The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton: Book Review

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton is due to be published this spring. I was fortunate enough to win a copy from Goodreads and Simon & Schuster. This has no reflection on my review or recommendation for the book. I first learned of this book through a Goodreads post in January about the hot titles being released this year. When I read the synopsis I just knew I had to read the book.

Content warning

The typical sex and drugs mentioned in the book that one would expect in a story about the music industry. There is also violence, some of which is the turning point of the story. The book also contains (and discusses) racism, and uses certain language that many feel is inappropriate.

Synopsis

Opal Jewel is a woman of color who came of age in the late 1960s in Detroit. Not an easy time nor place to be a woman of color. Her experiences left a mark on her and influenced how she lived her life.

S. Sunny Shelton is a music journalist who was offered the chance of a lifetime. Which is to write a book about her favorite singer, Opal Jewel, and her one-time musical partner, Nev Charles. One night early in their career an unfortunate incident happens that changes the entire trajectory of their lives, not just musically but also personally. As Sunny researches and writes the book, she learns something startling about that night so many years ago. Could it be true?

Positives

Opal Jewel is probably one of the most badass female characters I have ever met. She’s different, and she knows it. As a child, she was teased and bullied by people. But as she grew up she realized she had a voice and had to do something about it. Opal had to use her voice to champion those who were downtrodden, and she did.

The writing format is very interesting. The majority of the story is written from various POVs, even within the same chapter. Each speaker is clearly marked, so it is not confusing. In many ways, it felt like I was reading a script from a documentary where the story is told by a variety of people from their perspectives all at the same time.

The setting for each scene is given with such detail you can see it when you close your eyes. You can almost hear the noise, the crowds chanting and roaring. You can almost smell the incense and cigarettes, the beer on their breath.

Negatives

When I first started reading the book, I thought I was reading a note from the book’s editor as it was labeled Editor’s Notes. I just assumed it was from the book editor as I was reading an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy), and that they were explaining something that wasn’t yet in the book. Boy was I wrong! That Editor’s Notes at the beginning are the intro to the story and are basically a prologue. In some ways, I wish it had been labeled as such.

Reading this felt tedious at times, as it felt like it was actually a piece of non-fiction. I don’t think I have ever read a fiction book that contained footnotes. That seemed strange to me, but it was something I got used to as I read.

The ending felt forced, and not at all what I was wanting. The author just put in a couple of lines to wrap everything up nice and neat, but not in a satisfying way.

My Opinion

This book surprised me. A few times I actually forgot I was reading about a fictional group, I was tempted to search them on Google. I wanted to hear their songs, to know if they were any good. But there were also times the book just seemed to go over the same things time and again.

Opal is a powerful force. And often she showed that in the book. There are times though that she seems like the shell of her former self, that she had lost her sense of purpose. Nev is someone who is out for them, what they feel is best for them.

Am I glad I got to read this book? Definitely! Is is something I think other people would enjoy? Yes!

Looking for some more books to read? Check out my other book reviews and my monthly reading wrap-ups.