May - Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reed
I could almost smell the smoke and stale beer in the club while reading, Daisy Jones & The Six. This tale of a fictional rock band out of the seventies is written as excerpts from a series of interviews. Band members and agents, and occasionally a friend or relative or someone else connected to the band. The characters reminisce about their experiences of first getting together, signing with a record label and touring. The love, the hate, the resentment, the talent. The era of fame and parties and their youth. For some, it is the highlight of their lives. For others, just a sense of residual bitterness. Reed's unique approach to storytelling works well and is one factor that makes the story so engaging. She created an immediacy and intimacy with the voices in these interviews that keeps the reader turning pages. Will Billy keep it together? Will Daisy? The sexual and artistic tension between Daisy and Billy keeps you intrigued. You are aware that each individual's versions are skewed. Whether by their point of view, the faults of memory, and the drugs and alcohol abuse of the day.
You might experience something close to recollection when you read about that concert when Daisy and Billy sang the hit song "Aurora." You might have been there. You can almost see their iconic album cover as you recall flipping through your collection of LPs in that red plastic milk crate by your stereo.
Especially for those of us that grew up during that era of rock and roll, Daisy Jones & The Six feels like a walk back in time. It is a rewarding nostalgia trip that leaves you longing for the revival tour.
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