BOOKISH

A Not-So-Ordinary Book Discussion BY TIFFANY KILLOREN

IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL

A new year is upon us and it’s the perfect time to take a deep breath and prepare for new adventures ahead. Your list of resolutions may be long, but make sure it includes a commitment to treating yourself well and making time for things that bring you joy. If you want to read more in 2022, consider my latest recommendation.

The second in my list of “Long Haul” books worth reading, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, warrants a bit of time, focus, and attention, but not because it’s a particularly arduous read (although, at 400 pages it isn’t a quick weekend page-turner either). It’s a story that invites introspection throughout—that quiet question we ask ourselves as characters face twists and misfortunes. What—if dealt a similar hand—would we do?

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue

(V.E. Schwab, 2020) “Never pray to the Gods that answer after dark.” Well, now. If there’s ever a line to get your attention, this is it. The Invisible Life of Addie Larue is a literary potpourri—a spiritual journey with a dash of supernatural, a hint of history, and a healthy dose of the timeless pursuit of happiness. If you enjoy books that involve a bit of time travel (think The Time Traveler’s Wife), you’ll embrace this story that begins in 1714 and ends 300 years later. Addie, a sweet young woman with an adventurer’s heart, cannot bear the thought of getting married and settling down like women in the 18th century were expected to do. A free spirit in her soul, she would do anything to avoid the predictable and tiresome life waiting for her. Panicked and out of time, Addie makes a rash decision—and deal—with a darkness that preys on despair and vulnerability to get exactly what he wants. Time-hop stories can be hit or miss. Some can make you feel like you’re on a wonderful historical around-the-world journey while others can make you dizzy with the constant backand-forth as you refer back to prior pages to figure out where the character is now and what’s going on. Despite spanning centuries, the time-hop of The Invisible Life of Addie Larue is effective, easy to follow, and keeps your interest throughout. That being said—like most of the “Long Haul” books featured in this column, this isn’t a read you can come and go from casually while multitasking. And, truthfully, you won’t want to. The writing is engaging, the story compelling, and the characters are ones you hope discover some sort of resolution. Throughout, you’re with Addie as she struggles literally and figuratively with the darkness and decision she made. The concept of the story is both modern and timeless—the “if you were granted one wish” storyline that appeals to all ages. In this story, the question really isn’t what she wished for as much as Did the price she pay make it worth asking at all? You’ll have to take the journey and answer that for yourself.

Tiffany Killorenis a local author and lover of the written word. Her novel, GOOD WILL, was released in 2020 and she is always thinking

of new stories to tell. Follow her at @readandthreads on Instagram for book and life musings as she tries to balance career, family and her passion for writing one step - or word - at a time. PHOTO BY MOLLY KUPLEN