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!

Maria by Michelle Moran is the fictionalized version of the mounting of the Sound of Music on Broadway, featuring Mary Martin. It mainly consists of conversations between Fran and Maria von Trapp, who was less than thrilled with the script. She didn’t view it as accurate and thought the story didn’t really start until the von Trapps arrived in America. It also gave us a glimpse into the life of Fran, an assistant to Oscar Hammerstein and other peripheral characters. I liked it. I love the Sound of Music and much of Maria’s story mirrored that which I am used to. The play did diverge, but only to make it more dramatic, as is the play writer’s wont. It was a compelling story, not the least of which was its view into “based on.”

Moran did a fabulous job, opening this background to readers in a meaningful way. Her use of facts to round out the fiction mirrors what I have read in other places. The fictional characters add body and warmth to an already amazing story. Maria might have been right that the story began later. We tend to romanticize escapes from bad situations but too often the situation gets worse and no one ever knows that. Opened my eyes to “based on” as well as the personality of Maria who was not at all as portrayed in the movie and the play, although the rest seemed spot on. Always gotta change things. That’s what we love about “Hollywood.: Edelweiss was good, though. Thanks for opening some doors, Michelle Moran!

I was invited to read Maria by Random House Publishing Group Ballantine. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantine #MichelleMoran #Maria

MARIA by Michelle Moran is a fascinating, unexpectedly gripping story of the real Maria Von Trapp. Far from the fresh-faced, wild-eyed optimism of the movie I grew up adoring, this Maria is immediately engaging and heartbreaking. Truth is truly stranger than fiction -- and I deeply enjoyed learning the true dangers, heartache, and struggles of this powerful heroine, sharing her story with the one person who could listen and hold it close, the woman assisting Hammerstein in his work while he was too busy to deal with the reality of an infuriated Maria demanding that her true story be told. Immersive writing, wonderful plotting, this book is a wonderful and refreshing read. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley, PRH Audio and Ballantine Books,
for providing me with this book and audiobook for free in exchange for my review. @prhaudio #PRHAudio #PRHAudioInfluencer
All opinions are my own.

This was a delightful book. I grew up obsessed with The Sound of Music movie, and I live in New England so it was a pleasure to be able to read and listen to this audiobook. This book tells the true story of Maria Von Trapp's life and the making of the musical that the movie was based on. The chapters are split between Maria and Fran a fictional employee of Rogers and Hammerstein in 1959. It also flashes back to Maria's early life in Austria (her tragic childhood and her journey to the convent). It also quashes many misconceptions about the Von Trapp's life.

The book was narrated by Eileen Stevens and Natasha Soudek. They did a wonderful job bringing these lovely characters to life.

Pick this up if you are looking for a delightful historical fiction novel or if you are huge fan of The Sound of Music!


Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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If you like the movie, “The Sound of Music”, then this book is for you! It’s the behind the scenes action about how Oscar Hammerstein created the music. It also has a fictionalized account of the real Maria von Trapp. It was interesting to read about her early life and about what she was really like.
Many thanks to the author, Random House Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I enjoyed reading Maria by Michelle Moran. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for an advanced reader copy of Maria. My opinions are my own, When I saw that there was an advanced reader copy available, I knew I had to request it and read it! The Sound of Music is one of my favorite movies and I love reading about The Von Trapp Family. . This historical fiction is told in two voices; the voice of Fran, the secretary to Oscar Hammerstein, and Maria Von Trapp. The book begins with Hammerstein finalizing the lyrics for The Sound of Music musical and Maria has arrived at Hammerstein’s office to tell him he has the wrong story details. The second voice, that of Maria introduces us to her story; her upbringing, her difficult childhood, becoming a novitiate and then being sent to Captain Von Trapp’s home to be a teacher to his ill child. The story continues through Maria’s marriage to Captain Von Trapp and how they became a singing family. As Fran’s voice is interjected into the story we learn about the true story of the Von Trapp Family, not the movie version that we are all familiar with. I absolutely loved this book! I loved reading about Maria and her family and the author’s note at the end was fascinating! Don’t miss this read! Five stars for me!

"Well, it seems to me you have a choice to make. A new family with children who need a mother or your family here. In both cases, my dear, you will still be serving God. He doesn't disappear outside the walls of this convent."

Wow! I'll be honest, I have always loved The Sound of Music. I still do, even though I now know how inaccurate it was from Maria's real story. But, I'm trying to keep the movie separate from their real story. I had no idea that Maria literally hated The Sound of Musical script when she read it the first time. There had been a German movie before the musical that really portrayed everything in a way that the family didn't appreciate and the musical was based on that. Maria really didn't like how the musical portrayed her husband as being such a strict disciplinarian that didn't have a real relationship with the kids, when he was actually an amazing father. There was so much that I learned about the Von Trapp family and I really loved every page of this book! Michelle Moran did such an amazing job clearing up some fallacies and kept the story incredibly interesting. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read more by Moran.

Maria will be enjoyed by those who like the Sound of Music. While this novel was considered fiction, it is based on Maria Von Trapp’s life. This novel was so interesting to discover which parts of the movie matched her life. I really liked this novel and the writing style of the author and how she allowed the fictional Maria to tell the autobiography of the real Maria.
I received a copy of Maria from NetGalley with no obligations. All opinions expressed are my own.

Saying that no one would turn him down for such a film, my brother took seven girls on separate dates to The Sound of Music when released in the 1960s, About two decades later, my two daughters could recite every line in the film before it was spoken or sung. Having never tired of rewatching the film, I was thrilled to receive an early copy of this Michelle Moran's new novel, Maria.

The book opens with a bang. Readers are hit with aging Maria von Trapp’s letter to Oscar Hammerstein, insisting on a meeting so she can set him straight about her life story before the Broadway musical misrepresents both people and events. Telling him that her oldest step-son Rupert was never a sixteen-year-old girl named Liesl and that the family never crossed the Alps to escape the Nazis, Maria makes clear that these are only two of the problems with the musical's story of her life..

When Hammerstein assigns one of his employees to meet with the disgruntled Maria, what follows includes a series of meetings in which Maria tells the story of her childhood, reveals her reason for wanting to become a nun and what she was doing with her time as a novitiate before being assigned assist with the von Trapp children. The story includes children, neighbors, and other characters never known by Broadway or film audiences. Not only that, but the musical’s story ends far too early, omitting much of Maria’s and the von Trapp’s lives after leaving Austria—a life that was not always happy. The ending stage and screen audiences know comes at roughly the midpoint of Moran’s historical novel.

How Maria’s grievances played out and how she and some of the von Trapp children reacted to the Broadway show help make this a page-turning, entertaining read for anyone who familiar with the show. If not familiar, I suggest finding a copy of the film before reading the book. You will be glad you did.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine/Random House for an advance reader egalley of this highly recommended new novel by Michelle Moran.

I grew up watching the Sound of Music and have loved it for as long as I can remember. I will admit that I was a little concerned this book would change that, that seeing how different real life versus the production was would make me feel differently. I am so very happy to say that it didn’t. I think anyone who loves the Sound of Music will enjoy and appreciate this book.

Michelle Moran’s research is quite evident and the story she crafts is excellent. I was shocked at what really happened to the von Trapp family, how close they came to things being totally different, Trying not to give too much away! I also developed a new appreciation for my favorite musical and the decisions that were made in changing the story.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and fans of the Sound of Music.

Thank you to Random House for the copy of this book. All views are my honest opinion.

Maria is a story about not just Maria von Trapp but also about The Sound of Music movie. By Michelle Moran, this is an entertaining and enlightening book. While the Broadway show and movie are based on historical fact, they have taken a great deal of liberty in the making with which Maria von Trapp was not please. Still she had originally planned a quiet life as a nun. She did take care of the von Trapp children before love and a marriage proposal followed. Most importantly they did have to flee their homeland from the Nazi Regime.

Maria von Trapp says it best describing the likenesses and differences from actual life and shows. “Well, it's not exactly our life story," Maria says. “But our love for God and family was there, and this is what has always been most important." A book not to be missed from anyone who has ever seen The Sound of Music along with those who dearly love it.

This is The sound through the eye of Maria. Maria Von Trapp,a well known character better known from The Sound of Music. The novel was a joy to read and I would add the novel to my TBR.
I remember watching “The Sound of Music” on a yearly basis. The voice of Juie Andrews' voice is why I loved this film. I recognized the character of Maria through the music she sang and the movie was a joy. Oscar Hammerstien wrote the film's lyrics. Along with a known film, there was the horror of Hitler. The cover reminded me why I enjoyed the film.
Thank you Maria: A Novel A Novel of Maria, Michelle Moraran, for the privilege of reading this book

"Maria," a novel by Michelle Moran, delves into the differences between the portrayal of Maria von Trapp's life in "The Sound of Music," and the real events that were either glossed over or altered by the creative team behind the Broadway show that premiered in 1959. Shortly before the opening, an angry Maria von Trapp demands that Oscar Hammerstein correct inaccuracies in the script. Instead, Hammerstein arranges for Maria to meet with his assistant, Fran, who takes notes while she listens to von Trapp's account of her experiences in Austria and America. There is also a subplot about Fran's love life that adds little to the proceedings.

Moran's intriguing premise and fluid prose style draw us into the narrative. Most of us picture Maria as habitually sunny, exuberant, and lovable. We have also been led to believe that Captain von Trapp, the widowed father of seven boys and girls, was a harsh disciplinarian. In flashback, Maria corrects the record. She tells Fran about her unhappy upbringing (she was an orphan whose male guardian verbally abused and beat her); the two years she spent as a postulate and teacher in Nonnberg abbey; and how her relationship with the Georg von Trapp and his children changed her life.

Maria was talented, energetic, and determined, but she was not a paragon of virtue. For example, she was a controlling parent who pushed one of her daughters to perform, even though the emotionally fragile girl made it clear that she hated going on stage with the Von Trapp Family Singers. This fascinating book emphasizes the disconnect between art and reality. It is not uncommon for playwrights and screenwriters to take liberties in order to make their plays and movies more marketable.