reading ve schwab for the first time - the invisible life of addie larue and vicious reviews

TL;DR

This review discusses VE Schwab's Vicious and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, highlighting their similar elements and different approaches to storytelling, but also addressing the books' shortcomings in examining complex themes.

Transcript

Hi I’m Deboki and this is okidokiboki, and today I’m going to be reviewing two books by the same author, and these are Vicious by VE Schwab, and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab. Just a heads up, this is going to be a lightly spoiler-y discussion video. It is ostensibly a review, but it’s really much more of an assessment of my own th... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫥 VE Schwab's Vicious and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue share similar elements but have different storytelling and character dynamics.
• ✍️ The reviewer appreciates Schwab's committed and adventurous approach to writing, which makes the books engaging and entertaining.
• 🫠 While the reviewer enjoyed reading the books, they point out flawed aspects, including the handling of consent and the presence of standard, annoying tropes.
• 📔 The polarizing nature of Schwab's books adds excitement and unpredictability to the reading experience.
• 📔 Schwab's books surpass the reviewer's minimal expectations and avoid becoming boring, creating a thrilling and enjoyable reading experience.
• ✍️ The reviewer emphasizes that discussing books should go beyond personal preference and recognize the broader aspects of writing, such as exploring complex themes.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the reviewer describe VE Schwab's Vicious and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue?

The reviewer sees both books as examples of Schwab's committed approach to storytelling, with the books sharing elements like time manipulation and specific superpowers, but differing in terms of their tone and character dynamics.

Q: Did the reviewer enjoy reading the books?

Overall, the reviewer enjoyed reading both books, appreciating Schwab's commitment to her unique narratives and writing style. However, they also express frustrations with certain aspects, such as the handling of consent and the underdeveloped characters.

Q: How does the reviewer perceive the polarizing nature of VE Schwab's books?

The reviewer acknowledges that Schwab's books are often polarizing in the book community, with some readers loving one book and hating the other. They also discuss their previous experiences with polarizing books and how Schwab's books exceeded their expectations.

Q: What are the flaws the reviewer points out in Vicious and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue?

The reviewer criticizes the shallow treatment of consent-related issues in both books. They also mention the fridge-ing of female characters in Vicious and the inadequate exploration of Addie LaRue's charm and freedom in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The reviewer discusses their initial skepticism about VE Schwab's polarizing books and the intriguing premise of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

• They explore the similarities between Vicious and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, including the manipulation of time and the exploration of specific superpowers.

• The reviewer highlights their enjoyment of the books and praises Schwab's committed writing style, but also points out flaws in addressing important themes, such as consent and character development.