FICTION

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

37 Ink: Atria. Mar. 2021. 368p. ISBN 9781982140168. $27. F
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DEBUT Going way beyond the typical sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll scenario, this story about performing duo Opal Jewel and Nev Charles, and the genre of pop culture music writing, is a deep plunge into their world. Opal, who is Black, is a native of Detroit, while Nev is a white red-haired fellow from Britain. He chooses Opal as his musical partner after seeing her incredible energy and passion in a Detroit club. The duo’s struggle for success is well-documented (the novel is structured as oral history, with a journalist interviewing the principal characters and their family, friends, and fans), but even more engaging and important are Opal’s thoughts and actions concerning politics, history, and race relations. She is a champion for people who have suffered discrimination, bullying, and marginalization, and she is fierce and sticks to her convictions, no matter the consequences to her career.
VERDICT 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. Walton has a true storytelling voice, and her writing is impeccable.
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