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The Final Revival of Opal & Nev
Black female power and creative freedom take center stage in this vividly imagined oral history. Fierce and fashionable Afro-punk singer Opal Jewel and ambitious British musician Nev Charles made a stunning addition to the 1970s music scene. Looking to make it big, the hit interracial duo reluctantly opened for a popular Southern band, and before the infamous concert was over, relationships were irredeemably broken, a man was dead, and a photographer captured an unforgettable flashpoint moment. But what really happened? Decades later, a journalist with a personal stake in the outcome sets out to uncover the answer. The resulting journalistic interviews are so convincing I had to make sure Opal & Nev exist only on the page. This rock-umentary style story is superb on audio, especially when narrated by a full cast including favorites like Janina Edwards, Bahni Turpin, and Gabra Zackman. It took me an hour to adjust to the format, but when I did: WOW. Heads up for violence, racial slurs, and substance abuse.
About the Book
An electrifying novel about the meteoric rise of an iconic interracial rock duo in the 1970s, their sensational breakup, and the dark secrets unearthed when they try to reunite decades later for one last tour.
“Feels truer and more mesmerizing than some true stories. It’s a packed time capsule that doubles as a stick of dynamite.” —The New York Times Book Review
“One of the most immersive novels I’ve ever read….This is a thrilling work of polyphony—a first novel, that reads like the work of an old hand.” —Ta-Nehisi Coates, New York Times bestselling author of The Water Dancer and Between the World and Me
* A Most Anticipated Selection By * O, The Oprah Magazine * Vogue * Elle * Good Morning America * Washington Post * Entertainment Weekly * Essence * PopSugar * BookRiot * Goodreads * Literary Hub * Parade * Ms. Magazine * The Millions *
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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