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The Final Revival of Opal & Nev
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Wikipedia article
'The Final Revival of Opal & Nev' is a 2021 historical fiction novel by Dawnie Walton.
Reception
Reviews
'The Final Revival Of Opal & Nev' was well-received by critics, including starred reviews from 'Booklist', 'Library Journal', and 'Publishers Weekly'.Multiple reviewers highlighted aspects of the novel related to race and gender. 'Kirkus Reviews' called the book an "intelligently executed love letter to Black female empowerment and the world of rock music," while 'Publishers Weekly' called it "a firecracker," saying, "Walton pumps up the volume with a fresh angle on systemic racism and freedom of expression." 'Booklist' said it is a "cinematic, stereophonic, and boldly imagined story of race, gender, and agency in art." NPR's Maureen Corrigan noted, "'The Final Revival of Opal & Nev' is itself anything but 'regular.' A deep dive into the recent past, [the novel] also simultaneously manages to be a rumination on up-to-the-minute themes like cultural appropriation in music, and the limits of white allyship." 'The Washington Post' wrote, "It is refreshing to read a book that centers a Black woman who has this many layers, a book that seeks neither to save her from nor punish her for the flaws that make her human."
Reviewers also commented on the book's realism. 'Library Journal' wrote, "The characters seem so real that readers will find themselves searching the internet, hoping to find that Opal and Nev are actual people. Walton has penned a true wonder of a debut novel, bringing real events into her story." Corrigan indicated that she "had to stop and double check to make sure that this wasn't a true account of a real-life rock duo from the 1970s." 'The New York Times Book Review' said the book "feels truer and more mesmerizing than some true stories."
Also highlighted was Walton's writing style and the atypical format of the book. 'Entertainment Weekly' explained, "Walton's debut novel uses oral history as the form for her kaleidoscopic tale, though she can hardly be contained by it. The book bursts with fourth wall breaks and clear-eyed takes on race, sex, and creativity that Walton unfurls in urgent, endlessly readable style." 'Library Journal' said, "Walton has a true storytelling voice, and her writing is impeccable. 'The New York Times Book Review' said the book is "[i]ngeniously structured."
Awards and honors
In 2021, 'Booklist' named one of the top ten debut novels of the year.In 2022, Walton won the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award for 'The Final Revival of Opal & Nev.'
{| class="wikitable"
|+Awards for 'The Final Revival of Opal & Nev'
!Year
!Award
!Result
!Ref.
|-
|2021
|Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize for Fiction
|Longlist
|
|-
|2021
|Goodreads Choice Award for Debut Novel
|Nominee
|
|-
|2021
|Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction
|Nominee
|
|-
|2022
|Aspen Words Literary Prize
|'Winner'
|
|-
|2022
|Audie Award for Best Fiction
|'Winner'
|
|-
|2022
|Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award
|Longlist
|
|-
|2022
|Women's Prize for Fiction
|Longlist
|
|}
References
Category:2021 novels
Category:Novels set in the 1970s
Category:Audie Awards
Category:English-language novels
Category:Simon & Schuster books
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