Maria Callas was a world famous opera singer, a diva and was known as la the divine one. Maria had one of the best Soprano voices of all time and don't mention her trills, when she took to the stage her performances were perfect and flawless and many of her fans cried tears of joy.

Maria was born in 1923, in Manhattan, New York to Greek parents, her mother Litza was domineering and decided to return to Greece when Maria was thirteen and leave her husband George. Maria never felt good enough and her sister Jackie was her mother’s favourite, Maria sang during the Second World War so they could eat and it didn't change her mothers attitude towards her. Maria married Giovanni Meneghini, he was in charge of her schedule, and he expected her to sing too often and she worried her vocal chords would be damaged from overuse.

Maria encounters rich shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, she falls madly in love with him and the couple are together for over nine years. During this time Maria meets some of the world most influential people, including Sir Winston and Lady Churchill, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Prince Rainer III of Monaco and Princess Grace. Ari showered Maria with expensive gifts, cruises on his lavish boat the "Christina", despite both being divorced Maria and Ari never married and it was the security and faithfulness she craved and not diamonds.

I received a copy of Diva by Daisy Goodwin from Aria & Aries and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. In my opinion Ms. Goodwin wrote about the real Maria Callas, the teenager who felt her mother didn’t love her, Maria was chubby, she lost weight and constantly worried about putting back on, she always felt unsure, where to preform and how many shows, what songs to sing, should she sign a record contract and give into pressure to make a movie?

When Maria finds out Aristotle Onassis had married the former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, she’s heartbroken and of course he didn’t tell her. For Maria this was a defining moment, with the help of her faithful maid and companion Bruna,Maria decided she wanted to start singing again, and opera is her true love and she’s better than ever. Ms. Goodwin's narrative was fascinating, well written and I rode the highs and lows of Maria Callas’s career, her personal life and five stars from me.

Having read other reader’s’ reviews I wasn’t entirely sold on this book. However I was pleasantly surprised. The way it is written is more like a fictional novel than biography: exciting, compulsive and fast paced. I’m not an opera buff, but Maria Callas sings her heart out in this book and is truly a Diva of her era. Her life story, a nobody to fame, is fascinating and her romance with Aristotle Onassis unreal. A magnificent read.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Aria & Aries for this advance copy.

Diva tells the story of Maria Callas, still thought of as one of the greatest opera singers of all time, and her relationship with Aristotle Onassis, the Greek tycoon.

I really enjoyed this book, the author brought the characters fully to life and there was enough backstory to help explain how Callas, the diva, differed from Maria, the woman, and how her past had shaped her. Her relationships with her family, her unsettled life as a child and young woman, her fear of losing her voice explain how vulnerable she is and why she would fall so hard for someone who is fairly obviously unreliable from the start.

I only knew the bare bones of the story beforehand and I’ve no idea how accurate much of this is but it is a novel based around the life rather than a biography and as such, it’s a very entertaining read.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

#Diva #NetGalley

Maria Callas, known as "la divina" in the glamorous and fiercely competitive realm of opera, is a renowned figure. With her magnificent voice, natural talent for dramatic expression, and striking beauty, she has become a celebrated icon in the world's most prestigious opera houses. However, her path to success was strewn with challenges, as she grew up in war-torn Greece under the relentless exploitation of her mother. This early adversity taught Maria the vital skill of self-preservation.

The resounding applause she received on stage filled her with a comforting warmth, washing away her fears. In those moments, she transcended her vulnerable self and transformed into Callas, the esteemed la Divina, capable of captivating even the most critical audience.

There was an indescribable power in the applause, an unparalleled feeling of love that she could not find elsewhere. It became the strongest form of affection she had ever experienced in her life.

However, Maria's isolation dissipated when she encountered Aristotle Onassis, a fabulously wealthy shipping magnate. For the first time, she believed she had found a man who saw her for who she truly was, beyond the realms of her legendary soprano persona. Consumed by love, Onassis introduced her to a world of unimaginable luxury, where she rubbed shoulders with luminaries like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Early on, Maria had learned that the world cared little for her well-being as Maria herself, but rather for Callas, the revered diva. Only one man had truly perceived her as a woman, recognizing her beyond her divine vocal abilities.

And then, abruptly, it all came crashing down. The international media announced that Onassis would marry the most famous woman in the world—former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy—leaving Maria shattered and forcing her to gather the fragments of her life.

In this exceptional piece of literature, author Daisy Goodwin masterfully brings to life a woman whose extraordinary talent, unyielding determination, and innate elegance rendered her a legend. It is through the profound heartache of losing the man she cherished that Maria Callas finally discovered her authentic voice.

Maria Callas, a name familiar to many, yet shrouded in mystery. The poignant portrayal of her vulnerabilities, fears, and lifelong quest for love and familial support made her as relatable as someone we might cross paths with.

While not a biographical account, this work of fiction stands on a foundation of fundamental truths, offering a gentle, compassionate perspective on Maria Callas. The eloquent prose, rich with exquisite details and seamlessly shifting timelines, imbues the story with a dynamic atmosphere, making Maria's sorrow palpable and deeply moving.

Absolutely awe-inspiring. This insightful and compelling novel unveils the multifaceted aspects of Maria Callas's captivating life, resonating with readers from all walks of life.

This was such an interesting and gorgeous read. I feel this will be great for book clubs and anyone who has an interest in Jackie O as well. I know this is a more factionalized story but still very fun to imagine and think of these amazing these that occurred at a very poignant time in history. Beautiful cover as well!

Absolutely astonishing. Maria Callas was a name I knew of but knew nothing more about. This insightful and powerful novel showed so many sides to her captivating life.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
I was familiar with Daisy Goodwin from her “the American Heiress” and I am really glad that I could read “Diva” too.
I have not been a fan of Maria Callas and I had no idea about her personal or professional life. The way it was expressed, her vulnerability, her fears, her longings made her almost real in my mind. She wanted the same things as a child, love and support of a family and always sought this unsatisfied need throughout her life.
It is not a biography, it is a fiction with basic facts as pillars and I think the way the author gave voice to Maria Callas, is gentle, kind and supportive. The writing was so elegant and rich, the details were so nicely inserted, the time changes giving a dynamic atmosphere to the story, I can sat that the sorrow she had was palpable and it caught me.
Thank you for such a great book