I enjoyed Maria & I really enjoyed all the glitz & glamour and reading about her rubbing elbows with the who’s who of the golden age of Hollywood. The middle however started to drag for me.

What an engaging novel. Maria Callas deserves to be talked about and known; her talent was remarkable. This book was also dotted with so much gossip and intrigue, Elsa Maxwell, royalty, Churchill, and of course Jackie, Lee, and Onassis. The book mostly focuses on both Maria and Callas; as two separate entities the first being the woman who just wanted to be loved for anything but her voice. The latter is terrified of spending all her coins and losing her identity. I put 'The Very Best Of'...on in the background while reading. It's not a complete portrait (the author admits this), and there are some liberties taken, but it's an excellent historical novel based on a true diva. Highly Recommend

Diva
A Novel
by Daisy Goodwin
(This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley)
Maria Callas, born Cecilia Sophia Anna Maria Kalogeropoulos on December 2, 1923, was quite possibly the most famous and most notorious female opera singer in the 20th century. Callas rose to fame in Italy after the end of World War II, when she performed operas such as "Medea," "Tosca," and "La Traviata" (via Limelight Magazine). Maria had an unfortunate relationship with her mother who favored Maria’ sister Jackie.
Callas resented her mother, who had worked as a prostitute during the war and tried to pimp her daughter to Nazi soldiers. In 1949, Callas married Giovanni Meneghini, a wealthy Italian industrialist who served as her manager until they separated in 1959. In one of her letters, Callas wrote: "My husband is still pestering me after having robbed me of more than half my money by putting everything in his name since we were married ... I was a fool ... to trust him "(via The Guardian).
In 1957, while still married to husband Giovanni Battista Meneghini, Callas was introduced to Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, at a party given in her honor by the critic Elsa Maxwell after a performance in Donizetti's Anna Bolena.[ She fell desperately in love. He introduced her to a life of unbelievable luxury, jewels and travel aboard his luxury yacht Christina. Her nine-Year affair (1959-1968) and her unpublished letters show Callas was abused by Onassis. She was adored by audiences worldwide but she never knew real love offstage.
Daisy Goodwin has once again delivered a superb historical fiction novel

It’s giving Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but based on a true story. So close to perfect except I wish there was a different resolution with her mother. The last scene is is uninspiring, unlike Maria Callas.

I really, really wanted to love this, like I loved American Heiress. And I did like it, but love? No. Goodwin writes with a detached voice, which made it difficult to connect with the characters on an emotional level. Yet, despite that, I certainly felt compelled to keep flipping the pages to the conclusion of the story. Maria Callas is a fascinating character, and I had never read anything about her. Yet, as I delved further into the book, I also delved further into google, trying to find out more about this fascinating person. Turns out, Callas was probably not an easy character to write about. Most accounts have her pegged as immodest, selfish, depressed, and abused. Nonetheless, I wish Goodwin had made Callas come to life a bit more. I felt like I didn’t understand what drove Callas to be what she was. The book was just a bit drier than I liked. I did learn though, so three stars.

This was definitely a must read book for me for 2024 so a huge thank you to Net Galley for sending an advanced review copy!

I didn't really know much about Maria Callas so this was an immersive read into her life. Richly developed characters and descriptive writing made her come to life and provide an insight to this diva of opera. It tells the story of how she was the younger daughter in a fractured home, searching all her life for love and acceptance. Identified at an early age with a great talent for singing, she was exploited by her mother who wished that Maria's success was her other daughter's or better yet her own. Even Maria's husband loved only the concept of Callas the opera star, not Maria the woman. Goodwin portrays Madame Callas as a brilliant singer, and richly details the many operas and arias that she sang which I found interesting. Not only blessed with her powerful voice, but fluent in four languages, Maria was very talented and smart. However, she longed for love which she found with Aristotle Onassis as his mistress although she longed to be his wife. Not familiar with Maria Callas life, the story kept me reading and engaged and I so wanted a happily ever after. i felt sorry for her and it seems that although a great diva, inside she was still the insecure little girl looking for love for just herself. As always, Goodwin has a way of bringing to life a woman who comes from a humble background and works hard to rise up to reach her dream, yet at a cost. Many thanks to #netgalley #diva #daisygoodwin for the opportunity to read and review this book.

"Diva" by Daisy Goodwin is an exquisite journey into the captivating world of Maria Callas, the legendary soprano known simply as "la divina." This fictionalized account of Callas's life is a fictionalized behind-the-scenes look at her life that left me utterly fascinated by the singer's life and her undeniable allure.

Goodwin's storytelling prowess shines through in her vivid portrayal of Maria Callas. The heart of the story lies in Maria's relationship with the fabulously wealthy Aristotle Onassis, where the narrative truly shines. Goodwin paints a vivid picture of their romance, showcasing Onassis's charm and the extravagant lifestyle he offered Maria. The way Goodwin delves into Maria's hopes and dreams as she falls in love with Onassis is both poignant and emotionally resonant. It's impossible not to be drawn into her love story. The news of Onassis's marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy was a turning point in Callas’s life. Goodwin captured the depth of Maria's emotions and this event's devastating impact on her life. What I loved most about "Diva" is how it brings Maria Callas to life, not just as a famous singer, but as a complex woman with dreams, vulnerabilities, and an unyielding spirit. The novel offers a mesmerizing glimpse into the life of Maria Callas. Daisy Goodwin's storytelling talent and ability to make historical figures come alive on the page make this book an absolute must-read for fans of historical fiction, opera, or anyone who enjoys a story of passion, love, and resilience. It's a book that will linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the last page.

A sincere thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, how I loved this book. To be honest, I almost didn't read it - the world of opera doesn't really interest me. Luckily, I know Daisy Goodwin won't lead me astray, and I'm so glad I dove in. In the same way that Taylor Jenkins Reid convinced me to care about the world of professional tennis, Daisy Goodwin convinced me that I was, in fact, fascinated by the opera world and its divas. An absolute page-turner of a read.

I want to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. Growing up with Opera, I never realized the Private lives of Opera Singers. This Book about Maria Callas was an eye opener to the Opera World. A well written Biography of the singer. If anyone is into Opera, I would suggest you read this book. It kept my interest .

I’ve come across a number of historical fiction books centered around names in the entertainment industry. Diva has been the first I’ve read about an opera singer. I’m not super well-versed, but I do consider myself a casual listener. Whatever the case, it was enough to make me static to pick up the book.

A lot of big names pass through these pages, however, our stars are Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis. The story ebbs and flows from Maria’s past through Aristotle’s marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy and the affair in between.

I was so ready to love this book. I didn’t connect to the characters at all and wound up feeling even sadder for Jackie (I’ll admit I’m biased). What’s more is that I found the writing repetitive and taking gratuitous liberties in the lives of real people. I know there’s a fine line of this and it’s what you agree to read when picking up this genre of historical fiction, but even then it still felt like it went too far in places. I did very much enjoy the bits of opera knowledge I picked up along the way.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a digital ARC of the book to read and review!

This book is amazing. I didn't know anything about Maria Callas except of her connection to Aristotle Onassis. Her life was very interesting before and after her relationship with Onassis. A novel of family, sacrifice, love found and lost and the cut throat glittering world of opera. A deep dive into her feelings of not being seen for the woman she was, only being seen for La Divina. Run to your local bookstore in January or even better yet pre order it now!

Diva by Daisy Goodwin is a fictionalized novel of Maria Callas, who had a famous affair with Aristotle Onassis both before and after his marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy. I was fascinated by all of these people from the time I was a teenager, and can remember reading a biography about Christina Onassis, the daughter of AO. Just like the Kennedy's the Onassis family is steeped in tragedy. While I found Maria Callas mysterious, I never explored her story beyond where it intersected with Onassis and Kennedy. What a mistake. Goodwin has drawn back the proverbial curtain on a complicated, fascinating woman I loved reading about. Highly recommend!!

Diva is the very interesting biographical story of Maria Callas, the famous opera singer. I always love a book leads me to research and find out more about the main character. That is exactly what happened with this book. It peaked my interest and drove me to search for more about the main characters.

I like this book about Maria Callas . It was interesting and on a subject matter I wasn’t familiar with . Overall good back about an interesting woman
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

Enthralling! This book on Maria Callas captivates with an intuitive visceral feeling. Daisy Goodwin writes with aplomb! Her words wrap themselves around you. I spent lots of time looking for videos of Maria Callas, so as to actually hear her incredible voice and watch with rapture, her stage presence. I am so grateful to have been granted this ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own! Do not miss reading this novel. #NetGalley, # St.Martin”s Press.

I loved this point of view, the characters (people) have been in so many books I have read and I love to see contrasting points of view and them interacting in different points of time.

This book is about opera singer, soprano Maria Callas, and her long term affair with tycoon Aristotle Onassis. The story begins with Maria being jilted by Ari for Jackie Kennedy & goes back in time to before Ari & Maria met. Her husband, estranged mother & sister, & faithful maid are all characters in the book. I personally found this story a bit slow & I didn’t feel the magic between Maria & Onassis

I know very little about the life of Maria Callas, so I can't vouch for the veracity of all that is written here, but then again it is a 'fictional' treatment of her life . From a hardscrabble childhood growing up during the hardships of WWII in Greece to the pinnacle of success as an amazing operatic soprano, unhappy marriages (and of course, Onassis for a lover), this is the kind of book that has it all. It reads quickly, is well paced and full of juicy bits. I thoroughly enjoyed it. While not great literature, I would recommend it to those who enjoy celebrity bios and stories of famous artisits.

Daisy Goodwin’s latest historical novel takes us into the world of legendary opera soprano Maris Callas. Mme. Callas is widely accepted as the greatest opera singer of the 20th. Century and Goodwin brings her story to life. The novel focuses mostly on Callas’ life from the mid-1950s until the late 1960s and tells the story of Callas’ well-known affair with the “Golden Greek” - billionaire Aristotle Onassis. Callas and Onassis were at the time of their meeting the “two most famous Greeks” in the world and - perhaps more importantly - married to others. Onassis went on in 1968 to marry the widowed First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, breaking Callas’ heart. Goodwin spins a captivating story of this tumultuous time in Callas’ life and shows again her strength in historical biography.
Thank You to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

This was interesting! Not my usual speed, but I was down for something different. I knew of Callas and Onassis, but to read about her life and how she rose to fame was absolutely fascinating.