 Daisy Jones & The Six, by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
This book is written as an "oral history" of a fictional rock band from the 1970s. It's made up of interview quotes from the various characters: band members, family members, and others. They frequently contradict each other. Sometimes the reader can figure out what "really" happened, sometimes it's unclear, and sometimes both characters are right from their own point of view - just like real life. Billy Dunne, leader of the rising-star band The Six, starts off living a life of drug use and sex with groupies, but he straightens himself out for his long-suffering wife Camila and their children. Then the drug-addicted Daisy Jones joins the band. She and Billy are soulmates even when mutually hostile; they make magic when they sing and write songs together. But Billy would never wrong Camila. Or would he? Camila's interviews have her repeatedly saying she doesn't need or want a "perfect" husband. She comes off as a side character who knows she's a side character. The more interesting subplot, to me, involved the one female member of the original Six, known as Karen Karen (no, really). She becomes romantically involved with another band member, Billy's brother Graham, and eventually she's pregnant. To Graham it's simple: she's the love of his life, and they should get married and raise a family. Karen is less sure about Graham, and she's had to fight much harder than the men did to get as far as she has in the music business. I haven't seen the TV series yet, but it feels like the author had the screen in mind when she wrote the story. There's only so far you can get on music being described rather than heard. Popsugar Reading Challenge: About a pop star. 52 Book Club Challenge: Publisher starts with "B." Booklist Queen Challenge: About a musician.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |