A review by tessa_talks_books
Diva by Daisy Goodwin

4.0

 

One-word review: Moving

Emojis: 🫢🫣🤫

Rating:  4🌟s

My thoughts:

Before I began Diva by Daisy Goodwin, Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis were simply names of famous people who had passed. After I finished the novel, they were fleshed out so exquisitely that I felt I knew them inside and out, and I was forever moved by Maria Callas' story.

Maria Callas was considered a diva because she controlled everything around her. She wouldn't accept anything less and left no doubt about that fact. But that hardness and determination was a shield that protected a soft and injured middle from a childhood filled with hurt and abuse. Aristotle Onassis swept Maria away with his zest for life. But, let's face it, Aristotle was a cad through and through - in the novel and real life. And he would hurt every woman who loved him, including Maria.

This story is told so compellingly and authentically that even though I know it took liberties with some historical facts, I felt it was the actual version of what happened. So, (in other words) I had no trouble suspending my disbelief. The character development is amazing. I was moved and felt great empathy for Maria, who was unprepared for an Aristotle Onassis or the feelings he created in her.