User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Have you ever felt like there were two versions a book out there. There's the version everyone you know read. The one with the raving reviews. The one that everyone loved. Then there is the version you read. The one that is underwhelming and dry and was nothing at all like what you expected it to be. Have you ever felt that? Because I feel that sometimes.
This is one such time.Seriously though, did I read the same book as everyone else?
I was hoping beyond all hope that this would be my first 5-star book of 2019. Yeah, that's right, it's officially April, the FOURTH MONTH OF THE YEAR, and I have yet to read a book that blows me away.
And with all the hype around this one, I was really hoping this would be it.
It was not!So, maybe I'm heartless. Maybe I'm just uncool and don't understand what the cool kids are into these days. Maybe this book has some deeper meaning that my immature mind just could not comprehend. Maybe I just suck. Maybe this book secretly sucks too.
Maybe it just wasn't for me.
It was probably that last one.
But also maybe not.
First of all, these characters. I disliked them all. And I know that they aren't supposed to be likable. They are actually all supposed to be total a**holes. I get that. But even horrible people need to be likable, or at least interesting for the book to work. I personally didn't care for any of them.
Daisy was a total brat. She was mean and spoiled and I just wanted someone to slap some sense into her. She was also the most special of all the snowflakes. It was always mentioned how she was just naturally better than everyone else, how everything came easy to her, and how she was just so absolutely amazing.
Billy was also a jerk, although he was written to be a bit sympathetic. He's a crappy husband and a terrible friend and just overall controlling and kind of annoying.
All the other characters feel only half developed and kind of irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.
Overall, I didn't like this. Obviously. I thought I would love it. I didn't. Many of you would like it, I think. It's obvious by the hype that a lot of you do.
The book is told through interviews and is very character oriented, meaning that there is basically no actual objective to the plot. That said, I didn't like the characters so this book was not a good match for me.
I hope you like it if you do read it though! Maybe you will have better luck with it!
TW: excessive drug use and addictions, alcoholism, abortion, divorce, toxic marriagesFollow Me Here Too:
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Rating: really liked it
Daisy Jones & the Six is a masterpiece. Incredible. Intoxicating. Unforgettable. Truly one of the most remarkable stories I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The moment I finished, I had to immediately start from the beginning again. I refused to let go. And yes, I did read it twice in a row.
CW: substance abuse/addiction, abortion
Set in the mid sixties – late seventies,
Daisy Jones & The Six transports readers to the most iconic age of rock n’ roll. The atmosphere and story composition create and authentic tale that I almost refuse to believe isn’t real! Taylor Jenkins Reid is a master of fiction – her characters possess an uncanny ability to charm readers and settle into their hearts. Her novels are multi-faceted and unlike any other books I’ve read, especially due to the oral history storytelling of
Daisy Jones. (Side note – the audiobook? SPECTACULAR. If you have access to the audio version, you will not want to miss this experience) Full of timeless quotes, glamourous scandals, and heart-breaking loss,
Daisy Jones & The Six has absolutely climbed to the top as one of my favorite books of all time.
FUCK! THIS BOOK IS SO FEMINIST! The women in this book are all so powerful and dynamic. There are so many strong messages about women empowerment, taking no one’s shit, supporting other women, and demanding credit where it’s due. Even the smaller side characters are them much more layered than most supporting characters, as we explore their own storylines. Plus the relationships between all of the women, (Karen & Daisy, Karen & Camila, Camila & Daisy – even Daisy and little Julia made my heart swell!) are wholesome, unique, and authentic. Especially for a story with a bit of a love triangle, I could not be happier with the superb study of the experience of women.
I also was left so touched by the exploration of addiction. It’s a disease very close to my heart and I’m so, so pleased with how Taylor Jenkins Reid captured the dark, devastating nature of it. The story of both Billy and Daisy’s respective addictions bring light to the glamorization of drugs of this time, while not glamorizing it themselves. This book exposes the truth about substance abuse while simultaneously carrying an air of hope and recovery for those who may be in a similar situation. I’ll stand by this novel my grave as one of the greatest fictional stories of addiction ever told.
And oh gosh, THE MUSIC! I just have to give a shout out to the author for writing so many superb original songs with their own distinct voice and sound. I cannot WAIT for the series to come out so I can finally hear these marvelous lyrics sung the way they should be. Again, I REFUSE to believe this isn’t a real band.
I have so few complaints about this book, and honestly, they are so minuscule compared to the novel’s countless strengths. I felt the main plot twist wasn’t all that shocking and the ending could have been stronger compared to the rock-solid build up, but I’m so enchanted by this book that I’m totally unbothered.
In sum, read
Daisy Jones & The Six. Prepare to have your mind rocked by the story of a band that wanted to change the world, so they did.
Rating: really liked it
I know many people loved this book, and it's not as if I don't see why, but this choice of narration just really didn't work for me. I found Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo absolutely riveting from the very first chapter, but I thought the decision to write this book entirely in interview transcripts made it really
boring and emotionless.
Daisy Jones & The Six is essentially a band documentary transcript. I'm sure most of you have seen a band documentary before. Former band members, their managers, and their friends are all interviewed, and the screen switches between them speaking and images/footage of the band in their prime. This is like that, but without the images to accompany it. Members of The Six, their acquaintances, and Daisy herself, recount the history of the band's rise and fall.
I just… nothing interested me. I didn’t care when they were bickering about how song lyrics should go. Or when they were talking about the sex and drugs lifestyle. They just fly around, play gigs, do drugs, all while Daisy is being a brat and Billy is cheating on his wife. They are the only two characters of interest and they both irritated me.
Perhaps it is because this is a perfect example of what they say a writer shouldn't do:
all tell, no show. I mean, that's the nature of having it be an interview transcript. The characters just talk about their experiences, and it all felt very cold and detached. I wasn't immersed in the story; I wasn't experiencing it.
I actually kept reading because the book seemed like maybe it was building to something good. It all feels like its leading up to a shocking climax at their last concert, but even the mystery surrounding that was unsatisfying for me. I was expecting something more juicy and exciting.
Oh well. I do think it had a bit of a cool 1970s LA music scene vibe going on. The whirlwind of sex, drugs, rock'n'roll and all that. But it wasn't enough for me. I think the story would have been far more compelling written in the author's usual style. She seems quite good at writing about strong feisty women who get caught up in a vicious industry, but that didn't come across as well here.
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Rating: really liked it
Daisy Jones & The Six chronicles the rise to superstardom of the fictional band that came to define rock 'n' roll in the late 1907s, as well as the troubles that subsequently led to the band splitting up seemingly overnight and its members never playing together again.
Going in, I was a little bit wary that I wouldn't connect with this story. I wasn't alive during the 1970s and rock 'n' roll isn't my preferred music genre, so I don't have much in common with the book's settings. But this is Taylor Jenkins Reid, so of course I was hooked right from the start.
Told via interview transcripts of band members and various friends and family, it reads like an intimate first person account. I know some readers felt this interview format made the book feel a bit impersonal, but it had the opposite effect for me. When you can see into so many characters, it automatically makes all them feel real and fleshed out, with their individual personalities, quirks, and baggage.
The story is raw and evocative, filled with sweet, complicated characters I can't help but connect with. There's complexity and nuance in the way Reid captures the relationships between the band members, each flawed in their own way. With their every success, I cheered for them. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see what happens next.
For me, the only small letdown was the ending. To be fair, I can't quite separate out if my disappointment is just that I wish the band had stayed together forever, making music and being happy, instead of splitting up. I wanted certain things to happen with the story, but they obviously didn't, and that left me with an unfinished feeling.
Taylor Jenkins Reid is the sort of author who can write about anything, even a topic that I have no interest in or knowledge of, and still make it riveting and poignant. Even though this is an account of a fictional group, I found myself wishing they were real so that I could bask some more in the magic of this band.
See also, my thoughts on:The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Malibu Rising
After I Do
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rating: really liked it
i finally got my hands on the audio of this and it is everything i thought it would be - the authenticity, the intrigue, the drama, the rock n’ roll, the emotion. this is a masterpiece and
the six are the life and soul of this story. i CANNOT wait for the day when their songs become streamable on spotify.
___________________________________________
there has been some sort of mistake. this book is labelled as fiction, but that cant be right. there is no way these people arent real and nothing you say will convince me otherwise. daisy jones & the six were the greatest rock ’n roll band of the 70s and thats the tea, henny.
but in all seriousness. TJR is taking this genre of faux-biographies/interviews and really making it a thing; but more specifically, her thing. between this and
‘the seven husbands of evelyn hugo,’ there is proof that fiction will forever be more appealing than nonfiction. no real life event could be told like the way TJR tells her stories. i am just in awe of her capabilities as an author.
‘daisy jones & the six’ is so unique, so edgy, so sexy, so daring, so raw. its everything i could want and hope for from a story about a rock ’n roll band. and if i had such an amazing experience reading this, i cant even imagine what listening to the audiobook will be like (i kind of wish i had done that first, just because of how the story is presented as a compilation of commentary from interviews) - its gonna blow my tiny little mind! i honestly cant wait!
↠ 5 stars
Rating: really liked it
IS THIS AS GOOD AS THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO?That was my main question when I picked up this book. Sadly, no.
There was a lot of potential but I felt like the story wasn't flesh out enough. I highly recommend listening to this one as an audiobook due to the format (interviews).
Reminded me a bit of
A Star Is Born, but maybe less tragic and with a very confident main female character. The characters were definitely attaching but I felt like there should have been more. 300 pages of interview is quite short.
Overall good, would recommend but not a favorite!
Rating: really liked it
Apparently I read a different book than everyone else. Or maybe my brain just thinks it's funny to make me hate hyped books idk.
This didn't touch me whatsoever. I was bored and the story and some actions of the characters felt repetitive to the point that I skipped some paragraphs. Everything was so predictable and dialogues even felt pretentious sometimes. Trying to be meaningful while actually being pseudo deep (like 80% of tumblr u know?).
Sure, this had some great quotes and some funny bits in it but.. that's about it.
Rating: really liked it
4th read: march 2021 (audiobook)★★★★
3rd read: april - june 2019 (physical)★★★★★
yep this is my third time reading this book. i just
adore it with my whole heart. this time i physically read it and annotated it, and it was everything.
2nd read: 29-31 march 2019 (audiobook)★★★★★
UGH I WILL NEVER GET OVER THIS BOOK
1st read: 14-15 march 2019 (audiobook)★★★★★
cw: drug use, alcoholism, addiction, abortion
Rating: really liked it
Update: it is with a heavy heart that I must announce not a single tear was shed. I felt nothing. I did not actively dislike this book, and there are things I actually liked about it. I just did not care about any of it. The voice actors did a pretty good job, though.
On a scale of 1 to irreversibly devastated, how much will this book hurt?
Rating: really liked it
I will never stop crying
Check out my book review!: https://youtu.be/pJvJi3HVzf0
Rating: really liked it
Video review - https://youtu.be/w9617uq7Kk0?t=752
I AM SO EMOTIONAL
Rating: really liked it
I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THIS IS A FICTION AND THESE PEOPLE DON'T EXIST.
Rating: really liked it
I expected this to be good because of the hype but this was truly one of the best things I've read in a long time. And it was MADE to be an audiobook. I'd love to write something like this someday.
Rating: really liked it
5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I had absolutely no interest in being somebody else's muse.
I am not a muse.
I am the somebody.
End of fucking story. ”
Oh fuck. I'm a mess. I'm such a hot mess. I feel like Daisy on crack. I'm a crying mess, I'm a screaming mess, I'm a heartbroken mess. How the fuck am I supposed to continue on with my life now after this book has happened? Could you people do it?
I NEED A SEQUEL OR A MOVIE OR A SERIES OR SOMETHING! I'm literally on Youtube right now, trying to find a cover of these songs or anything. I'm so deep I'm gonna fall off. I'm supposed to watch the Oscars in a few hours, and here I am, crying over a fictional rock band.
I have had such a weird history with this book from the get go. You can check out the date I started reading it,
fucking March of 2019. You know it's February of 2020 now right? Yeah. I read a 100 pages of this book on March of 2019, in book format and then my book hiatus started. It wasn't because of this book, it just happens to me from time to time. I remember I actually bought it right after I started hearing all the buzz about it, and after having loved her previous work I knew I was gonna love this.
But I couldn't have known it would change something in me.And then we come to today. I'm back from my book hiatus, ready to read some good things because it comes back again. And after I read 2 books this year, I saw that I had left this one behind. So, to make things easier for myself, I decided to listen to the audiobook. Which was so praised by everyone when it came out. I have never listened to an audiobook, I can't find myself concentrating to it. Maybe it's because I'm bilingual, or that my mind can't linger on to something for a very long period of time, idk.
But I knew this particular audiobook would enhance my experience. Therefore, I started a 30-trial on audible, downloaded it and started listening while also reading it.
It's one of those books were you check if the band was real, if the people actually existed and you're so convinced it's true. You just know they do because this book feels like it. I feel like calling these people and hear their stories and struggles and worries. I feel like I want to meet them and talk to them. I feel like I want to be them, despite their flaws. That's how perfectly constructed most of these characters are.
I don't know how this author does it with each of her books. How can she make up actual people who feel so like...
actual people? So raw, and flawed and complex. Worlds were black and white doesn't exist... but grey does. Like the real world. This woman is a true talent and I will read everything she writes, I swear. I'm just so captivated.
I love rock, I love metal, I love pop. I just love music and rock bands and old music and sometimes new and I just knew I would be drawn to the subject matter of this book. But I never thought it would much more than a rock band book. That it would feel so personal sometimes. That I would sympathize with those people that have nothing in common with me.
But the God, named Taylor Jenkins Reid fucking DID THAT!Overall, read this motherfucking book. Or at best... listen to the audiobook while reading it, speed 2.0. I flew through it in 5 hours, I didn't even drink water. Trust me, don't even pick up this book without listening to the audiobook. K bye!
Rating: really liked it
3.8 ⭐️
i enjoyed most of this but i highly believe it was the best in the very beginning and at the very end. i read this with the audio book and honestly only recommend reading it with the audio book.
it’s a whole ensemble of narrators that really hit the nail on the head with each character. i’m convinced i only enjoyed it because i had the audiobook along side me. for the way it’s written and the format it uses, it works.
the actual story was simply just ok. i wasn’t wowed away like i usually am with other TJR books. this one is definitely at the bottom but i don’t regret reading it. i was happy with the ending and was satisfied.
i enjoyed most of the characters, tbh i only cared about Graham and Karen for most of it and then Daisy and Billy towards the end. i respect and admire the way addiction is written in this book. reading daisy’s and billy’s struggle with addition and how it affected all those around them was much appreciated.
can’t wait for the tv adaptation ☺️
