I just finished this intriguing book about Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas and how their lives interconnected with Aristotle Onassis:
Jackie and Maria: A Novel of Jackie Kennedy & Maria Callas
by Gill Paul
We already know Gill Paul can write an amazing story, and I’m fascinated by Jackie Kennedy (who isn’t?) but prior to reading, I had no idea who Maria Callas was.
Maria Callas was the most famous opera singer of this time period. She and Aristotle seemed to be soul mates, but he enjoyed “collecting famous people” and eventually, he couldn’t resist the challenge of wooing the world’s most famous widow.
Beginning in 1950s, a dual timeline introduces Jackie’s early relationship with JFK and Maria’s rising career. The women’s paths cross a couple times in society (not true), and Jackie’s sister Lee is also having an affair with Onassis (true).
Much of the story’s appeal is that it is entwined with world event and characters we already know. And I was introduced to the world of opera and the many famous people on Ari’s yacht The Christina. For example, Maria first boards Onassis’ yacht as a guest when he is also entertaining a failing Churchill. And Maria sings at the famous birthday party for JFK where Marilyn Monroe also sang.
This book was the most entertaining type of reading! My issue, however, with reading novels of this type is that when it’s over I’m left wondering what is and isn’t true, and the stories have entered my memory/mental collection of knowledge (for the time being anyway! ha!) and some of it is obviously fabricated. Of course the author gives the disclaimer that it is not a retelling of events but a “creative response.”
This is one of many noteworthy books that came out later in the summer and is perfect for a long weekend.