Book Notes | ‘Daisy Jones & the Six’
Written by New York Times bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid, Daisy Jones & the Six is about the rise of a fictional rock and roll band in the 1970s. Each of the band members (and a spouse) is interviewed individually in the novel’s oral history format. It is interesting to learn each of their perspectives on the same event.
The characters tell the story of how they remember the past, and that time in their lives when they were writing and performing original songs. The leader, Billy Dunne, and his brother Graham were the band’s nucleus. The Six were enjoying some success, but when they added Dixie Jones as the lead singer they catapulted to fame.
Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll
We learned about the process of writing and producing records and what it’s like to be a popular band on road tours around the country. The characters shared their feelings and passions which, at times, were quite raw. We see them both functional and dysfunctional amidst their love entanglements in the days of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll.
Most members of the UMRA Book Club thought the novel was a fun read and were emotionally involved with the characters. Some felt the ending was rather abrupt; others appreciated the wrap up to learn where the characters landed after the band broke up. A few readers were simply tired of hearing about all the drug usage.
Daisy Jones & the Six is now a series on Amazon Prime. It wasn’t as well liked by one member of the Book Club because of their own vision of the characters, but it was fun for them to hear the music talked about in the book.
—Joni Mitchell, UMRA Book Club I
Book Club I in July
Fri, Jul 18, 2025, 2pm
The UMRA Book Club will discuss Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid when it meets via Zoom on July 18.
Upcoming Events
UMRA Book Club I will discuss The Silent Patient, a psychological thriller and debut novel by Alex Michaelides, when it meets via Zoom on Friday, July 17.
Two major conferences, one organized by the Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education (AROHE) and the other by the Big Ten Retirees Association (BTRA), will take place this year. The AROHE conference will be held in Florida and the BTRA conference will be hosted by UMRA on the UMN campus.
The AROHE conference invites all interested retirees and university faculty and staff to reimagine retirement. You are invited to register if interested at https://www.arohe.org/2026-Conference.
The BTRA is being hosted by UMRA this year. Leadership of retiree organizations around the US will convene to share competencies. Attendance is restricted.
Bev leads the Nokomis walk to Minnehaha Falls.
Nanette leads a trail of two cities hike.
10:30 a.m. check in; 10:45 boarding; cruise from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Join UMRA friends and colleagues for a summer cruise and lunch aboard the Paradise Destiny II on beautiful Lake Minnetonka. Paul Maravelas, sailor, historian, and author of The History of Big Island, Lake Minnetonka will join us to share stories from 200+ years of lake-dwellers. Come early or stay after the cruise to explore Excelsior, a charming small town on the big lake.
Ticket price includes lunch: chef's sandwich, garden salad, fruit, chips, and cookies. Coffee, iced tea, and lemonade are complimentary and there will be a cash bar for other beverages. A vegetarian sandwich can be selected during registration.
UMRA’s Book Club I will discuss the debut novel Buckeye by Patrick Ryan when it meets via Zoom at 2 pm. on Friday, August 21.
The theme for September is "Monuments."
Bev leads a Lake of the Isles hike with Bun Coffee afterwards.
Critical issues facing detained immigrants and their families will be discussed.
Michelle Trudeau-Spanjers leads the hike at William O'Brien State Park.
Topics include longevity, distributions, long term care, Social Security, and comprehensive planning.