#cbr11bingo #Pajiba (and should finish my Bingo board)
While predictable in many ways, Daisy Jones & the Six has a lot to like. Some parts of Taylor Jenkins Reid novel are strong and fast pace. Other parts move a lot more slowly; making it difficult to want to go on. And while I never really liked anyone (even the more “likeable” people) they are all well done. These are people you know. You have been these people. Or you are these people. Okay, we are not all living the Rock-n-Roll lifestyle (at least I’m not) but we all have had a Daisy in our lives. That beautiful creature we want and for some reason cannot have. We all have had our Billy’s, too. That romantic, selfish, not-easy bad boy who breaks our heart and we thank him for it. And we have/had the other band members as friends or are/were those friends.
This book is very loosely based on the lives of Fleetwood Mac. But no, Daisy Jones and the Six a real not a band. Which is a shame. Unless you go and listen to Fleetwood Mac. This also could be adapted in to a great movie. If they do not go too “popular” with the singers/actors. (Please no Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Thank you.)
The story is simple: Rock-n-Roll at its best. The best looking; the best sounding and the best writing (the lyrics to their songs are included). These people go through life. Their remembrances of the times are interesting. We all remember things differently. We all put our selfish twist to them. They laugh, love and cry. They have sex. Do drugs. Make choices and while the themes are not always easy, this is a comfortable read. The interview style of the writing has its pluses and minuses. At first, the interview format was great. It has been done before; yet still felt new and fresh. I flew through the first chapter. But by the second chapter it was dull, and I had to put it down. Here is where the fast and slow come into play. There were times when I was dreading reading. It was dull and cliché. Other times I wanted to be with these people and pages flew by.
SPOILER The ending was not a twist ending. It was obvious who the author of the interview/book to be was. The “getting clean” of Daisy was expected (obviously since she is being interviewed, t00). But the death of Camila was a little surprising, but not totally unexpected. Sometimes Reid goes for the obvious shock/moment. What was emotional is the fact (while an obvious “tug on heartstrings” move) she was only 63 and it was five years after her death. Which brought back memories of my moms passing at 60 and it is almost 6 years later.
Is this going to be a “Grand and Forever Classic?” Probably not. What it is, is a book to enjoy in the moment, maybe reread at some point a year or so from now when you find your copy. There are some amazing, one-liners, even if sometimes a bit over-the-top. But it is a book I am glad I found.