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The Final Revival of Opal & Nev Audio CD – CD, March 30, 2021

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 2,418 ratings

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A poignant fictional oral history of the beloved rock ‘n’ roll duo who shot to fame in the 1970s New York, and the dark, fraught secret that lies at the peak of their stardom.

Opal is a fiercely independent young woman pushing against the grain in her style and attitude, Afro-punk before that term existed. Coming of age in Detroit, she can’t imagine settling for a 9-to-5 job—despite her unusual looks, Opal believes she can be a star. So when the aspiring British singer/songwriter Neville Charles discovers her at a bar’s amateur night, she takes him up on his offer to make rock music together for the fledgling Rivington Records.

In early seventies New York City, just as she’s finding her niche as part of a flamboyant and funky creative scene, a rival band signed to her label brandishes a Confederate flag at a promotional concert. Opal’s bold protest and the violence that ensues set off a chain of events that will not only change the lives of those she loves, but also be a deadly reminder that repercussions are always harsher for women, especially black women, who dare to speak their truth.

Decades later, as Opal considers a 2016 reunion with Nev, music journalist S. Sunny Shelton seizes the chance to curate an oral history about her idols. Sunny thought she knew most of the stories leading up to the cult duo’s most politicized chapter. But as her interviews dig deeper, a nasty new allegation from an unexpected source threatens to blow up everything.

Provocative and chilling,
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev features a backup chorus of unforgettable voices, a heroine the likes of which we’ve not seen in storytelling, and a daring structure, and introduces a bold new voice in contemporary fiction.
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From the Publisher

Opal & Nev

Opal & Nev

Opal & Nev

Opal & Nev

Opal & Nev

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Feels truer and more mesmerizing than some true stories. It's a packed time capsule that doubles as a stick of dynamite."

-- "New York Times Book Review"

"Lovely and lyrical; a warm and wonderful intersection between journalism and fiction...For readers and music lovers who find themselves wishing that Behind the Music was still on the air."

-- "Kiley Reid, New York Times bestselling author"

"One of the most ​immersive novels I've ever read."

-- "Ta-Nehisi Coates, #1 New York Times bestselling author"

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster Audio and Blackstone Publishing; Unabridged edition (March 30, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Audio CD ‏ : ‎ 1 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1797118528
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1797118529
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.8 x 1.1 x 5.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 2,418 ratings

About the author

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Dawnie Walton
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DAWNIE WALTON is the author of THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL & NEV, winner of the 2022 Aspen Words Literary Prize, the Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award, the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, and the Audie Award for Fiction. Her debut novel was also longlisted for the 2022 Women’s Prize for Fiction, and was named one of the best books of 2021 by The Washington Post, NPR, Esquire, and former U.S. President Barack Obama. She is the cofounder and editorial director of Ursa, an audio production company celebrating short fiction from underrepresented voices, and is the cohost of its accompanying podcast. Formerly an editor at Essence and Entertainment Weekly, she has received fellowships from MacDowell and Tin House, and an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop (where she has taught a fiction seminar). Born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, she lives in Brooklyn with her husband.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
2,418 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and relatable, with real events and characters. They describe the book as an enjoyable read that draws them in with its writing style and emotional content. Readers appreciate the vivid and believable characters and their voices. The book tackles issues of racism and sexism in an intelligent and nuanced way.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

35 customers mention "Story quality"33 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the story's quality. They find it a good, timely story with real events that make it feel more human. The book is described as exciting with plenty of twists and turns. Readers appreciate the seamless weaving of fictional characters into history.

"...This was a human story, of not fitting in and still making a place for oneself...." Read more

"...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...." Read more

"...The story was great - even though I felt it dragged at times- and I loved the interview style and the writing...." Read more

"...I’d read this one again! This book feels really! Like this is someone’s story, somebody’s life. It gives you all the feels!" Read more

30 customers mention "Readability"30 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining. They describe it as a powerful debut novel that holds their attention from beginning to end.

"...in that way, this book is important. i enjoyed the delivery method of this book, the various interviews and voices...." Read more

"This book is my favorite read of the year. Walton’s writing is intelligent, poignant, and nuanced...." Read more

"This was actually a damn good read shout out to Sunny and Opal! I’d read this one again! This book feels really!..." Read more

"...Dawnie Watson has crafted a truly enjoyable debut novel in the form of an oral history using interviews from both Opal Jewel and Nev Charles, an..." Read more

22 customers mention "Writing style"22 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style. They find it engaging and well-written, similar to an interview. The author does a good job of convincing readers that each person is speaking authentically. Readers appreciate the format of the book as both a memoir and an article. While some found the narrative dragged at times, they enjoyed the interview-style writing and editing style.

"...I really loved the format of the novel, written as both memoir and article...." Read more

"...the author did a great job of convincing me each person speaking was that person! everyone had their own voice...." Read more

"This book is my favorite read of the year. Walton’s writing is intelligent, poignant, and nuanced...." Read more

"...was great - even though I felt it dragged at times- and I loved the interview style and the writing...." Read more

20 customers mention "Character development"20 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the vivid and realistic characters. They can see and hear them, making the characters seem real. The book uses various interviews and voices to create an organic structure.

"...i enjoyed the delivery method of this book, the various interviews and voices...." Read more

"...Walton’s writing is intelligent, poignant, and nuanced. Her characters are so real that you can't believe they don't exist." Read more

"...The characters are well-drawn, the plot engaging, and the messages of racism and inequality are timely both in the context of the 70s when Opal and..." Read more

"...Even the more peripheral characters are so well crafted that it feels as though you have known them for years...." Read more

12 customers mention "Emotional content"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's emotional content engaging and poignant. They appreciate the writing style and its ability to evoke feelings and thoughts. The story keeps readers fully engaged with its relatable themes of fame, love, and legacy.

"...wanted this to be true, and in most ways it IS true because it is emotionally true and historically true...." Read more

"...Walton’s writing is intelligent, poignant, and nuanced. Her characters are so real that you can't believe they don't exist." Read more

"...So much importance is placed on sound, music, voice and vibe that I just wanted to hear it...." Read more

"...This book feels really! Like this is someone’s story, somebody’s life. It gives you all the feels!" Read more

11 customers mention "Racism"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and thought-provoking. They appreciate its nuanced discussion of racial issues, gender, and artistic freedom. The book is described as captivating, entertaining, and intriguing.

"...Walton’s writing is intelligent, poignant, and nuanced. Her characters are so real that you can't believe they don't exist." Read more

"...are well-drawn, the plot engaging, and the messages of racism and inequality are timely both in the context of the 70s when Opal and Nev were a short..." Read more

"...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." Read more

"...through, this book is an emotional, entertaining ride, with enough fact woven through that I still, as i write this review, want to look and see..." Read more

6 customers mention "Creativity"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's creativity and relevance. They find it refreshing and an amazing piece of art.

"...It’s gritty, beautiful, and like reading a behind the music documentary...." Read more

"...that dissects issues of sexism, racism, artistic freedom and artistic identity. I really recommend this for the writing and the attention to detail...." Read more

"What an amazing piece of art, for someone who only reads nonfiction, this historical fiction book read like a nonfiction novel...." Read more

"What a truly excellent novel. Refreshing style and beautifully realized characters." Read more

6 customers mention "Music content"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's music content. They find it a true Behind the Music kind of documentary, with an emphasis on sound, voice, and vibe. The book showcases a perspective on rock and roll that is rarely told. It feels like a love letter to rock and roll, in tune with the past and present.

"...This was more than a book. It was a love letter to rock and roll...." Read more

"...So much importance is placed on sound, music, voice and vibe that I just wanted to hear it...." Read more

"...It’s gritty, beautiful, and like reading a behind the music documentary...." Read more

"...This felt like a real Behind The Music kind of documentary. I enjoy the usage of real world history infusing it with Opal &Nev's history...." Read more

Amazing Music Story!
4 out of 5 stars
Amazing Music Story!
You tell me a story is about music, and I’m in. You tell me the audiobook is narrated by a full cast, and I’m already in love and hooked. This is the (fictional) history of the group Opal & Nev from the 70’s, told through interviews and notes from the “editor” writing this book, and of their possible reunion in 2016. I highly recommend listening to this one!I went into this not knowing too much about it, and that’s how I would recommend you go into it as well. If you like music of any type, you’ll like this one. I see comparisons of Opal & Nev to Daisy Jones & The Six, and while both books do tell a fictional music history of different groups, Opal & Nev is very, very different from Daisy Jones, and the characters are nothing alike – the similarities end at the music aspect and the fact this is best listened to as an audiobook.Journalist S. Sunny Shelton, a Black woman and editor in chief of a magazine, decides her next project will be to interview Opal Jewel, Neville Charles, and everyone associated with them and their band from the 1970s, as there are talks of a reunion show happening, and she believes their history is worth telling. This story takes place in the present with characters telling their point of views in various years in the 1960s and 70s, when ‘Opal & Nev’ began.Opal is a young Black girl in the 70’s, coming of age and knowing she has a voice on her, but not knowing her place in the world, both as a singer and as a Black woman. She is vocal about the racism she faced both in the early parts of her life, being in the group with Nev, and in present time, 2016.Neville Charles is a British man who decides to try and make it big in the States with his songwriting and guitar playing, but when a record label picks him up, they feel he needs something else in his act, which leads to finding Opal and asking her to join up and sing with him. As a white man, he can never truly understand what Opal has ever gone through as a Black woman.Opal, Nev, and all the others mentioned all felt like well developed characters. We heard a lot about their lives and that helped them all feel real and dimensional. There is plenty of drugs, alcohol, sex, and rock & roll in this book, as you would expect from the seventies. This story is about the music, but its also about life which includes racism and politics. There are a lot of happy joyous moments in this book, but there are more serious discussions had as well.It’s honestly hard to believe this is fiction while you’re reading it, it all feels so real and I want to look up this band and these people and learn about them – but alas, this isn’t a real band. That says a lot about the author that Walton can make you feel how real this story is.Incase it wasn’t obvious already – I highly highly highly recommend listening to this one as an audiobook! It’s a little confusing at first, with “editors notes” having me stop and go, “Huh? Like, the editor of the book?” before I realized this is S. Sunny Shelton. There are a lot of characters, but their names are said before each time their point of view comes across, and you’ll get used to it pretty quickly. I don’t think this book would have been the same and would not have given me the same feeling if I read it on page – an oral history like this is meant to be listened to.I actually had to listen on a slower speed than usual, I was on 2.0x most of this book – I wanted to hear each characters speak so the slower speed helped when it was many different voices.I highly recommend Opal & Nev if you’re a music fan, like I am. I don’t play or sing myself, but I love experiencing live music and this book gave me those feelings. I’m giving this a 4 out of 5 stars overall because I did love it, but as I mentioned, the formatting took some getting used to and I don’t know how I would’ve felt about it if I had just read it, rather than listened to it. This was still a lot of fun and I always enjoy stories about music – no two are ever the same.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2021
    I. Absolutely. Loved. This. Book!!!

    If Opal Jewel wasn't real, she damn well should be. She's like if you took Memphis Minnie, Rose Stone, Poly Styrene, Gladys Bentley, Tina Turner, Nona Hendryx, Nina Simone, Merry Clayton, Janelle Monae and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. She's rock, punk, soul and everything.

    This was more than a book. It was a love letter to rock and roll. You know, the genre that Black folks invented only to be edged out and also edged ourselves out of? We NEED an Opal Jewel to come along and shake rock up because it desperately needs it. When asked why I'm a rock/metal fan, I merely point out that without the Blues, jazz and Black gospel, there wouldn't have been a British Invasion, much less guitar heroes as we know them.

    Thank Sister Rosetta Tharpe for the latter.

    This was a human story, of not fitting in and still making a place for oneself. Opal refused to bend or break simply because the rest of the world hadn't caught up to her sheer awesomeness, a situation many Black women can relate to. And yet, the book challenged me as a reader to discover just who Opal WAS in her own words and not as some mythical icon. She's complicated and messy at times. Her story read a little like Nina Simone's in that she was "too Black" for both Black and white worlds. She went bald after discovering she had alopecia. She wore colorful clothes thanks to her best friend and personal stylist, a gay Black man who was as unapologetic in his presentation as she was.

    Yes, there's Nev Charles, the red-headed lad from Brummie who saw Opal as his version of the iconic Merry Clayton (and if you don't know who she is, shame on you, lol. I mean she literally steals the spotlight from Mick Jagger on the classic 'Gimme Shelter'. She's also the background lead on 'Sweet Home Alabama' which is just so very fitting when you think about it. Watch '50 Feet from Stardom' on Netflix to see her and other amazing background vocalists of so many hits whom you may not know by name). Nev sees Opal as his muse, which of course never works out well, especially one as driven to carve a niche for herself as an equal.

    I really loved the format of the novel, written as both memoir and article. Sunny Curtis is the journalist/protagonist with a complex and uncomfortable tie to her subject, Opal Jewel. Sunny, like her subject, is a Black woman in a highly visible position that sometimes causes her to dim her shine or question herself. Another thing that made this novel stand out was how real life musicians/producers were interwoven into the narrative - I'd like to think Henry Rollins really would have admired Opal as a performer and provocateur.
    50 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2021
    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.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2024
    This book is my favorite read of the year. Walton’s writing is intelligent, poignant, and nuanced. Her characters are so real that you can't believe they don't exist.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2022
    I really enjoyed this story but I genuinely feel like the audiobook would have been the way to go. So much importance is placed on sound, music, voice and vibe that I just wanted to hear it. The story was great - even though I felt it dragged at times- and I loved the interview style and the writing. I kind of felt like a lot of things weren't wrapped up but in a way I can't fully explain you know? Like the ending needed a little bit more or - and I can't believe I'm saying this - an epilogue. Just a little bit more than we got but all in all I had a good time.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2023
    This was actually a damn good read shout out to Sunny and Opal! I’d read this one again! This book feels really! Like this is someone’s story, somebody’s life. It gives you all the feels!
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2022
    Opal and Nev reads like a reminder of a past when music mattered because everyone seemed to be listening to the same songs. Dawnie Watson has crafted a truly enjoyable debut novel in the form of an oral history using interviews from both Opal Jewel and Nev Charles, an interracial rock duo from the 70s, along with a host of interviews with others connected to their stories. Mixed in are primary source materials and editor’s notes from the author who just happens to be the daughter of Opal’s late drummer and lover. It’s easy to forget that all of these characters and all of the events in the novel are fictional because it all seems so real. Opal and Nev are not always likeable but then most celebrities tend to be that way. The fictional author, S. Sunny Shelton has to deal with the egos of the two musicians whose careers have gone in opposing directions. Opal is the center point here. She’s has a lot more conviction than Nev who has gone on to become commercially successful.

    This book made many Best Of lists from 2021 and it’s easy to see why. The characters are well-drawn, the plot engaging, and the messages of racism and inequality are timely both in the context of the 70s when Opal and Nev were a short-lived duo and today. Barack Obama listed this as one of his favorites of 2021. I was a few months behind but it was also a big hit for me.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read.
    Reviewed in Canada on July 27, 2023
    Was totally engrossed in the book.
  • Luke Dennison
    4.0 out of 5 stars More than a fictional biopic
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 26, 2024
    Pretty much every review I have read of this book, references and compares this to Daisy Jones and the six, and I can see why. That was a blockbuster, a book that became the trendy book to read amongst social media casual readers. I read it because I love a rock biography and thought it sounded intriguing.and a novel it was readable but empty, exciting but derivative, and in summary, a rip off of Fleetwood mac.

    When I started reading this, on the surface an oral history, in the same format as aforementioned book, I was thinking it's more of the same.

    However, as time went on and pages turned this became some thing much more. It touches upon rock stardom for sure but it is about so much more. Loss, trust, the underdog, being and outsider and especially the challenges black people have put up with through history to the modern day.

    Like it's main protaginist, this book is brave, challenging, interesting and entertaining.

    Good stuff.
  • D. Norman
    5.0 out of 5 stars ..stunning last sequence...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 5, 2021
    Opal Jewel, born in Alabama US,is a black, gifted vocalist and with a determination to become a successful singer. She teams up with Nev Charles, a talented vocalist/song writer. And are assigned to Rivington studios and promotion. Their second and biggest gig at Rivington Showcase , ends in a riot. Aimed mostly at Opal, involving a Confederate flag, it is promoted entirely by racial hatred, sexism. Jimmy Curtis, drummer of the band is killed.
    The reverberations of the riot continue throughout the story. To be taken up later, by Sunny Shelton, Deputy Editor of the Aural magazine, daughter of the drummer Jimmy Curtis.
    The stand out part of this book, (for me,) is in the last chapter, After pursuing their own separate careers for several years, Opal & Nev give their first live open air arena concert . The arena is packed with over 20,000 fans. And narrated by Sunny Shelton - six rows in front of the enormous stage. I have never attended a live outdoor rock concert. But the action was so vividly described, so intense i felt I might just have been there.
    Opal is a brilliantly portrayed character. Through her, and especially regarding the Rivington riot, it again focuses on the mindless cruelty of racial discrimination.
    The book reads rather like a journal. As well as individual chapters, the pages are sub headed, by characters at that point in time in the story, relevant to the story, and driving the story forward. I really enjoyed it.
  • Craig F.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book
    Reviewed in Canada on May 15, 2021
    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
  • Kee Lady
    3.0 out of 5 stars A fun read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 21, 2022
    The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is a fun and entertaining read - I liked it but I wasn’t gripped by it. I’m not sure what but there was something missing for me. I can’t pinpoint exactly why I feel this way since all the ingredients are there; an iconic music duo, rebellion, racism, and sexism to name but a few. I think perhaps it’s because outside of Opal Jewel, I didn’t care much for the other characters, so I didn’t feel invested. Opal is a brilliantly realized, vibrant character full of wit, sass, and talent. For me, she is undoubtedly the best thing about this book (although special mention must go to the fabulous Virgil). Nev was just a shallow, David Bowie wannabe and I don’t think the other characters were fleshed out enough. Having said that, I wouldn’t not recommend this book. It’s a fun read and I know there are many people who will enjoy it. Indeed, Opal Jewel alone is reason enough to pick this up.