I have read this ARC with a view to providing a review
All opinions and thoughts are my own

I've loved all this author's books and was so excited to read this
It certainly hasn't disappointed

Absolutely loved it

I knew very little about the life of opera singer Maria Callas before reading Diva, but Goodwinlvery much brings her to life in this fictional account of her life – from difficult childhood through to a tumultuous love life, it is the story of an incredibly talented woman whose inner struggles were ever present and for whom life was far from straightforward.

Centred around Callas’ nine year relationship with Aristotle Onassis that ended suddenly and somewhat dramatically as a result of his marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy, we are also given flashbacks to her earlier life. Growing up in Nazi-occupied Greece following the breakdown of her parents’ marriage, she had a difficult relationship with her mother, who made her feel unattractive and second best to her sister – until Callas’ talent became clear, at which point her mother shamelessly exploited her. She then married a much older man who, whilst devoted to her, was more of a companion than a great love, and he too took advantage of her talent as her business manager. Her attraction to Onassis was in part because he had no interest in her singing career and she finally felt seen as a woman and in the type of passionate relationship she longed for – but he too ultimately let her down thanks to his womanizing ways.

It is the portrait of a complicated woman who, riddled with insecurities, probably merited the moniker of diva at times, but there is no doubting her talent or her drive, bringing all of herself to her remarkable performances in her never-ending quest to be the best she could be. Goodwin combines fact and fiction to provide an intimate portrait of Callas, sweeping us up in the highs and lows of her life, the heartache and heartbreak that lay behind the public persona - and it all makes for an engaging read.

This is a great book and story and a re-telling of a modern Greek legend that is raw, tragic, emotional and at times is overwhelming and heart-breaking. This is a story we have all heard at some stage in our lives so to take that and paly with it to make a book the is absolutely intense is a great achievement.

Love the way this book is written and the story-telling is faultless. It is a book that I found easy to follow and very entertaining but there was so much substance as well. A well balanced book with plenty of insight to all involved in this scandal. Loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and Aria & Aries for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I enjoyed this book immensely. Knowing almost nothing about Maria Callas I was fascinated to learn the story of her affair with Onassis and how it affected her career. Obviously fiction this book is based on fact and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about a woman once considered the best opera singer in the world.

I never knew much about opera singers, but even i had heard of Maria Callus. This story portrayed her as a person, showed her passions, her background, and her loves. Totally engrossing and gave me such respect for this true diva.

I really loved Goodwin's The Fortune Hunter back when that came out and was hoping that this would be something I would enjoy as much. But for me, it didn't quite deliver. Having set itself up as being about Callas and Onassis, it then doesn't really come back to that relationship kicking off until the half way point. The characterisation of Maria also felt quite basic - and it was really hard to understand or empathise with anyone in this. I've read a few books about the Callas Onassis Kennedy situation and I'm not sure any of them have really delivered, so perhaps it's just a difficult one to pull off? Never mind.

Diva is a fictionalised retelling of the life of opera superstar Maria Callas and her great love affair with oil magnate Aristotle Onassis which ended in tragedy for Maria when he married former first lady Jackie Kennedy.

The book is well written and a story compelling and fast read.

I did not know anything about the story before reading so it was fun to learn something new and read a good book too

Diva is a novel about Maria Callas with a focus on the period when Maria met Aristotle Onassis and the time of that relationship until it ended.

Daisy Goodwin has based this book on a solid research background but she has chosen to write it as a novel to explore how it must have felt to be Maria Callas, to experience what she did and to sing like she did. Daisy Goodwin went as far as taking opera singing lessons to get a feel herself of what it takes to perform as an opera singer.

The result is an excellent novel which takes the reader into an empathetic journey through this period of the life of Maria Callas. It is a world of jet set, where Maria Callas, the singer, is at the top of her career and fame, travelling the world and performing in the most prestigious concert venues in the world. It is a time when Maria, as a woman, is going through a roller coaster in her relationships. She is married to Giovanni Meneghini when she meets Aristotle Onassis who is determined to win her heart. This led to her divorce and their relationship lasted many years, until Onassis married Jacqueline Kennedy. The novel also explores the relationship Maria had with her family and with other people in her entourage, as well as her physical condition, the weight loss she had been through and the issues she was gradually encountering with her voice. As any novel, it is an interpretation of the character of Maria Callas and, because it is so well researched, it is very immersive and as we read the novel, we feel compelled to read more about this extraordinary woman, singer and actress.

I liked the idea of going beyond the biographies, recordings and interviews and think how it felt to be Maria Callas. I really enjoyed this novel, beautifully written, evocative, interesting and full of admiration for the great diva.

This is the first book I have read by Daisy Goodwin and it did not disappoint. I know a little about opera and was fascinated to read the story of Maria Callas. A wonderful historial fiction read brought beautifully to life by Daisy.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers Head of Zeus for the ARC.

Well written story but I did lose patience with the two main characters (and yes I know that this is based on real people). Interesting version of the events

It’s 1956 and Maria Callas is at the height of her fame but conscious that her extraordinary vocal ability cannot last forever. Her life is a whirlwind: travelling to different cities across the globe for performances, having dress fittings with her couturier and attending glamorous parties – the sort of parties where Cary Grant greets you as he walks past your table, Maurice Chevalier comes over to wish you happy birthday, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor pop over for a chat.

But maintaining the persona of la divina comes at a cost. Conscious of having been overweight as a child, Maria seemingly subsists on a diet of steak tartare and green salad in order to maintain an unnaturally trim figure, hides her shortsightedness behind sunglasses and avoids anything that might risk damaging her voice.

The author shows us Maria the woman, not just the diva. Maria’s relationship with her mother – never strong because of Maria’s suspicion that she always favoured her sister – has broken down completely and will later descend into a war of words and accusations. She’s in a stale marriage in which her husband has become more a manager of her theatrical engagements than a lover. (He, however, remains fiercely devoted to her and I felt great sympathy for him.) Although surrounded by people, she comes across as rather lonely, with her maid the only person she can truly rely on or confide in.

It’s no surprise then that Maria is attracted to Aristotle Onassis, who showers her with attention and a constant stream of expensive gifts. She believes it is Maria Callas the woman he desires, not Maria Callas the opera star. They embark on a passionate affair, under the nose of Onassis’s wife who is finding her own pleasure elsewhere. (I confess I found the sex scenes between Onassis and Maria a little squirmy.) Ignoring the warnings of others and despite being aware of Onassis’s many past dalliances, she believes their relationship is different. ‘Maria knew that she was not some conquest, she was his equal: a Greek of humble origins who had made herself into a world-famous star but who, underneath, was like him – a simple soul.’

Oh dear, how wrong can she be… As she eventually discovers – and only after an act of the utmost cruelty and a very public humiliation – she’s just one in a long line of conquests. Another notch on his bedpost, if you like. While he’s servicing the current conquest, he’s already grooming the next one. And setting his sights higher than the world’s most famous opera singer, as it turns out.

In the end, all Maria is left with is what dignity she can muster and her ability to hold an audience spellbound with that glorious voice, a thing that only time can take away.

Diva gives us the highs and lows, the triumphs and tragedies of Maria’s life. It’s an absorbing work of fiction but necessarily departs from fact in some places.

From her poor beginnings Maria Callas has risen to become the greatest soprano in the world however, her personal life is not so fulfilled. In a loveless marriage, her manager husband pushes Maria too hard and when her voice fails, she is called a Diva, and worse. Then Maria meets the charismatic and fabulously rich Aristotle Onassis and falls in love. Can Maria get her happy ending or will she be like one of her tragic opera heroines?
Goodwin has a talent for writing fictionalised stories about well-known figures that contain enough fact to be taken fairly seriously but are actually just really great entertainment. Here her subject is the great operatic star Maria Callas but Goodwin focuses on the key years of her affair with Aristotle Onassis. There are some liberties taken for narrative effect but the author admits this and I think the changes make the story a better read - yes, it's very light but it's a well-crafted, enjoyable read.

The story of Maria Callas, the La Divina of the opera world. She was the most incredible singer and led an amazing life but it was learning of heartbreak that truly found her voice.

This was an interesting read. I knew of some of the characters but not Maria's role in the story. She led quite the life and this was told thoughtfully through the story but it did seem to drag on a little at times. I think I was expecting a little more drama. I did grow to love Maria and her strength that develops more throughout the story. The ending in particular was so well written. A fascinating look at the life of an opera star.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I have waited 10 years for another book by Daisy Goodwin and this did not disappoint. This is a historical fiction not a biography so some artistic liberties are obviously taken to imagine the inner working of Maria's life but Daisy does it so beautifully.

Heartbreaking and full of wonderful attention to detail this book helped me out of a reading slump. It was fascinating read even if sad in parts.

If I have to wait another 10 years for a Daisy Goodwin novel then I will gladly do so. Gorgeous writing and I'd recommend to everyone!

#bookreview #bookish #books #diva #netgalley

Inspired by the life of Maria Callas, the iconic soprano, this is an enjoyable and emotional story. It is engaging historical fiction that dramatically portrays the rise of a diva in a time that worshipped musical artists and film stars like gods. It evokes the life of a successful opera singer well, showing the commitment, stamina and sacrifice necessary to maintain and improve a unique talent. The epic love story with Onassis is equally heartwarming and heartbreaking. It's lyrically written, full of historical detail illuminated by the author's interpretation of the players in Maria's life. I loved the story's characters, relatability and immersive qualities. It's an entertaining read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I absolutely adored this book. One of the best I’ve read for a while. Non fiction presented in a fictional way gives you the chance to learn about Maria Callas’ life. It was very interesting to read about and very sad in some parts. A definite don’t miss book.

I feel utterly grateful to have been approved to read this book as I was rather interested in a fictional representation of Maria Callas. I loved the way that Goodwin brought to life this fascinating woman and set the scene well as her affair with Aristotle Onassis develops.

Fascinating, I had heard of Maria Callas and of her affair with Aristotle Onassis but did not know her. Daisy Goodwin introduces us to Maria Callas the person and shows how hard she worked to become and maintain her status as a Diva.

Definitely worth reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read Diva.

“No man has ever had to justify achieving perfection”
“I will always be as difficult as necessary to achieve the best “
A novel retelling the turbulent life of opera singer Maria Callas.
It’s a novel not a biography.
The book is set as a three act drama, centring around her scandalous love affair with Greek shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, the richest man in the world at the time.
But it also had lots of flashbacks to her earlier, unhappy childhood.
I found it a bit disjointed and personally through it didn’t have a continuous flow, especially with the flashbacks.
But what a story, beautifully written and full of passion and ambition.
Thanks @daisygoodwin, @hozbooks and @netaglley for the interesting read.