Status
Available
Publication
Ballantine Books (2020), Edition: Reprint, 400 pages
Description
"Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go-Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it's the rock and roll she loves most. By the time she's twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things. Another band getting noticed is The Six, led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she's pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road. Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend. The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a talented writer who takes her work to a new level with Daisy Jones & The Six, brilliantly capturing a place and time in an utterly distinctive voice"--… (more)
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Media reviews
Like I said, this was a good book. The writing was good, the scenes were vivid, the characters had depth. I just simply didn’t like it on a personal level.
User reviews
LibraryThing member breic
It's good that this is so short, because it is a shallow story about shallow characters (stereotypical musicians with stereotypical addictions), written poorly. (It is supposed to be the transcript of a documentary, but that is never credible and, unfortunately, the documentary would be a boring
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one.) It gets more interesting towards the end, but the leadup is uneventful and the conclusion is a letdown. Show Less
LibraryThing member yvonnekins
Rating this is tough.
I enjoyed this audiobook. The voice acting by the cast was phenomenal, and it was very well produced. But, honestly, I don't think I would have liked this had I read it physically rather than listening to it in the car.
What I did like pretty much amounts to the 70's rock-n-roll
Frankly, at best, I didn't care about Daisy Jones, but for most of the story, I actively disliked her. Which would be fine if that's what Taylor Jenkins Reid was going for, but I'm pretty confident in saying that it's not. Billy was neutral at best and eye-roll inducing at worst. I liked Karen, Graham was okay, and no other characters appeared enough to have an opinion about them. Frankly, I would have been more sympathetic to the side characters' plight of Billy and Daisy thinking everything was about them if this whole book was not solely about them. This book should be titled Daisy Jones & Billy Dunne because the rest of The Six didn't matter to the story at all.
There were parts of this I genuinely did like, and parts I thought were mediocre, and frankly, I was hovering at a 3-star rating for this book until the last 10% or so. The whole ending was underwhelming. I was ready for it to be over about an hour before it was over, and it kept getting dragged on and on until it just kind of... fizzled out. So the ending is why this is getting a 2-star rating from me.
I enjoyed this audiobook. The voice acting by the cast was phenomenal, and it was very well produced. But, honestly, I don't think I would have liked this had I read it physically rather than listening to it in the car.
What I did like pretty much amounts to the 70's rock-n-roll
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setting. Other than that, it fell flat. I was underwhelmed. I knew coming into this that after it had gotten a wave of praise upon release and it had been out for a little bit, it started getting some mixed reviews, and, unfortunately, I fell in with the people who didn't think there was much special about this book.Frankly, at best, I didn't care about Daisy Jones, but for most of the story, I actively disliked her. Which would be fine if that's what Taylor Jenkins Reid was going for, but I'm pretty confident in saying that it's not. Billy was neutral at best and eye-roll inducing at worst. I liked Karen, Graham was okay, and no other characters appeared enough to have an opinion about them. Frankly, I would have been more sympathetic to the side characters' plight of Billy and Daisy thinking everything was about them if this whole book was not solely about them. This book should be titled Daisy Jones & Billy Dunne because the rest of The Six didn't matter to the story at all.
There were parts of this I genuinely did like, and parts I thought were mediocre, and frankly, I was hovering at a 3-star rating for this book until the last 10% or so. The whole ending was underwhelming. I was ready for it to be over about an hour before it was over, and it kept getting dragged on and on until it just kind of... fizzled out. So the ending is why this is getting a 2-star rating from me.
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LibraryThing member Carmenere
I was so eager to read this book, I knew I'd love it. The 70's, rock n roll, it's what I grew up with, my coming of age.
I open the book and discover it is told in an interview style. Oh, ok, well, this should be an easy read, I'll finish in no time, right? Hmm, no. I found it to be rather sluggish
Jaded? Yeah, maybe.
I suppose the thing most relevant to this story are the relationships between the females, though often strained, they demonstrated the sisterhood which often unites women from different walks of life.
An ok read.
I open the book and discover it is told in an interview style. Oh, ok, well, this should be an easy read, I'll finish in no time, right? Hmm, no. I found it to be rather sluggish
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and couldn't get invested in any particular character. As I read, what I saw were not the characters Reid created by thinly veiled depictions of members of rock groups I followed in the 70's. If you grew up in the 70's you knew about the sex and drugs and intimate relations among band members, so, this story was nothing new. Jaded? Yeah, maybe.
I suppose the thing most relevant to this story are the relationships between the females, though often strained, they demonstrated the sisterhood which often unites women from different walks of life.
An ok read.
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LibraryThing member Perednia
Fascinating novel about rock in the '70s and its aftermath on those involved. There is more than the Stevie Nicks doppleganger and a recount of the making of "Rumors". The multiple voice narration had smooth transitions. But the book seemed to take up too many pages; once the inevitable ending had
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been telegraphed, I kept waiting for things to wrap up. Show Less
LibraryThing member Dreesie
3 stars? 4 stars? This is a very readable book about a fictitious band in the 1960s/70s. The entire book is written as an interview, with the different band members, producers, managers, etc, having a voice. Based on the author's Acknowledgements, this book was inspired by Fleetwood Mac. But this
Super readable and a nice break from the more serious/harder stuff I have been reading. Really, the definition of a beach read. And given Spinal Tap, not even all that original.
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is not Fleetwood Mac--so much is different. She does not mention it being inspired by Spinal Tap, but that's a fake documentary, this is fake nonfiction. Both about fake bands.Super readable and a nice break from the more serious/harder stuff I have been reading. Really, the definition of a beach read. And given Spinal Tap, not even all that original.
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LibraryThing member VioletBramble
The story of the biggest American rock band in the late 1970s and how they imploded. The story is told in interview format. Interviewees include band members, managers, producers, and family members. The Six is the current Big Thing. Billy Dunne is the founder of The Six. Daisy Jones is the current
This is a pretty quick read. Actually, it's a perfect beach read. It's not as good as I expected it to be considering all the hype.
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LA "IT Girl" who also happens to sing and write songs. A producer has the big idea to put them together and they become massively popular. (think Fleetwood Mac in the 70s) Billy and Daisy make great music together. They may have even fallen in love. But eventually their massive egos and selfishness (which in Daisy's case is often presented as female empowerment) destroy the group dynamic. This is a pretty quick read. Actually, it's a perfect beach read. It's not as good as I expected it to be considering all the hype.
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LibraryThing member karenvg3
I was really looking forward to this one since it had so much hype going around and it didn’t let me down. It was a fun look at what the rock n roll lifestyle is like. I loved the characters, even Eddie when he was being pissy. 4🌟
LibraryThing member SimplyKelina
I did not even attempt to read this in physical copy based on others reviews/recommendations. I am really glad I chose to listen to the audiobook! I could see right from the start how reading this would be harder to connect with the story. The points of views change so often it was hard to get into
This is a story that is hard to describe or at least in a way to portray my feelings around the story. Yes, it is following a band but it was so much more. It was told in a way that just ended up working in the end. It kept my interest the whole time. It was not your typical rock band story. I highly recommend it.
Overall, I loved this.
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the groove of this right away. Once it started though, I really was invested in the story. I really like the full cast of narrators as it also helps follow the story easier.This is a story that is hard to describe or at least in a way to portray my feelings around the story. Yes, it is following a band but it was so much more. It was told in a way that just ended up working in the end. It kept my interest the whole time. It was not your typical rock band story. I highly recommend it.
Overall, I loved this.
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LibraryThing member RealLifeReading
I was a little worried about the hype surrounding this book as this was seriously a case of FOMO for me. I kept seeing the cover everywhere and I just had to read it, especially because it’s a story about a band!
And what a ride it was.
The narrative takes a while to get used to as it’s in the
The Six were a band of well, six people, two of whom are brothers. Billy Dunne is the “leader” of the band, but not really, as the band is supposed to be a democracy. But come on…
“If the rest of the world was silver, Daisy was gold.”
Daisy Jones is an up and coming singer. She’s enigmatic and wild. And absolutely beautiful.
A producer puts them together to make a record and the Six, now Daisy Jones & The Six, go from tiny clubs to topping the charts.
Daisy Jones & The Six is an enticing read. It takes a while to sink into the dialogue-only narrative but when you get used to it, what a ball of a time you’ll have. You’ll feel like you’re hanging out with the band as they relive their best (and worst) moments.
I felt that the dialogue format could be a bit limiting in terms of creating a more complete immersion into the 70s.
And really, at the end of it all, I was wanting more. More specifically, I was disappointed because these were not songs I could actually listen to! How I wish that the Daisy Jones playlist on Spotify were actual songs from The Six and not a compilation of 70s music, much as I enjoyed the songs on it! I guess I’ll just have to wait for the miniseries!
And what a ride it was.
The narrative takes a while to get used to as it’s in the
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form of edited interviews. But I soon realized it’s like reading magazine interviews (Rolling Stone perhaps? – to be honest it’s been ages since I’ve read music magazines!) and the general idea is a “Behind The Band” story set in the 1970s.The Six were a band of well, six people, two of whom are brothers. Billy Dunne is the “leader” of the band, but not really, as the band is supposed to be a democracy. But come on…
“If the rest of the world was silver, Daisy was gold.”
Daisy Jones is an up and coming singer. She’s enigmatic and wild. And absolutely beautiful.
A producer puts them together to make a record and the Six, now Daisy Jones & The Six, go from tiny clubs to topping the charts.
Daisy Jones & The Six is an enticing read. It takes a while to sink into the dialogue-only narrative but when you get used to it, what a ball of a time you’ll have. You’ll feel like you’re hanging out with the band as they relive their best (and worst) moments.
I felt that the dialogue format could be a bit limiting in terms of creating a more complete immersion into the 70s.
And really, at the end of it all, I was wanting more. More specifically, I was disappointed because these were not songs I could actually listen to! How I wish that the Daisy Jones playlist on Spotify were actual songs from The Six and not a compilation of 70s music, much as I enjoyed the songs on it! I guess I’ll just have to wait for the miniseries!
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LibraryThing member Romonko
I loved this book. I've always loved music and particularly 60's and 70's rock music, and I love to read, so how could I go wrong with this one? The book is written as a series of extensive interviews that have been conducted in the present day about a rock band that had its hey day in the 1970's.
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The interviewer in the story presents very different perspectives of each of the members of the band and various people that were working with them on their way to fame in the late 70's. This book delves right into the magic and the grit of the 70's music scene. It's all there - sex and drugs and rock and roll, but told in such way using the interview technique, that technique is extremely effective in placing the reader into that scene. I learned a lot about the music industry and what it takes to make a hit record right from the songwriting through to the release of an album. These are unforgettable and real characters!. Ms. Jenkins-Reid has written one heck of a book here. It's raw, emotional, complex and incredibly detailed. I was enthralled from the very beginning. Highly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member mchwest
5 plus stars for this. I can't say enough how different this book was, I loved the style of writing, it kept the content of the plot moving nicely. The ending was a bit of a twist and the author includes songs written at the end!! Great, great story!
LibraryThing member over.the.edge
Daisy Jones and The Six
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
2019
Ballantine Books
5.0 / 5.0
Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of the most inspiring and masterful novelists I have recently discovered.....I know Im late to the pool but, at least I´m here. Her ability to weave a place that feels inviting and familiar,
The friendships and trust, the working partnerships and collaborations were so true and essential to this story. So well done....Daisy reminds a bit of Janis Joplin in her slow beginnings, known mostly as a groupie and not taken seriously, the hard work and, sudden, yet unexpected popularity and notoriety for her vocals and songwriting, her over the edge personality and her friendly demeanor endeared her to so many. Her heartbreaking dissolve into a world of drugs and false idolization and isolation.....there are so many great characters...Simone, Daisys BFF, the Dunne Brothers, Hank......this big has fantastic feels, is a wonderful read and an author I need to read more of.
A winner!
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
2019
Ballantine Books
5.0 / 5.0
Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of the most inspiring and masterful novelists I have recently discovered.....I know Im late to the pool but, at least I´m here. Her ability to weave a place that feels inviting and familiar,
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yet captivates you with its unique vision, is amazing to me. Daisy Jones, Billy Dunne, Camila are so juicy and real, i was so drawn into their lives and circumstances, it was hard to believe the characters are fictional. I grew to love them all....except maybe Hank.....The friendships and trust, the working partnerships and collaborations were so true and essential to this story. So well done....Daisy reminds a bit of Janis Joplin in her slow beginnings, known mostly as a groupie and not taken seriously, the hard work and, sudden, yet unexpected popularity and notoriety for her vocals and songwriting, her over the edge personality and her friendly demeanor endeared her to so many. Her heartbreaking dissolve into a world of drugs and false idolization and isolation.....there are so many great characters...Simone, Daisys BFF, the Dunne Brothers, Hank......this big has fantastic feels, is a wonderful read and an author I need to read more of.
A winner!
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LibraryThing member Lauranthalas
Words cannot describe how much I love this book. Taylor Jenkins Reid writes in a way that makes the characters feel real and it gets you so invested in what happens in the story. She is definitely an instant buy author for me (I loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo too).
Told in the style of a
Told in the style of a
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Rolling Stones interview, the reader gets an unforgettable story about the rise and fall of one of the top rock bands from the 1970s. Of course there is sex, drugs, rock n roll, but there is so much more to this story. Show Less
LibraryThing member ecataldi
I freaking LOVED this book. It had been getting a lot of hype, but I try not to listen to that too much so I don't get disappointed. However... it damn well lived up to the hype. This is an oral history for the best band that never existed. The whole time reading this, all I wanted to do was listen
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to their songs. And they don't have songs, because it's clearly about a made up band, but I wanted it to be real so damn much!! The lyrics awesome. The characters are all flawed, yet have redeeming qualities that make you root for them (most of the time). If you like Janis Joplin, rock and roll, the seventies, and I Am Spinal Tap, you will love this book. It reads easy, but is effortlessly compelling, I could not put it down! Taylor Jenkins Reid is fast becoming one of the hottest authors around. Two amazing books in a row. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next! Show Less
LibraryThing member susan0316
Daisy Jones & the Six is the latest book club pick in the Reese Witherspoon book club. It's getting a lot of fantastic reviews and positive comments on social media. It's written in a different style and you feel throughout that you are reading a nonfiction book about the rise and fall of a band in
When the novel begins, Daisy is a beautiful teenage girl in LA who gets involved with rock bands and drugs in the late 60s. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it’s the rock and roll is what she loves the most. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed and she gets the opportunity to sing with an up-and-coming band called THE SIX. At first when she starts to sing with them, there is lots of animosity from the lead singer, Billy. After he gets to know her better and realizes what a great addition she is to the band, he becomes nicer to her and begins to write songs with her. The album that they write, Aurora, becomes a huge hit and they become more popular than they ever dreamed of...until they all just walk away at the height of their popularity and never sing together again. This book explains the rise and disappearance of one of the greatest bands of the era and it's often difficult to remember that this is a fictional band and not a real band of the 70s.
This is an interesting look at life during the 70s. It's written in a different way and once you get used to it, it's fun to read. Warning - there is a lot of sex and lots of drugs in this book. For me, that lessened my enjoyment even though they were necessary parts of the plot.
If you want to read the book that everyone is talking about, give Daisy Jones & The Six a read...I don't think you'll regret it.
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the 70s instead of the fact that you are reading a fiction book. There are interviews with all of the band members, some of the family and others who were part of the dramatic popularity of the band and with most memories, the memories of two people about the same situation are in totally opposite from each other. This is definitely a book about Sex, Drugs and Rock&Roll.When the novel begins, Daisy is a beautiful teenage girl in LA who gets involved with rock bands and drugs in the late 60s. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it’s the rock and roll is what she loves the most. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed and she gets the opportunity to sing with an up-and-coming band called THE SIX. At first when she starts to sing with them, there is lots of animosity from the lead singer, Billy. After he gets to know her better and realizes what a great addition she is to the band, he becomes nicer to her and begins to write songs with her. The album that they write, Aurora, becomes a huge hit and they become more popular than they ever dreamed of...until they all just walk away at the height of their popularity and never sing together again. This book explains the rise and disappearance of one of the greatest bands of the era and it's often difficult to remember that this is a fictional band and not a real band of the 70s.
This is an interesting look at life during the 70s. It's written in a different way and once you get used to it, it's fun to read. Warning - there is a lot of sex and lots of drugs in this book. For me, that lessened my enjoyment even though they were necessary parts of the plot.
If you want to read the book that everyone is talking about, give Daisy Jones & The Six a read...I don't think you'll regret it.
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LibraryThing member Tim.Roberson
This was one of the most enjoyable pieces of fiction I have read in quite some time. It was just like viewing an insiders documentary of the momentous rise and precipitous decline of a much loved rock and roll band while getting a front row ticket to it all. The love, the distaste, the joy, the
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anger, all the emotions all wrapped up in the many different perspectives of the ones who lived it all. Reading this as an audiobook added even more to the delight with the full cast emoting the characters in just the right nuanced way to bring out the sighs and laughs that evoke a reminiscent thought that just doesn't translate the same when reading the written word. This is the very book I have dreamed of writing for over 20 years and Taylor Jenkins Reid did it. Bravo. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookchickdi
Last year I read Taylor Jenkins Reid's wonderful novel, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and loved it. Her take on an Elizabeth Taylor-like character was so engrossing, I couldn't put it down. So when I heard that her new novel Daisy Jones & the Six was publishing, I put it on the top of my To Be
Daisy Jones & the Six is a take on a Fleetwood Mac-like band. It is written as a series of interviews with the band members, producers, friends and others, so you get everybody's point of view to the meteoric rise and fall of a rock band.
Daisy Jones wanted to be known as a singer-songwriter, and with her gorgeous look and voice, she quickly garnered attention of men. She also used and abused drugs and alcohol and looked for love in the wrong places.
Billy Dunne started a band called The Six with his brother Graham in their Pittsburgh hometown and build a solid following, eventually signing with a record company. He fell in love with Camilla, and even through the physical separations of him on tour and with his alcoholism, they managed to marry and start a family.
When the record company had Daisy sing a song with The Six, it was lightning in a bottle. Daisy joined the band and wanted to contribute her own songs to the band, something that the controlling Billy wanted no part of. But when their album becomes a monster hit and they have a sold-out arena tour, there is no going back, through the love affairs, breakups and band fights.
Writing the book as a series of interviews works very well here, and at the end of the book you discover why it was written that way. You see the ups and downs of being in the music business from a first-hand perspective.
Jenkins Reid also includes the lyrics (that she wrote) to all of the songs from their breakout album and reading them feels like songs from the 1970s California rock scene. I wondered if someone will eventually put them to music.
We may find the answer to that- Reese Witherspoon has optioned the book to turn into a 13-part TV series on Amazon. This book is tailor-made for a TV series and I for one can't wait. If you had a worn put copy of Fleetwood Mac's album Rumours, Dais Jones & the Six is for you.
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Read list.Daisy Jones & the Six is a take on a Fleetwood Mac-like band. It is written as a series of interviews with the band members, producers, friends and others, so you get everybody's point of view to the meteoric rise and fall of a rock band.
Daisy Jones wanted to be known as a singer-songwriter, and with her gorgeous look and voice, she quickly garnered attention of men. She also used and abused drugs and alcohol and looked for love in the wrong places.
Billy Dunne started a band called The Six with his brother Graham in their Pittsburgh hometown and build a solid following, eventually signing with a record company. He fell in love with Camilla, and even through the physical separations of him on tour and with his alcoholism, they managed to marry and start a family.
When the record company had Daisy sing a song with The Six, it was lightning in a bottle. Daisy joined the band and wanted to contribute her own songs to the band, something that the controlling Billy wanted no part of. But when their album becomes a monster hit and they have a sold-out arena tour, there is no going back, through the love affairs, breakups and band fights.
Writing the book as a series of interviews works very well here, and at the end of the book you discover why it was written that way. You see the ups and downs of being in the music business from a first-hand perspective.
Jenkins Reid also includes the lyrics (that she wrote) to all of the songs from their breakout album and reading them feels like songs from the 1970s California rock scene. I wondered if someone will eventually put them to music.
We may find the answer to that- Reese Witherspoon has optioned the book to turn into a 13-part TV series on Amazon. This book is tailor-made for a TV series and I for one can't wait. If you had a worn put copy of Fleetwood Mac's album Rumours, Dais Jones & the Six is for you.
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LibraryThing member Iudita
This book chronicles the rise and fall of an iconic 70’s rock band and the author just nails it. All of it – the characters, the dialogue and the decade. I didn’t want to put it down. I would highly recommend the audio book for this title. The narration was so authentic and it added greatly
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to my enjoyment. I’m afraid I have a big book hangover from this one. Show Less
LibraryThing member gpangel
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a 2019 Ballantine Books publication.
Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll! I mean, that’s what the seventies were all about, man!! Right?
Taylor Jenkins Reid has done an admirable job of creating the atmosphere and mindset of the seventies and the rock bands
From their humble incarnation to their mega-stardom, to their slide down into relative obscurity, the author takes us on a journey back to the days when the music meant everything, the bands were serious about their art, and rock and roll lifestyle either made you or it broke you.
To tell the band’s storied history, the author employs a documentary style format, which is an interesting approach. It works in some ways, but it falls flat in others. As other reviewers have pointed out, the fictional band featured in this story is a thinly veiled Fleetwood Mac prototype.
Again, this works to some extent because many people are familiar with the outrageous dramas within the band and it feels a bit familiar, and therefore plausible. But, at the same time, I did wish this fictional band had not borne such a close resemblance to an actual group. I thought it took something away from the story, as it was less imaginative than it could have been. However, this might be what made the book appealing to some readers.
That said, as the story progresses, and the band follows an all too familiar and cliched path, riddled with pitfalls, drugs, relationship woes, and all manner of inner turmoil and temptation, the story makes an ever so subtle shift into something a little more substantial than the typical ‘Behind the Music’ ‘Rockumentary’ type of story.
Although the characters’ personas are very recognizable, they are also very well constructed and unique in their own way. They do prompt emotions, but are still enigmas, in the same way the rock stars of the seventies often were, adding to, and maintaining their mystique. The downside to that gamble is that one may not feel a deep connection with them.
While those thoughts were whirling around in my head, the realization that I'd finally become invested in the welfare of the band snuck up on me. I did, finally, find myself wrapped up in the drama, and was torn by the difficult choices that the characters made, questioning some, understanding others, but ultimately making peace with the way everything came together in the end.
I will confess I was very much looking forward to this book and with all the rave reviews I was confident this one would blow me away. But, as much as I love this author and wanted to love this book, it didn't rock my world- so to speak.
Don't get me wrong, I did like the book, but it didn’t come close to packing the emotional punch of Evelyn Hugo, and I thought it had the potential to do so. However, the big reveal in this case, which was centered around the group's final performance, was anticlimactic, in my opinion.
Still, this is one many will find compulsively readable, and some will enjoy the feelings of nostalgia the story evokes. In some ways the story feels like an alternate reality for the real rock band the story is so obviously based on, which is also a thought provoking and interesting concept.
Overall, although this one didn't have the impact on me, I'd hoped, I still enjoyed it for the most part. Due to the style and format, it is a very easy read, and many will be able to finish it off in one day or even in one sitting.
A little Fleetwood Mac playing in the background will make some nice mood music to go along with the saga of Daisy Jones and the Six.
3.5 rounded up.
Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll! I mean, that’s what the seventies were all about, man!! Right?
Taylor Jenkins Reid has done an admirable job of creating the atmosphere and mindset of the seventies and the rock bands
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that catapulted to success beyond their wildest dreams. From their humble incarnation to their mega-stardom, to their slide down into relative obscurity, the author takes us on a journey back to the days when the music meant everything, the bands were serious about their art, and rock and roll lifestyle either made you or it broke you.
To tell the band’s storied history, the author employs a documentary style format, which is an interesting approach. It works in some ways, but it falls flat in others. As other reviewers have pointed out, the fictional band featured in this story is a thinly veiled Fleetwood Mac prototype.
Again, this works to some extent because many people are familiar with the outrageous dramas within the band and it feels a bit familiar, and therefore plausible. But, at the same time, I did wish this fictional band had not borne such a close resemblance to an actual group. I thought it took something away from the story, as it was less imaginative than it could have been. However, this might be what made the book appealing to some readers.
That said, as the story progresses, and the band follows an all too familiar and cliched path, riddled with pitfalls, drugs, relationship woes, and all manner of inner turmoil and temptation, the story makes an ever so subtle shift into something a little more substantial than the typical ‘Behind the Music’ ‘Rockumentary’ type of story.
Although the characters’ personas are very recognizable, they are also very well constructed and unique in their own way. They do prompt emotions, but are still enigmas, in the same way the rock stars of the seventies often were, adding to, and maintaining their mystique. The downside to that gamble is that one may not feel a deep connection with them.
While those thoughts were whirling around in my head, the realization that I'd finally become invested in the welfare of the band snuck up on me. I did, finally, find myself wrapped up in the drama, and was torn by the difficult choices that the characters made, questioning some, understanding others, but ultimately making peace with the way everything came together in the end.
I will confess I was very much looking forward to this book and with all the rave reviews I was confident this one would blow me away. But, as much as I love this author and wanted to love this book, it didn't rock my world- so to speak.
Don't get me wrong, I did like the book, but it didn’t come close to packing the emotional punch of Evelyn Hugo, and I thought it had the potential to do so. However, the big reveal in this case, which was centered around the group's final performance, was anticlimactic, in my opinion.
Still, this is one many will find compulsively readable, and some will enjoy the feelings of nostalgia the story evokes. In some ways the story feels like an alternate reality for the real rock band the story is so obviously based on, which is also a thought provoking and interesting concept.
Overall, although this one didn't have the impact on me, I'd hoped, I still enjoyed it for the most part. Due to the style and format, it is a very easy read, and many will be able to finish it off in one day or even in one sitting.
A little Fleetwood Mac playing in the background will make some nice mood music to go along with the saga of Daisy Jones and the Six.
3.5 rounded up.
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LibraryThing member CarltonC
Like a sugar rush, so easy to read and told so apparently effortlessly, with highs and lows.
Not a deep book, but a bright, brilliant story that carries you away to another time and another place.
And it might help if you have listened to Rumours so many times over the years that it is one of the
Not a deep book, but a bright, brilliant story that carries you away to another time and another place.
And it might help if you have listened to Rumours so many times over the years that it is one of the
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soundtracks of your life. Show Less
LibraryThing member AdonisGuilfoyle
I've been deliberating over buying this book for ages after reading countless reviews, mostly positive - but I'm wary of trending titles and didn't want to pay full price (I'm also a tightwad). Then lo, Amazon came to the rescue with a 99p sale! I would say, after finishing the book in two
Based on the relationship between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, and written in the talking heads style of VH1's 'rockumentary' series Behind the Music, Daisy Jones tells the story in interviews of a 1970s band called The Six and how they hit the big time when LA wild child Daisy Jones joined the group. Each band member recalls to the 'author' their memories of how the band was formed, with two sets of brothers, a female keyboard player and a clueless drummer, meeting Daisy in LA, writing a groundbreaking album called 'Aurora'. and the personal issues which ultimately broke them up. I've read enough music biographies to appreciate how Taylor Jenkins Reid has perfectly captured the fragile egos and unreliable memories of ageing rock stars, and loved the contradictions and disagreements in the narration. Billy is the lead singer, the one with star quality who started the band so thinks he's in charge, Graham is his long-suffering brother with a crush on Karen the keyboard player, and Eddie is the guitarist who resents being pushed around by Billy. There are also perspectives from Billy's wife Camila, manager Rod, Daisy's friend Simone (apparently based on Donna Summer) and various other hangers-on.
My initial struggle with the book was accepting Daisy as a believable character and not a caricature straight out of teenage fan fiction. She's beautiful, of course, with large, dark blue eyes, long red hair and a slim body, but she's also a naturally gifted singer, talented songwriter and has a charismatic personality. She's also fearless and outspoken, yet vulnerable and naive, being charmingly reckless and underdressed while smashed out of her head on alcohol and drugs. Everyone falls in love with her, from Billy to young female fans. Mary Sue, anyone? I was rolling my eyes so much during the early chapters that I gave myself a headache. And she doesn't really gain in depth, but she did grow on me, like the rest of the characters. The other two female characters, Camila and Karen, are also 'strong women', one accepting her natural role of wife and mother, the other rejecting marriage and family in favour of independence and ambition. Karen felt the more sympathetic of the three, but the message of female self-empowerment was a bit laboured.
Once I grudgingly accepted how fabulous yet flawed Daisy is supposed to be, the pages flew, and I almost started believing that The Six were a real band - there are actual lyrics for the songs on their album, but we'll have to wait until Reese Witherspoon turns the book into a TV series to find out how they sound! Worth a read, if not at full price.
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afternoons. that either buying at a discount or borrowing is the way to go. Daisy Jones is good and very easy to read, but also cliched and plodding in places.Based on the relationship between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, and written in the talking heads style of VH1's 'rockumentary' series Behind the Music, Daisy Jones tells the story in interviews of a 1970s band called The Six and how they hit the big time when LA wild child Daisy Jones joined the group. Each band member recalls to the 'author' their memories of how the band was formed, with two sets of brothers, a female keyboard player and a clueless drummer, meeting Daisy in LA, writing a groundbreaking album called 'Aurora'. and the personal issues which ultimately broke them up. I've read enough music biographies to appreciate how Taylor Jenkins Reid has perfectly captured the fragile egos and unreliable memories of ageing rock stars, and loved the contradictions and disagreements in the narration. Billy is the lead singer, the one with star quality who started the band so thinks he's in charge, Graham is his long-suffering brother with a crush on Karen the keyboard player, and Eddie is the guitarist who resents being pushed around by Billy. There are also perspectives from Billy's wife Camila, manager Rod, Daisy's friend Simone (apparently based on Donna Summer) and various other hangers-on.
My initial struggle with the book was accepting Daisy as a believable character and not a caricature straight out of teenage fan fiction. She's beautiful, of course, with large, dark blue eyes, long red hair and a slim body, but she's also a naturally gifted singer, talented songwriter and has a charismatic personality. She's also fearless and outspoken, yet vulnerable and naive, being charmingly reckless and underdressed while smashed out of her head on alcohol and drugs. Everyone falls in love with her, from Billy to young female fans. Mary Sue, anyone? I was rolling my eyes so much during the early chapters that I gave myself a headache. And she doesn't really gain in depth, but she did grow on me, like the rest of the characters. The other two female characters, Camila and Karen, are also 'strong women', one accepting her natural role of wife and mother, the other rejecting marriage and family in favour of independence and ambition. Karen felt the more sympathetic of the three, but the message of female self-empowerment was a bit laboured.
Once I grudgingly accepted how fabulous yet flawed Daisy is supposed to be, the pages flew, and I almost started believing that The Six were a real band - there are actual lyrics for the songs on their album, but we'll have to wait until Reese Witherspoon turns the book into a TV series to find out how they sound! Worth a read, if not at full price.
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LibraryThing member Narshkite
Abandoned page 35. Hated it already. No star rating because I didn't read enough to do that. I know she is popular, but I cannot abide this author's work (I read Evelyn Hugo in its entirety and really really disliked it.) Its me. Many others love this. I also can't stand The Big Bang Theory, Full
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House, Blink 182, Journey, The Blind Side, or any of the 3 Star Wars movies I have attempted. I also don't like most fried food, flourless chocolate cake, egg rolls, any fast food (other than Egg McMuffins, which are unassailable), bacon, or sake. Use that information to assess whether your taste dovetails with mine. That said, why wouldn't someone just read the real history of Fleetwood Mac? Show Less
LibraryThing member dcoward
This was a super fun, quick read that absorbed me. I did feel like a few of the characters didn't ring entirely true. My favorite character was Karen.
LibraryThing member Sharn
I was completely caught off guard by this book. I will admit that this is my first Taylor Jenkins Reid book and I can't imagine that it'll be last. This was brilliant.
I listened to the audio version and it needs said that if you read this book (I have no idea how this read) and did not listen to
I'm sure you've read the synopsis, that's all you need. There's no need for me to go into all that, just do yourself a favor and read it - no, listen to it. So worth it.
I listened to the audio version and it needs said that if you read this book (I have no idea how this read) and did not listen to
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the audio, you missed out. Hands down the best audio book I've ever listened to. There was a whole cast of narrators, including Judy Greer as Karen (I love her), and it wasn't like they were reading a book, it was like they were being interviewed. They laughed and sighed etc and I loved every minute of this.I'm sure you've read the synopsis, that's all you need. There's no need for me to go into all that, just do yourself a favor and read it - no, listen to it. So worth it.
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LibraryThing member jillrhudy
Taylor Jenkins Reid manages to capture every nuance of the American rock and roll myth and every line is enthralling: the writing, the producing, the addictions, the lust, the tours, the fame, the jealousy, the heartbreak, the redemption. What will the characters give—and give up—to make great
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art, or to have great love? All the world loves Daisy. Can she learn to love herself? Show Less
Awards
Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award (Winner — 2020)
Booklist Editor's Choice: Adult Books (Fiction — 2019)
NPR: Books We Love (2019)
Reese's Book Club (2019-03 — 2019)
Los Angeles Public Library Best of the Year (Fiction — 2019)
LibraryReads (Annual Voter Favorite — Hall of Fame — March 2019)
Lariat Adult Fiction Reading List (Selection — 2020)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Adults (Selection — 2019)
RUSA CODES Listen List (Selection — 2020)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2019-03-05
Physical description
8 inches
ISBN
1524798649 / 9781524798642