Scan barcode
robinfig's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really liked the framing structure of the book and the way the narrator became part of the story. i liked the synergy between the past and present. i liked how the incident at the core of the story drove the characters and how it seeped into their life. perhaps the reason it’s not five stars is i felt that something’s could have been explored more explicitly in the story. i wish we could have seen more of Opal and Nev’s interactions with one another than we got in the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Hate crime, Pregnancy, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Death of parent, Addiction, Cursing, Death, Racial slurs, Drug use, and Police brutality
Minor: Grief
spregasaur94's review
5.0
This is such a well-crafted novel with a fascinating story that centers the way black women have been used by white people, especially men, for centuries. I kept having to remind myself that these characters and this story did not actually exist!
erintowner's review
5.0
This was one of Obama's favorite books of the year and it didn't disappoint. Lots of social commentary but also great characterization and descriptions of art. Opal Jewel is flawed but inspiring!
Similar structure to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
Similar structure to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
jazhandz's review
DNF at 38%. Didn’t enjoy the pacing, extremely disliked the Sunny character, and just couldn’t get into it.
reddreadds's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
reiowashere's review
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall this was a hard book to get into for me. I liked the story and Opal of course, but overall I think it would have a better impact if they had been real people and this was like a behind-the-scenes no one knew this before kind of thing. And again, some stuff probably went over my head because I didn’t feel like it ended with a clear conclusion. I did appreciate all of the nods to the political issues that Black people have to face over the years and the figureheads that tried to change that. Loved listening to this though, the multiple voice actors really made this book easier to get through.
cursedkirst's review against another edition
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Drug use
bargainsleuth's review against another edition
5.0
For this and other book reviews, subscribe to my email list at www.bargain-sleuth.com
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed Daisy Jones and the Six, so when another book came out in the form of an oral history of a 1970’s singing duo, I was immediately curious. The Final Revival of Opal and Nev was just as good, if not better than Daisy Jones. Do not shy away from this book if you loved Daisy, because although the style is the same, the stories are completely different.
I highly recommend picking up the audio for The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, because the full cast is excellent. Since the book is written like an oral history, this makes the book work very effectively as an audio selection. I actually listened to this book twice over the course of a couple of months because it was that enjoyable.
I want to meet Opal, I really do. Her character was so well-drawn out you could picture her in her wigs and colorful outfits. Her take-no-prisoners attitude really came through in the writing. Opal is fierce; you don’t want to mess with her. Unfortunately, Nev was not nearly as fully fleshed out as Opal. He’s just another British singer riding on the coattails of the British Invasion of the mid to late 1960’s. One of the other reasons I listened to the book again was because I thought I missed some important character development. But no, Nev’s just not as interesting as Opal.
Behind the backdrop of the 1970’s music scene is the case of race relations during that time and in 2016. In some ways, Opal is ahead of her time, in some ways she is of her time. Nev doesn’t seem to see the issues the same way as Opal, and that’s when there’s friction. Nev clearly has a crush on Opal, but Opal is involved with the married drummer of their recording sessions.
The event that propels Opal and Nev to fame, the Rivington Showcase, reminds one of Altamont mixed in with a race riot. When Opal takes care of the Confederate flag that another group from the music label was going to display on the stage, it reminds one of today’s headlines. And then when we find out that Nev was willing to throw Opal under the bus, so to speak, for his chance at fame, well, that makes the story of race relations is brought to a whole different level. The tragedy that ensues is a direct result of Nev’s white privilege. And the subsequent revealing of this information leads to the unraveling of a 2016 reunion.
This is a stunning debut from an author I will want to read again. I highly recommend this book.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed Daisy Jones and the Six, so when another book came out in the form of an oral history of a 1970’s singing duo, I was immediately curious. The Final Revival of Opal and Nev was just as good, if not better than Daisy Jones. Do not shy away from this book if you loved Daisy, because although the style is the same, the stories are completely different.
I highly recommend picking up the audio for The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, because the full cast is excellent. Since the book is written like an oral history, this makes the book work very effectively as an audio selection. I actually listened to this book twice over the course of a couple of months because it was that enjoyable.
I want to meet Opal, I really do. Her character was so well-drawn out you could picture her in her wigs and colorful outfits. Her take-no-prisoners attitude really came through in the writing. Opal is fierce; you don’t want to mess with her. Unfortunately, Nev was not nearly as fully fleshed out as Opal. He’s just another British singer riding on the coattails of the British Invasion of the mid to late 1960’s. One of the other reasons I listened to the book again was because I thought I missed some important character development. But no, Nev’s just not as interesting as Opal.
Behind the backdrop of the 1970’s music scene is the case of race relations during that time and in 2016. In some ways, Opal is ahead of her time, in some ways she is of her time. Nev doesn’t seem to see the issues the same way as Opal, and that’s when there’s friction. Nev clearly has a crush on Opal, but Opal is involved with the married drummer of their recording sessions.
The event that propels Opal and Nev to fame, the Rivington Showcase, reminds one of Altamont mixed in with a race riot. When Opal takes care of the Confederate flag that another group from the music label was going to display on the stage, it reminds one of today’s headlines. And then when we find out that Nev was willing to throw Opal under the bus, so to speak, for his chance at fame, well, that makes the story of race relations is brought to a whole different level. The tragedy that ensues is a direct result of Nev’s white privilege. And the subsequent revealing of this information leads to the unraveling of a 2016 reunion.
This is a stunning debut from an author I will want to read again. I highly recommend this book.