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The Doctor and the Diva

by Adrienne McDonnell (Goodreads Author)

3.32 of 5 stars 3.32 · rating details · 829 ratings · 208 reviews

A breathtaking novel of romantic obsession, longing and one woman's choice between motherhood and her operatic calling

It is 1903. Dr. Ravell is a young Harvard-educated obstetrician with a growing reputation for helping couples conceive. He has treated women from all walks of Boston society, but when Ravell meets Erika-an opera singer whose beauty is surpassed only by he...more

Hardcover, 432 pages

Published July 22nd 2010 by Pamela Dorman Books (first published January 1st 2010)

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Jul 29, 2011 Juliana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, romance, advance-reading-copy-or-galley, amazon-vine-program, 4-stars, love-story, womens-fiction, domestic-fiction, 20th-century-literature, set-in-1910s, adultery-and-infidelity, american-literature, american-historical-fiction, set-in-italy, set-in-usa, set-in-south-america, set-in-guiana, fertility, obstetrics, medical-history, 2010-reads, 2010-jul-reads, 0-reviewed, 0-own-in-dead-tree-form, 4-to-5-stars

Rich debut historical novel centering around three compelling and flawed characters

The Doctor and the Diva is Adrienne McDonnell's debut novel and in this reader's opinion, it is a very successful one. The book centers around an extremely talented woman, Erika Myrick, her wealthy and business-minded husband, Peter, and a successful obstetrician, Dr. Ravell. Erika and Peter have been trying to get pregnant for many years, but without any success. By the time they consult Dr. Ravell, Erika has giv...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* rated it 1 of 5 stars

"Rich historical romantic debut novel?" Rich alright..bad writing that was all over the place,characters I couldnt connect with at all to even TRY and get into the story. I usually make it to 150 pages,sometimes more before tossing in the towel. This was a record for me I didnt even get that far..I even skimmed to see IF it gets better..no chance. Maybe that's why the library had a sell off this weekend? Hmmmm..

7 likes · like · see review

Dec 02, 2012 VWrulesChick rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, reads-american, adult, books-read-in-2012, chick-lit, historical-fiction, romance, paperback, contemporary

Eye-opening look back to what was thought and done at the turn of the 20th century regarding infertility. Enjoyed the characters and the descriptions of these places, made on feel like one was at the beach in Trinidad or up the river in Venezuela or in the historic towns of Italy or in the cold Boston town. I would say this was a distant cousin to Bel Canto, but this story was way better! (with the Opera explanations, etc). Let me know what you think?

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Jul 06, 2010 Sophie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, 2010, adult-fiction, chick-lit, historical-fiction, romance

I'd like to thank Goodreads FirstReads giveaways for this advanced reader's edition. A hopeful pick, as always.

After finishing this novel, my strongest comment is that it's "chick-lit" trying to pass as historical romance. There's the historical setting, the forbidden affair, the disapproving family... but honestly, not a lot of romance. As a reader I never really connected with the characters; the descriptive writing was well presented, but the characters - even after 400 pages - fell flat. Th...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Tami rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wonderful read! If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. Stunning to realize it's a debut novel.

While taking place in the decade preceding WW1, the storyline is one that could easily revolve around women today thinking about, or actually balancing, careers with motherhood ...and Erika's struggles to decide her future at each crossroads in her life certainly rang true and authentic to me (being a similar age, in a similar situation, with similar thoughts and feelings). This is ultimately a...more Wonderful read! If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. Stunning to realize it's a debut novel.

While taking place in the decade preceding WW1, the storyline is one that could easily revolve around women today thinking about, or actually balancing, careers with motherhood ...and Erika's struggles to decide her future at each crossroads in her life certainly rang true and authentic to me (being a similar age, in a similar situation, with similar thoughts and feelings). This is ultimately a story about fallible human beings trying to be true to themselves, and as fair as they can to those around them. Erika & her husband Peter meet Dr Ravell, a renowed fertility specialist, in a last-ditch effort to start a family (at Peter's insistance - Erika herself remains ambivalent). Erika and Ravell begin a complicated relationship with ultimately life-altering consequences for both. In the meantime, Erika decides to go to Italy to further her operatic career (with mixed success), leaving her husband and young son in the States. A professional scandal sends Ravell to his Trinidadian estate, and one wonders if they will ever cross paths again.

The beautiful settings (Boston, Trinidad, Florence) and operatic world in which Erika moves perhaps serve to allow the normal human-ness of the characters to shine through. The character and story development never feels rushed or short-changed. I never got the feeling that there was a story or piece being missed, either - one that would have made this book any better.

Each character is given a voice in the novel (parts are told from each of their perspectives), which serves to "get into the head" of all of them and really understand why they made the decisions they did (especially Ravell's decisions while Erika was his patient..one major one, in particular) and not judge them, but just be interested in them, and fascinated by them. The chapters written from Quentin's perspective serve as a reminder of how a parent's choice can have a profound effect on the youngest of children.

Loved loved loved the ending!! (though it came way too soon - this novel is 432 pages (verrrry sumptuous to hold!), I read it in 2 sittings - couldn't put it down!)

The title of this novel does not do this novel justice..it's about so much more than the doctor and the diva.(less)

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Feb 02, 2011 Cleverly rated it 2 of 5 stars

I am trying to figure out how to write a fair review for this because the writing was excellent and this idea behind the plot was original and I am sure lots of people would have enjoyed this. The first half was awesome I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Infidelity, low morals and loose judgement was a major part in this book. Though I know that type of read is not for everyone it started to tell a great story. It's not a YA and I don't want anyone to confuse this as so.

Have you read a...more

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Sep 28, 2010 Lauren rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Doctor and the Diva is set in turn of the century Boston and tells the story of a gifted amateur opera singer (Erika) and her wealthy, globe trotting husband (Peter) with a seemingly perfect life. Except, Erika and Peter had everything but a baby. At a funeral, they meet Doctor Ravell, a Harvard educated obstetrician renowned as a fertility expert, but with a weakness for women. Doctor Ravell attempts to treat Erika and Peter's infertility at a time when it is widely assumed that only women...more The Doctor and the Diva is set in turn of the century Boston and tells the story of a gifted amateur opera singer (Erika) and her wealthy, globe trotting husband (Peter) with a seemingly perfect life. Except, Erika and Peter had everything but a baby. At a funeral, they meet Doctor Ravell, a Harvard educated obstetrician renowned as a fertility expert, but with a weakness for women. Doctor Ravell attempts to treat Erika and Peter's infertility at a time when it is widely assumed that only women are to blame for inability to conceive. Ultimately, Erika has a child but it isn't as glamorous as she expects. Because of spoilers I won't say more about the plot, but it really isn't as trite as I make it out to be - there are many twists and turns. The novel isn't JUST about fertility either - there is romance, there are details about the opera world, there is a lot of raw emotion.

I was immediately hooked into this story line. I also greatly enjoyed the authors characterizations of Peter, Erika, and Dr. Ravell. I thought that they were all characters with positive and negative traits and flaws. None of them stood out as awful people, but none were saints either. I also found the story of early obstetrics to be interesting. I think the main flaw is that at times - especially the beginning, when the characters were not as well fleshed out (and when the author details Dr. Ravell's romantic life) - I felt that the author made the novel too "Hollywood." As I delved depper into the novel, I found that it had an Edith Wharton feel, which i really enjoyed. Also, the characters became less flat and became well rounded. They also grew as people, which I appreciated, though not always for the better. Some passages were beautifully written and the author did a really great job tying Erika's passion - music - to her expression of emotion. Some aspects of the story were predictable (I was not surprised by Dr. Ravell's chosen fertility treatment), but others were especially surprising - I think Peter surprised me the most.

All in all, the Doctor and the Diva is a good read. It has a lot going for it - various interesting settings in the early 1900s, fertility issues, the opera profession, and interesting characters. I think it would be a good pick for Book Clubs.

Reviewed for AMAZON VINE.(less)

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Aug 13, 2010 Felice rated it 4 of 5 stars

What a pleasure it is when you get the triple threat historical novel. One that entertains, enlightens and surprises.

Opening at the turn of the 20th century in Boston, The Doctor and The Diva is the story of Erika von Kessler's search for herself. Opera singer wannabe Erika is happily married to successful botanist Peter. They would be a golden couple except for one thing, after years of marriage they have been unable to conceive a child. Erika is trying to reconcile herself to this but Peter s...more

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Aug 27, 2010 Kelly Hager rated it 5 of 5 stars

Peter and his wife, Erika, are desperate for a baby. They've been trying for years, but no luck. They meet Ravell, a doctor who's had a great deal of luck with couples that have problems conceiving.

Erika is also training to be an opera singer. Shortly after they begin fertility treatments (and although it's the early 1900s, they use a lot of the same treatments we use today--artificial insemination and in vitro--apparently they've been used for a long time, just not talked about), she realizes t...more

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Aug 03, 2010 Sheila Espineli rated it 2 of 5 stars

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

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Nov 01, 2010 Meaghan rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book is about a love triangle between a doctor who specializes in fertility, and an infertile couple trying to have a child. The book is set in early 20th century and therefore the technology surrounding fertility is a little less advanced than what we have now. I especially enjoyed the author's knowledge on the subject. Erika is unable to conceive a child with her husband, Peter, and as a result the two go to see Dr. Ravell. In the end the couple end up befriending Ravell and eventually Er...more This book is about a love triangle between a doctor who specializes in fertility, and an infertile couple trying to have a child. The book is set in early 20th century and therefore the technology surrounding fertility is a little less advanced than what we have now. I especially enjoyed the author's knowledge on the subject. Erika is unable to conceive a child with her husband, Peter, and as a result the two go to see Dr. Ravell. In the end the couple end up befriending Ravell and eventually Erika falls in love with the doctor and he with him.
I do not want to give away too much of the plot but I have to say I am a bit undecided about how I feel about the book. In many ways, I enjoyed reading the novel and wanted to know what happened next but in many other ways I was quite frustrated with the plausibility of the scenarios in the novel. I was also quite frustrated by the lack of moral compass in each of the three main characters.
For one, Ravell switches out Peter's sperm for his own when he discovers that Peter is unable to produce a child. He seems to do this without much vassilation and doesn't seem too guilty about it either. Ravell seems more concerned about getting caught and the consequences to him rather than the consequences on the other two characters who are supposed to be his friends.
Erika, near the conclusion of the book, abandons her child with Peter to pursue a career in opera singing. Not only does she physically leave him but she cuts off contact with her son the minute someone tells her it would be for his own good. Any mother who claimed to have as much love for her child as Erika claimed, would never cut off all contact with her son for a reason as selfish as hers.
The character of Peter also seems to be less than believable in his ability to emotionally cut people off. He is constantly travelling and never once sacrifices for his wife or his son in this novel.
As I say I did enjoy the writing style of this book but quickly became frustrated with the characters. I felt like yelling at them more than once while reading this. That is not to say I hated the novel. If I had I wouldn't have been as caught up in the plot as I had been.
One other disappoint was the way the novel ended; I felt that there was no real conclusion and things hadn't really been wrapped up. Overall I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.(less)

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Dec 08, 2011 Erica rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: don-t-do-it

This review has a spoiler:

I thought this book would be more inspiring and rich, but it was not. I felt there was too much written in great detail of mundane things and less of the story. The characters didn't offer much to like about any of them, all selfish in their own ways.

I can't imagine a mother leaving her child, or a man so desperate for a child he would knowingly let his wife have an affair to get pregnant and a romance lasting 9 years without contact. It's not that I'm unromantic, but...more

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Sep 13, 2010 S rated it 3 of 5 stars

Another book lent to me by my book loving neighbor and I really enjoyed this one too though I think that the story could have been told in 300 pages versus 400 pages!

The story starts in the early 1900's in Boston where Erika von Kessler is married to Peter, an adventurer and very successful International traveling business man and their failure in conceiving a child. They seek out the help of a Dr. Ravell who has had high success rates in getting women pregnant who had previously suffered years...more

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Dec 25, 2010 Happy Bookaholic rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

A hideous and callous tale that uses rape and absolute negligence—which is at times fatal—as an aphrodisiac for a cast of emotionally twisted characters. This is an utter waste of beautiful prose, intelligent research and true-life inspiration.

Before readers swallow this bitter tale as a sad and poignant true story, they ought to be aware that none of the melodramatic events really occurred. The author states, on her website, that her ex-husband's ancestor abandoned her marriage and sons to pur...more

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Sep 26, 2010 Holly Weiss rated it 3 of 5 stars

"I Swear I Will Win"

“Lo giurai, la vincero.” Mezzo soprano Erika von Kessler sings these words in an Italian opera aria while fulfilling her dream of a stage career toward the end of this book. It is 1903. Women had babies and raised families. Some women opted for careers in the arts. Erika wants both and will do what is necessary to “win”.

Ms. McDonnell’s debut novel stems from letters collected by her family about an ancestor pursuing an operatic career. Although the author writes passionately...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Carly Thompson rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, historical-fiction, listened-to-on-audio

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

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Nov 22, 2010 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Living in Boston in 1906, Erica Von Kessler has high hopes of being an opera star. Her husband, Peter, has a differing opinion of Erica's career choice and is constantly herding her from one doctor to another in hopes of having their fertility issues resolved. When Erica and Peter engage the services of Dr. Ravell, Peter is very hopeful that Ravell's incredible advancements in the field will solve their problem once and for all. But Erica is far from being hopeful and it's her despondency over h...more Living in Boston in 1906, Erica Von Kessler has high hopes of being an opera star. Her husband, Peter, has a differing opinion of Erica's career choice and is constantly herding her from one doctor to another in hopes of having their fertility issues resolved. When Erica and Peter engage the services of Dr. Ravell, Peter is very hopeful that Ravell's incredible advancements in the field will solve their problem once and for all. But Erica is far from being hopeful and it's her despondency over her infertility that prompts Dr. Ravell to make an extreme decision that will drastically alter all three of their lives forever. After the fateful decision of Dr. Ravell fails to bear fruit, Erica and Peter begin to grow apart and they once again rely upon the doctor to help them conceive a child together. When Erica's dreams of being an opera star begin to come to fruition, Peter, Ravell and Erica step into a dance of secrecy, deceit, and complicity that weave them together more tightly than any natural bond could ever hope to. Part historical drama and part love story, The Doctor and the Diva explores the conflicting desires of two men and one woman whose dream of the perfect child might just be their downfall.

I had serious reservations about this book stemming mainly from the feelings the title gave me. Knowing nothing other than the title, I had expected this book to be more of a bodice-ripper rather than any type of serious piece of literature. What I found was actually very surprising, because McDonnell's skill brought forth a lot of sensitive issues and imbued them with a relevance and resonance that I found to be not only abundantly entertaining, but also very provocative and thoughtful.

The situation early in the book between Erica and her husband was rather alarming. Erica's sole ambition is to become an opera singer and she was born with a voice to give this dream power. But Peter won't hear of Erica doing anything other than preparing herself to bear his offspring and forces her to consult with doctor after doctor in order to fulfill his desires. I was sad for Erica and felt that Peter was taking her dreams from her with his ceaseless badgering. The book made me feel a little angry at the realization that during this period in history, a woman existed solely to fulfill the desires of her husband and not much else. I grew apprehensive that Peter would end up controlling Erica's life and that her chance to sing would be extinguished. I didn't want Erica to get pregnant, because by doing so, she would be feeding Peter's ambition to control her life, and I felt that Erica didn't deserve that.

When Peter and Erica meet Ravell, things begin to change. Far from being a proponent of Peter's ideas, he sees a side of Erica that no one else seems to. When he questions her about her desire to have a child, she admits that it's something that she wants but it's not the only thing, and that because she has been repeatedly thwarted in her efforts, she has now become focused on the opera. When Ravell makes his decision to do the impossible for Erica and Peter, he sets into motion a series of events that are irrevocable and intense. He will give Erica what she wants, in every sense, but to do this, he must not only deceive her, he must also pay the price for his actions. As Peter and Erica's lives begin to move in harmony, Ravell's begins to fall apart, and it's arguable whether this is Ravell's due.

After a time, the three cross paths again, yet everything about them and their situations has changed. Curiously, Ravell remains dogged in efforts to please them both, though they both want very different things. In this respect, Ravell reveals his selflessness and altruism, but one can see that his motives are not always pure. As Ravell moves in and out of the couple's lives, he gives and takes in equal measure, and though Peter and Erica make their own choices, it's easy to see Ravell's hand in everything they do. These characters are all very interesting specimens, because while you can root for them and dream with them, they can also be very selfish and self-serving. In a few cases they can even become villains, though they all share this role equally. It's easy to see why they do the things that they do, but underneath, it's also easy to see how wrong they are.

When the book reaches it's final section, three lives have come full circle, and it is time for dues to be paid. This is one thing I most liked about the book. No one gets off scot-free, no one can say that they've not had to make sacrifices and adjustments. There's an undercurrent of perfectly culled drama running through this story and it remains intact without ever getting hysterical or overblown. These characters grow and change and their lives become much more than they had been. The three are also somewhat diminished by their experiences as well, which is a point I feel was handled beautifully. So much gain, yet so much loss.

Though I didn't expect to love this book, the fact is that I did and I think many others will as well. It was a touching story full of interesting ideas and perplexing questions, and those readers who like to get really invested in their characters' plights will find a treasure trove to keep them satisfied. The story was complex and involving without being overly florid and the book had the distinct advantage of being a bit on the unpredictable side. I know I'm going to be looking forward to reading more from this author and I urge you not to let the title of this book run you off. A surprisingly good read.
(less)

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Mar 08, 2012 Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio-book, romance, book-club

This book was a total surprise to me. This was my book club pick and I had little to no desire to read it. However, I pulled up my bootstraps and went for it. I'm sure glad I did. Let me say first off, this is totally to my kind of book, I would never have picked this up on my own. Sweeping romances don't usually do it for me, but somehow this book held me captive.
The story moves from 1903 to 1914. Erika van Kessler is a talented opera singer living with her wealthy husband, Peter, in Boston. T...more

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Jun 27, 2010 Jennie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: gr-first-reads, historical-fiction, read-in-2010, read-in-june

As a free goodreads win, one just never knows how well written the story will be so this novel was much a surprise to me. I found myself disgusted with some of the decisions the character's made, I found myself yearning for unrealized dreams right along side the characters and I felt the sheer desperation to find something, anything to fill a void left in each of their hearts.

I took Erika to be a mouse when I first met her. She seemed timid and withdrawn in her quest to have a child which cause...more As a free goodreads win, one just never knows how well written the story will be so this novel was much a surprise to me. I found myself disgusted with some of the decisions the character's made, I found myself yearning for unrealized dreams right along side the characters and I felt the sheer desperation to find something, anything to fill a void left in each of their hearts.

I took Erika to be a mouse when I first met her. She seemed timid and withdrawn in her quest to have a child which caused me to wonder why she was even pursuing pregnancy at all. She didn't seem to really want a child, let alone, go through the procedures to become pregnant. As the story progresses I learned more about Erika, her dreams and her emotions. Her emotions seemed as if they could have been those of a woman struggling with infertility in 2010, just without much of the knowledge we have today. Once Erika's dreams are shared with the reader and we hear her thoughts, we begin to understand her heart ache and melancholy.

Peter was such an odd man; I feel as if I never figured him out. He was possessive yet caring. I think he would have made an awesome poker player...he always kept something secret to pull out at the right moment.

Dr Ravell struck me as a lonely man, surrounded by such extremes. Overt happiness when a couple conceives a child with his help and those who keep trying despite failure after failure. I did appreciate is less than "moral" behaviors throughout the book as it gave him a more realistic avenue for his emotions and loneliness. There is a strong resistance mentioned in the story about men submitting to sperm count testing, which I found interesting. Sperm testing was the first step towards changing the outlook of conceiving that gender and fertility were a woman's "problem" to the reality that sperm carries the "gender card" and fertility is as much of a man's problem as it is a woman's.

On a more personal note, my husband is a Paramedic and went through Medic school our first few years of marriage. While reading this novel I realized, once again, how deeply indebted we are to the medical community of the past. So much that we take for granted now, from information to testing to better methods of IVF, weren't always available. After my husband delivered twin babies in a woman's home, it sort of hits home...the medical discoveries and advancements hit home. In the time in this novel, women didn't have babies at hospitals with pain medications and sterile environments. (less)

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Jan 07, 2011 Jennie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

I'm torn on my rating here. On one hand, the book was solidly written. Beautiful prose, excellent "readability," grand adventure, and a fascinating set of backdrops over which the story was imposed.

On the other hand, the characters were so flawed that I found it almost impossible to root for any of them. This makes them realistic, but it also ensured that when I finished the book, I felt somewhat unsatisfied. Further, there was a huge revelation near the end of the story - readers will know what...more

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Jul 03, 2010 Wendi rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

The Doctor and The Diva
By Adrienne McDonnell
Published by PGD/Viking

A sweeping saga, The Doctor and The Diva spans over a decade of the life of Erika von Kessler an aspiring operatic diva and the men who loved her. From a privileged upbringing in Boston, marriage to a prominent entrepreneur and world traveler, and years of unsuccessful attempts at conception, Erika’s dream of becoming a famous diva takes a backseat to her husband’s deep desire to become a father.

Doctor Ravell, a fertility speci...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Rene Spector rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was so surprised by this book! I was looking for something light in my to-be-read stack and I ended up with something that I couldn't put down. There were moments in this book when I felt myself in the room with the music, felt the vibrations through bones of the characters. The dilemma for a woman to either pursue her dreams of a career or investing in your family is something very pertinent for me right now. We all do what we trust we have to do, some may call it crazy, others call it brave....more

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May 22, 2012 Shamz rated it 2 of 5 stars

I didn't really like the title but I liked the concept. I thought Dr Ravel's character was a little too lightweight, he could have had more depth. What was interesting about this book was the exploration of fertility issues between a young couple( in today's world it wouldn't matter, but it was the 1900s) a woman's choice between a career and her child and a doctor who was willing to go to any lengths to give them the baby they so desired - well, the main character has difficulty choosing betwee...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Elaine Maikovska rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved this book. The language reminded me of Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary. i am not surprised. I took a writing course with the author, Adrienne McDonnell who focused solely on Flaubert's book for the entire course at UC Berkeley. I recommended it for my book club for this month's reading, and we'll discuss it together next week, on June 28, 2012. A beautifully written tale about a woman's search for love and for a career (an opera singer) in the early 1900's. It starts in Boston in 1903 and...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Marcia A rated it 3 of 5 stars

I heard the author, Adrienne McDonnell, speak in Montclair recently. The history of her efforts in writing the novel was quite interesting: luckily (for her) she married well, into an old Boston family when she was in her 20's, and proceeded to inherit an interesting story as well as old letters from her new husband's ancestors. The story formed the plot of the novel, involving a doctor, fertility treatments in the 1800's, and a couple; the wife hoped to be an opera singer when married women wit...more

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Dec 01, 2011 Kathleen Valentine rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a beautifully written book with a unique concept and some very intriguing characters. I fell in love with Ravell pretty early in the story even though I didn't approve of much of his behavior. Erika was a little harder for me to like. In the beginning I felt sorry for her but, by the middle of the book, I found her far less likable. I am not particularly bothered by infidelity (in stories) -- without conflict and tension there wouldn't be much plot -- I found Erika to be far too self-ab...more

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Mar 23, 2012 Vinitha rated it 4 of 5 stars

From my blog
http://www.ourowncorner.com/poohsden/...

One of the first books I picked up from the Singapore library is The Doctor and The Diva by Adrienne McDonnell. I picked it up because it had an intriguing name and the story on the flap seemed interested.

I almost abandoned the book halfway through as it was a heart-strings pulling kind of story. Set in the early 1900′s, the book obviously revolves between Dr.Ravell and his patient – the diva Erika. Erika dreams big of going to Italy and being...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Nikki rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was intrigued by the snippet on the back and decided to buy this book. It contained two of my favorite things - medicine and opera. It started out very promising. The characters quickly slipped into a pattern of extreme selfishness that I had a hard time dealing with. Some of the choices that the "diva" made were difficult to comprehend for a mother who treasures her children. I almost didn't finish reading it.

I felt the book was very well written however. The author has a truly great talent...more

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Apr 08, 2013 Sue rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: medicine

I'm rating this book a solid 3.5 stars. (And though I know I can't really rate it with a 1/2 star, this is how I often think of my book ratings, so at least I'm noting it's full status in the review!) Though there is certainly an element of romance to the story (or, more precisely, lust)and some medical history, too, the primary story line (in my opinion) has to do with making hard choices. Career or child? Professional status or ethical integrity? Husband or lover? These are the choices that dr...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the story somewhat. It was different, unorthodox, even immoral if you will. The characters are selfish to the point of annoying and how they acted, less than believable, but I enjoyed it. As dashing as Ravell sounded, I couldn't get into his character, nor Peter's. But I had no problem with their character flaws until Erika up and abandoned her child to pursue her career. As a mother, I find that appalling and didn't care for Erika after that, but that's probably the only issue I had....more

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About Adrienne McDonnell

"Some novels just naturally enslave you, and [THE DOCTOR AND THE DIVA] is one of them... serious and gripping... a brilliant debut novel." -- THE WASHINGTON POST

"This amazing debut novel ... is, quite simply, one of the best novels I've read all year." -- HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW (an Editor's Choice Selection)

"Sumptuous... an explosive tale. Read the book now, then place bets on when the movie ver...more

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“In the great design of fate, there are no accidents.” — 2 people liked it

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The Doctor and the Diva

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