Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Historical Fiction; Adult
Rating: 9.5/10
At the height of their career in the late ‘70s, the iconic rock ‘n’ roll band, Daisy Jones and The Six, broke up. No one knew why, until now..
This book was absolutely unputdownable, if that’s even a word. I devoured it in a single day.
The concept was brilliant, with the whole story written in an interview format. I’ve never read anything like it, and was understandably intrigued. I have to say, I loved it so much. It really felt like the characters were talking directly to me – because they were. I was amazed by how, even without the explanation of jargon or lengthy descriptions about setting, the story took shape, with just the characters narrating.
I thought every single character included in this interview transcript was so well fleshed out. Their personalities were intricate. They all had motives and fears and wants and weaknesses, adding so much complexity to the storyline. All of them had distinct voices, and not a single word felt out of place. It was almost like watching a video, or listening to an audio, of an actual interview. Every person’s line was delivered so realistically.
I was also blown away by how masterful the dialogue placements were. I loved how the author gave us the space to figure out so many things ourselves. Between the things that were said, and those left unsaid, we could either take the dialogue at face value (which makes for an entertaining read in itself), or we could read between the lines. I found it such a pleasure to find the hidden surprises and easter eggs, and also to try and figure out the true motives of the characters. The tension, the contradictions between various characters’ recollections, everything was skilfully written. Saying that I flew through the pages is an understatement.
It’s like some of us are chasing after our nightmares the way other people chase dreams.
The book does discuss more adult topics, in quite a blunt and gritty way. The characters really showed how messed up life can be, especially in the entertainment industry. Each character gave their own perspective on how they struggled through various vices, and I thought every topic was handled very realistically. I do think we need a certain level of maturity though, in order to truly understand the nuances of each character.
All in all, I found the writing evocative. When the characters spoke of their emotions and thoughts, we are compelled to listen, even when we know they are deeply flawed. While each character had varying degrees of awareness of their own faults, what really makes us fall for them is that all of them try. They try to improve themselves, and seeing them face their demons and fight every single day, it definitely gives us cause to root for them. In facing their vulnerabilities they show their true strength, and I really liked how this trait was portrayed differently for each character.
It scared me that the only thing between this moment of calm and the biggest tragedy of my life was me choosing not to do it.
I also have to say that before I started the book, I got quite curious and briefly read through all the song lyrics written at the back. Some lines struck me as more meaningful, but they were ultimately words on paper, music without sound, and I didn’t really think much of it. But as I read through the story, with Billy and Daisy describing how the songs came to be written, I was amazed. The lyrics suddenly began to come to life. I could almost palpably feel the raw emotion behind each song. I don’t know how Reid managed to pull it off, but I am in awe that she did. Every song became powerful, and the lyrics added a painful, bittersweet depth to the whole storyline.
Watching the story play out as the characters reflected on their life made the whole reading experience incredible. I can’t imagine this story being relayed in any other way, and still be as powerful. This was a compelling, tightly-crafted story, and I’d highly recommend you to pick it up as soon as possible!!
"And, baby, when you think of me I hope it ruins rock ‘n’ roll”
Reviewed by: S.R. Scribbles (1st reading)
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