Daisy Jones and The Six

Daisy Jones and The Six is the latest novel to be checked off my to be read list. It has been on my to be read list for far too long, and keeps being shuffled down the list as other books take priority.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m honestly mad at myself for not reading Daisy Jones and The Six sooner. I have owned the book since it was released, and even bought a copy for my mother-in-law, after we talked about the show they’ve made based on the book. You’d think I would have made it more of a priority to read Daisy Jones and The Six. But no.

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I’m often easily distracted, and my to be read list can reflect my terrible attention span, because I have it in my head that I want to read a specific book, and then I get distracted by something shiny and go for that instead. I’ve had it happen many times before, as I’m sure it will again. Where I am mad it took me far too long to read a book because I loved it.

It was finally time. I have been making it a point to read more of my favorite authors this year, and decided that Taylor Jenkins Reid is absolutely on that list, and it was time to read Daisy Jones and The Six. You’ll see more reviews of her books in the near future as well. Life is too short, so read the best books!

“But loving somebody isn’t perfection and good times and laughing and making love. Love is forgiveness and patience and faith and every once in a while, it’s a gut punch. That’s why it’s a dangerous thing, when you go loving the wrong person. When you love somebody who doesn’t deserve it. You have to be with someone that deserves your faith and you have to be deserving of someone else’s. It’s sacred.”
Taylor Jenkins Reid, Daisy Jones and The Six

Have you read Daisy Jones and The Six? Come on in and let me tell you about it!

About Daisy Jones and The Six

Everyone knows Daisy Jones and The Six, but nobody knows the reason behind their split at the absolute height of their popularity . . . until now.

Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it’s the rock ’n’ roll she loves most. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things.

Also getting noticed is The Six, a band led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she’s pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road.

Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes that the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend.

The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies. Taylor Jenkins Reid is a talented writer who takes her work to a new level with Daisy Jones and The Six, brilliantly capturing a place and time in an utterly distinctive voice.

Meet the Band

Daisy Jones

Singer, solo and for Daisy Jones and The Six. Born in Los Angeles, she spent time as a groupie in the early 1970s on the Sunset Strip before becoming an artist of her own. She released her first album, First, in 1975 with Runner Records. And then appeared as a featured artist on the hit, “Honeycomb,” by The Six before eventually forming the super group, Daisy Jones and The Six.

Billy Dunne

Lead singer, songwriter for The Six. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Billy and his younger brother, Graham, formed the band The Dunne Brothers in the late 1960s. That band went on to become The Six. They played bars and small venues on the east coast before moving to LA and signing with Runner Records. They became best known for their hit, “Honeycomb,” off of their sopho- more album, a duet featuring Daisy Jones. Together, Daisy Jones and The Six released the hit album, Aurora.

Pete Loving

Bassist for The Six. Born in Pennsylvania, Pete joined The Dunne Brothers as a teenager soon after the band formed and took an active role in shaping the band’s rhythm section for the entirety of their career.

Eddie Loving

Rhythm guitarist for The Six. Invited by his older brother, Pete, to join the band a few months after the group had formed, Eddie replaced Billy on rhythm guitar. Despite tensions with Billy, Eddie remained the rhythm guitarist on all three studio albums and tours.

Graham Dunne

Lead guitarist for The Six. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he joined older brother Billy in the formation of the band The Dunne Brothers and remained in the group for all three albums and tours. He was known for his exceptional finger-picking style and also sang backup vocals.

Warren Rhodes

Drummer for The Six. Warren started drumming as a young teenager out of a desire to be like the drummers in his favorite bands. He joined Billy and Graham in the formation of The Dunne Brothers in Pittsburgh in the late 1960s. He was the only drummer for the band until the breakup of Daisy Jones and The Six in 1979.

Karen Sirko

Keyboardist for The Six. Originally from Maryland and then Pennsylvania, Karen started out as keyboardist in a number of bands, including The Winters, before finally joining The Six in 1971. She played keyboard, electric harpsichord, and sang backup vocals.

Aurora World Tour 1978-1979

San Francisco
Nashville
Tulsa
Oklahoma City
Atlanta
Memphis
Kansas City
New Orleans
London
Glasgow
Paris
Munich
Amsterdam
Stockholm
Auckland
Sydney
Melbourne
Tokyo
Los Angeles
Seattle
Portland
Boston
New York
Dayton
Chicago

Aurora Lyrics

Chasing The Night

Trouble starts when I come around

Everything’s painted red when I’m in town

Light me up and watch me burn it down

If you’re anointing a devil, I’ll take my crown

Foot on the gas, add fuel to the fire

I’m already high and going higher

Charging faster, ready to ignite

Headed for disaster, chasing the night

You turn wrong when you turn right

White light at first sight

Oh, you’re chasing the night

But it’s a nightmare chasing you

Life’s coming to me in flashes

Wearing my bruises like badges

Don’t know when I learned to play with matches

Must want it all to end in ashes

Food on the gas, add fuel to the fire

I’m already high and going higher

Foot on the gas, add fuel to the fire

Look me in the eye and flick the lighter

Oh, you’re chasing the night

But it’s a nightmare, honey, chasing you

This Could Get Ugly

The ugly you got in you

Well, I got it, too

You act like you ain’t got a clue

But you do

Oh, we could be lovely

If this could get ugly

Write a list of things you’ll regret

I’d be on top smoking a cigarette

Oh, we could be lovely

If this could get ugly

The things you run from, baby, I run to

And I know it scares you through and through

No one knows you like I do

Try to tell me that ain’t true

Oh, we could be lovely

If this could get ugly

Impossible Woman

Impossible woman

Let her hold you

Let her ease your soul

Sand through fingers

While horse, but she’s just a colt

Dancing barefoot in the snow

Cold can’t couch her, high or low

She’s blues dressed up like rock ‘n’ roll

Untouchable, She’ll never fold

She’ll have you running

In the wrong direction

Have you coming

For the wrong obsessions

Oh, she’s gunning

For your redemption

Have you heaved

Back to confession

Sand through fingers

Wild horse, but she’s just a colt

Dancing barefoot in the snow

Cold can’t touch her, high or low

She’s blues dressed up like rock ‘n’ roll

Untouchable, she’ll never fold

Walk away from the impossible

You’ll never touch her

Never ease your soul

You’re one more impossible man

Running from her

Clutching what you stole

Turn It Off

Baby, I keep trying to turn away

I keep trying to see you in a different way

Baby, I keep trying

Oh, I keep trying

I gotta give up and turn this around

There’s no way up when you’re this far down

And, baby, I keep trying

Oh, I keep trying

I keep trying to turn this off

But, baby, you keep turning me on

I keep trying to change how I feel

Keep trying to tell myself that this isn’t real

Baby, I keep trying

Oh, I keep trying

Can’t take off when there’s no runway ahead

And I can’t get caught up in this all over again

Baby, I keep trying

Oh, I keep trying

I keep trying to turn it off

But, baby, you keep turning me on

I’m on my knees, my arms wide

I’m finding ways to stay alive

Lord knows I’m pleading, pleading

To keep this heart still beating, beating

I keep trying to turn it off

But, baby, you keep turning me on

Baby, I’m dying

But, baby, I’m trying

I can’t keep selling

What you’re not buying

So I keep trying to turn it off

And, baby, you keep turning me on

I’m on my knees, my arms wide

I’m finding ways to stay alive

Lord knows I’m pleading, pleading

To keep this heart still beating, beating

I keep trying to turn it off

But, baby, you keep turning me on

Please

Please me

Please release me

Touch me and taste me

Trust me and take me

Say the things left unsaid

It’s not all in my head

Tell me the truth, tell me you think about me

Or, baby, you can forget about me

Please me

Please release me

Relieve me and believe me

Maybe you can redeem me

Say the things left unsaid

It’s not all in my head

Tell me the truth, tell me you think about me

Or, baby, you can forget about me

I know that you want me

Know that you wanna hold me

Know that you wanna show me

Know that you wanna know me

Well do something and do it quick

Not much more I can stand of this

Say the things left unsaid

Don’t act like it’s all in my head

Tell me the truth, tell me if you think about me

Or, baby, can you forget about me?

Please, please, don’t forget about me

Please, please, don’t forget about me

Young Stars

A curse, a cross

Costing me all costs

Knotting me up in all of your knots

An ache, a prayer

Worn from wear

Daring what you do not dare

I believe you can break me

But I’m saved for the one who saved me

We only look like young stars

Because you can’t see old scars

Tender in the places you touch

I’d offer you everything but I don’t have much

Tell you the truth just to watch you blush

You can’t handle the hit so I hold the punch

I believe you can break me

But I’m saved for the one who saved me

We only look like young stars

Because you can’t see old scars

You won’t give me a reason to wait

And I’m starting to feel a little proud

I’m searching for somebody lost

When you’ve already been found

You’re waiting for the right mistake

But I’m not coming around

You’re waiting for a quiet day

But the world is just too loud

I believe you can break me

But I’m saved for the one who saved me

We only look like young stars

Because you can’t see old scars

Regret Me

When you look in the mirror

Take stock of your soul

And when you hear my voice, remember

You ruined me whole

Don’t you dare sleep easy

And leave the sleepless nights to me

Let the world weigh you down

And, baby, when you think of me

I hope it ruins rock ‘n’ roll

Regret me

Regretfully

When you look at her

Take stock of what you took from me

And when you see a ghost in the distance

Know I’m hanging over everything

Don’t you dare sleep easy

And leave the sleepless nights to me

Let the world weigh you down

And, baby, when you think of me

I hope it ruins rock ‘n’ roll

Regret me

Regretfully

Regret me

Regretfully

Don’t you dare rest easy

And leave the rest of it to me

I want you to feel heavy

Regret me

Regret setting me free

Regret me

I won’t go easily

Regret it

Regret saying no

Regret it

Regret letting me go

One day, you’ll regret it

I’ll make sure of it before I go

Midnights

Don’t remember many midnights

Forgotten some of my best insights

Can’t recall some of the highest heights

But I’ve memorized you

Don’t remember many daybreaks

How many sunrises have come as I lay awake

Don’t dwell on my worst mistakes

But I always think of you

You’re the thing that’s crystal clear

The only thing that I hold dear

I live and die by if you’re near

All other memories disappear

Without you

Without you

Don’t remember how I was then

Can’t keep straight where I was when

What is my name, where have I been

Where did I start, where does it end

You’re the thing that’s crystal clear

The only thing that I hold dear

I live and die by if you’re near

All other memories disappear

Without you

Without you

Don’t remember who I used to be

Can’t recall who has hurt me

Forget the pain so suddenly

Once I’m with you

You’re the thing that’s crystal clear

The only thing that I hold dear

I live and die by if you’re near

All other memories disappear

Without you

Without you

A Hope Like You

I’m easy talk and cheap goodbyes

Second-rate in a first class disguise

My heart sleeps soundly, don’t wake it

A hope like you could break it

I’m lost deep in crimes and vice

Can’t get to the table and grab the dice

My heart is weak, I can’t take it

A hope like you could break it

It doesn’t matter how hard I try

Can’t earn some things no matter why

My heart knows we’d never make it

A hope like you could break it

People say love changes you

As if change and love are easy to do

My heart is calling and I can’t shake it

But a hope like you could break it

Some things end before they start

The moment they form, they fall apart

My heart wants so badly just to say it

But a hope like you could break it

Told myself this story a thousand times

Can’t seem to break the wants free from my mind

So much of my world goes unnamed

Some people can’t be tamed

But maybe I should stake my claim

Maybe I should claim my stake

I’ve heard some hopes are worth the break

Yeah, maybe I should stake my claim

Maybe I should claim my stake

On the chance the hope is worth the break

Aurora

When the seas are breaking

And the sails are shaking

When the captain’s praying

Here comes Aurora

Aurora, Aurora

When the lightning is cracking

And thunder is clapping

When the mothers are gasping

Here comes Aurora

Aurora, Aurora

When the wind is racing

And the storm is chasing

When even the preachers are pacing

Here comes Aurora

Aurora, Aurora

When I was drowning

Three sheets and counting

The skies cleared

And you appeared

And I said, “Here is my Aurora”

Aurora, Aurora

Thoughts on Daisy Jones and The Six

“I had absolutely no interest in being somebody else’s muse.

I am not a muse.

I am the somebody.

End of fucking story.”
Taylor Jenkins Reid, Daisy Jones and The Six

Let me start by saying that I have yet to read a Taylor Jenkins Reid book that I didn’t love. So I went into Daisy Jones and The Six with some pretty high expectations. I chose to listen to this as an audiobook and follow along in the physical book, and it really brought it all to life for me.

If you’re struggling with reading the book, give the audiobook a try. Sometimes you just need the right format to enjoy a book, and I highly recommend audio for this one.

I’ve never read an oral history formatted fictional novel before, so I was really curious if Taylor Jenkins Reid could pull it off, and she absolutely did. I thought before I opened the book that it was either going to be genius, or an absolute flop, and nowhere in the middle. It was going to a five or a one star read, just because it was a different way of writing.

I was invested in this story from the beginning. The characters in Daisy Jones and The Six were well-written, and clearly flawed, a mixture of both good and bad. They were not wrapped up in a pretty bow of perfection to be delivered to the reader. But I didn’t hate any of them either. They felt real.

The more I read of Daisy Jones and The Six, the harder it was to believe it was fictional and not real. Because it felt real. Every character was beautifully brought to life here, and I was invested in their character development, their life events, and their success.

I also love that Taylor Jenkins Reid wasn’t afraid to tackle some darker and difficult subject matter here in Daisy Jones and The Six. Love, addiction, abortion, infidelity. That takes courage, but also talent. You can’t write characters experiencing these things without a lot of love and care put into it.

I also feel like the songs should be real as well, because they are great. As I typed them out here in this review, I found myself singing them.

Final Thoughts on Daisy Jones and The Six

“You have to have one person in your life that you know would never do anything to steer you wrong. They may disagree with you. They could even break your heart, from time to time. But you have to have one person, at least, who you know will always tell you the truth.”
Taylor Jenkins Reid, Daisy Jones and The Six

I’m calling Daisy Jones and The Six a five star read. I loved it, and it definitely exceeded my high expectations. Daisy Jones and The Six is also a book that I will read again in the future, which is a big criteria for my five star ratings. I’ve also purchased it for others, another big criteria for the five star ratings.

As the book was wrapping up, I started to feel sad that it was almost over. This was a book that I wanted to continue, and that is a huge compliment to any author in my opinion.

Daisy Jones and The Six really showcases Taylor Jenkins Reid’s range of writing skills. Her stories aren’t just generic fiction that everyone gobbles up and calls genius. She is very talented as a writer. She wrote a love letter to rock and roll through Daisy Jones and The Six.

Talking to my husband after I finished the book, he asked me if I wanted to watch the show based on Daisy Jones and The Six and I said yes! I absolutely want to watch the show. That will be our next TV/movie watching session.

If you love music, drama, and beautifully flawed characters, you will love Daisy Jones and The Six.

Discussion

Have you read Daisy Jones and The Six or any other writing from author Taylor Jenkins Reid? Are you a fan? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!