Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of the most talked about books of 2019, and for good reason. It’s a compelling novel written in the form of oral history that explores the meteoric rise to fame of a fictional singer and band in the 1970’s, and their ensuing dramatic split. It’s even been picked up by Reese Witherspoon’s book club, so you know it’s a great discussion-worthy book! If your club has decided to read it, we have 15 book club ideas that address Daisy Jones & The Six book club questions, themes, characters, and more, plus a few book club activity ideas! Go ahead and put on Rumours by Fleetwood Mac and get ready for a great book club meeting!
Daisy Jones & The Six Book Club Questions
Did you like the oral history format? Why or why not? Why do you think that Reid chose this format for the novel? Have you read any other (nonfiction) oral histories before? Did this one feel realistic to you? Book club meeting idea: Make a list of books or documentaries about 1970’s musicians to share with members.
Did you read the book in print or on audio? If you read it on audio, did you like the large cast of narrators? Did you feel like the narrators did a good job of portraying the various characters? Would you have picked someone else to narrate the various characters?
Daisy is a bit of a wild child in her early years. She says, “I had absolutely no interest in being somebody’s muse. I am not the muse. I am the somebody.” Discuss her journey a bit more. How did being taken advantage of shape her character, especially when she joined The Six?
Daisy and Billy are “pitted” against each other a lot–do you think their differences were surmountable, a misunderstanding? Or do they run deeper than that? What do you think is the real reason why Billy was so resistant to having Daisy join the band?
Many of the characters seem to be searching for something to fill a void, and they turn to music or drugs or sex. What do you think the various characters, particularly Daisy and Billy, are really looking for? Do you agree with Camila when she says about them, “The two of you think you’re lost souls, but you’re what everybody is looking for”? Did that provide any comfort for either of them?
What do you think was the turning point for Daisy and Billy to begin warming up to each other? Do you think they put into song what they couldn’t say to each other?
Were you surprised that Camila chose to stand by Billy? Do you agree with her decision? How do you feel about how she handled Daisy, both throughout the book and toward the end, when the band broke up?
Although they are fictional, do you think that Daisy and Billy would ever get in contact with each other after the book ends? Do you think it would be a good or bad idea?
Was there a character or characters that you gravitated to more than others? Which love story did you identify with or enjoy the most?
If you were alive during the 1970s, do you think that Reid captured the attitudes and feelings of the time? If you weren’t alive during the 70s (or don’t remember those years!), did you learn anything or gain any insight about the decade?
This style of narration highlights that memory is often unreliable–different characters have conflicting stories or versions of events, or have reshaped their thoughts and feelings over the years. How do you know what is supposed to be the truth? Do you think you can ever know the truth about an event or phenomenon?
Taylor Jenkins Reid includes the lyrics to the songs that Daisy Jones & The Six perform–did you like the lyrics? Did you wish that they were real songs you could listen to? If they were a real band, do you think you would have been a fan?
Although fictional, many readers have assumed that the inspiration for this book is Fleetwood Mac. How do you imagine that the band’s music would sound like–like Fleetwood Mac, or a different vibe altogether? Book club meeting idea: Watch some Youtube videos of live performances of Fleetwood Mac or any other 1970s bands.
If you had to create a playlist for the novel, what songs or albums would you include? Book club meeting Idea: Create a 1970s playlist to set the mood while everyone chats and snacks, either before or after the discussion!
Did the identity of the “author” of this book surprise you? Did it make you reconsider the story or any of the events at all?
If you enjoyed this book, what books would you recommend that are similar to Daisy Jones & The Six? If you didn’t enjoy this book, what other books would you recommend that similarly address the themes of memory, fame, and break ups? Have you read the author’s other book, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo?
If you’re looking for more great book club guides, check out our list of book club questions for Pachinko by Min Jin Lee! If you want more great book club suggestions, here’s our list of best recommendations for 2019!
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