Just finished reading Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid and it just did not do much for me.
Before I get into it, I do want to say that it wasn’t all that bad, I didn’t hate it. I think it raised somewhat interesting points about making your own choices (as seen through Camila- although I really would’ve liked to read more about her) and >!emotional infidelity (although I’ll say it again- the whole Billy and Daisy plot did not make sense to me. Their creative chemistry absolutely did, but I failed to see how it built up to romantic chemistry)!<.
It felt like I was reading fan-fiction because of how emotionally shallow and one-tracked it seemed. It was monotonous, there really wasn’t that much juice or build-up in the plot (especially since they focused on one storyline), pretty much all the characterisation took place at the very beginning of the novel and little changed after that. There was a lot of (wasted) potential for character development, I feel, with Daisy. I’m not sure whether that was intentional or not, whether TJR wanted to have a more realistic (although I can’t even be sure of that, but let’s assume it is realistic) story instead. I also can’t figure out the intention behind this book, what it’s trying to be other than perhaps a semi-decent beach read, what message it’s trying to send exactly (or if it isn’t at all, although I highly doubt that). What do you think?
I’d also love to discuss the characters with anyone!
by functionalfunction28
10 Comments
Intention was to have it optioned. I didn’t think it was a great book. The story of Fleetwood Mac is pretty cool with interesting characters. This book does not come close imo.
I think it was just an easy, entertaining read. It was a one-dayer for me.
I’ve been going through each of the Dune Prequel novels one by one, and needed a little break-a friend recommended Daisy Jones and the Six.
I enjoyed it for what it was-just a nice little visit to the 70’s. I also felt similar to the same author’s “Malibu Rising”. Not too complex, but a fun read that transported me to Malibu in the 80’s.
TV show was the same
I loved it. One of my favorite audiobooks of all time.
I didn’t enjoy it, and I had just come off of reading ‘The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ which I loved. I think it the was interview-format style of writing that I didn’t connect with.
I felt like I was waiting for some big event to happen the whole book and it never did.
This was the only TJR book I haven’t liked.
I sometimes feel like I read a different book than others. It probably didn’t help that I was listening to the audiobook, but I never picked up on any type of romance happening between Billy and Daisy.
I loved the book. To me, it felt like an episode of Behind the Music (the old VH1 documentary show) but in novel form. I also like the format of a series of interviews in character’s own words. I have seen it done in other novels, and that form really works for me.
As a music fan, I think the portrayal of the 70s music scene is fantastic, and I also think the exploration of the creative process is also quite well done.
Billy and Daisy’s attraction makes total sense to me. When you do creative work with another person things get very intimate, and feelings arise that otherwise might not have been there. They are also both addicts, and addicts aren’t known for making good choices.
I have read two other Reid novels, and this one is my favorite by far.
This book was definitely better as an audiobook for me. The interview style this was written in was so much better with the actors than reading it on a page.
I’m a big fan of 70s music and I thought the book did a good job capturing the vibe of the time. Billy and Daisy had an interesting relationship. They made each other better artistically but brought out the worst in each other sometimes too.
I watched the show after reading the book. They changed quite a bit but I liked the show too. The music in the show is just amazing. Probably one of the best soundtracks from a made up band that I’ve ever heard. It’s worth watching the show just for the music.