💎 Diva - Daisy Goodwin

3.5 ⭐️ - I had no idea who Maria Callas was before I read this book but you can bet I know a lot about her now. I was interested in this one because I’m a historical fiction fan and it sounded intriguing. The story telling is lovely and the overall story is engaging.

The writing in this book is captivating, melodic, and beautiful. The beginning was a bit slow and I found myself wondering what was happening. As the story progressed, I found myself more interested and engaged in Maria’s life, love, and growth as woman. She was beautiful, powerful, and strong. If you know who she was, this one is a definite read for you. If you don’t, look her up and then pick this one up! I definitely recommend this one on audio as it has clips of the real Maria Callas singing opera.

Thank you to Netgally, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin Press for the early access to this book and audiobook! Diva graces the book stage on 1/23!

I read Daisy Goodwin’s book Victoria and absolutely adored learning more about young Queen Victoria’s life. So when I saw that Daisy wrote a book about the famous opera singer Maria Callas, I was instantly intrigued.

Although I’m not a big fan of opera, I was fascinated with learning more about Maria. I really don’t remember much about her, except that she was connected to Aristotle Onassis.

I remember, barely, when Jackie Kennedy married Ari Onassis, and that Maria Callas was mentioned here and there.

I saw a fellow bookstagrammer’s review and knew this was something I needed to listen to, especially coming from Daisy Goodwin. I’m so glad I did.

This story was absolutely fascinating. Not only did I learn so much about the world of opera, but also the world of Divas and Hollywood starlets, and the aristocracy of the rich and famous, and the scandals!

Interspersed within the incredible audiobook were snippets of Maria’s singing. I’m not sure how many times I grabbed my phone and started pulling up photo after photo of Maria Callas throughout her life.

I also had an audiobook hangover after finishing. It took several days where I would pick up my phone to listen to an audiobook and realizing I had no more Maria Callas.

I need to go to Daisy’s backlist and see what else she’s written as I love how she writes and I learn so much through her books!

*Thank you so much to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the early copy of the audiobook!*

Wasn't as riveting as I had hoped...

Maria Callas, the legendary opera singer who took the world by storm with her mesmerizing voice. Follow her journey through the highs and lows of fame, and witness the tumultuous romance she shared with the charismatic Aristotle Onassis. Through all the glitz and glamour, the heartaches and struggles, Maria Callas remained an iconic figure.

I was excited to dive into a story filled with passion, fame, and tragedy. However, it fell short of my expectations. While the plot had a lot of potential, it lacked the necessary depth and emotional impact to truly captivate me. Overall, an okay read.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Daisy Goodwin, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

I was not familiar with Maria Callas, the legendary opera singer and Daisy Goodwin’s “Diva.” Goodwin’s writing lacked the detail and emotions to transport me to Callas’ external or internal world. Most of the story is delivered through choppy dialogue from unlikable characters including Callas herself. It was difficult to lose myself in the story or cheer for the heroine which would have made the book more enjoyable for me.

The audiobook features clips of Callas singing which is a real treat. Narrator Lorelei King gives a superb performance, playing a diverse cast each with his or her own voice and accent.

I recommend the book for readers that want an inside look to Callas’ life and longtime affair with Aristotle Onassis.

This was a really fascinating read! I didn't know really anything about Maria Callas, but certainly know Jackie Kennedy. I was so excited to learn more about this story. Historical fiction is always a favorite, but this was especially good! It was such a unique story, and it was so well told. The narrator was wonderful, the writing was stellar. The snippets of music throughout the audiobook really helped bring the story to life! The only thing keeping me from giving this 5 stars was the length. It felt like it dragged just a bit in some places.

I was especially fond of the role Bruna played in the story, and thought she was so well written for a supporting character!

I received a complimentary copy of this book (and audiobook!). All opinions expressed are my own.

I knew virtually nothing about the extraordinary Maria Callas. Even though this is a historical fiction, it reads like you actually stepped into her life and was part of it.

Where do I start with Diva? This story about Maria Callas, a majority of which is told during her nearly 10 year love affair with Aristotle Onassis, was more than I could have expected. I went into reading this book with zero knowledge of who Maria Callas was and her legacy, but Daisy Goodwin’s passion of the subject was palpable throughout the novel and I found myself stopping to look up historical references, learn more about Callas’ life, and even watch opera performances. I texted my boyfriend at one point while reading telling him that we need to go to the Opera because I was so intrigued by the art form.

While Callas’ life could be seen as tragic, and she often received the short end of the stick when it came to romantic affairs, I found her to be such a force. She lived life on her terms and that may have given her the Diva moniker, but she wore it with pride. I also appreciated learning about her story as a woman who occupied a body that was not the traditional sample size, especially during Old Hollywood where most female stars were extremely petite.

The audiobook was delightful as the narration also weaved in audio clips of Callas singing throughout which was an added bonus. As Callas’ story takes on the big screen this year with Angela Jolie portraying her in a biopic, this novel is a welcome addition to learn more about the legendary Diva.

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for an Advanced Review Copy in exchange for my honest review. Diva is out January 23, 2024.

I cannot stop thinking about this book. Diva is about the real-life opera singer Maria Callas. Maria grows up wanting to be a singer and succeeds in becoming one of the most well-known opera singers. The book tells the story of her rise to fame, her first marriage, and the affair with the Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.
This audiobook was incredibly well done. The narrator did a fantastic job and I loved the snippets of Maria singing before each part. This book really brought the character of Maria to life and made me so invested in her life story.

This novel has a lot of potential for folks that enjoy historical fiction and the opera.

I wanted to listen to this because it mentioned a well-known opera singer, Maria Callas, who I was unfamiliar with and it included Aristotle Onasis. I know a bit about him because I’ve read about Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis before, so I thought this would be another perspective to read more about her.

I found Maria to be quite flighty and annoying, honestly, her behaviors and learned uppityness just rubbed me the wrong way. I kept hoping she would learn to not behave like that as more men around her kept taking advantage of who she was and what they wanted. She was married to a man that is about 30 years older than her “just so he could take care of her” with his money…but he basically steals money from her. Then she begins flirting and even visiting Aristotle Onasis and his wife for extended vacations. Y’all know how I feel about infidelity in books [hint: unnecessary and bleh].

As this happened I just found that I was floating through the novel, not connected to Maria since she really wasn’t much of a likable character, and just continued to roll my eyes at the perceived “drama” stirred by Maria’s friend and at times even Maria herself.

The audiobook narration is well done, and I’d recommend the narrator again, for sure!

Author, Daisy Goodwin is so totally fascinated by Maria Callas it makes for a very informative audio. Callas never felt anyone cared for her except for her singing. This included her mother, who looked to Maria as a proxy for what she would benefit mother. If she did xyz, they could afford a car, but if Maria did a,b,c, they could afford a larger place.Her mother ended up finding a real manager for her daughter. They would one day marry, however he was just into being seen by the verywealthiest and used Maria to get the best performances. Audiences couldn’t get enough of the voice of Callas. She was the original form of a Diva.. her voice was perfection(everyone told her so, producers, director, and most of all, the public).. Her music teacher once told her that her voice was like being given a set amount of coins. And once you have spent them you are finished. Later in her life she did think of this and realized her time is numbered in being able to keep on performing at this level. She wasn’t classically beautiful. But she was enough to fill the opera parts.She would meet Aristotle Onassis and had an affair with him for many years. Aristotle was in a relationship and Maria was very jealous of the other woman. Ari and Maria lived in a luxurious apartment in Paris. One day when Maria returned home from tour. Everyone she saw was crying. She had no idea why. That evening, Ari received a call. Maria asked him about it. He said you haven’t heard? President Kennedy was shot and that was Jackie asking me to come be with her. Interestingly three months later they start dating and dood we’d . Maria is devastated and never gets over Ari’s marriage to Jackie. Their marriage was captured by the press in front of the little blue church in Greece, the very place Maria wanted to be married in but Ari never asked her. Shortly after the honeymoon he went back to Maria and said he couldn’t live without her.. it was a ver informative book about Maria Callus. I give a special thanks to #NetGalley, #MacMillan Audio,#St.MartinsPressAudio, #Daisy Goodwin, Diva pub.Date, Jan. 23, 2024

Diva tells the story of Maria Callas, one of the greatest Opera singers of all time. I loved learning about her childhood and romances, especially the one with Aristotle Onassis, who was the true love of her life. The narration is topnotch. I highly recommend this book.

Diva, a fictionalized novel about Maria Callas, narrated by Lorelei King, written by Daisy Goodwin is absolutely fascinating. Goodwin expertly sweeps the reader up in Callas's world—the life of an opera star, her feud with her mother, her fraught relationship with Aristotle Onassis, a late-term miscarriage, watching Jackie Kennedy marry the man she loved. Callas had a remarkable talent, but she lived a life few would envy. King was an absolutely pitch-perfect narrator. Highly recommend!!

"Diva" by Daisy Goodwin immerses readers in the glamorous world of opera and the captivating life of Maria Callas. However, for me, the writing style failed to keep my attention. The prose feels basic and uninspired, which made the reading experience less engaging. The vivid imagery was there, but it felt forced and lacked natural flow. Despite this we got a glimpse into Maria Callas's life, and her search for love, dealing with loss, and .search for identity against a rich historical backdrop.

Historical Fiction/Semi-Fiction Fans you will really enjoy this - but let me offer some advice - do it on audiobook🎧! The Narration plus music brings the story to life! I tried the paperback ARC but it felt too slow but the audio wow!)

While some of this story has been fictionalized from the truth, the story still is so interesting and mostly accurate. The Diva, aka Maria Callas, is one of the most famous opera singers in the world during the time of the Kennedy administration. She was born in Manhattan, NY to Greek parents and raised by her mother who was domineering and most often favored Maria’s sister Jackie. That is until she realized that Maria had a voice like a songbird. Once mom realized Maria’s talent, she relocated her to Greece to study music and opera; the struggle between Maria and her mom is throughout and Maria always feels that no matter what she cannot please her mom. Maria had weight problems most of her young life and worked very hard to lose the weight in the middle of her career and kept to a strict diet for the rest of her life. While married to another man she met Aristotle Onassi, who was also married. This wonderful book takes you into the private life of the “Diva” and paints a clear picture of what her life was really like, including the triumphs, losses, and struggles she experienced.

I loved the music that was incorporated into the audiobook and the historical references

An absolute perfect fictional depiction of Maria Callas and her meteoric rise to stardom, her relationship w/ shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, and her stunning talent. A pioneer in her field, Callas will make you understand the difference between stardom and true talent. Told from around 1956 through the inevitable breakup of her relationship with Onassis, this fabulous novel will have you looking up Callas' opera recordings and getting the chills from those B flats and High C's. Bonus if you get the audio book; some of Callas' most famous works are included.

*special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

Bravo, Bellissimo.

I was fully engaged in from start to finish. From dazzling stage lights, opera stories, fantastic jewelry, yachts in the Mediterranean, love triangles, god-given talent, '60's drama and high society... I constantly found myself googling photos, voice recordings and videos of our Opera Diva Maria Callas.

Goodwin packed so much into this book and still I wanted to hear more about Maria (in a good way, rather than a lacking way). Maria was multifaceted and there were so many threads that could have been pulled in her life, Daisy gave us a big peak into some of her prime years once she reached her peak fame, but Maria also spent her younger years struggling with her image, the war and being a young talent. Sometimes brash, snobby and willing to cause a scene, Maria never shied away from who she was, what she wanted and she certainly knew her worth. She brings the drama in the best way and the story flowed masterfully.

I loved it, I loved that this star is having her story told, that a light is being shown on the glamorous world of opera and that I was able to immerse myself into Maria Callas' drama & life for a few hours.

Pub Date January 23, 2024, thank you to St. Martin's Press & Macmillan for the gifted copy.

Thank you to St Martins Press for the review copies and MacMillan audio for the review audio! Daisy Goodwin does a great job giving depth to Maria Callas' life. I knew her name mostly from learning about opera and related spaces growing up (I grew up outside of NYC home to lots of arts exposure for me). My mom saw the book cover and said Oh she also had quite the story with Onassis before he married Jackie Kennedy... so indeed a name known by many. But Goodwin gives her a story that is more than just a name known for.... she allows us to know the person behind the name and her work is engaging and rich with detail and insight. I appreciated the story of her childhood and the story unfolding through the time around Onassis' marriage to Jackie Kennedy.

This is a great read for book clubs and great for historical fiction readers as well as readers like me who simply want to know more about strong, interesting, and compelling women!

The audiobook is a great way to engage with this book, Lorelei King's narration was well suited for the story and the voice of Maria Callas! I read some of the book, picked it up on audiobook when I was running errands over the weekend, and both formats worked well for me as I liked Goodwin's writing but also valued hearing the story on audio.

A fascinating historical fiction account of a famous opera singer, Maria Callas. I'd never heard of this incredible woman before and Daisy Goodwin does such a good job bringing her story to life. From her rise to fame, her many love affairs and heartbreaks. Good on audio too. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I didn't really know much of Maria Callas before reading this. I enjoyed reading this more than I would a traditional biography. It was an interesting look at her life. I didn't really relate to the people much, but their life experiences were interesting to read about. This is good for someone who likes a dramatic story. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I knew nothing about Maria Callas, except that she had an affair with Aristotle Onassis (Jackie's husband, in my mind) and that she was a performer. I really appreciated the way Goodwin fleshed out these historical figures and developed Callas as a conflicted woman and artist. If you like historical fiction, you might like this. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for permission to read this work prior to its publication date.