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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
these characters felt so real it’s crazy. felt like the story dragged in some places but overall a good book that kept me invested in their lives
The style and format of this novel was interesting, and there were often times I wondered how much fiction there even was. Something about the long interview - a mix between an anthropological research project and gossip column piece, I was most impressed by the author’s ability to stay in this mindset throughout.
I was captured in the beginning, but I would say my attention dropped somewhere halfway between. I lost a bit of interest in the story and in the characters, unfortunately. However, I do like how it ended up being mostly about Opal Jewel, and I liked the perspective of the former bandmate’s daughter.
I was captured in the beginning, but I would say my attention dropped somewhere halfway between. I lost a bit of interest in the story and in the characters, unfortunately. However, I do like how it ended up being mostly about Opal Jewel, and I liked the perspective of the former bandmate’s daughter.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
The first paragraph had me immediately pulled in, it’s one of those "page one and I know I’m gonna love this" moments 😍
The book is split into 3 parts and has some interview style formatting also interspersed with longer paragraphs giving background and character development. I loved that it’s written as if the book you’re reading is actually the book the MC, Sunny, wrote (sort of book within a book situation)!
The book is split into 3 parts and has some interview style formatting also interspersed with longer paragraphs giving background and character development. I loved that it’s written as if the book you’re reading is actually the book the MC, Sunny, wrote (sort of book within a book situation)!
OH MY GOD TWISTS?!? Jaw dropping 🤯 This book had me fully engaged and immersed in the atmosphere of the punk rock scene. It only took me so long to finish because it was meant to be a buddy read but I never heard back from my buddy, so I went ahead and finished it alone.
Oral history formats clearly work for me! and yes it’s another “interview rock n roll band retrospective” type book like Ms Problematic’s flower child but it’s so much better than that one 🤭
Goddamn I can’t wait for Waltons next book-automatic fave author that I’ll read anything she writes!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent
Moderate: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment
Another waffle between 3 and 4 stars. I’ve read Daisy Jones and the Six and found this to be extremely similar, although Opal here feels like a more fully fleshed out and interesting character than Daisy Jones. What I thought made this book interesting was how real it felt, so much so that it felt like reading a non-fiction book. It was so plausible, and this was only made more realistic by the inclusion of fictional quotes from current pop culture stars, like Janelle Monae and Questlove.
Dawnie Walton is really successful at creating fictional characters who felt so real I kept wanting to look up the music and events she wrote about! I would highly recommend the audiobook, which has a full cast of narrators and makes the reading experience even more immersive.
I have seen this book often compared Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I think that's a fair comparison. Both books follow the rise and fall of a fictional band (or in this case a fictional musical duo) set during the 70's. Both books are told in interview-style as band members, friends, and collaborators look back on the tumultuous time. And both books make you question whether you're reading fiction or non-fiction. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is more successful in addressing race relations and misogynior prevalent in the late-60's and early 70's, which I thought was an interesting and important perspective. However, TFROO&N is missing the urgency of DJ&TS. The story itself is exciting and engaging, but it is told in a way that feels almost lackadaisical. I wanted the book to feel un-put-downable, but I didn't feel any pressing need to finish the book as quickly as possible.
Overall, I would still highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who is interested in music and the 70's.
I have seen this book often compared Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I think that's a fair comparison. Both books follow the rise and fall of a fictional band (or in this case a fictional musical duo) set during the 70's. Both books are told in interview-style as band members, friends, and collaborators look back on the tumultuous time. And both books make you question whether you're reading fiction or non-fiction. The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is more successful in addressing race relations and misogynior prevalent in the late-60's and early 70's, which I thought was an interesting and important perspective. However, TFROO&N is missing the urgency of DJ&TS. The story itself is exciting and engaging, but it is told in a way that feels almost lackadaisical. I wanted the book to feel un-put-downable, but I didn't feel any pressing need to finish the book as quickly as possible.
Overall, I would still highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who is interested in music and the 70's.
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Didn’t realise it was an oral history format, but didn’t mind at all. It had me till the twist, and then it lost me after. Part 3 just did not interest me as much anymore, as I felt the main plot/mystery was done with. Anyway, solid 3 stars.
I loved the story here, the messages and themes still incredibly relevant for today. It felt so real and so sewed to reality, it was sometimes hard to determine where the story stopped and history took over. I knew going in this was a format I didn’t love so that’s on me, but I also expected the ending to have a little more bang given the explosions of the rest of the story, but I did really love it overall.