Daisy Goodwin’s Diva brings the legendary opera singer Maria Callas to life, capturing her meteoric rise, scandalous affair with Aristotle Onassis, and eventual heartbreak. While the novel is well-researched and offers fascinating glimpses into the world of opera and mid-century celebrity culture, it falls short of delivering an emotionally gripping narrative.
Maria Callas was a powerhouse on stage, but offstage, she was hard to sympathize with. She was arrogant, demanding, and selfish, making it difficult to feel invested in her story. Her affair with Onassis, the world’s richest man, was filled with passion and luxury, yet it lacked the depth needed to make readers truly care about their relationship. The book touches on interesting aspects of Greek history, especially during WWII and the Civil War, but the overall plot remains surface-level.
The novel’s abrupt ending is frustrating. After Onassis leaves Maria to marry Jackie Kennedy, the book wraps up too quickly, leaving little insight into Callas’s later years. A deeper exploration of her struggles post-Onassis would have added much-needed emotional weight.
While Diva offers an entertaining look at the glamorous and cutthroat world of opera, it doesn’t fully capture the complexity of its protagonist. Readers interested in Callas’s life may enjoy the historical details, but the novel itself is just okay—nothing special. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
** Thanks to the publisher for a comp of this book. The opinions are my own.