Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
If you read my last book post, you’ll know I want to focus more on books that interest me and less on falling for bookstagram hype. So why am I here talking about the ever-popular Daisy Jones and the Six? Well, I read it. And I have thoughts. Have you read it? Maybe we can chat about it.
Synopsis
Daisy Jones is a young teenager at the start of the book. She seems to have everything: money, youth, beauty, notoriety. This where I tell you she doesn’t have the attention or affection of her parents. Of course, then Daisy goes looking for a connection in her native Los Angelos. She starts hanging around the music scene on Sunset and manages to get into clubs despite her status as a minor. In a time of few media outlets, Daisy still manages to become known by the people in the know. Now an It Girl, Daisy uses her allure to get what she wants.
Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, a ragtag team of musicians begins to assemble. Brothers Billy and Graham Dunne and four others join to become The Six. Billy heads out on his first tour married and about to become a father. Tour life is rough, and Billy has demons. But he is goal-oriented. He wants to be a good husband and father and the lead singer of the most famous rock band in the world. That last one will take the addition of Daisy, and that’s a volatile combination.
Review
My first impression is that this is the transcript of an episode of VH1 Behind the Music. There are two ways to go about consuming this book. You can put in a lot of work and effort because if you don’t, the book is a boring read. The second option is to let someone else do it for you and get the audiobook that has a full cast of voice actors.
Themes in the book include entitlement, resentment, addiction, and relationships. And to Reid’s credit, she goes deep looking at more than one instance of each. Entitlement is related to gender, talent, and looks. Resentment, too, is not just about one person having more fame or notoriety. It’s also about how some people can indulge in what others have had to sacrifice and give up. And the entire book is a look at personal relationships and group dynamics.
Daisy is described as beautiful frequently. And she knows she’s attractive and uses it to her advantage. I actually like that she owns up to that. Most people acquiesce to her. I don’t care for it, and neither does Billy. He resents that she doesn’t nurture her natural talent for singing. He is annoyed by her entitled behavior expecting people to wait for her. But addiction is the point of contention that keeps Daisy and Billy at heads. While Daisy needs to make changes, she needs to do it on her terms, not because Billy is uncomfortable.
So, the book does a great job of showing scenarios from multiple perspectives. And while Daisy and Billy are the focal points, they’re not the only interesting characters. I personally loved Karen. Graham, too, was such a well-rounded character. And the dynamic the two shared was fun and bittersweet.
Final Thoughts
As I mentioned, each character tells the story. The interviewer, in the book, speaks one time. Dialogue is a great way to tell a narrative. But it’s not a pleasant way to read a novel. It’s akin to how watching a play is more enjoyable than reading it. Although here, the occasional stage directions written into stage plays are absent.
I tried reading this book, but I couldn’t get into it. I put it down and came back to it in audio format. The audiobook features an entire cast of actors for the characters. And it makes ALL the difference.
This book is similar to Almost Famous. You know, sex, drugs, and rock and roll. In the same vein, there are lovable and not so lovable characters. The story is fictitious, but author Taylor Jenkins Reid has said Fleetwood Mac was a source of inspiration. And knowing that, after I read it, really made me go: ah okay, I get it. Anyway, you may enjoy the forthcoming show on Amazon Prime Video.
Rating 3/5
As an audiobook, I rate this 3.5/5 stars. Although on Goodreads, you can see I gave it only three stars. And that’s because I don’t think it merits a round-up. The cast gets full marks for bringing the story to life. But the story itself is around a C+/B- for me. I think I’m a casualty of overhype. Still, I won’t say skip this book. I think I’ve given you enough insight to decide for yourself.
