The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

Was totally engrossed in the book.

i wanted this to be true, and in most ways it IS true because it is emotionally true and historically true. this book covers far more than the storyline of two individuals. through the story of their lives, we experience the actual history of the times. not just the history of rock and roll but the history of civil rights (and the lack thereof). in that way, this book is important. i enjoyed the delivery method of this book, the various interviews and voices. the author did a great job of convincing me each person speaking was that person! everyone had their own voice. the lack of one star is because i personally felt a bit let down at the rushed ending. it felt somewhat contrived and not as fully developed as the rest of the book. the tension wasn't maintained as well as it was maintained in the first 80% of the book. i could see where the story was rushing to and felt slightly disappointed that once the ending was figured out, the story line was not as fully fleshed out. but a small matter, really. the book was still a wonderful experience.

This is an amazing story that really touches me in many ways. I couldn’t recommend it more to anyone that loves music or simply, a great story told really well

There has been a fair amount of hype about this book, The Final Revival of Opal and Nev, and frankly, I didn’t expect it to live up to it. I’m pleased to say I was wrong! The book has been compared to Daisy and the Six, another fictional bio of a fictional rock band, and a book that I also enjoyed. The mismatched pair of Opal and Nev, him a pampered English white boy songwriter and her a gawky, balding black girl from Detroit, find one another and create something totally different than either would ever have without the other. On the cusp of their big break a tragic event occurs that hurtles them into fame and the spotlight, but also spells the end of their relationship. The book unfolds as a series of interviews some forty years after the fact with the principals and those surrounding them by an ambitious young, black female journalist who has a close personal connection to the story. Issues of racism, sexism, and social injustice, which are so sadly relevant still today, propel the story forward. First time author Dawnie Walton so convincingly creates the characters of Opal Jewel and Nev Charles and their musical collaboration that I could almost hear the songs as they performed them. Even the more peripheral characters are so well crafted that it feels as though you have known them for years. Their voices seem completely familiar as they recount their remembrances of the young duo. The explosive climax of the pair’s final revival may not be the fairy tale ending you would have hoped for, but it is the ending that this completely engaging and believable book demanded. If you are a music fan and you care about justice and most importantly, if you love a good story, this book is for you!

Confession: I read the hype about this book, and it made me not want to read it as much. I am persnickety like that. But, then I read it, and I was mad at myself for waiting to read it. This book is a phenomenal story that is meant to be savored. I highly recommend listening to this one as an audiobook, as it is a lyrical story of fame, race, love, and legacy. Do yourself a favor and read this book.