Diva is historical fiction at its best. Author, Daisy Goodwin presents a riveting story that reveals Maria Callas, star opera singer of the 50s and 60s, in all her glory. From the title selection to the last page this book is such a well-written, lavish story of glamour, stardom and the late 50s-60s lifestyle of the rich and famous that will have meaning for fans of today’s superstar female artists.

Ms. Goodwin’s unique flashback technique was such an effective way to tell the story. We start her story at the end with Maria as an adult and this is a tease to keep reading to see what happens. Then Ms. Goodwin uses events in Maria’s adult life to trigger memories and this fills us in on the story of her childhood and upbringing. Maria’s childhood split between New York and war-torn Greece dominates her adult life choices and personality and was integral to the story. Daisy Goodwin has created an innovation on the flashback technique that so many other authors torture. The memory triggers are so natural to the story and that makes the book so much easier to read than other books that contain jolting and contrived flashbacks. This is another reason to read Daisy’s book – the innovative writing.

Also, the supporting characters are a who’s-who of 1960s world figures, Aristotle Onassis, Jacqueline Kennedy, Grace Kelly, Prince Rainier, the Windsors, and a very touching cameo appearance of Marilyn Monroe. All of these famous people of the 20th Century are well known and still remembered. But memories of Maria Callas and her influence on culture and music has faded and I am glad that Daisy Goodwin chose to give us this book to remind us of her influence and talent – which is why I read historical fiction – to learn a new story. The way that all the many famous people are presented leads the reader to seek out more information about these heavy hitters and is another success of this book.

I loved the title “Diva” – because Maria Callas was truly a Diva with all the imagery and connotations that word conjures up. Fans of modern-day divas and cultural icons, Taylor Swift, Beyonce and others, should read this book to see how Maria handled world-wide fame and expectations for each performance to be better than the previous one and also how media images of famous stars may not be the total story. Also, Maria’s struggles with weight and body image are so relatable to us in 2024. I was amazed that there were so many stories of Callas fans camping out on the streets to be able to get a ticket and swarming her after performances to get an autograph. After reading this story, I see how Maria Callas was a pioneer and without her other women artists probably would not have a path to success.

Two characters I had not known about were Elsa Maxwell, gossip columnist and party planner to the stars, Franco Zeffirelli, producer. Elsa Maxwell is another connection to modern culture as she could be called an OG social media influencer before the internet existed. I liked Franco Zeffirelli’s friendship and support of Maria.

Author Daisy Goodwin is a leading historical fiction author, and I was expecting a lot out of this book. Diva did not disappoint. I hope this book ends up as a mini-series on PBS like her book Victoria, because the story of Maria Callas as Ms. Goodwin has presented it is a delightful story for both yesterday and today where the reader (and hopefully viewer) will learn about history to be able to reflect on life today.

The concept of this book intrigued me, but I just couldn't get into it. A lot of the opera stuff was lost on me and the story just wasn't something I could get into. I felt sorry for Maria, but I didn't ever like her or the other characters.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

Maria Callas, known as la divina: the divine one, in the competitive world of opera, was raised in Nazi-occupied Greece by a mother who mercilessly exploited her golden voice. She learned early in life to protect herself from those who would use her for their own ends. When she met the Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, for the first time in her life, she believed she’d found someone who actually saw and understood her. She fell desperately in love. He introduced her to a life of unbelievable luxury, showering her with jewels and sojourns in the most fashionable international watering holes with celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Then, as quickly as it started, it was over. The international press announced that Aristotle Onassis would marry the most famous woman in the world, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, leaving Maria to pick up the pieces.

I am a huge fan of this author's books. She is one of my favorite go-to's for historical fiction. She did an excellent job once again with this book. I felt like I was there watching it all unfold. I had never heard of Maria Callas before, so I found the entire book fascinating. If you are a fan of historical fiction, you will definitely want to check this one out!

I couldn’t get into this one at all. DNF at 15% after the main character compared her mother to a nazi. Its 2024, why are we still saying comparisons like this

Diva by Daisy Goodwin opens up the fictionalized world of Maria Callas and her affair/romance with Aristotle Onassis. I read this all in the news as it was happening but this book captures the essence of the woman behind the headlines. She was a woman that never felt loved, not by her mother, her husband, and often not by Onassis, although he came the closest. Sadly, in this story he came off as a user, a very rich user, interested in a woman only for the cache she could lend him. He was married when Callas fell in love with him. That fact mattered to her, but never to him. Callas had a reputation as a diva, but according to this book that is not entirely true. She took exceptionally good care of her voice and refused to perform if she was not at her best. This was an extremely readable book about an exceptional talent who was taken advantage of by nearly everyone in her life. It is beyond sad.

Good job, Goodwin. Thoroughly researched and true to the protagonist, you have done an amazing job portraying this woman as sympathetic, lonely, and a slave to her talent.

I was invited to read Diva by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #DaisyGoodwin #Diva #MariaCallas

Synopsis: This is a historical fiction novel about Maria Callas, the famous opera singer. The book begins with just a short prologue providing us with information with respect to her first voice teacher and the fractious relationship that Maria had with her mother. The majority of the novel takes place during Maria’s affair with Aristotle Onassis and ends with the marriage of Onassis to Jackie Kennedy.

My thoughts: Prior to reading this book, I didn’t know very much about Maria Callas other than she was an opera singer and that she had had an affair with Onassis. I found this book fascinating and while it is historical “fiction”, a lot of it was definitely confirmable on the internet. While it took her a while to warm to Onassis, she ended up falling madly in love with him and they travelled together, not only in luxury, but also in celebrity circles including Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, Lee Radziwill, and Jackie Kennedy. She was devastated when she learned in the press that Aristotle was marrying Jackie. I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected and I gave it 4/5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a review copy of this book.

Great book. I love the story of Ari and Maria Callas and was fascinated by her humble beginnings and the reference to her using her voice as spending gold coins and to use the “coins” wisely! Thanks for the link to read the book!

As always, Daisy Goodwin shares an intelligent, fascinating story that kept me up way too late reading. In DIVA, she tells the story of Maria Callas, phenomenally talented opera singer passionately entwined with Aristotle Onassis until he casts her from the center of his life to marry widow Jacqueline Kennedy, an ultimate in beautiful, famous, and well-connected. One thing that I loved about this story is that it is not the obvious one I'd known from the media, the simplified version of a perplexing triangle between three fascinating, powerful individuals. The story is so well-written, such a pleasure to read, bringing the dismissed and misunderstood Callas to her dynamic and amazing reality. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

New York Times bestselling author Daisy Goodwin returns with DIVA, a glamorous story of the scandalous love affair between the most celebrated opera singer and one of the wealthiest men in the world.

Maria Callas was known as a DIVA, with her magnificent voice, beauty, and flair for the dramatic — celebrated, famed, and honored by the grandest opera houses throughout the world. Insightful, an immersive tale that transports you to Europe during the mid-1900s and the life of “La Divina” Maria Callas.

Raised in Nazi-occupied Greece by a mother who mercilessly exploited her golden voice, they did not have a good relationship. She learned early in life to protect herself from those who would use her for their ends.

She is wowed by the rich Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis and falls madly in love, introduced to a world of luxury and showered with jewels and other famous and influential celebrities. They were together for nine years. She craved security and faithfulness but did not get the faithfulness.

Their love affair was suddenly over, and Aristotle Onassis would marry the most famous woman in the world, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, leaving Maria.

The author, Daisy Goodwin, brings to life a woman we have read about, a woman of talent, but only in the heartbreak of losing her love did he find her true voice. He did not make her feel safe.

I enjoyed learning about the life of Maria Callas, her childhood, and her sister, Jackie, who was her mom's favorite. She used her talent to help her family, but it appeared they did not appreciate it. Maria married Giovanni Meneghini, who often took advantage of her, expecting her to perform when not up to it.

Beautifully written, a compelling inside story of Maria Callas, her insecurities, dysfunctional family, fears, desires, and talents to the rise and fame as one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century.

The novel is broken out into Acts One, Two, Three, and the Final Curtain, with globe-trotting as Callas performs in the classic opera houses of Europe and the US from the 50s to 60s with glitz and glamour.

DIVA is a compelling, absorbing historical fiction, meticulously researched with vivid settings and characterization—of love, art, and ambition— a spectacular fictionalized account of the life of famed opera singer Maria Callas. Elegant, visceral, and tragic.

AUDIOBOOK: I enjoyed the e-book and the audiobook narrated by a favorite award-winning, the fabulous Lorelei King, which includes a bonus conversation between the author and her singing teacher, soprano Josephine Goddard. It also contains music from Maria Callas. I highly recommend the audiobook.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for a gifted ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest opinion.

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Pub Date: Jan 23, 2024
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
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Born in New York and taken back to Athens by her Greek mother, Maria Callas grew up in the shadow of her older sister until her mother discovered her incredible voice. Daisy Goodwin presents an engrossing story of Maria’s life from an unhappy overweight teen who was exploited by her mother to the chic, stylish diva who filled opera houses and performed before royalty. .It was not until she met Aristotle Onassis that she felt recognized for the woman that she was rather than just for her voice. At the time she was married to an older businessman who became her manager. Ignoring her needs and wishes, he was more concerned with the money that she could earn and became just one more person who exploited her. The rigorous training, the backstage preparations, the competition and the ever present media are presented in a way that keeps you glued to her story. She had been warned by Tina, Ari’s wife, that their affair would not last.. When the relationship ended and he married Jacqueline Kennedy she was devastated but she drew on her experiences with life and love to come back with a new understanding of the roles she played. This is a delightful book that brings Maria Callas to lie for the reader. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for my review.

Diva, by Daisy Goodwin, is a fascinating novel that takes a look at the passions—music, money and men—of famous opera singer Maria Callas.
Told in present time, circa 1968, it slips back and forth to vignettes of her early years in New York City during the Great Depression, her adolescence being pushed by her mother to earn money singing in the streets of Athens during WWII, and finally her rise to triumph as “La Divina,” the opera diva in the 1950s. As Maria is swept up by the fame and attention of celebrities of the era, the novel also becomes a who’s who of notables—Elsa Maxwell, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Franco Zeffirelli, Marilyn Monroe, and the Kennedys. Of course, her most notable connection with celebrity was her long-time love affair with billionaire Aristotle Onassis, and sadly, her connection to and betrayal by Ari is one of the most memorable notes of her time in the spotlight.
The details of her relatively short life—1923-1979—are rich in this tome, and kept me fully engaged in her story, describing her “gift” of the soaring soprano voice and its light that burned so bright, then her final years in isolation, and her death in Paris at age 53.
Throughout the book, Maria is portrayed as passionate about her art. She is also well aware of the limited number of “gold coins” she possesses, as the years her talent will carry her, before her voice fades, as is the destiny of many great singers, and becomes unreliable.
Growing up she was exploited by her mother, who called her ugly and fat, and openly favored Maria’s sister, Jackie. As an adult she was also exploited and bilked by her husband/manager Tita, and then famously betrayed by the serial womanizer Ari Onassis, who set Maria aside when he wooed and wed Jackie Kennedy.
Goodwin’s writing is colorful and detailed, from descriptions of opera houses, to jewelry, to the lifestyles of the wealthy celebrities of the time. The story drew me into feeling kindly, and sadly sentimental, for the woman inside the Diva.
This is a tale of survival, hard work, and the tenuous threads of talent and fame which defined the life of “La Divina” Maria Callas.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review

I knew of Maria Callas but not about her. This is an interesting fictionalized look at her life and career, her drive for and focus on career and success and her relationship with Aristotle Onassis.

Having been a fan of Daisy Godwin’s previous books I was so looking forward to this read and have totally enjoyed every minute. Thankfully it was a rare rainy morning in southern CA as I have enjoyed sitting on my couch immersed in this incredible historical fiction about the famous Maria Callas. I admit to knowing very little about her other than she sang opera and was in a relationship with Aristotle Onassis. Godwin’s writing brought her into the room with me - a living breathing powerful woman so very helplessly in love with a man who truly did not deserve her. Her childhood background helped shape the woman she became - strong, competitive, contemptuous of others she felt did not earn their place in the world. I understood her conflicted feelings about both her mother and her sister, knowing that those emotions served as the impetus for her competitive nature. Her mother showed her true colors but I did feel sorry for Jackie, her sister. I was actually shocked that she stayed married to her husband, Tita, as he was not looking out for her best interests and seemed like such a weak character.

I avidly read of her incredible grueling preparations for her performances and will definitely be listening to at least one recording. The description of Greece and the history involved was also fascinating. The descriptions of her costumes, designed for her performances as well as her time aboard the Christina, were fascinating.

The instant electric connection she felt upon meeting Onassis changed her life forever. Her love for him was all consuming. Her loss was so immense and I felt so sorry for her, especially knowing that it solved all of his problems. He must have been very charismatic given the number of women he enticed. I never knew about his connection with Grace Kelly. Lee and Jackie - so very twisted in my eyes.

Bruna was the glue that held Maria together and I so admired their connection. Elsa used her connection to befriend her and then to demean her.

Many many thanks to Daisy Goodwin, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for affording me the absolute pleasure of an opportunity to read an arc of this intriguing glimpse into the life of Maria Callas, to be published on 1-23. A true 5 star read!

I absolutely adored this book as it is a retelling of the life of Maria Callas, a diva and world famous opera singer. We start from the early stages in her life and evolve with her as she navigates her own struggles, mostly centering around her love affair. We also meet Aristotle Onassis, a man who she falls deeply in love with, despite the obstacles that were in place. For years he showered her with expensive gifts, only to never give her what she truly wanted, his commitment. I also enjoyed the various influential personalities that are mentioned throughout the novel. Because this is a historical fiction, we are introduced to historical figures that impact Maria’s life in ways that she does not expect. There is a sense of sadness throughout the book as Maria tries to fulfill her life in any way she can as she learns to navigate her fame and ever changing life. Something admirable is how we were able to see the “Diva” for who she truly was as opposed to the persona that she played up while on stage. We see her real life struggles as she worries when her career will end while simultaneously willing to end it for the man she loves. The humanizing of Maria, rather than just seeing her as a famous singer, is what makes this novel so moving and emotional. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the copy of this book.
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Read if you like: character-driven books/books based on historical figures
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The book follows the life of Maria Callas, a famous Greek opera singer who embarks on a scandalous affair with one of the richest men in the world.
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Overall, the book was interesting and I had to keep reminding myself that Maria was a real person and not just a dramatic figure made up. I like how Goodwin portrayed her. One thing I wanted more of was Maria's experiences in Greece during WW2 but I understand that the author was not trying to write a WW2 novel and wanted to focus on the later part of her life!

A sweeping novel about a celebrated opera diva in the 1950’s and 1960’s. I had no knowledge of Maria Callas prior to reading this book. Daisy Goodwin explores the life of this diva and her life on and off the stage. Maria came from a humble background to grow into one of the most desire artists of her time. Love affairs, music, and the rich & famous intermix. I feel more intrigued by who Maria was and am now a fan!

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and author Daisy Goodwin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Highly entertaining historical fiction based on the love affair between Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis before he married Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Engaging, imaginative look into what is was like to be one of the greatest artists of all time, and the tumultuous love life she endured with the richest man in the world.

Fantastic, well written, and researched historical fiction, Daisy Goodwin enveloped me in the life of Maria Callas. I especially liked being on board the Christina with celebrities and royalty. Maria is the definition of a Diva. She had high expectations of herself and how people treated her. Borderline bitchy at times. The romance between her and Onassis was sexually charged and equally heartbreaking when her expectations of the relationship didn't add up. Also, the relationship with her mother and even her sister was explosive with resentment.

Diva had me checking people, locations, and even food I'd never heard of (chateaubriand anyone?). I even pulled up a live recording of Callas to hear her famous voice. I recommend Diva for historical fans.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy.

I love reading historical fiction. I tend to especially love novels that are based on real people and a "take" on a part moment in their life / outsiders perspective of their story. I appreciate the amount of research that goes into creating the story - especially when an author decides to write about a well known individual.

This is the story of Maria Callas. La divina. We start at the end of her relationship with Aristotle Onassis - and then make our way back to before they met, to when she started to come to term with the fact that her voice wouldn't always be there - and wouldn't always perform as needed. This is a story about a woman who, in her mid-30s finally falls in love. A woman who is willing to give up the stage if only he would pick her.

It's also about a woman who holds a grudge - against her mother and sister. Against those who never appreciated her and used her for her voice.

It's about a woman who wanted to be loved for being Maria. Not because she was Callas.

This was fine. I just think it lacked a little something for me to be completely enamoured by it. Perhaps it was my state of mind reading it, or perhaps you have to go into it having known more about Maria Callas. That said - well written, well researched and I did feel terrible for her.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in return for an honest review.

This was a captivating book about Maria Callas. I enjoyed reading about her childhood and relationship with her family. It certainly explains some of her diva attitude. There was a lot more detail about her relationship with Onassis. If you’re into celebrities and Hollywood gossip you’ll enjoy this. Onassis was a big part of her life and I understand the focus for this book. But I think I would have liked to read more about her opera roles and the other relationships in her life. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.