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A review by katy_bee
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was only ok by the end, although I was pulled along by bits if it early on.
The "twist" fell flat for me, it didn't really add anything and it jarred a bit in retrospect when you re-read the early chapters.
The device of everyone bring a slightly unreliable narrator, because memory doesn't hold true after decades was near to start with but felt a bit laboured by then end. I also found the very qu ck suggestion of short quotes became a bit unrealistic and repetitive. I would have been interested to see some longer sections or have the narrator acknowledge that assembling dialogue that way is quite artificial
I was also disappointed in the way it seemed to wrap up as - an unusual - love story. Most of the way through it actually felt like it was a story of addiction and people's lives falling apart. I wanted to hear more from Daisy in the "where are they now?" chapter to see her come out the other side.
That's all the negatives... It definitely was interesting to hear more about that world of rock and fame in 60s & 70s and the characters felt nuanced. I liked the portrayal of women and particularly Karen dealing with being an object of affection but not wanting to be defined by that. I think that's still quite rare in fiction, to have a sympathetic portrayal of a woman who doesn't love a man back. I also liked Camilla and Daisy's respect for each other.
Camilla and Billy's relationship also felt like an honest portrayal of the sacr fices and compromised it takes to make a marriage work.
The "twist" fell flat for me, it didn't really add anything and it jarred a bit in retrospect when you re-read the early chapters.
The device of everyone bring a slightly unreliable narrator, because memory doesn't hold true after decades was near to start with but felt a bit laboured by then end. I also found the very qu ck suggestion of short quotes became a bit unrealistic and repetitive. I would have been interested to see some longer sections or have the narrator acknowledge that assembling dialogue that way is quite artificial
I was also disappointed in the way it seemed to wrap up as - an unusual - love story. Most of the way through it actually felt like it was a story of addiction and people's lives falling apart. I wanted to hear more from Daisy in the "where are they now?" chapter to see her come out the other side.
That's all the negatives... It definitely was interesting to hear more about that world of rock and fame in 60s & 70s and the characters felt nuanced. I liked the portrayal of women and particularly Karen dealing with being an object of affection but not wanting to be defined by that. I think that's still quite rare in fiction, to have a sympathetic portrayal of a woman who doesn't love a man back. I also liked Camilla and Daisy's respect for each other.
Camilla and Billy's relationship also felt like an honest portrayal of the sacr fices and compromised it takes to make a marriage work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Vomit, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Abortion
Minor: Terminal illness