I was so excited to receive an arc of this book from netgalley and the publisher.

Wow, I loved every minute of this read and had a hard time putting it down. I read it in 2 days in every spare minute I had. Most of us realize that movies based on real lives are loosely based. Maria and her children were at first not a fan of how their lives and story were portrayed.

The author of this book did such a wonderful job sharing different points of view, how it was to work with Hammerstein, and how it was to meet the real Maria. I was surprised to learn that Georg was really not how it was depicted in the movie, but I think that portrayal endears people to him as he changes in the movie.

I loved this book, and I love the movie. Thankful we live in a world of music!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Michelle Moran has been my favorite author since 2007 when I first read Nefertiti so I struggle to not think everything she does or gold. This book is gold to me. I think it's going to have the same appeal as Madam Tussaud; it's a topic people know and are going to enjoy learning more. Objectively, it's not my favorite novel by her because I didn't think it had as gripping of a plot as something like Nefertiti or Hereric Queen. Since most readers will go in knowing at least the fact that the von Trapps flee Austria, you have that mental climax building as an audience, even if it doesn't come off on the pages a lot. With that said, the characters make up for the slower plot. I already did love Baron von Trapp from the musical and film (I love a man with character development!), but getting to meet the real Georg was wonderful and I fell in love with this real version of him even more. All of the children have distinct personalities and you'll love each of them. Your heart breaks for them as the story progresses. You'll feel discomfort getting to know the real Maria, whether you're frustrated with her naïveté or her forceful personality as their music careers take off. Maria is a multi faceted character with a much more distinct and complex personality than any musical or film could portray. The framing of the story was brilliant. Getting to know Maria and the family through flashbacks while also seeing the development of the play and getting to know the lovely Broadway characters, especially Hammerstein, was a brilliant plot device that kept me enthralled.

10/10 would recommend

This book almost read like a biography . But in a fiction kind of way . That’s not a bad thing ! I think it kept my interest in that way . I learned things I did not know about the Von Trapp family and it was I tresting learning about Maria from child hood .

"Nec aspera terrent" - The von Trap family motto it means Frightened by No Difficulties

Very seldom do I sit down to read and finish a book in a day. This story pulled me in to the life of Maria von Trapp. If you are a fan of The Sound of Music this is a Must Read! I really loved this book and was picturing the hills from the movie as I read.
Dual timeline that has you following Maria's life from childhood through adulthood.
A more realistic picture of the family and the making of the Broadway Musical.
I found this book interesting, fascinating and learned a lot about the von Trap family, especially Maria.
Authors notes at the end will answer any questions about what was fiction and what was real.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley for this ARC ebook of “Maria” by Michelle Moran! This historical fiction novel takes us to Broadway in 1960, where Oscar Hammerstein is preparing to stage “The Sound of Music”, but is meeting opposition from the real-life subject of his play, Maria von Trapp! “The Sound of Music” has legions of obsessive devotees who should love this book, but even those with only a nodding acquaintance with the film will film will find much to like here. Hammerstein’s assistant, budding writer Fran, is tasked with talking to and making peace with Maria. In doing so she, and we the reader, learn the story-behind-the-story of TSOM. I had no idea that the facts of Maria’s life were so difficult and that many of the events that were in the movie did not happen quite as presented. It is engrossing reading! As a lover of TSOM, I give it 5 stars but would highly recommend to those who merely like or know of the move,or have an interest in historical fiction about WWII! #NetGalley #Maria

The Sound of Music is my all time favorite movie, so when I saw this book about the life of Maria von Trapp I jumped at the chance to read! It highlighted some truths from the movie, but also pointed out things that weren't depicted accurately.

It describes Maria as the less "fun" parent and how she may not have been as fun loving as the movie portrays. At the same time, this is coming from her point of view and we are our own worst critics. I would imagine the truth is somewhere in the middle.

I enjoyed reading the story to find out what happened after the family left Austria. I also enjoyed the update at the end about each child. Fun fact that I never knew is that the real Maria von Trapp shows up in the background as a cameo in the movie.

I was worried that reading this book may spoil The Sound of Music being my favorite movie, but I think it actually made me fall in love with it more. Now I can relate to the family members more closely and hear about their joys and struggles.

This book is an absolute must for any fans of The Sound of Music!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It is rare that I find a book that I enjoy so much that I drag out the reading over days. This is one of those few books. I was ensnared right from the very first chapter.

This book is a wonderful mixture of fact (please read the author's notes) and fiction.

While I don't seem to have the same love for the film The Sound of Music as most others do, I knew enough about it that it was very easy to follow the events in this novel. As a matter of fact, you never have had to watch the movie to become fully engrossed in the events of Maria's life.

This book was filled with heartache and happiness. I admit that finding out that Maria was nearly tyrannical about having the children sing was a shock to my system! The film portrays her a bit differently. Learning about their escape from the Nazis was a heart-pounding eye-opener.

What a fantastic read for anyone who likes historical fiction, The Sound of Music, or just a wonderful book.

I HIGHLY recommend this novel!

*The publisher Delacorte/Dell -Random House, the author, and NetGalley supplied the ARC. I'd like to thank all three for this opportunity.

I am a huge fan of Michelle Moran books so I was very much looking forward to this story. As usual I was not disappointed. To me The Sound of Music was a just a movie that I had grown up with. Nothing more and nothing less. I was intrigued to see what this author would create to fill in the gaps of Maria’s on screen life. What this story contains is so much more. A fascinating telling of a life of real people that I had no idea had actually existed. Michelle Moran has a unique talent for bringing her characters to life in a way that the reader feels deeply connected to each one. This book brought out so many emotions as the Von Trapp family endured good times and bad throughout their lives. My only complaint would be that I was left wishing that this book had been longer and that I could have learned more about each person. As with the other books this talented author has written I highly recommend this one.

This was a great, quick read. I know the movie version, and believe I read a book about the family when the movie was released. I enjoyed this new version, as the older Maria was correcting everything that was not told accurately. The story, told either way, is enjoyable.

In this novel the author re-imagines the story of Maria von Trapp and her family. Just as the Broadway production of "The Sound of Music" is about to begin, Maria insists that the play be changed to reflect the actual experience her family went through. Hammerstein's secretary Fran is assigned the job of placating Maria and letting her know that it's too late to make any changes to the musical. Fran earns Maria's trust and friendship, and over several meetings Maria tells Fran the real story. Since I saw Mary Martin and "The Sound of Music" on Broadway when I was a little girl, I found it most interesting to read the author's take on what went on behind the scenes of the production.

What a delightful quick read about the backstory of The Sound of Music! Maria, written by Michelle Moran, presents the story of Maria von Trapp that we don't know from the musical adaptation for Broadway and the silver screen. While many of the details remain surprisingly true-to-life, others which were omitted from the artistic portrayals enhance the depth of Maria von Trapp's life experiences which shaped her into the impressive woman she became. Behind-the-scenes scenarios also give insight into the creative endeavors of Rogers & Hammerstein and their classic Broadway musicals. I often found myself smiling as I read familiar scenes and hummed the timelessly familiar songs. A definite read for fans of The Sound of Music!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the digital ARC and opportunity to review Maria. All opinions expressed are mine alone. Follow my reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook, and NetGalley.

I’ve watched The Sound Of Music many times as this was my son’s favorite movie so I was very excited to see a book depicting the life of Maria. This is my first experience reading a novel by this author and I must say that she drew me right in. Her expert storytelling made the story move along as she works with a few different timelines. The reader learns about her past and the reasons for her decisions. Michelle Moran has meticulously researched Maria from many sources which enabled her to include many interesting anecdotes to her story. The author delves into Maria’s personality as well as all the members of the family. If you are a fan of the movie this is a definite book that needs to be on your to read pile. Even if you are not it’s a great story by an extremely talented author. Well done and I will be enthusiastically recommending this to all.
Thank you to Dell Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced eGalley.
#Maria #MichelleMoran #NetGalley

If you loved the Sound of Music, you will love this. No, really. The story provides a great backdrop for the musical, but as always with Michelle Moran's writing, it is meticulously researched and an amazing effort is made to provide a very accurate historical picture of the characters. Also important is there is clarification in the author's note regarding which characters were based on real individuals and which weren't, which is so helpful when looking at the book critically. The book juxtaposes the story of the run up to the release of the musical on Broadway [starring Mary Martin, NOT Julie Andrews, SAD], with Maria's side of her story - what really occurred starting from her childhood through the Von Trapps coming to the US. I loved this book so much, and I learned a LOT through it as well. There is a reason there was a book, a movie [German] and a very well-known musical about them, as they were amazing and multi-faceted individuals all around.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something different, fresh, and gives you a new taken on the Von Trapps.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @netgalley and @RandomHouseBallatine for this ARC. Fran is Hammerstein's assistant and the real Maria von Trapp has some things she needs addressed regarding the musical that is to debut in a matter of weeks. She is upset about some inconsistencies from her real life autobiography to the musical adaptation. Fran meets with Maria over the course of a week to hear her real story to take back to Hammerstein. After all is said, he reads Fran's notes and though he can't make the changes to the musical, he can write one final song - Edelweiss. This song seems to appease Maria and her concerns. I absolutely loved this book! The true story of the von Trapp family vs. how we fondly remember The Sound of Music. The oldest von Trapp sibling was actual a boy named Rupert. The Baron was actually 25 years older than Maria. The von Trapps lost all their money when Georg tried to back a failing Austrian bank that folded. They took in boarders in their villa and started singing to make ends meet. They actually escaped on the last train out of Austria before the Nazis closed the border under the guise of a new US tour. They ran because they would not sing for the Fuhrer and they knew he would come for them. Lastly, Marie was a formidable force both in good and bad ways. #Maria #MichelleMoran #TheSoundofMusic #RandomHouseBallatine #July2024

Name of Book: Maria
Author: Michelle Moran
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group ~ Ballantine/Dell
Genre: Historical Fiction- Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: July 30, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars!
Pages: 304

In the 1950s, Oscar Hammerstein is asked to write the lyrics to a musical based on the life of a woman named Maria von Trapp. He’s intrigued to learn that she was once a novice who hoped to live quietly as an Austrian nun before her abbey sent her away to teach a widowed baron’s sickly child. What should have been a ten-month assignment, however, unexpectedly turned into a marriage proposal.


The Prologue starts with a letter based on what Maria wrote in her 1949 autobiography. For dramatic affect Maria's story is changed in many ways for the play and Maria has come to New York to tell Oscar Hammerstein the revisions she wants him to make to the play before its opening night. T
Dear Mr. Hammerstein.
She tells him that she is not happy with the portrayal of her life with the von Trapp family in the play.

She did teach the children to sing and was force into their success as a group. The play fictionalizes the von Trapp story and she states
was far from the reality. In actually Maria had lost most of her family over her aggressive ways and Maria wants to set the record
straight.
She wants to meet with him in New York as she has some ideas on revisions on how the script can be fixed.
The story starts with Maria meeting Fran, Hammerstein's young assistant and they do discuss her concerns over accuracy.
Maria tells her story and some of the events in the musical are real; others are not.


Aww the story is great and just as many readers, have I too saw the movie ‘Sound of Music’ many times.
And after reading this I want to see it again.💕

The end of the book is also wonderful – A must read!!
Michelle Moran gives us the inside scoop in her ‘Author’s Note’
She tells us that Hammerstein died of stomach cancer before the release of the “Sound of Music’,
(I totally believe he still enjoyed watching its success.)
She also tells of some of touching things that happened that really were true.
She did love the the sisters singing Maria ~ "How do you Solve a problem like Maria"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-VRyQprlu8
Also most of us weren't aware that Maria had a cameo role- she walks by the archway during the song “I Have Confidence”.

Then there are several pages where she tells us
What ever Happened to . . . .
It tells us a little about each including what happened to the Von Trapp villa.

There are Discussion Questions
Which readers will enjoy especially if you are in a book club discussion.
I loved this and truly could not put it down.

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group ~ Ballantine/Dell for granting me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 30, 2024.

4 the hills are alive with the sound of music stars

I’m a huge fan of the stage musical and the movie, so I had to decide whether to include this on my reading list. Did I want to mess with my love of that story? Now that I’ve read it, I’m so glad to have this perspective, too,

Maria von Trapp is such a wholesome character in the movie, but she is much more flawed in real life. It’s easy to see why her life was dramatized, as it has many of the pivotal moments that also occur in the musical. She really was working towards being a nun when she was called away to be a nanny to a large family. She cut up the curtains to make play clothes for the children, earned the captain’s affection, and married him.

The other storyline involves Oscar Hammerstein working on the musical as it nears a Broadway opening. Maria reaches out because she wants to change the story to bring it closer to the truth. Maria shares her life story with Oscar’s secretary.

I learned more about what happened once the family left Europe and how hard it was to succeed. Overall, a very enjoyable book and I’m glad I decided to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dell and Michelle Moran for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the book, Maria; A Novel of Maria von Trapp.
This is a great account of the woman who captured my heart in one of my favorite movies, The Sound of Music. I traveled to Salzburg and saw firsthand the beautiful countryside and was fascinated on The Sound of Music Tour. Singing all the songs from the movie was delightful. My all time favorite is Edelweiss. Christopher Plummer singing that song brings me to tears.
Maria's life is beautifully told as the play is being put together in New York. The dual timelines are seamless and flow together without difficulty. I enjoyed Maria's perspective on the accuracy of her life story and how her family was portrayed. I assume she was rather strict in dealing with all the children and coordinating a new household and life. I want to know more from the children's viewpoints but that could be another whole book in itself.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to more from this author.

I have always loved the movie, The Sound of Music, so I was excited about reading this book. It was a sweet tale that added more to what we already knew about Maria. If you are a fan of the movie, I would recommend reading this book.

When one thinks of Maria von Trapp, an image of Julie Andrews spinning atop a plateau with the Alps in the background (as per the book's cover), or successfully matching wits with Christopher Plummer in The Sound of Music may well come to mind. Michelle Moran’s Maria shows that there was a lot more going on under the hood of the postulant who became the world’s most iconic stepmother. 

When Maria learns that Rogers and Hammerstein are planning on adapting a movie of her life – which is loosely based on her memoir -- into a musical, she is pleased - and then disappointed to read the script and note how much of her life has been altered to make the play palatable to a post World War II audience. Maria’s hesitancy about marrying Georg von Trapp is rewritten into an epic love story, as is her initially one-sided love; the princess and countess whom Georg initially wanted to marry are merged into a single countess; and her childhood – filled with physical abuse from a foster uncle after the tragic deaths of her mother and father – is cleaned up. The von Trapps’ harrowing escape from the Nazis is transformed into a different sort of arduous, perilous climb. Franz Wasner, the priest sent to be the family’s private chaplain, who begins them on the road to professional singing careers, is left out altogether. Even one of the seven von Trapp children is transformed into a girl (Rupert becomes Liesl, of “I am Sixteen Going on Seventeen” fame); the three Maria had with Georg do not even appear in the musical. Seeing not enough of herself in this chirpy, syrupy fictional Maria, she requests a meeting with Oscar Hammerstein. Unfortunately he – distracted by the business of mounting the play and a recent stomach cancer diagnosis – is unavailable.

Enter Oscar’s secretary, Fran Connelly, who finds herself taking note of Maria’s complaints and listening to her life story. She learns about Maria’s past and present; about the priest who helped shape the family and the complexities of turning a family into a singing group that never stops touring – a choice that causes damage to several of the children. Fran must learn some hard lessons from Maria’s life and apply them to her own ambitions.

Maria von Trapp was no saint, no plaster angel, and wow, does Michelle Moran avoid backing down from that truth. Here, Maria’s discipline does not come in the form of folk songs and romps but in harsh punishments and forced lockstep conformity with expectations. And yet she deeply loves her huge adopted brood, in fact marries Georg because she thinks they will never get the love and care they need if she doesn’t leave the convent, and eventually falls for him. But naturally, she’s not all bad, and the book does a good job making her feel human and realistic.

There are a few problems with the pacing, and a whole lot of info-dumping takes place across the body of the novel to pack in as much of Maria’s life as Moran possibly can. I didn’t take to Fran as well as I took to Maria’s story – Fran is entirely fictional, and her ambitions and romantic pursuits aren’t especially entertaining. And Hammerstein gets a brief chapter that made me wish the book’s perspective had been split between himself and Maria.

And yet there’s something about Maria. It’s not a perfect novel, nor is it a bad one. Perhaps the best way to solve the problem of it is to read it.

The story of the von Trapps is familiar to most through The Sound Of Music movie. This novel attempts to reveal the “real” story so it is interesting to note the differences in the family dynamics and the personalities. Told in different timelines, it covers Maria’s early life, her life as governess, and her time in the U.S. I enjoyed what there was in the novel but wanted more about her childhood and her life in America. It would have also been helpful to explore her motivations in deciding to marry, in parenting the way she did, and in her relationships with her adult children.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dell Publishing for the ARC to read and review.