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laheath's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I did not know much about Maria Callas prior to reading this, but the author explored various aspects of her life with interesting detail. Her difficult youth, especially her relationship with her mother, contributed to making her the woman she grew to be and seemed never far from her mind even as an adult. As she rose to fame as an operatic soprano, she seemed to encounter few people that had her best interests in mind and was taken advantage of professionally as well as personally. At the same time, she did not always seem to be a sympathetic character. The added details of mid-20th century fashion and celebrities added to the appeal of the story (it's not just for opera fans). The audiobook included snippets of her various beautiful arias, making me look for additional footage and photographs from her life. The author's thorough research was apparent and appreciated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cursing, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
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