Maria Callas was a world renowned opera singer who overcame her childhood to become the best opera singer of her time. Diva weaves together Maria Callas’ personal life, career and her relationship with Aristotle Onassis into a great book that is easy to get lost in.

Before picking up this book I had never heard of Maria Callas, but I was interested in learning her story as soon as I started reading. The drama, glamor and the intrigue in her life was amazing to me and Daisy Goodwin did a great job weaving all of it together in this fictionalized biography of Maria Callas. I am always interested in learning more about stats from the last and I really did enjoy hearing her story.

I found this to be a well written story and was interested in Maria’s life from the beginning. Her relationship with Aristotle Onassis added a great element to the story, but all of her smaller, non romantic, relationships also brought a lot to this book. Whether you are a fan of Maria Callas, or never heard of her before and just interested in stars and history, this is a good read full of glamor and drama.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

This is the story of Maria Callas, famous and celebrated opera singer, her career, and her love affair with ship magnate, Aristotle Onassis. At first, I was a little unsure how I was going to feel about this book. The beginning didn't flow for me and felt a little staccato and pivoted to the next life vignette without much interweaving. But where things pick up is when Callas meets Onassis. I love messiness and their relationship was definitely messy, and I was intrigued through the duration of their relationship. I was rooting for Callas the whole time and wanted her to live up to her Diva name and be one in her relationship. After the initial few chapters, I found this easy to get into and I had a good time. Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

Diva is a great story about the life of Maria Callas, famous soprano opera diva. A very talented woman who was terrified of losing her voice one day and not being able to perform at her best.

Maria was very discipled as an adult in practicing her voice and controlling her weight so she could be at her best to perform, She was aware of her strengths and weaknesses. Maria understood how important her clothing was even when she was not performing, but in public. She had a designer that put all of her clothing and accessaries together in diagrams so she would know what to wear to look her best. She knew that being a diva meant that she had to look like one all of the time.

The personal relationships of Maria were sad. Once her singing ability was obvious, everyone wanted to be her friend and take advantage of her. She never knew who her real friends were, including her family and spouse. She did get the opportunity to mix with the elite from around the world, which made her life interesting. The history included in the story made it really interesting. This story covers Maria's life from 1940 to 1968, she was not living in the US during WWII, so that part was interesting too.

I read and listened to the audiobook of Diva. The audiobook included some recordings of Maria singing, which made the audiobook really interesting. There was also an interview at the end of the audiobook with the author that was not included in the book, the I really liked.. The narrator, Lorelei King, did a great job.

I have to admit that I did not know a lot about the life of Maria Callas before I read Diva by Daisy Goodwin. The only minor facts I was aware of about her were that she was a brilliant and talented soprano opera singer and that she had a long affair with the Greek shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis. I knew nothing about her early life, where she grew up, her relationship with both her mother and father and her sister Jackie and her early training that helped shape the rest of her life and career. I was lucky enough to have read and listened to Diva. A copy of the print book was sent to me through a Goodreads giveaway that I participated in and through Netgalley I was able to listen to the audiobook. The audiobook was superbly narrated by Lorelei King, one of my favorite narrators. I really enjoyed the added bonus of hearing excerpts of Maria Callas’ extraordinary performances of several of her most famous operas at various moments throughout the audiobook. That definitely added to my enjoyment and my appreciation of how talented she was. The audiobook also included a conversation with Daisy Goodwin and her singing teacher, Josephine Goddard at the conclusion. It was very informative and well worth listening to.

Maria Callis grew up in Manhattan. Both of her parents, Litza and George, were Greek. When Maria’s mother accidentally learned that Maria had a real talent as a singer, she had not hesitated to leave her husband of twenty-one years to return to Greece. Maria’s mother was convinced that Greece was the best place for Maria to receive formal training in opera. All of Maria’s dreams came to a sudden end. She was not going to be able to attend Juilliard. Maria was just thirteen years old when all of this occurred. Maria’s mother never hid her disappointment in Maria. She was never shown any affection or love from her mother and Maria craved that so badly as a young girl. It was so obvious and blatantly clear to Maria that her mother had always favored her sister Jackie, her older sister over her. Everything that Jackie was so graciously given were denied to Maria. Her mother criticized Maria relentlessly. She was overweight as a teenager and her mother constantly complained about her appearance. When Maria showed real talent as an opera singer, her mother took even more advantage of her and exploited her voice. Finally Maria had had enough. She cut all ties with her mother and went on to become one of the world’s most renowned soprano opera singers and never looked back.

Maria had married Giovanni Meneghini in Verona, Italy. At the time, Maria was still overweight and dressed badly but she and her husband were in love and he was managing her career. There were times when Tita, as she called him, took advantage of her, too. He made her sing more than she should have. In the back of Maria’s mind, she always recalled a conversation that she had had with her beloved singing teacher, Elvira de Hidalgo, the great Spanish Soprano, in Greece so many years ago. She warned Maria back then that there would be a time when her voice would not do everything she wanted it to do. She planted a seed in Maria’s mind that an opera singer always had to consider the time when notes could not be reached. As a result of that conversation, Maria always worried about when she would no longer be able to sing or her fans would grow tired of her. For now, Maria’s career flourished. She loved the response she received from her audiences. Their explosive cheers and the demand for numerous curtain calls were evident that she was the “Diva”, or “la divina, the divine one. Along the way, Maria dropped weight and looked the part of the “Diva” she had become. She was not only an excellent opera singer but her acting skills was equally impressive.

Then Maria was introduced to Aristotle Onassis, the wealthy shipping magnate. The fact that they were both Greek gave them a foundation to build on. Aristotle was used to getting what he wanted. He enjoyed a good challenge and Maria became his latest challenge to win over. Maria and Aristotle were both married when they met. That did not stop Aristotle from lavishing Maria with exquisite jewelry and gifts. Slowly, Aristotle won Maria’s heart. She was so in love with him. Through Aristotle, Maria met lots of very influential people including dignitaries and famous actresses and actors. All Maria wanted was Aristotle’s love. Their affair carried on for almost nine years.

When Maria learned about Aristotle’s marriage to former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy she felt as if she had been betrayed. She had been clueless. Maria learned about the marriage at the same time everyone else had. Her time with Aristotle was over and she knew it As hard as that was for her, she knew that she needed to end things completely. That was what she needed to do. Maria’s longtime and devoted maid, Bruna, helped Maria see the obvious truth about Aristotle and move on. Maria resumed to her career as an opera singer and proved to be at the top of her career when she did. Her singing was better than it had ever been. She was once again embraced by her fans and audiences.

Diva by Daisy Goodwin was beautifully written, well researched and and masterfully told. I learned so much about Maria Callis from reading this book and listening to the audiobook. It opened my eyes to the world of opera, to the life of privilege, to the fashions of the time, to ambition, to newly found self confidence, to glamour, romance, to desires and to ultimate heartbreak. I really enjoyed Diva by Daisy Goodwin and highly recommend it.


Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read the print version of Diva by Daisy Goodwin through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thank you also to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Diva by Daisy Goodwin through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This audiobook captivated my attention right off the bat and kept me hanging on for dear life the whole time!

Like the great diva herself, this book is magnificent.

I don’t know why I’ve never heard of Maria Callas but now I’m a big fan! I was drawn to the book because I love to sing (first soprano) and I love to read about diva behavior. If you enjoyed Evelyn Hugo and City of Girls, I think you’ll love this. It offers a behind the scenes look at Maria’s life and most memorable performances.

I LOVE that the audiobook includes clips of Maria singing between parts. That is such a cool feature and I’d love for more audiobooks that are memoirs/biographies to include clips of audio/singing from the subject.

I definitely did a deep dive google search on Maria after I started. She is stunning! I also checked out the other key people from the book. My favorite being Elsa Maxwell. I found a cool picture of her and her pet skunk. Life goals!

Maria’s life was one full of beauty. Her vocals are unmatched. But her life was also full of heartache. I hated hearing how she was used by so many people. Also, I wanted to punch Ari right in the face!

If you love historical fiction and strong women, you’ll love Diva by Daisy Goodwin. Thank you to NetGalley, Daisy Goodwin, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen! I have written this review voluntarily.

I have read plenty of books that have asides; however, this book had asides that were not relevant or enhancing to the story in anyway. I felt like they distracted, and even if they connect later-- it did not hold my attention long enough for me to care.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook.

I had previously read another Historical Fiction book about Maria Callas so when I saw this one I was excited to request it.

This book wasn't disappointing in the least. It kept me engaged in Maria Calla's life all the way to the end of the book. I love that there is a 30 minute interview at the end with the author as well. It really helped me understand how this book came about. They had clips of Maria Callas singing sprinkled throughout the book as well. I loved the narrator for this book as well. She did a great job.

If you are a fan of Historical Fiction, Opera, or Maria Callas check this book out.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

Opera superstar, Maria Callas, was known the world over for her unique voice and being a true Diva. When she was young her mother moved her from New York back to Nazi-occupied Greece where she learned about opera and her talent but her mother exploited her making her preform on street corners and for enemy soldiers. Maria kept a steadfast focus on her career and as she aged she became a remarkable singer preforming all over the world, partying with celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, and living a glamourous life she could only dream of. It was the soprano's torrid love affair with Aristotle Onassis, before he married Jackie Kennedy, that set her world ablaze.

Daisy Goodwin returns with a historical fiction portrait of one of the world's most famous opera singers. I confess I was not very familiar with Maria Callas and found her to be a very interesting subject where Goodwin showed a balance between the focused performer and a woman in love. I wish there had been some more focus on her career and not just the Onassis affair. I found the prose and dialogue to be a bit choppy with too much conversation about her weight. This is an interesting snapshot of a talented woman and makes me want to learn more about her.

I had the audio version read by Lorelei King who does an excellent job. She is engaging and easy to listen to. I also liked the incorporation of some operatic snippets between the major sections. The authors interview at the end also provided insight into her love of opera and the subject matter as well as her thought process when tackling this story.

Maria Callas is one of the best opera singers in the world. Her life has been all about her craft until she meets Aristotle Onassis and falls hopelessly in love. After 9 years as his mistress, his marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy is announced and Maria falls apart.

I found this historical fiction novel fascinating. The characters felt very real and authentic. The narrator also did a great job!

4.5 Stars

This book will really sneak up on you. I wasn't super into it at first and I was expecting to give it 3 stars, but as the story went on it drew me in more and more. Going into this I knew absolutely nothing about Maria Callas, which is wild to me because I am a fan of celebrity gossip and as it turns out, her life was juicy. The bulk of the book centers around her passion (her relationship with Aristotle Onassis) and her art (her career as the biggest opera singer of all time) and how those two things influence each other. My feminine rage is at an all-time high after learning about Ari Onassis. I will be his enemy until the day I die. The other fascinating part for me was reading about her social circle full of celebrities, politicians, and royalty. Getting a glimpse into the lives of the famous and ultra-wealthy was kind of sick and twisted and I'm going to be going down a dozen different rabbit holes to learn more about this group of people. If you're going to read this I would recommend the audiobook. the accents set the scene for me and you get to hear several clips of Maria singing as well as an interview with the author at the end.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Diva by Daisy Goodwin is a wonderful retelling of the life of opera singer Maria Callas and her amazing life. The narrator Lorelei King kept me wrapped in the story. This is a great audio book that anyone would enjoy.

What a delightful treat the book 'Diva' by Daisy Goodwin is. I thoroughly enjoyed the audio version of the story of the famous soprano Maria Callas, her career, her talent, her art and her relationship with Aristotle Onassis. I learned so much about her and her music that I didn't know. She was incredibly disciplined, incredibly intelligent and just full of raw talent. She was a force of nature. I especially liked the snippets of music with her singing throughout the novel. That really helped bring the novel to life. You don't have to be an opera fan to enjoy this story of Maria Callas's life, loves and work. I loved it, very highly recommended.

Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC audio book.

A fascinating fiction retelling of a famous opera singer - I had no information about beforehand. And I loved it!
The audio included snippets of Maria's performances- so magical.
A woman's desperate need to be loved for herself while sharing her gift with the world. Well written glimpse into Maria's life.

I enjoyed an early audiobook courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher.

What a fascinating story told in multiple acts like the operas in which Maria Callas so famously performed, with recordings of actual clips from her performances to separate the acts. Such a great touch for the audiobook, in addition to the surprise interview between the author and her own opera coach at the end. Maria lived a very dynamic life with extreme challenges and extreme triumphs. I didn’t know much about her prior to reading this book, but have been deep diving her life since starting it, and enjoy so much which portions of her life are present in this historical fiction and how her story was told. My heart absolutely broke for her multiple times as she faced various rejections over the story, or dealt with deep tragedies. Maria is a strong and woman whose life story I was so pleased to learn.

Daisy Goodwin has written a terrific book on the relationship between Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis, and hot it was! Her childhood was very difficult, and she felt that she could only find love when she was singing. The world loved her. And she fell hard for Onassis who was portrayed in this book as a randy devil who had many women at the ready! He was scandalous. She was in love with him and I am so glad she told him where to go in the long run! (everyone knows this so it's no secret or spoiler). Apparently many who knew her wrote a book about her...Mother, Sister, Accompanist...they all tell slightly different stories. Author's notes are as interesting as the book. I listened to the audio version and it was terrific!

Thank you to Netgalley for access to the advance listening copy of this historical novel about the life
of famed Greek American soprano Maria Callas.

It took me a few chapters to get immersed into this story. I rarely DNF books so I continued on until I got settled into the story. In the beginning chapters, the story switches from her early days in the 1930's to the 1960's, frequently shifting In time and location.

The heart of the story takes place once Maria had become a world-renowned opera star, playing the famous opera palaces like the Met in NYC and La Scala in Italy. We learn how disciplined she is, both in terms of her craft and her personal appendence, specifically her weight. She is married to the much older Battista, who is also her manager, and seems more interested in exploiting her talent for money than in her welfare. That is how her mother saw her, as the novel makes clear, as a means of survival.

The world Maria moves in is full of the famous (Marlena Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor) and the very wealthy like her lover, Aristotle Onassis. Their entanglement takes up a fair amount of the story, and his marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy is part of the story.

I was left feeling that Maria Callas, while a determined and intelligent woman, was essentially alone in the world. Her maid, Bruna, seemed loyal as did her friendship with director Franco Zeffirelli. To have such fame and wealth, but no real love.

As always, I listened on audio. Lorelei King, a new narrator to me, did an okay job. Her voices for both males and females were distinct and she caught the atmosphere of this posh world. But I did wonder if another narrator might have settled me into this story earlier. Not a bad performance, but a touch aloof in her characterizations.

I am a big fan of Daisy Goodwin and really enjoyed Diva. I did not know much of Maria Callas and I found this extremely interesting. The storyline between Onassis and Callas was the main storyline. The whole affair seemed doomed from the beginning and of course predictable but I loved all the characters and how they rounded out the story. Highly recommend.

Author Daisy Goodwin clearly tells the reader that this book is not a biography yet she tried to stay close to historical facts. I had heard of Maria Callas as an opera singer and romantically tied to Aristotle Onassis but learned so much more about this woman!

The book starts by giving us Maria Callas's background growing up (which always gives us a backdrop on why people are who they are) with a mother who favored her sister Jackie over her. Maria was raised to sing in the streets for money which started her on a career singing. As she was trained and learned to sing opera in languages she didn't even speak, she became one of the most well-known and loved opera singers of her time. The audiobook as clips of her singing from different operas.

Her husband was also her manager, which wasn't always easy because she could be quite "difficult", thus the title Diva! Aristotle Onassis, Greek billionaire, took an interest in her and invited her and her husband to visit him on his yacht to get away from the press. This is how she got to know him, Princess Grace, Jackie Kennedy and her sister Lee Radziwill. As most know, Onassis was quite the womanizer. Readers follow this story through her life, her career and her loves. Not knowing a lot about her, I found this story so compelling and hard to stop reading and listening to it.

My thanks to Net Galley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillian Audio for an advanced copy of this e-book and audiobook.

Maria Callas was an ultra-famous opera singer during the middle of the twentieth century. Her path to stardom was not paved with gold, however, and her frosty demeanor reflected the hardships she'd faced in her life. Faced with the unrelenting charm of the richest man in the world, however, Maria started to think that maybe she could let her guard down for Aristotle Onassis. Her optimism will prove to be ill-placed, though, when Ari becomes obsessed with gathering fame and power, putting Maria on a path to discover what truly matters to her.

I adored this book! I highly recommend the audio version, as there are clips of Maria singing throughout the story. Also, Lorelei King does an incredible job with the characters' voices and accents.

If you love the golden age of Hollywood and entertainment, you will enjoy this book as much as I did. I knew extremely little about Maria Callas before diving in, and I found her character to be incredibly rendered by Daisy Goodwin. I will definitely read this one again, if only to spend more time with Maria.

Thank you to Daisy Goodwin, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for my advance audio copy.