This book is FABULOUS! Congratulations to Ms. Goodwin for writing the sad, emotional saga of Maria Callas. Diva is the story of the Soprano singers life, her struggles with peers, men and a manipulative mother. I learned so much from this book and have listened to Maria’s songs. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: USA, Italy, Greece
Format: 📖
Release Date: January 23, 2024
Length: 336 pages

Diva by Daisy Goodman is a fictious historical novel that is loosely based on the life of the famous Greek-American opera singer and “diva”, Maria Callas. Goodman not only explores Marie Callas gifts and amazing singing talents she exposes her relationships with a mother that used Maria as well as her failed marriage to Giovanni Battista Meneghini, known as Tita, to her most famous affair as mistress with Ari Onassis to when she was jilted by Onassis for the former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

Diva is filled with stories of career struggles, miscarriages, attempted suicides as well as a host of some very famous people – Prince Rainer and Grace Kelly, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Franco Zeffirelli, Lee Radizwell and meeting Marilyn Monroe the night both performed for President Kennedy at his birthday gala at Madison Square Garden.

I never knew who Maria Callas was and found this this novel came across more as a biographical historical fiction with unexpected sex thrown in. Whether Ms. Callas was or was not in real life, she comes across yes as a diva but a jealous, obsessive, selfish and entitled woman who allowed a man like Onassis to take advantage of her.

Diva is not what I expected – it is a rather sad story than one that paid respect to a woman that that was considered one of the greatest in the Opera world. While it did take me some time to get through, I did learn quick a bit – I listen to some of Callas recording as well as looked up some of the events mentioned in the book.

I did feel the ending was rush making the story feel a unfinished … so 3.5 stars for me.

Thank you, Daisy Goodwin, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel is due to be released on January 23, 2024

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I really enjoyed this book. I knew very little about Maria Callas before this book. She is portrayed as a very vivid character and I had to keep reading to see what happened next. I do struggle with books based on real people. It is hard to know how accurate it is when none of the major characters are alive.

I did find the time frame confusing, the book seems to skip around in time alot especially in Chapter 2 where it says it is New York in 1956 but each of the sub chapters designated with Roman numerals (I, II, ETC) are sometimes in different cities and time periods

Also, Chapter 6 says it is New Years Eve 1957. But it refers to a conversation with Maria’s mentor Elvira as being in the past. According to the end of Chapter 5, the conversation was in Autumn of 1958.

Princess Grace scolds Ari for never hearing Maria in an opera but he did attend one the night he bought the yellow diamonds for Her (Maria)

My thanks to St. Martin’s press for the ARC. The book was fantastic. I knew very little about Maria Callas and was pleased that her story did not leave wanting. It goes into the background of her childhood with a mother who did not appreciate her to her marriage and friends such as Franco Zefferilli. Her life and her feelings are captured extremely well in her relationship with Aristotle Onassis, a man who made being one of the world’s richest men seem fantastic. I will definitely have to study more about opera as she was amazing whenever she performed. It was a book that blended Maria the woman with Maria the world famous Diva. Highly recommend it-could not put it down!

“Diva” is the historical fiction account of the famous opera singer and once lover of Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas, which covers the time period from 1956 until Aristotle Onassis’ marriage to Jackie Kennedy in 1968. At the beginning of the book, she is already a famous diva married to Tita Meneghini, who was also her manager. The first two thirds of the book details her various opera performances throughout the world and her fear that she will lose her voice and with it her reason for being. Then her life changes completely when she meets and falls in love with Onassis in 1957, after which her love for music was subsumed by her obsession with the Greek magnate.

The author did a brilliant job conveying the nuances of the characters’ personalities through such subtle clues as facial expressions and conversations between the characters. In addition, the settings provide fascinating glimpses into the lives of the rich and famous, such as operas and parties in Rome, Paris, New York and Greece, as well as the opulence of Onasiss’ yacht, Christina as it sails the Mediterranean. However, the best aspect of the novel is it’s depiction of Maria’s struggle with her confidence as well as her jealousy over Onassis’ unfaithfulness. The ending provides a fitting denouement to both her career with a triumphant performance of Tosca and the end of her love affair with Onassis, when he betrays her by marrying Jackie Kennedy and she realizes he never really loved her.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I had a really hard time getting into this book and I have loved all of Daisy Goodwin's books so far. I think it just didn't resonate with me, like the others did. She's an amazing author though, so definitely give it a try and see if it's your cup of tea.

I just reviewed Diva by Daisy Goodwin. #NetGalley

I knew just enough about Maria Callas before reading this book to be dangerous! With that said, I was a bit skeptical about the story that Daisy Goodwin weaves. I did enjoy reading the book, but wonder about the liberties taken in this historical novel. Maria Callas was a complicated diva - not unlike other divas with whom I am familiar. This was an easy read and would be a good one for those readers who are unfamiliar with Maria Callas.

I like Daisy Goodwin's books. This one was good but started very slowly. It took me quite awhile to get into it and I probably would have not continued it if I had not agreed to review it. It felt like it took forever to delve into Maria's relationship with Onassis. Also, I thought it was hurried toward the end, after Onassis met and married Jackie. I was curious as to what happened to Maria after that. It could be put in an epilogue if not in the body of the book.

All in all, I would recommend it with the caveat that people know it takes awhile to get where it's going.

3.5 stars

I received a complimentary Kindle e-book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Daisy Goodwin, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I am really torn on this book. I liked this book but didn't love it.

The storyline is primarily about Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis's torrid love affair. I really wanted to know more about her life and felt like the bits and pieces didn't help me understand WHY she would allow a man to treat her so disrespectfully - she was the Diva of her generation!

Recommend!

A very interesting story about a complex woman. The characters and relationships were wonderfully written. I would definitely recommend this book!

Big fan of Daisy’s work. This one didn’t disappoint. I love the characters on the plot and I would recommend anyone who’s a fan of historical fiction.

I had heard of Maria Callas but didn't know anything about her career. This book really gave me a glimpse into her performing and personal lives. She was a true diva and I think you need to be when you are an opera singer. The art requires a lot of the performer and this story demonstrates how Callas worked hard for her art. I really felt for Maria as she struggled to be true to herself while inhabiting the larger than life role of the diva.

This is a novel about the life of the great Maria Callas. It touches on her career but the primary focus is on her relationship with Aristotle Onassis. She is obviously a very complex and talented woman. The book delves into her thoughts and motives. There is a lot of material for book discussion groups here. It held my interest but I never warmed to the characters.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an eGalley of this title.

Interesting story of the life of Maria Callas - how her mother favored her sister over her, leading Maria to always try to make her mother proud of her. How she found her voice and then how she met Aristotle Onassis, and became his lover.

One of those books that has you questioning whether this is art imitating life, or life imitating art. That is something that I often ponder while reading Historical Fiction. The book Diva is based on the life of the great operatic diva Maria Callas, but liberties and literary license were taken for the sake of a coherent story. Though I am familiar with Maria's place in history, I really knew nothing about her at all. There are other characters in the book though whom I knew much more about, but even some of the details of those individuals are not fully clear to me. Obviously, conversations must be imagined, even while placing them between historical and provable facts. It's just that I really don't have much of an idea of how much of this is fictionalized. Though it does read as though the author tried to take great pains in being as accurate as possible, but I can't prove any of that. It was mostly Maria's personal feelings and heartaches that I find to be the most questionable. Without them included though, the story would have been cold and even unreadable. Goodwin breathed life into the possible personal feelings that Maria surely may have experienced.

The story is written well enough and is easily readable. There were times when I felt that I was getting a true understanding of the protagonist, Maria Callas. For me though, that is yet to be confirmed because I just don't know much about the diva herself. It just felt genuine. Sometimes my heart went out to her and found myself rooting for her in challenging situations, while other times I felt like I wasn't all that fond of her. But, after all, she was a diva. The book is written in a manner that led the reader to favor Callas over her rivals, but I guess that is the author's job at times when it comes to Historical Fiction. Unless it's a hit piece, of course, which this is not.

Within the story, you'll find yourself on various world stages, as well as what it takes to prepare for such events. Then there are the frequent sailings through the Mediterranean with Aristotle Onassis, Jackie Kennedy and her sister Lee Radziwill, Grace Kelly and her husband Prince Rainer. If you find those people or that lifestyle of interest, you will most likely enjoy reading Diva.

Amazing story of Maria Callas. I really had no opinion of Maria Callas either way, but Daisy Goodwin, who is an amazing author, makes her so interesting that you are drawn to her like a moth to a flame. An amazing blend of
complex characters and relationships.

Marvelous read.!

Bravo Daisy Goodwin!! Diva was a fabulous read that I could not put down!

Renown as the greatest singer in the world, Maria Callas’ life story is accented by the addition of imagined conversations. Goodwin’s writing brings the scenes to life and you feel as if you are in the room with Maria and her inner circle, Tita, Elsa, Aristo and Franco to name a few.

Callas & Onassis were the two most famous Greeks in the world and it was inevitable that they would become a couple. This is an enthralling tale of their romance and even though we know the ending, it is a fabulous read!

Mark the publication date on your calendar, preorder Diva or run to the nearest shop and pick it up!

Thanks to @NetGalley I received an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Pub Date 23 Jan 2024

Diva by Daisy Goodwin is a remarkable novel that tells the story of Maria Callas, one of the most celebrated opera singers of all time. Goodwin does an excellent job of bringing Callas to life, capturing her passion for music, her determination to succeed, and her vulnerability. The novel also explores Callas's complex relationship with Aristotle Onassis, a Greek shipping magnate who was one of the richest men in the world.

Goodwin's writing is vivid and engrossing, and she does a masterful job of weaving together fact and fiction. The novel is full of fascinating details about Callas's life, including her childhood in Nazi-occupied Greece, her rise to fame, and her love affair with Onassis. Goodwin also does a good job of capturing the atmosphere of the time, from the glamour of the opera world to the scandal of Callas's relationship with Onassis.

Diva is a well-researched and well-written novel that is sure to appeal to fans of historical fiction and biographies. It is also a moving and insightful portrait of a complex and fascinating woman.

Here are some of the things that I liked about the novel:

Goodwin's research is evident throughout the novel. She has clearly done a lot of work to get the details right, from the historical events to the music to the fashion.
Goodwin's writing is engaging and evocative. She brings Callas to life in a way that makes the reader feel like they are right there with her, experiencing her triumphs and her tragedies.
The novel is well-paced and suspenseful. I was eager to find out what would happen next.
The novel is thought-provoking. It made me think about the nature of fame, love, and loss.
I recommend Diva to anyone who is interested in Maria Callas, opera, or historical fiction. It is a beautifully written and moving novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

I think devoted readers to Daisy Goodwin's writing will eagerly consume this novel and absolutely love it - this novel and this type of story is definitely geared towards a certain group and demographic of readers. In short, while I did enjoy this novel and found it entertaining, I didn't find it very diverse, nor was it written for a diverse audience.

Elegant writing, just not a lot of prose, or deep prose. Maria is a remarkable character but it was pretty obvious that several liberties were taken in creating this story (which I'm aware Goodwin gave a heads up t0) but the liberties did not feel effortless, they felt forced and over-dramatized.

I would definitely recommend this book for someone who enjoys historical fiction, but likes a more romanticized and not-so accurate version of it.

Diva by Daisy Goodwin
This novel is based on the life of Maria Callas, who was 20th century’s greatest soprano opera singer. The author states in the introduction, that this novel is not a biography, rather a fictional story of Maria Callas’s life, loves and career. In spite of this caveat, the story very closely follows the singer’s life and her long standing affair with the Greek ship tycoon, Aristotle Onassis. I am an opera lover and have seen many of the operas Callas sang in and also had a CD collection of her recordings. I liked reading about what goes into preparing for a role and how the different characters on the stage interact. Maria didn’t have a happy childhood, her mother exploited her talent from an early age and in spite of that, she preferred Maria’s older sister Jackie.
As famous Diva, her private life was always fodder for the rumor mills and scandal columns. I could easily imagine how the press always following her affected her personal life. Maria’s first husband was much older than her and mostly acted as her agent, there was not much romance in the marriage. When Callas meets Aristotle Onassis, she finds love for the first time and is willing to give up anything to be with Ari. I found this relationship as described in the book bothersome. Aristotle buys Maria millions of dollars worth of jewels, but doesn’t attend any of her performances. I felt that he just wanted to win her , have a long standing affair with her and then move on. He never considered marriage, even after he divorced his wife and Maria divorced her agent husband. Overall I really enjoyed this book, found it a little dragging at times, but worth reading it. 4 stars .
I received a complimentary copy, opinions are my own.