The Final Revival of Opal & Nev
AuthorDawnie Walton
Audio read byJanina Edwards, Bahni Turpin, James Langton, Gabra Zackman, Dennis Boutsikaris, Steve West, André De Shields, Matthew Lloyd Davies, David Sadzin, Fiona Hardingham, George Newbern, Leon Nixon, Ines del Castillo, Jackie Sanders, Pete Simonelli, Priya Ayyar, and Robin Miles
LanguageEnglish
GenreHistorical fiction
Publisher37 INK
Publication date
March 30, 2021
Media typePrint
Pages368
ISBN9781982140168

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev is a 2021 historical fiction novel by Dawnie Walton published by 37 Ink. It received the 2022 Virginia Commonwealth University Cabell First Novelist Award,[1] the 2022 Aspen Words Literary Prize,[2] and was nominated for the Women's Prize for Fiction.[3]

Reception

Reviews

The Final Revival Of Opal & Nev was well-received by critics, including starred reviews from Booklist,[4] Library Journal,[5] and Publishers Weekly.[6] On the review aggregator website Book Marks, it received "rave" reviews.[7]

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,"[8] while Publishers Weekly called it "a firecracker," saying, "Walton pumps up the volume with a fresh angle on systemic racism and freedom of expression."[6] Booklist said it is a "cinematic, stereophonic, and boldly imagined story of race, gender, and agency in art."[4] 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."[9] 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."[10]

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."[5] 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."[9] The New York Times Book Review said the book "feels truer and more mesmerizing than some true stories."[11]

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."[12] Library Journal said, "Walton has a true storytelling voice, and her writing is impeccable.[5] The New York Times Book Review said the book is "[i]ngeniously structured."[11]

Awards and honors

In 2021, Booklist named one of the top ten debut novels of the year.[13]

In 2022, Walton won the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award for The Final Revival of Opal & Nev.[14]

Awards for The Final Revival of Opal & Nev
Year Award Result Ref.
2021 Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize for Fiction Longlist [15]
2021 Goodreads Choice Award for Debut Novel Nominee [16]
2021 Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction Nominee [16]
2022 Aspen Words Literary Prize Winner [17]
2022 Audie Award for Best Fiction Winner [18]
2022 Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award Longlist [19]
2022 Women's Prize for Fiction Longlist [20][21]

References

  1. ↑ Brogan, Mary Kate. "Dawnie Walton wins the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award for 'The Final Revival of Opal & Nev'". VCU News. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  2. ↑ Anderson, Porter. "Dawnie Walton Wins the 2022 Aspen Words Literary Prize". Publishing Perspectives. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Five minutes with: Dawnie Walton". Women's Prize for Fiction. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Bostrom, Annie (2021-03-01). "The Final Revival of Opal & Nev". Booklist. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  5. 1 2 3 Rohrbaugh, Lisa (2021-04-01). "The Final Revival of Opal & Nev". Library Journal. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  6. 1 2 "The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  7. ↑ "Book Marks reviews of The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton". Book Marks. Retrieved 2023-04-03.
  8. ↑ "The Final Revival Of Opal & Nev". Kirkus Reviews. 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  9. 1 2 Corrigan, Maureen (2021-04-13). "'The Final Revival Of Opal & Nev' Is A Faux Music History That Rocks". NPR. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  10. ↑ Evans, Danielle (2021-03-31). "Review | 'The Final Revival of Opal & Nev' is a dazzling debut full of unforgettable characters". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  11. 1 2 Jacobs, Alexandra (2021-03-30). "A Musician's Daughter Faces His Music — and His Choices". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  12. ↑ Canfield, David; Greenblatt, Leah (2021-03-01). "'Open Water' and 'The Final Revival of Opal & Nev' are two hot — and very lyrical — debut novels". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  13. ↑ Seaman, Donna (2021-11-01). "Top 10 First Novels: 2021". Booklist. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  14. ↑ Mechler, Anita. "Dawnie Walton's 'The Final Revival of Opal & Nev' Wins VCU Cabell First Novelist Award | Book Pulse". Library Journal. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  15. ↑ "Longlist for the 2021 Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize Announced". Bklyner. 2021-08-26. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  16. 1 2 "The Final Revival of Opal & Nev". Goodreads. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  17. ↑ Mechler, Anita. "Oprah Picks Viola Davis's 'Finding Me' for Book Club | Book Pulse". Library Journal. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  18. ↑ "2022 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  19. ↑ "Awards: RSL Christopher Bland Winner; Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Longlist". Shelf Awareness. 2022-06-07. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  20. ↑ "Awards: Women's Fiction, Plutarch Longlists". Shelf Awareness. 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
  21. ↑ "The Final Revival of Opal & Nev". Women's Prize for Fiction. Retrieved 2022-08-30.
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