Another TikTok Book
Once or twice a year my local library has a book sale in which books are about $2 to $3 each. Even though my bookshelf is full, I still go with hopes of finding some great books to take home.
Well, the librabry decided to have a winter sale in their newly renevated space and I made my way over. The place was crowded with people filing their way through the hundreds of books lining the tables. I pushed my way through to the fiction table where I browsed the covers for books I might find to be interesting.
Sitting on the ground, I spotted a brand new copy of Daisy Jones & The Six. I had heard of the book from booktok but knew ultimately nothing about it other than people giving it rave reviews. Booktok I find to be a hit or miss when it comes to people's tastes, but for only $2 and a brand new book, I figured I would give it a try. Luckily, one of the librabrians saw me struggling to carry my collected stack and was nice enough to hand me a bag. Twenty books later and a full bag, I decided it was best to go home.
Overview of Daisy Jones & The Six
Set in the 1970's, Daisy Jones and The Six follows Daisy Jones, a groupie who gets everything she wants except one thing. To write her own music. On the other hand, Billy and Graham Dunne start a rock band of their own to see it quickly climb the charts. Sex, drugs, and rock n' roll is the catalyst to an unlikely pairing when Daisy Jones and The Six eventually cross paths leading to the biggest album of all time.
The Cons of Daisy Jones & The Six
· Surprise Ending
Come the end of the book, the fourth wall breaks and you, the reader, are given a surprise. Even though it did surprise me, I don't think it was needed or enough punch to have been placed into the story.
· Too Many Band Members
When Billy and Graham put the band together they have a total of six members. Hence why they are called The Six. But even with that name we were left wondering about half of the band and how they played a bigger part in the overall success. I would have liked to have seen more of their perspectives or have there be less band members in the first place.
The Pros of Daisy Jones & The Six
· Unique Take
Instead of writing the story as if it was playing out, Taylor Reid took a different route. Interviews of the characters relaying their history from their POVs where laid out to form the story. I have never seen anything like this when it comes to fiction writing. I actually had to look up if the band was real based on this new writing style.
· Easy to Read
Because this book is written as a documentary all the text is dialogue. This makes the book easy to follow along and super fast to read. If I wasn't so responsible I would have stayed up all night reading it if I hadn't had to work the next day.
· Descriptions
With the story being entirely dialogue there is a worry about missing small details that build upon each other to create a story. But the author did a great job having the characters describe each other in a way that you could imagine the small details without having to read large paragraphs of it. The dialogue of the characters also helped make each person stand out on their own to the point you didn't need to be told who was talking, you just knew. It made the reading experience that much more enjoyable.
· The Music
When I first picked up this book I thought it was going to be impossible for someone to convey music. Boy was I wrong! Each new song Daisy and Billy wrote seemed to come alive on the page to the point you seemed to know every note not ever having heard a single beat. This only made me wish this story was real.
· Who The Story is About
After reading the book, I came to the conclusion that the story I had been reading was in fact not about Daisy Jones and The Six. If I would have been paying closer attention I would have realized sooner who it was truely about. This ah ha moment really takes the story to a much deeper level than it already was.
Overall Review Summary
This book was an experience. One I haven't had for awhile while reading. There was a realness to this book found in how the characters acted through the music they played.
Hard topics were hit but in a way that weren't too controversial or overrated. The flow and the story made for an easy read keeping you interested.
Even though the ending had a slight miss the overall story is a great one to read if you have an hour or two to spare.
The cover could be more interesting as it only pictures Daisy Jones but it is also one you would be able to spot in the store on the booktok table.
For once, I think booktok was able to pick a good one to promote which is why it probably went on to become a TV series. I'll have to check it out when I get a chance. But for now, I'll give this 4 out of 5 stars. This book was great but most likely not going to be found in my top ten.
Tell me in the comments below the last booktok book you read. If you are wanting 5-star read, I highly suggest checking out my reviews for AGGGTM, Once There Were Wolves, or Where the Crawdads Sing.
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