Read This Book: Daisy Jones and the Six

Our Book Lover’s Book Club recently read and raved about Taylor Reid Jenkins’ The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, so when sent a copy of her new book, Daisy Jones and the Six, (which comes out March 5, 2019) I was quite excited to read it.

My excitement level went up exponentially when I realized that Daisy Jones was a fictionalized telling of Fleetwood Mac around the time they recorded the iconic Rumours LP. Daisy has a lot of Stevie Nicks in her DNA, Karen has quite a bit of Christine McVie in her makeup, and lead singer Billy Dunne is the improbable mashup of Mick Fleetwood and Don Henley (sounds strange, but it works).

Jenkins's book crackles with rockstar level charisma, haunts you with the human truth at the heart of the story, and brings 70s California rock to life in such a real way you'll smell the patchouli and hear the rattle of the bangles on Daisy's slim wrist (I haven’t stopped blasting Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles since I finished the book). And it's not just Daisy and Billy that Jenkins brings to messy, intriguing life. Each member of the band, the manager, the girlfriend-they all spring off the page and feel realistic and lived in. One character, who could have ended up generic and heartless, ends up driving the story.

There is a dark and a dangerous fairy tale at the heart of "Daisy", but its a fairy tale that many women will be able to acknowledge they believe in. And the ending of the book is both beautiful and earned.

I highly, highly recommend to all of my customers, and can't wait for you all to read this book. Mostly so I can have more people to discuss it with!

Early Review: Bluff by Jane Stanton Hitchcock

I always loved Dominick Dunne books. Bluff has all the hallmarks of Dunne's best books-high society, intrigue, and sly commentary about the utter banality of human greed. I love thrillers and mysteries and can usually suss out plot twists early, but I can honestly say that Bluff surprised me at several turns. Major props to the skillfull writing of Hitchcock, though. Often twisty books just feel plot driven and inorganic. In Bluff each twist was organic, earned, and contributed to the tightly-paced narrative.

Also, it was highly refreshing, in an age of the “girl” thriller, to read a thriller where older women seize their destiny and drive the plot.

Bluff hits stores April 2nd.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

This is going to be a book club book (join us February 8th at 7pm) so I’m not going to share ALL my thoughts, but I wanted to share my initial impressions. Sometimes I find that super-hyped books can't live up to their positive press, but The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo exceeded ALL of my expectations and more than lived up to the hype. From a fantastic narrative structure to finely drawn characters and themes that grab you by the throat and make you question your own situational ethics and sense of family, this is a masterfully told tale with a fresh outlook..

The author, Taylor Jenkins Reid, has a new book coming out this summer and I can’t wait to see how it turns out in her more than capable hands. The book is Daisy Jones and The Six and reveals the inner-workings (and inner-relationships) of a Fleetwood Mac style band. I AM SO HERE FOR IT. Come see us on March 6th to pick up your copy.