Reviews with content warning for Death - The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

This book is so compelling. So concise and yet with such gorgeous visuals and descriptions of music, so focused and yet so devoted to the nuances of the story and the supporting cast. It reads like a book written by a journalist, asking important questions and pushing the reader to think critically, but never dragging the way more self-indulgent literary books do. It focuses on racism, sexism, misogynoir, and the far-reaching effects of structural inequality and subcultural resistance, and yet it comes off emotionally real rather than preachy. If you liked "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo," you're likely to get a lot out of this one too.

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anglefish's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was INCREDIBLE! Couldn’t put this book down. From the first few pages, I was googling to make sure that this was actually fiction and I hadn’t missed out on a badass Black woman like Opal Jewel. I wanted to go to a record store and find this music to listen to with my own ears. It honestly makes me sad that she’s not real 🥲 I loved how immersive this book is, the interview style let’s you do exposition in a different way that I really enjoyed. Opal and Nev as a duo in the early 70s really had my heart, I was sure that they might’ve been romantically involved.

But after learning about the Confederate flag allegation, and seeing his reaction to what happen to Jamilah at the reunion concert, I can’t look at Nev the same. I personally feel like he did it, he’s always been so motivated by the music and fame that he would do what he had to do to get ahead. 🤷🏾‍♀️ It could’ve been his jealousy of Jimmy , who knows. Even if he didn’t do it, his reaction at the concert speaks a lot to his character and a lot of people’s attitudes when it comes Black Struggles. They claim to be there and support when they can but when it’s time to put your money where your mouth is, this alleged support is nowhere to be found.

Getting to know this cast of characters was a beautiful experience that I’ll keep with me for a long time and recommend to anyone who’ll hear me!!

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amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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caseythereader's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

- THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL AND NEV is one of those books that feels so real you can't believe it's fiction. I kept wanting to listen to these songs and look up the photos and album covers described.
- I listened to the audiobook, which is read by a full cast: a uniquely all-encompassing experience for a book written in an oral history format.
- It's funny and glam, and also serious and sad. So much is covered in this book that's ostensibly about rock and roll excess. You'll be thinking about Opal and her life for years to come.

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destinyperry01's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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sarahholliday's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

4.75

Holy crap.

I'm honestly upset that this was marketed so explicitly as a read-alike to Daisy Jones and the Six, because the two novels are in completely different leagues, in my opinion. On the surface, sure, they're both oral histories of flash-in-the-pan bands plagued by interpersonal struggles, but that's where the similarities stop.

Though the title includes both Opal and Nev, it becomes clear as you move through the story that Nev is not a "main character" in the way Opal and Stormy are. This is a story about black artists, especially black female artists, and the choices they make (or are forced to make) in order to carve out a place for themselves in a world that is at best uninterested in them, and at worst outright hostile.

Walton has crafted a completely immersive book that feels as if you're reading a true non-fiction title. The structure of the novel, the way she slowly teases nuance out of her cast of characters, and the freedom she gives her characters to make mistakes and be utterly human made this a novel I couldn't put down. I read it almost entirely in two sittings, and I was sad to turn the final page.

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