Daisy Jones & The Six

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I was completely captivated by Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones & the Six, finding the oral history format of the storytelling fascinating and unique. Reading the "behind-the-scenes" account of a fictional 70s rock band felt authentic; the author clearly did her homework, displaying impressive knowledge of the music business, the process of recording albums, and the dynamics of a touring band. The characters were complex, making their meteoric rise and eventual split feel personal. The ending was poignant, and provided closure in a way that was demonstratively earned. However, I have to be blunt about the limited-series adaptation: it was a total train wreck, missing the nuance and energy of the book, butchering the plot, and failing to capture the magic of the original narrative in every conceivable way.