Harare Review of Books

Thank you to NetGalley and to Simon and Schuster for this eARC.

368 pages.

First published in 2021.

Finished reading on Apr 8, 2021.

Genre: Fiction.

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.

I spent so much of this book feeling totally confused about whether Opal and Nev were real people (I mean, I knew they weren’t, but still. They weren’t, right??), and also feeling really confused about whether historical events mentioned in it (and so many of them! And so many supporting characters, even) had really happened. That was distracting 😭 but not the author’s fault.

Really only got into it when I got to Part Two, and then after that I was determined to finish it. But I never really liked the characters 😭 Again, not the author’s fault. Opal turned into something of an antihero for me. Won’t spoil the rest.

But, a good long read, and I admire the craft. So, basically, come for the craft, and stay for the craft. Beyond that, I dunno, really.

Rated: 5/10.