy wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

Yes, loved the ending

Alaina wrote: "Part 3: [spoilers removed]"

LOL!

Alaina wrote: "100%: [spoilers removed]"

I thought this flowed so well and was so lyrical. Really enjoyed it

Part 1: (view spoiler)[ I do feel very sorry for Addie. It's not just that no one can remember her... not only can she not have relationships with people, but but she can't have a job (because no one will remember hiring her) or a place to live (because no one will remember renting the place to her), or even a decent meal (because most restaurants have a front and a back, and once they go through the doors, they won't remember her ever ordering). No wonder she's a thief. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Deanie wrote: "Part 1: [spoilers removed]"

So true, who would have thought it would have such far reaching repercussions?

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RESTARTING JANUARY 26TH, 2022


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I’m starting this now!

Oh yay awesome! Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Part 1: (view spoiler)[I wanted to think that living for 300+ years could negate a lot of downsides, but Addie’s life sounds truly horrid. I think the darkness spirit did that on purpose, because he wanted her to give up on her soul ASAP so he can have it. I’m surprised she’s held out this long. (hide spoiler)]

Same! She's a trouper for sure.

Part 2: (view spoiler)[Ahhh, that moment when Addie went to return the book and Henry remembered her was so good/awful. I hated that she made such a bad first and second impression.

I have to say, I am really creeped out by how much Henry looks like the darkness god. I don't think it would really make sense for him to be the god, but I have a bad feeling about any relationship between him and Addie. (hide spoiler)]

Ahh that moment just gave me chills!

Part 3: (view spoiler)[Yeah, I kind of thought Henry had made a deal. I wonder if his deal will explain why he can remember Addie. (hide spoiler)]

Part 4: (view spoiler)[That was such a sweet moment with Henry helping Addie to finally draw again. (hide spoiler)]