Title: The Final Revival Of Opal & Nev
Author: Dawnie Walton
Publisher: 37 Ink/Simon & Schuster
Genre: Historical Fiction (Oral History Format)
Happy Publication Day to The Final Revival Of Opal & Nev! I was able to read this one early thanks to the “Read Now” option on @netgalley and early release from @bookofthemonth. This one is being compared to “Daisy Jones & The Six”. While that is very much true for the oral history format this one is a little deeper exploring racial issues in the 1970s. I predict this one is going to wildly popular. Don’t miss out!
Opal is all style and attitude and a black punk rock artist before her time. Coming of age in Detroit, she can’t imagine settling for a normal 9-5 job, despite the urging of her Mother and sister, Pearl. Opal believes she is destined to be a star, so when she is preforming in a dive bar’s amateur night and in walks British singer/songerwriter Nev Charles, she takes up his offer to make rock music together for the up and coming Rivington Records. She leaves behind just Opal and becomes Opal Jewel.
But picture this: It’s the early 1970s in NYC and a rival band signed to the same label brandishes a Confederate flag at a promotional concert. Opal’s bold protest then that follows sets off a chain of events resulting in violence that change the lives that they love forever.
Then, when the dust settles decades later Opal considers a 2016 reunion with Nev when a music journalist seizes the chance to write about her idols.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It took a little bit for me to get into this book. I found Part 2 and Part 3 more enjoyable. While I like the oral history format, I found the editors notes and the short breaks by the journalist, Sunny, to make it a little choppy. Also, I think the author chose to interview too many characters and that’s why it took me longer to focus and get into the book. I still really enjoyed this one and think others will too! This is one of those books that will appeal to multiple genre’s.
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