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.

Daisy Godwin, the historical fiction queen, is back in Diva, the historical fiction novel about Maria Callas, the queen of opera. Goodwin weaves Callas's background from being born during The American Depression in New York City to being a teenage girl stuck in Greece during World War II. Goodwin can give the reader an understanding of how Maria Callas's background affected her decisions in relationship and love and lays out the relationship of Callas's great love with Aristotle Onassis. While the press coined the couple as the two most famous Greeks in the world, Goodwin can let the readers understand the emotions and how mentally taxing the romance, relationship, and impact of this great love had on Maria Callas's life and career.

Suppose a reader enjoys a "modern" historical fiction novel. In that case, this book is for them as it weaves the jet-set lifestyle and amazing career of Callas along with the golden age of Hollywood with appearances from Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, and Jackie Kennedy. from performing in Paris, Rome, London, and Athens to yachting through The Mediterranean, this book weaves a tapestry of the glamours lifestyle. I enjoyed this novel because while I have always heard of Maria Callas as a side character in documentaries or books about Aristotle Onassis and Jackie Kennedy, this book helped me to understand that during her time, she was just as extremely famous and indeed was "The Diva" of her time.

I think we have a possible “Reese’s Book Club pick” on our hands with this book. Maria is a strong woman with an amazing opera voice. She learned to provide for herself at a young age by singing. Her voice is amazing and had helped her to become a diva in every aspect of life. And a Diva she is, from canceling shows to making ridiculous demands, even forbidding her friend from seeing her sister perform. But her voice also has its limits as she gets older and has used it as much as she has.
She becomes involved in a forbidden love. She thinks her and Ari are soulmates, but will love be enough? Can they survive her fame and his money? This love story shows Maria’s weakness and strength.
Thank you Netgalley and St Martins Press for an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review. If you love historical fiction and singer/celebrity books then this one is definitely for you.

Daisy Godwin has written an engrossing story about the life of Maria Callas. I was captivated from the beginning - learning about Greek history and geography, the life of Callas and her great love, Onassis and his wealth, and the drama they inflicted on each other and family members. Very interesting!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this amazing ARC.

I would like to thank Net Galley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC.I have read some books about Jackie Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis.I was in high school when they married , and remember the their wedding and surrounding press quite vividly. At the time I had little knowledge, or quite frankly , interest , in Maria Callas. Opera was for my grandparents. In recent years I have developed an interest in opera and in Maria Callas.I was very excited to read this book. t did not disappoint. It is fiction, so times, and places and events have been moved to fit the narrative. However, the story is well written and moving. It is a fun fast paced frothy read. I enjoyed it.It moves back and forth in time, from Maria's early days in New York, to growing up in Greece during World War II, to becoming the premiere diva of the opera. It is also the story of Aristotle Onassis, and his desire to have it all, fame money and women. The story plays out against a backdrop of glittering high society, famous people and famous names. I am very glad for the chance to read this book.

I am loving this book! I of course had heard of Maria Callas, but was not familiar with her other than an opera star in the 50's and 60's.

The story takes the reader behind the scenes into her life as a young girl and the complicated relationship she had with the people in her life, including her mother. And Ari Onassis! She wanted to marry him, but he instead wed Jackie Kennedy. Sadly she ended up alone, even with all the money and accolades for her phenomenal soprano voice.

The author took some creative license in the book, but that does not detract from this well researched portrait of an international super star. Highly recommended for all public libraries.

I enjoyed this book because it focused completely on Maria Callis. So many books like this just name drop and talk about the scandals. The author’s emphasize who Maria really is was refreshing. I liked the way the book developed who she truly was before meeting Onassis. I would read this author’s future works. Nice job!

Diva is a well-written and interesting historical history novel about Maria Callas, the greatest opera singer of her time. Her scandalous affair with Aristotle Onassis, the Greek tycoon, and the inside stories of celebrities make the book very fascinating. Maria Callas's drive to be the best, and her struggling relationship with her mother, sister, and those closest to her are engrossing.
Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I enjoyed this look into real people I knew nothing about. The fictional parts made it more interesting as a story and I'm glad that I read it.

Impressive narrative! Packed with drama and scandal, this book held my attention with its intriguing storyline and a touch of excitement. The protagonist's mother significantly influenced the main character, albeit in a less favorable manner. Despite my reservations about the writing style, which didn't quite suit my taste, the overall experience was both entertaining and captivating.

Maria Callas was La Divina. The greatest opera singer of her time, and maybe all time! She grew up in Greece during the Nazi occupation. Her mother favored her sister until she heard Maria’s beautiful voice. Maria was the best at what she did. She was beautiful and talented and dramatic. One night, she met Aristotle Onassis, the worlds richest man. She guarded her heart (and she was married) but felt like in Onassis, she’d finally found her person. The one who would love HER. Not her money or her voice or her fame. HER. And he did. He showed her with love and gifts and money. Theirs was a passionate love affair until he broke her heart.

Amazing love story and historical fiction.

Old as I am, I knew nothing of this diva and her involvement with Onassis. I only knew that Jackie Kennedy ended up married to him, and that it was a big news story. This book made it all the more interesting, as it introduced me to Maria Callas, who was every bit what my definition of a diva would include. So self-centered, so sure of her talent. A captivating read.

This fascinating novel is a wonderful portrayal of the multidimensional woman that was Maria Callas. Born in New York to a Greek mother, she moves back to Greece as a young girl during the Nazi occupation. To survive her mother makes her sing on the streets, while at the same time she favors Maria’s older sister Jackie. Her father isn’t in the picture. It was a tough time, and Maria, an overweight, homely child with an amazing voice felt unloved and used. As she became an adult, her amazing voice brought her success and fame, but she still felt unloved. And then she meets Aristotle Onassis, a former cigarette boy who’s now a millionaire, maybe a billionaire. And Maria falls in love.

Diva is Maria’s story, of her successes and disappointments both professionally and most interesting, her personal disappointments. The affair with Aristotle (or Ari, as she calls him) is tempestuous, passionate, and ultimately disappointing. But Maria’s story, and the book, do not disappoint.

Maria Callas was the best know opera singer of her generation, with a peak in the 1950s and 60s. This is the fictional story of a short period of her life (about 10 years) when she was involved with Aristotle Onassis, the man who then went on to marry Jackie Kennedy.
The writing was stiff and unnatural; I never felt emotionally involved with Maria's story. In a way, I was more interested in the supporting cast (like Maria's maid-- what was THAT job like?).

An interesting, fascinating story of Maria Callas a famous opera singer I hadn't heard of before who had a love affair with Arisotle Onassis among other great things in her career. I learned so much about her as well as this period of time...and it even involves Jackie Kennedy as she marries Aristotle at the end of this story. A very well written, character driven story. `

Loved this dove I to the Siva we know as Callas - the author brought great empathy and understanding to her story