The hills are alive with the sound of music. One look at this cover and any Julie Andrews fan will be singing and praising Rogers and Hammerstein’s musical genius.

Michelle Moran takes on Maria von Trapp’s story with a very creative approach. She alternates points of view between Maria’s recounting of her life from 1913 to the 1940s and Fran’s note taking in 1959 for the upcoming Broadway production. Maria has long since left Salzburg, Austria and settled in the United States, and is not a fan of the retelling of her and her family’s lives. The German film that was recently released doesn’t accurately portray what the Von Trapp’s went through, and now famous creative duo Rogers and Hammerstein want to bring her family’s story to the stage. Maria is terrified they will get it wrong again and wants to make sure the Von Trapp legacy is honored appropriately. Fran, an aspiring writer, works for Hammerstein and is sent to find out exactly what the disgruntled Maria wants changed and to placate the elder Von Trapp as they are already in rehearsals for the production.

As Maria recounts her story from a rough childhood, to almost becoming a nun, to joining the Von Trapp family, and finally their flight from Europe, Fran realizes that the truth is usually more complicated than the production presented to audiences. The more Fran listens, the more respect she gains for Maria, and she in turn helps Maria recognize that the creative liberties taken with her story don’t detract from the Von Trapp’s obvious love for God, for music, and for each other.

Though there are two perspectives in this tale, it really is an ode to Maria Von Trapp and the legacy her family has left to the world. Now I will end this review and go watch The Sound of Music for the umpteenth time, and recognize that though the story isn’t completely accurate, it doesn’t make me love it any less.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballatine Books, and of course the author Michelle Moran for the advanced copy of the book. Maria is out now! All opinions are my own.

Maria shows us the real woman behind the fictionalized version in The Sound of Music and it is brilliant! I haven't watched the film since I was a child but now have to watch it again as an adult and with Maria in my mind. Beautifully written and well researched. Historical fiction is once again continuing my education of our world and I'm not mad about it!

I have loved the sound of music ever since I was a little girl. So I was very curious when I saw this book. Note that the book is fiction, but the author has done a lot of research to tie in some of the facts of Maria and her family. The book starts out as Rogers and Hammerstein are in the final edits for the Broadway musical to open in 1959. When their office receives a letter from Maria von Trapp saying she wants to meet with Mr. Hammerstein because she doesn’t like the script. From there the book splits the timeframe back to 1926 when Maria was a young girl and the heartache revealed of her childhood. It was insightful to see into her upbringing and what formed her into the determined strong woman she was. I really enjoyed this book. Of course there were a few times where I was devastated, learning the movie had idealized Maria and her story ;o I soon grasped getting to know her better and the details I never knew, I was thoroughly invested. And although I may watch the movie in a different light, the songs will always be embedded in my mind. I am grateful to the author who took the time to do her research and write the story. I was captivated. I also appreciate the authors note and where the children are now. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4.25/5 stars

I enjoyed this fictional/nonfictional book about the real Maria von Trapp of The Sound of Music fame.

I found it interesting to hear more about some of the things that the playwriters/screenwriters embellished/altered from her story in order to make them more palatable and engaging for the audience…a big one being the depiction of her husband’s stern demeanor. There were also some surprising revelations about Maria’s own motivations and insecurities. The book presented her as more “human” with all the pros and cons that entails…both good and not so good attributes. She was a very strong, opinionated woman who led a fascinating and adventurous life filled with pain, love and ultimately triumph.

While it’s always a little difficult to separate the fact from the fiction in these types of books, I do feel like I probably got a more well-rounded view of her life than I had previously known. I also enjoyed the “Whatever Happened to…” afterword that gave a brief updated glimpse into the main characters’ lives portrayed in the book.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for providing the free early arc of Maria for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

I am a huge fan of The Siund of Music. I did the tour when I was in Austria. Loved hearing about the differences but I like the musical version. It appeals to my romantic fantasy side. Great insights. Every fan should read.

In a Nutshell: A historical fiction focussing on Maria von Trapp’s life, leading up to her issues with the Broadway adaptation. Mostly faithful to facts, but it is still fiction, so it has the usual fictional garnishes. A great option for ‘The Sound of Music’ fans who want to know the reality of the Von Trapp family, which is not at all as depicted in the movie.

Plot Preview:
1959, New York. Fran Connelly, who works at Oscar Hammerstein’s office, is assigned an important task. She has to calm down the furious Maria Von Trapp, who wants the Broadway team to cull some of the creative edits made to her life story’s stage adaptation. Through their interactions, we learn more about Maria’s childhood, her arrival in the Von Trapp house, and their life together in Austria and later in the USA.
The story comes *mostly* over two timelines, and *mostly* in Maria’s first-person perspective and Fran’s third-person perspective, all written in the present tense.

If you are a fan of ‘The Sound of Music’ and believed everything in it to be true, this book might come as a rude awakening. Thankfully, while I love the movie (or rather, its music), I knew that some of the story was fictionalised. Just how much of the truth had been stretched is something I discovered only recently when I read the first of Maria Von Trapp’s three memoirs: ‘The Story of the Trapp Family Singers’. In fact, I had read the memoir as a preparatory assignment for this novel; I wanted to see if the factual memoir and the fictional novel worked in harmony.

The memoir, while not being outstanding, taught me much about Maria and the experiences of the Trapp family beyond what was shown in the movie. However, something had kept nagging at me, especially as Maria’s anecdotes seemed to be overly positive. While reading this book, I finally identified what was bugging me so much. As common with memoir writers, Maria Von Trapp had chosen to be sparing with the truth, reporting only as much as would present a picture-perfect enviable image of the family. The other side of the story is not so harmonious [pun intended.] This book has everything that was missing in the memoir - emotions, struggles, complaints, rebellion, mental breakdowns… It’s more human and realistic.

This novel does an exceptional job of presenting a holistic picture, revealing Maria’s personality in all its shades, which comes as a not-so-pleasant revelation. As the writing is in Maria’s first person, it is interesting to see her trying to justify some of her behaviour even when she can see the harm of her actions. Many a time, she is utterly unaware of the damage she has caused, until it is too late. I appreciate how the book didn’t turn Maria into a saint just because she's the titular character and such a beloved cultural icon thanks to the movie.

Of course, Maria’s issues with the changes in the Broadway script are somewhat justified; no one would like so much of a manipulation of their life story when it is meant for public eyes. (Ironic that Maria hated the Broadway producers for taking liberties with her life story when she herself did the same while writing her memoir!) Then again, her approach seems simultaneously naïve and dogmatic. When she signed away the rights to her book to the German production company, she gave up the controlling power. The first German movie that was based on her memoir should have prepared her better.

I found it interesting to learn the reasons of the production team behind the edits. I still don’t think it is right to alter a true story so much, and even change a person’s nature completely. If you remember the movie, it was Maria who was the light-hearted, fun-loving girl while Captain Georg was the ill-humoured disciplinarian. Reality was exactly the opposite. But luckily or unluckily for Maria, the Broadway team made her the angel of the story, and poor Captain Georg will always be known as the grump who changed his colours after finding love.

As regards the writing, the novel does a mostly great job. I loved how this book includes Maria’s childhood struggles and Captain Georg’s life pre-Maria, both of which were missing in her memoir. Maria’s first-person chapters retain her naturally self-confident tone. One minor detail that I truly appreciated was how the author clarified that the swastika is the ancient symbol of the Hindus and was twisted and misused by the Nazis. So many Westerners don’t know this! I also loved how it offered insights into the life of the children. They were a vital part of the Trapp Family Singers, and the novel gives them a voice, something Maria forgot to do in her memoir.

That said, no book can be perfect, and this is no exception. Here are the reasons my rating isn’t higher:
😟 Fran Connelly is fictional, so I wish her personal story (such as her relationship problems or her ambition of becoming an author) had stayed limited.
😟 The single chapter from Oscar Hammerstein's pov didn’t fit in the flow. It should have been eliminated, and its content presented through Fran’s perspective.
😟 The journey was bumpy at the start, with Fran’s 1959 leading to Maria’s 1926 timeline, which went into further flashback to Maria’s 1913 timeline – her childhood. Thankfully, after this chapter, the timelines mostly alternate between 1959 and the 1930s.
😟 The teeny references to Maria’s attraction/desire/strange feelings towards George in the first half of the book. Maria was always clear that there was no attraction towards or romantic relationship with the Captain until their wedding, so these mentions were somewhat annoying, and thankfully disappeared after their marital union. The same goes for the wedding night scene: closed door, but awkward and unbelievable!
😟 A major chunk of the novel is focussed on the part covered by the movie. The later life of the Trapps in the US, where they became the ‘Trapp Family Singers’, gets just the final quarter or so. The US part of Maria’s life should have got equal attention.

In the grand scheme of things, most of these issues are not so prominent as would affect the reading experience. The author’s note and the discussion club questions are the icing on the cake.


In short, this book was everything I hoped it would be, and a bit more. Despite the teeny writing issues, I savoured this reading experience and loved to get some realistic clarity behind the saccharine-sweet story presented by both the movie and Maria’s memoir.

As I have read only one of Maria’s three memoirs, I do not know what family details she might have revealed in the remaining two books. But her first memoir indirectly depicted how dominant and adamant she was, and this novelised version confirms it. After reading the memoir, I wanted to know more about the Trapp kids; after reading this novel, I am a bit sorry for them.

Of course, you might not be fond of reading memoirs, especially when they are unreliable. In that case, this novelised version is perfect for you. I loved how the author stated in her exceptional note (don’t skip it!!!) how a novel cannot be based only on a single autobiography. This book hence takes the essentials from both Maria’s and Agathe’s memoirs and offers a complete and fairly accurate glimpse of the family’s experiences.

Definitely recommended to historical fiction readers, and fans of The Sound of Music. Keep in mind though, that this is Maria’s story only up to the release of the musical, when she was 55 years old. She passed away when she was 82, so this isn’t her *life* story, but rather, her ‘Sound of Music’ story and a bit more.

4 stars.

My thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for providing the DRC of “Maria” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, good night!

María von Trapp comes to the office of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein wanting changes to be made to the script of The Sound of Music. What parts of the script does Maria want changed? Does she disagree with the choice of the person who has been cast to play her in The Sound of Music? I read on.

The fictional account relayed in this book is as entertaining as it is interesting. Wanting answers to my questions takes a back seat as I am drawn into Maria’s story. What a fascinating life! Having enjoyed Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music, I savored this novel. Thank you, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of MARIA.

*Thank you to the publisher, Random House Publishing| Dell, for providing me with a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

4.5 ★

A few months ago, I received an email from the publisher inviting me to read and review the ARC of an upcoming novel, <b>Maria</b>. I finally got around to reading the book and finished it yesterday. Once again, I'm at a loss for words after reading this beautifully written story. My only regret is that I didn’t read it sooner. I was captivated by Maria's story from beginning to end. When it came to an end, I halted because I didn't want it to end; I didn't want to say goodbye to all the characters I'd grown to love. I watched <I> The Sound of Music </I> in high school but wasn't unaware of the story behind the idea. Reading <b> Maria </b> and learning about Maria Von Trapp and her family made me want to watch the movie again. How could I not want to see the movie again?

I enjoyed how Maria was presented differently in real life than in the movie. It didn't change my opinion of the movie, but reading the book made me see Maria and her husband from an entirely different perspective. While reading the book, I remembered some songs and pictured the Von Trapp family singing them. I didn't appreciate Maria's treatment of her family, especially Rosemarie. I enjoyed how Maria's and Fran's stories portrayed their emotions. My favorite aspect of the novel was Maria's interaction with the children; it was clear how much she loved them.

I felt that the end was a little slow. However, I enjoyed the author's note at the end of the book, where she clarified everything and provided much more detail about the characters behind the book. I could have finished it sooner if it hadn't been for school and studying. I'm delighted I got the opportunity to read this book. This is a novel you won't forget.

Maria was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not disappoint. If you are a fan of The Sound of Music then this story of the life of Maria von Trapp is a must read.

This novel is about the making of "The Sound of Music", and points out differences between the movie and what actually happened in the life of Maria von Trapp and her family. Before the 1965 film, there was a Broadway musical created in 1959 by Rodgers & Hammerstein, on which the hit film is based. Before even that, the Rogers & Hammerstein musical was based on a German film from 1956, "Die Trapp Familie," based on Maria's own autobiography. Thus, The Sound of Music is a retelling of a retelling of a retelling of an autobiography. As the R&H production is shaping up, Maria takes issue with the liberties and inaccuracies taken to her life story. So as to not create a media firestorm, the team sends Fran, who is tasked with hearing about Maria's concerns to the differences her story. Through Fran, we are able to see the real story of Maria Von Trapp, and what really happened to the family during the time period of the movie. The book is a great companion read for anyone who loves the movie.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Dell for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

The real story of Maria von Trapp told in a fictionalized setting. I've seen the movie Sound of Music many, many times without realizing there was more to the story. Michelle Moran does an excellent job of producing a sequel movie, even if it's only the one playing in my head. This book is made to be shared.

Heartwarming and charming, this book was all I hoped it would be. Who doesn't love The Sound of Music? This biographical historical fiction novel offered a 'behind the scenes' look at Maria's life. While the movie offers a saccharine portrayal of Maria, this book provides insight into her difficult childhood and the role reversal in which she was the more challenging parent and Georg was the kind-hearted one. This book is perfect for fans of the movie who want to go deeper.

I was afraid this book would be kind of dry, but I couldn't have been any more wrong. The book pointed out differences between the movie and what actually happened in the life of Maria von Trapp and her family. Still sounds sort of dry, but the author has laid the story out in a manor that makes it read like a simple fiction book. The story is smooth and not burdened by flatly given dates and names.

This historical fiction was entertaining and enlightening. We all probably think we know Maria and her story because of the musical, but liberties were taken with the script. It was extremely interesting to learn the differences in Maria's temperament and those happenings in the musical that were totally made up. This was a terrific read.

Thanks to Random House Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

Michelle Moran has created a wonderful dual story with her novel Maria. Fran is a young college graduate working for Oscar Hammerstein in Manhattan. The Sound of Music is set to open soon on Broadway and Maria von Trapp is upset with the direction the musical is taking. Hammerstein assigns Fran the task of meeting with Maria and listening to her story. Moran does an exceptional job of bringing her reader into Maria's world through Maria's recounting of events. Although this plot varies greatly from the movie we all love, it is just as captivating. Coupled with Fran's story of the life of a young working woman Maria is a novel that should not be missed.

Maria was an absolutely delightful and informative read. It takes a classic story most of us grew up with - The Sound of Music - and then gives us a more complete version of the story. Maria von Trapp is a complicated character - passionate, loving, and flawed. Michelle Moran personalized all of these aspects and gives us the parts of the story that Rogers and Hammerstein didn't in the original musical. For anyone who wonders why the von Trapps did what they did, you will thoroughly enjoy this. Finally, ecause it is a deeply factual and yet fictionalized narrative, it is extremely approachable as well.

This story is a fictionalized account of the real Maria Von Trapp's negative reaction to Rodgers and Hammerstein's musicalization of her life story and her effort to get them to change the show to more accurately reflect her true story. Most of the book revolves around Maria telling a young woman named Fran, who works in Oscar Hammerstein's office, her true life story and trying to convince her to get Hammerstein to change the show.

Most, if not all, of what is revealed in the book about the real Maria, and her life could easily be gleaned from her own autobiography (she actually wrote several of them, and there was at least one written by one of her stepchildren too). She, in fact, devoted a whole chapter in one of her books to The Sound of Music, and she was not that unhappy with the stage show. They allegedly did incorporate some of her suggestions into the show. She had more of a problem with the film because the filmmakers seemed hellbent on making the film they wanted regardless of her feelings and/or opinion.

Her main problem with both versions was how the Captain was portrayed. She would have appreciated that he is portrayed much kinder and more likably in this book. Maria, herself, comes across less likably although her love for the children is clear, and later for the Captain as well.

It is interesting to see the real family come to life in this book. You only see them from Maria's point of view in her books, and you don't see them interacting much if at all. Unfortunately, in this book, they aren't differentiated enough so it's hard to keep them all straight plus some of them are much more a part of the story than others.

The actual creators of the show barely appear in this book. Oscar Hammerstein is more a part than any of the others. He is portrayed most lovingly. However, he is mentioned much more than he actually appears, and barely interacts with Maria. Richard Rodgers is not in the book at all. Anybody else involved with the show receives scant mention, if any. Most of the book revolves around Maria and the made-up character of Fran.

Fran has her own subplot as well. It involves her love life, and her desire to be a writer. She is a highly motivated extremely independent character who is clearly ahead of her time. It might have been nice to read more about her and see her as the primary focus of her own book. Here, her story is shoehorned in around Maria's, and thus only gets limited time and development.

All in all, the book is disappointing. It is neither a true backstage drama nor a fully developed portrait of the real Von Trapp family. It is a little of both and a lot of neither.

If you like(d) The Sound of Music, this is a book you will enjoy reading. The famous duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein are bringing the German film Die Trapp Familie to the Broadway stage. Maria von Trapp wants to meet with Oscar Hammerstein to correct the many errors she sees in that first production. Hammerstein foists her off on his assistant Fran, and it is through these meetings that we learn of the “real” story - taking Maria from a postulant to “super nanny” to Captain von Trapp’s seven children to fleeing Austria in the early years of WWII and finally to America and the family’s Vermont resort. There is certainly a lot of truth in the basics of the story but the producers are taking too much liberty in bringing the story to the stage. And now, through the words of Maria, those of us who have seen the play and the subsequent movie know the “real” story

To quote the author, “if you're hoping to read this book, ……do so not because it’s the literary tour de force my father always believed I’d research and write, but because you've always adored warm cookies. The soft and gooey ones, in particular.” That is just what it is - a fast and enjoyable read. The Sound of Music is one of my favorites and this book just adds to that enjoyment. And the timing of receiving the opportunity to read the ARC of this book could not have come at a better time - we were touring the Alps, and though that may not have been exactly how the family left Austria, the memories it rekindled made the read even more enjoyable. My thanks to Random House/Dell for proving me with the ARC.

You think you may know the story of Maria Von Trapp–or do you? The Sound of Music tells the story of the Maria who was sent from Nonnberg Abbey to Captain Von Trapp’s home and soon after, fell in love with him. Then World War II began and they made their escape over the Alps into Switzerland right after the Salzburg Folk Festival with Nazis chasing after them. Except…they didn’t.
In reality, they packed suitcases…and boarded a train which took them to Switzerland.

A brand new novel titled Maria by Michelle Moran has been released today. In it, we see a fictional assistant to Oscar Hammerstein, “Fran” talking to Maria Von Trapp and hearing what actually happened all those years ago.

The book also delves into Fran’s personal life, which I think detracts from the novel a bit. The novel really shines when Maria talks to Fran about her life and how different the play and film are from what actually happened.

It is amazing to me that one of Maria’s sons is still alive–Johannes, who lives at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. The Trapp family actually built the lodge themselves in 1942 and still remains open today. It was rebuilt after a storm destroyed it the following year. Jonhannes is 85 years young.

Maria by Michelle Moran is a wonderful novel. I couldn’t put the book down when Maria spoke. Her chapters are engaging and fly off the page and you can just see everything happening right in front of you. If you are a fan of The Sound of Music and want to know what ACTUALLY happened, make sure you read this book!

I have enjoyed reading all of Michelle Morgan’s book, so I was delighted to read this one about Maria von Trapp. The musical The Sound of Music is based on the family’s lives, but is not the complete or accurate story. Moran brings more about Maria and her beloved family to life. I’ll be singing Edelweiss for days!