Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Prima Donna: A Novel

by Megan Chance (Goodreads Author)

3.5 of 5 stars 3.50 · rating details · 145 ratings · 27 reviews

Opera singer Sabine Conrad is the toast of nineteenth-century New York high society. A celebrated soprano with the voice of an angel, she is showered with adulation by her audiences and courted by wealthy patrons. But behind the scenes, her every move is controlled by a Svengali-like manager, Gideon Price. When her attempt to escape him goes tragically awry, she flees, lea...more

Paperback, 418 pages

Published December 29th 2009 by Broadway (first published December 16th 2009)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 323)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jan 09, 2010 Misfit rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, get-it-from-the-library, one-time-read-only

Sabine Conrad thought she had it all - the grand Prima Donna of the stage, the darling of New York society as well as the *love* of her controlling manager Gideon Price - until she is involved in a murder that sends her running to the farthest corner of the country, Seattle. Down on her luck, and going by the name Marguerite Olson she takes employment with a saloon keeper that eventually grows into a business partnership as well as a *relationship* of sorts. The story is told in alternating view...more Sabine Conrad thought she had it all - the grand Prima Donna of the stage, the darling of New York society as well as the *love* of her controlling manager Gideon Price - until she is involved in a murder that sends her running to the farthest corner of the country, Seattle. Down on her luck, and going by the name Marguerite Olson she takes employment with a saloon keeper that eventually grows into a business partnership as well as a *relationship* of sorts. The story is told in alternating viewpoints, the later storyline in Seattle is first person narrative of Sabine and her past history as a young opera star is told via excerpts from Sabina's diary. Eventually Sabine/Marguerite's past comes back to haunt her and she must chose between her new life or the old one that comes calling once again – can she resist the lure of the stage and the public’s adoration?

*Yawn*. Despite not being a great fan of opera, I actually had great hopes for this one, especially with the setting being my own home town - Seattle. Unfortunately as some other reviewers have noted none of the characters were terribly likeable and in fact most times were downright distasteful as was much of the language they used as well as their sexual relationships (does everyone like it rough and ready?). Sabina was bordering on TSTL over Gideon and his machinations (oh come with the suspecting the maids of stealing her jewels), and I also found it hard to believe that no one would have raised an eyebrow at a young girl old traveling around the country with her brother and *manager* without a proper escort.

I did enjoy the old Seattle setting and didn't really catch anything that sounded out of place and very much appreciated her including "The Mountain" in her settings (Rainier does dominate the landscape just a tad when she deigns to show herself), but I think I would have enjoyed it more if there'd been some more interaction with the founding fathers, but outside of a very brief appearance at the end that is not to be. It would have been nice to see Sabine interact with Asa Mercer as well as a Pike or Boren. In the end, it is a good book but not a great one. Get it from the library if you must and then buy it if you love it.
(less)

like 1 like · see review

Aug 12, 2010 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a story about journeys and self-discovery. Sabine Conrad is running from a crime she committed. She is also running from herself and the person she has become. In Seattle she changes her name to Marguerite and tries to become a different person; tries to forget who she is. But you can never change who you really are, especially Marguerite. In her past as Sabine, music and singing were everything to her. They were woven into every fiber of her being. Music was her soul.

Every so often, the...more This is a story about journeys and self-discovery. Sabine Conrad is running from a crime she committed. She is also running from herself and the person she has become. In Seattle she changes her name to Marguerite and tries to become a different person; tries to forget who she is. But you can never change who you really are, especially Marguerite. In her past as Sabine, music and singing were everything to her. They were woven into every fiber of her being. Music was her soul.

Every so often, the chapters are entries from Sabine's journal, written during her early days as she tried to build her singing career. Sabine traveled the country with her brother Barrett and her teacher Gideon. Sabine and Gideon fell in love during this time, and maintained a secret relationship. Both Sabine and Gideon did things they regretted, but most of it was to further Sabine's career. There were no innocent parties, just two people who loved each other, but yet never really communicated with each other. You know, say one thing but mean something else. Good things never come from this type of behavior. As the story unfolds Marguerite likes to think of herself as a victim, but she was just as responsible for her actions as Gideon was for encouraging her. Both of them were at fault.

A leopard can only hide her spots for so long, before they pop out again. So it was for Marguerite and music. She was a sad, empty, shell of a person without her singing. Marguerite tries to ease her pain on a daily basis until she befriends Charlotte. Charlotte starts to coax things out of Marguerite, and the walls she built begin to fall. Marguerite begins to face certain truths, and the story moves forward from there. I don't want to give you any spoilers, but I will tell you that Marguerite eventually comes to terms with Sabine. Her actions, her sense of being, who she is. At least now Sabine can now live her life on her own terms with no more secrets.

With respect to 1880s Seattle frontier, Chance's writing certainly brought that time and place to life for me. It was a rough and tumble place, and women did what they had to to survive. Overall I enjoyed the story, however it did drag a bit in the 3rd quarter of the book. I was also a little tired of Sabine's journal entries because she was acting like a child, not growing up. She was a Prima Donna in the truest sense, whereas Marguerite was growing up and realizing herself, who she was. That probably also comes from what she had to do to survive. Towards the end, the story picks up the pace and ends quite well.
(less)

like 1 like · see review

Apr 14, 2010 Shawn rated it 3 of 5 stars

This novel about an opera singer in the 19th century captured my interest, being a singer myself. I thought that the intrigue and mystery connected with the storyline would be satisfying, and make for a good read. Well---little did I know that this female author chose to throw in quite a bit of bad language----words that I have to wonder that they would say in those days, as well as sexual situations that didn't really add to the storyline, nor need to be there. It wasn't really of the bodice-ri...more

like 1 like · see review

Feb 17, 2010 Rose Lerner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

I've loved Megan Chance for years. I love her heroines, especially, their bitterness and fear and bravery. Prima Donna was split up into the heroine's present-day (well, 1878 "present-day") and flashbacks to her earlier life. The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is that the heroine had grown so much in the intervening years, and I didn't quite adore the flashbacks as much as the present-day stuff (set in Seattle! I love my city). I loved seeing her change and come to some tough realiz...more

like · see review

Feb 15, 2010 Elizabeth Scott rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've read some of Megan Chance's other books (I highly recommend An Inconvenient Wife, which has one of those endings that just leaves you gasping) but this, I think, is her best yet.

It's not for you if you don't like narrators who are--well, let's put it this way, you don't want to cross opera singer Sabine Conrad or, as she becomes, Marguerite Olson. She's not a character you love--she's a character you are fascinated by, not just because of what she does, but because of how she has created s...more

like 1 like · see review

Apr 11, 2011 Aviva rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is great. You really get to experience the crazy insanity that was wealth during this time period, and you get the seedy underbelly. Not to mention the dirt in the mining town. Sabine/Marguerite does a lot of things she's not proud of to survive, but she does survive and the diary entries that tell the story of the way it used to be, juxtoposed with what her life is like in Seattle is excellent. When Gideon (the manager) shows up and tells her the way things really were both Sabine and...more

like · see review

Nov 10, 2009 Tara Chevrestt rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, arc

This story is told from two different view points. One viewpoint is twenty seven year old Sabine who is living in Seattle and working in a saloon hiring prostitutes and constantly looking over her shoulder in fear that her past will catch up with her. The other viewpoint is seventeen year old Sabine's journal and it talks about the opera and her lovers and the all the scandal and family problems. The journal also slowly leads readers step by step towards understanding why and how Seattle Sabine...more

like 1 like · see review

Sep 23, 2011 Kaye rated it 1 of 5 stars

I first read Megan Chance's City of Ash. I shouldn't have. It has lots of F-bombs. I even emailed the author and asked why she put so much crappy language in. She responded that the characters in that time period would have talked that way. She suggested I read her other books which she said didn't have as much bad language. I got 20 pages in to Prima Donna and saw she was wrong - that one is just as bad. I can't recommend this book or City of Ash. It's too bad because the historical part of Cit...more

like 1 like · see review

Apr 19, 2011 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 19th-c, arc, historical-fiction, united-states

I was excited to read this book for a couple of reasons – particularly the choice of setting and unique character occupation – and I really don’t know what took me so long to get to it. The story itself moves between the present with Marguerite in Seattle and the Journal of Sabine Conrad. I liked how the author used his technique to reveal certain information to the reader from the journal that helped to piece together some of what was happening in the present. The aspect of the story that I fou...more I was excited to read this book for a couple of reasons – particularly the choice of setting and unique character occupation – and I really don’t know what took me so long to get to it. The story itself moves between the present with Marguerite in Seattle and the Journal of Sabine Conrad. I liked how the author used his technique to reveal certain information to the reader from the journal that helped to piece together some of what was happening in the present. The aspect of the story that I found most interesting was the choice of Seattle as the setting for most of the current-set plotline. I don’t know of too many hist-fic novel that have taken advantage of this locale. I think that it is a unique choice and it was so interesting to see it juxtaposed with the bigger, more established cities like New York and Philadelphia at that time. It was almost like another character that you got to know – a seedy, dirty, up-and-comer!

In another unique move, Sabine Conrad (as in “The Journal of”) is an opera singer. I haven’t read any books about opera singers and it was certainly interesting to be immersed in that world of music. I learned many things about music, opera, and the stories that they tell. What was interesting to me is that at this time, during the 1800’s, opera appeared to be a very popular entertainment. Everyone seemed to at least know something about the opera, even if they couldn’t afford to attend – they were the celebrity singers of the day. I couldn’t name one opera singer for you if I tried!

Just a quick word of warning – there is some violence and sex scenes and much of the story takes place in a “box house” which is like a bar with private rooms. Certainly not terribly graphic but there are some mildly disturbing descriptions (particularly toward the end of the book).

I really enjoyed this story. The writing was fast-paced and kept the story barreling ahead. At the end of each chapter I didn’t want to put it down because there was always a little something to keep you coming back – especially the Journal chapters. You really don’t find out for certain what happened until right at the very end – and you will find it very hard to guess accurately! I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to have the chance to look into some of this author’s other novels.

This book was received for review from the publisher - I was not compensated for my opinions and the above is my honest review.(less)

like · see review

Jun 19, 2010 Christy B (Readin' and Dreamin') rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-have-won, fiction, historical-fiction, neo-victorian

Sabine Conrad is on top of the world. She finds herself as one of the most popular sopranos in the country, until a shocking murder brings it all crashing down.

The story is shown through Sabine's journal entries documenting her rise to fame during the 1870s. The other parts take place in 1881 Seattle, four years after the murder, where she has assumed a different identity.

The journal entries were sometimes excruciating. I knew that she was young and everything, but good grief! She was dumb as a...more

like · see review

Nov 09, 2010 Barb rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-it, historical-fiction-1800s, read-in-2010

While I don't think this is the best work I've read from this author I still found the story and the characters interesting and enjoyable. I think Megan Chance is very good at writing characters in an ambiguous way so the reader isn't really sure how to interpret their actions. She's also very good at writing emotional or romantic relationships. I liked the way she did both in this story.

I highly recommend 'An Inconvenient Wife' by Megan Chance, which is a very interesting novel with some simila...more

like 1 like · see review

Oct 23, 2010 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-general, mysteries

I cannot summarize the story better than the blurb already listed without risking a spoiler. I am not usually attracted to novels in this genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is an engrossing read. Megan Chance's prose is smooth and easy to read through, but it feels rich and full. The atmosphere of the novel is present like fog through the entire read. Darkly erotic. Great descriptions and richly colorful scenes.

like · see review

Sep 18, 2011 Donna rated it 1 of 5 stars

I would give this 0 stars if I could. I read the first chapter and was totally turned off by it so I did a quick skim and read the last chapter, which confirmed to me that it would be a waste of my time to read this melodramatic, graphic book.

like · see review

Apr 24, 2013 Nattie rated it 2 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book right from the start, but after a good while I could hardly stand it.
First off, the author seems to have some kind of obsession with stench, piss, feces and spit and garbage. In every chapter she feels the need to dwell on how awful everything smelled, and people spitting and feces on the ground and grime and garbage.
The book becomes quite repetitive when Sabine/Marguerite hits Seattle. Rain, rain, rain, every other page talked about rain or dampness. Whore, whores, whoring....more

like · see review

Jun 06, 2011 Paige rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Paige by: Cali

I really enjoy reading books that take place locally here in Seattle. This was very entertaining and an easy, quick read. Just what I needed right now.

like · see review

Jan 01, 2011 Maria rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: literary-fiction

Opera star quits stage to become bad-ass saloon keeper? I didn't quite buy it. Too silly by far.

like 1 like · see review

Feb 18, 2010 Lori added it

Do yourself a favor and pick this book up. You will not be disappointed...I promise.

like · see review

Sep 09, 2011 lesleymac rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, historical, library, seattle

She writes really great female characters who move from fragility to strength.

like · see review

Apr 20, 2010 Jeweleye rated it 3 of 5 stars

A surprisingly good story set in 1870s Seattle about a successful singer trying to escape her past.

like 1 like · see review

Jun 03, 2011 Anne added it

fair T reading, nothing spectacular.

like · see review

Jul 10, 2012 Colette Madison rated it 4 of 5 stars

really liked this book

like · see review

Nov 06, 2011 Rosie rated it 3 of 5 stars

nice easy read

like · see review

Mar 01, 2010 Monica rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was teetering between 2 stars or 3 stars for this book. I really didn't like any of the characters, especially Sabine! The middle of the book really dragged, but the scene descriptions were great. I really felt like I was in 19th century New York and Seattle. The last 100 pages were a bit more interesting to me, but I still didn't care what happened to any of the characters and I hated feeling that way! I tried to care, but they were all pretty easy to dislike.

like · see review

May 28, 2010 Connie Rinell rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Feb 15, 2010 VanGoghChica rated it 2 of 5 stars

A bit too meledramatic for my taste but it made me grateful to be a femasle in this era.

like · see review

Jan 31, 2010 flybrarian rated it 2 of 5 stars

one small step above a romance novel. not for me.

like · see review

Mar 20, 2010 Jill rated it 5 of 5 stars

Currently Reading

like · see review

May 10, 2013 Beth marked it as to-read

May 10, 2013 Maggie Faire rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 09, 2013 Patty marked it as to-read

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (2)

Genres

Historical Fiction

19 users

See top shelves...

About Megan Chance

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Megan Chance is the critically acclaimed, award-winning author of several novels. Her first book won Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award for excellence in Romantic Fiction, and since then, her novels have received several awards and award nominations. The Be...more

More about Megan Chance...

Books by Megan Chance

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Prima Donna: A Novel

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Prima Donna: A Novel
avg rating	preview: Prima Donna: A Novel Goodreads rating: 3.50 (145 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6416703-prima-donna?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320542120l/6416703.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6416703-prima-donna?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Prima Donna: A Novel by Megan Chance[/url]

Prima Donna: A Novel

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combineOther Editions (2)

Genres

About Megan Chance

Books by Megan Chance

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Prima Donna: A Novel

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (2)