I love how the author writes about historical figures that you didn't know you wanted to know more about. It was so well written that I wanted more.

I have always been a fan of The Sound of Music and end up watching it every year when it comes on around Christmas. This was a fascinating look at the life of the von Trapps and the comparison between that and how they were portrayed in the movie. Moran’s characters leap off the page and feel like family (partially due to the movie as well) and it was nice to really get to know Maria von Trapp and the youngest children that were not in the movie. I would have liked more of the romance between Maria and Georg but it's all explained well in the end. Highly recommended for fans of WWII stories, the Sound of Music, and historical fiction as a whole.

I enjoyed this book. It's worth a read just to find out more about the true story of Maria von Trapp.

It’s historical fiction with dual POV one being Maria and the other being a secretary in Oscar Hammerstein’s office. The secretary is a little bit one dimensional – she’s more of a plot device used as a way for Maria to get her true story out. In the end, it doesn’t really matter because the true draw of the story to me was the Von Trapp family story.

I also really appreciated the Author’s Note and “What Ever Happened to...” segments at the end of the book.

4.5 rounded up

I love The Sound of Music, which is obviously why I felt compelled to read this book! It was a quick read and I was sucked into the story of Maria and her family - it took a lot longer for me to care about the 1950s time period with Fran meeting with Maria. I found Fran and Peter's sudden romance unnecessary and poorly developed, but in the end I was curious to learn more about Hammerstein. I didn't even know The Sound of Music was originally a Broadway show. I was a little disappointed to learn that Maria wasn't quite the lovely woman that she appeared to be in the movie (assuming this novel is more accurate). But overall I enjoyed learning more about the Von Trapps.

A beautifully done historical fiction piece on the real life of Maria von Trapp, dispelling some of the myths of her idyllic story of love and family while setting the real heartwarming details aright. Having grown up with the musical, I was enchanted once again by this formidable woman and the trials she overcame at home and against the evil Nazi regime. I highly recommend this to anyone who fell in love with the von Trapps and always wanted to know more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

The Sound of Music is one of the most beloved musicals of all time, but how did the real people that it depicted feel about its portrayal and its success? *Maria* shows that it wasn’t all marionette shows and sneaking through the Abbey, but rather that the Von Trapp family faced very real disagreements and perils, many of which could hardly translate into musical fit for Rogers and Hammerstein. This dramatic retelling of the life Maria von Trapp and the origins of the musical that made her a household name will force you to pause the next time you hear Julie Andrews belting Do Re Mi or Christopher Plummer blowing a whistle.

As someone who has loved the South of Music for decades and can easily recite and sing along to every word, this book really was a reckoning to me. Truly, never did I consider this wasn’t the full and complete story. I loved learning more about the woman (and the family) behind the musical, which has lead me to do some more of my own research.

With that said, I found the chapters told from Fran (Hammerstein’s secretary)’s POV to be extremely distracting. I really did not care about her or her relationship woes? I understand why she was necessary to the story, but think more could have been done here to not disrupt the flow of Maria’s narrative.

3.5 stars

Many thanks to Michelle Moran, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Between Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music growing up, I lived in an all Julie Andrews world, all the time! This book was such a lovely transport back to that time. Not only retelling the story of the Von Trapp family in a new and interesting way but weaving in a delightful story about Hammerstein and the golden days of Broadway. I enjoyed this so much. I have never done a lot of research on the true story of the Von Trapps so was very interested to learn everything I did.

A must for any fan of the movie "The Sound of Music:". A historical fiction retelling of the making of the Broadway show of the same name, I enjoyed this delightful story. The real life von Trapp family's history is different than the show/movie and this book details some of those differences. A dual timeline of the 30s/40s and the time of the Broadway show's premiere works well. Now off to re-watch the movie...

A must-read for fans of The Sound of Music! the captivating novel brings Maria von Trapp to life in a refreshingly realistic way., moving beyond the saintly character portrayed in the musical and movie. The author masterfully weaves fact and fiction, creating a compelling narrative that draws you in.
Told from the perspective of Fran, Oscar Hammerstein's assistant, and Maria herself, the story jumps through time, offering a unique and engaging reading experience. I was delighted to see background characters fleshed out and Hammerstein's portrayal was particularly fascinating and touching.
As a fan of the musical and movie, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and nuance of this novel. It's a fun and engaging read that I highly recommend to anyone who loves The Sound of Music. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Michelle Moran, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp. I received an advanced reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Normally, my reviews make it in time before the publication date. This one got pushed towards the end of my TBR list on accident, so unfortunately it missed that date.

With that said, this book is so well done. I loved everything about it. It is written with a dual timeline that alternates between the months before The Sound of Music opened on Broadway and through Maria's perspective as the events were happening to her. There is joy, heartbreak, shock, and every emotion in between. We get to see a different side to Maria that is not present in the retelling of her life. The trauma she experienced as a child altered her parenting style in a different way that was shown in the musical/movie. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves The Sound of Music.

One of my favorite movies is “The Sound of Music.” I never imagined the story in any other way. This is a great historical fiction based on real life. Don’t skip the author’s notes! Read “Maria” if you loved “The Sound of Music”, it may make you love the original even more. Excellent writing and well researched.
This is my opinion with thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing, Ballantine for this ARC.

I am a huge fan of The Sound of Music, so when I found out that a story was being written about Maria von Trapp, I knew I wanted to read it.

The book tells the story of a girl, orphaned at a young age, and cared for by her aunt and uncle. But life wasn't easy living with them: she was physically and emotionally abused by her uncle. To escape them, she would run up to the hills to commune with nature. There she discovers the Nonnberg Abbey and decides to become a nun.

The story opened my eyes to the vast difference it was compared to the musical. Who really was the disciplinarian in the family? And was it truly a love story between Maria and Georg? And how the family escaped Austria in time before the war started.

The story also alternates between Maria telling her story and Fran, a secretary for famous lyricist Oscar Hammerstein, who is tapped to listen to Maria tell her side of the story.

If you are a fan of The Sound of Music, and enjoy historical fiction, then this is the book for you.

I received this complimentary digital copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I am not sure if this would capture my attention were I not a fan of The Sound of Music but I really enjoyed this one. It was interesting to compare and contrast Maria's story with what is portrayed in the movie. I appreciated the added faith elements that Maria introduced to the Von Trapp family.
I was concerned it would make me think negatively about the movie knowing it is far from a true account but it didn't. The audiobook is well done!



Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read this one in exchange for my honest thoughts.

MARIA by Michelle Moran is a wonderful way to find out a bit more about the real Von Trapp family in a fictionalized novel that brings out the complications of turning a real life into a musical.

I loved the movie, The Sound of Music. I also thought it was real. I knew, deep down, that there must have been fictionalized aspects, but the bones were true, right? Well, some were and some were not.

This is a novel that brings out how the truth varied with the Hollywood/Broadway versions & how it may have come about. I learned some really fascinating things about the title character. I feel a bit like learning Santa isn't real, or not what I thought. I do think that the truth is more important to know, however. I didn't realize how much stock I put into believing the film was true to life. Bless my heart.

If you are interested in a really riveting telling of this story, I highly recommend either print/digital or audio. I was able to listen thanks to @prhaudio and had the digital thanks to @netgalley & @randomhouse Ballantine, so I was set! I loved having the option to go back and forth. The audio with dual narrators brought Maria to life (no singing, sadly). Published on July 30th, this was a surprisingly compelling read that had me nostalgic and grateful for a clarifying truth.

“Maria: A novel of Maria Von Trapp”, by Michelle Moran, is not your Mama’s “The Sound of Music”. Instead, with vivid writing and great detail, this book gives readers insight into Maria’s history which isn’t even close to the famous play and movie. It also provides a glimpse into the making of the play and Maria’s feelings about her and her family’s portrayal on stage.

As a lifelong fan of The Sound of Music, this book worked for me in so many ways. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Maria’s life and the struggle she had with the Broadway (and later in screen) portrayal came to life as if one was watching it on stage or film. I would recommend it to anyone who has been captivated by The Sound of Music and wants to foray into the world of theatre production from the comfort of their home.

MARIA: A Novel of Maria von Trapp by Michelle Moran is an engaging biographical historical fiction novel that takes the reader on a journey into the real life of Maria von Trapp compared to the Maria von Trapp portrayed in The Sound of Music. It is a story that is fictionalized and yet still is able to demonstrate the truth of a life is usually more complicated.

Oscar Hammerstein is asked to compose the music for a Broadway play based on the life of Maria von Trapp and her singing family. While it is an inspirational story, it must be condensed for the stage and when Maria sees the script, she is very angry and wants to confront Hammerstein. Hammerstein sends his secretary, Fran, to meet with Maria and find out what she objects to in the musical.

Fran is excited to meet Maria and as she listens to Maria’s life story they become unlikely friends over the week of conversations, but she knows it is too late to change the musical and worries that Maria could cause problems with the press. She begins to understand why Maria is upset, so she writes her report hoping Mr. Hammerstein can do something.

This story is one that you will want to curl up on the couch with and read in one sitting. The differences between the real Maria and the Maria of The Sound of Music are fascinating. She was not an easy woman by any means after a difficult childhood and yet it was her ambition, resilience, and grit that got the family through many difficult times. Families are complicated. I also found the snippets of Oscar Hammerstein’s life interesting. I know that whenever I watch the movie again, I will still love it for what it is, a fun musical movie, but it is not what the real-life von Trapp's experienced, and their lives were much more complicated than what you see on the screen.

I highly recommend this compelling biographical historical fiction novel!

Anyone who's listened to our Strong Sense of Place episode about the theater knows that I love musicals. And my favorite might be 'The Sound of Music.' The music for the stage musical was written by Richard Rodgers and the lyrics are by Oscar Hammerstein. They based their story on a 1949 memoir written by the real-life Maria von Trapp.

When I was in our high school production of The Sound of Music, I played the eldest daughter Leisel. And I was, in fact, 16 going on 17. The boy who played Rolf was also a football player. It was a very Disney 'High School Musical' situation.

The live play is, obviously, great. But! My heart belongs to the film version from 1965 starring Julie Andrews as Maria. First of all, Julie Andrews is a goddess. Second, songs like 'I Have Confidence' and 'Do Re Mi' are bangers! And finally, there is no smolder like the smolder between Maria and the Captain when they do the Austrian folk dance at the big party. I mean... All of which to say, I was primed to enjoy the book 'Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp' by Michelle Moran.

In real life, Rodgers and Hammerstein took some liberties with the true story when they wrote their musical. This new novel is set in the 1950s, just before the Broadway debut of the show. It imagines the real-life Maria's reaction when she reads the script. It's not a spoiler to say that she's not happy with it. She wants to set the record straight about what really happened in the von Trapp mansion. So she strikes up a friendship with Hammerstein's secretary, and then tells her story.

The book opens with a prologue. It's a letter from Maria to Oscar Hammerstein, and the voice is SO Maria. I can hear Julie Andrews reading it. It says, in part, 'In January, I will be 55 years old. If statistics are to be believed, I can anticipate living another 20 years. It is my deepest wish not to spend those remaining years explaining how I never escaped from Austria by crossing the Alps into Switzerland, or how my eldest stepchild Rupert has never been a 16-year-old girl named Leisel.' She goes on to say she wants a meeting because she has, quote, 'several ideas on how the script can be fixed.'

Then the action moves to the Hamptons where we meet Oscar Hammerstein, and we're off to the races. This is an excellent summer read — snappy dialogue, girls with moxie, and vivid settings in 1950s New York and WWII Austria.

I should also mention that we're in good hands with this author. She's written eight historical novels that tell the untold story of other remarkable women, including Mata Hari, Nefertiti, and Madame Tussaud. This one is 'Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp' by Michelle Moran.

I recommended this book on my podcast The Library of Lost Time on July 26, 2024 - https://strongsenseofplace.com/lolts/lolt-2024-07-26/

The Sound of Music has always been a favorite film and I was excited to read this book. I did not realize there was a musical on broadway prior to the movie. It was interesting to read about the inner workings of Roger and Hammersteins production. It gave a glimpse of a part of New York history.

Maria von Trapp was an interesting character and her portrayal in the book surprised me. Her character was a much different person than represented in the movie. She seemed to be more authoritarian than her husband. She has interesting story without there having been a movie. She endured a lot before becoming Mrs. Van Tropp. I think the author was able to capture Maria's personality and make the reader believe it. We learn a lot about the family and the path they follow.

I think this would be an enjoyable book for those interested in historical fiction and music. While the story is somewhat biographical it reads more smoothly than most biographies. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review this novel.

I have long been a fan of Michelle Moran and of course her novels but this might be her best. I say that having absolutely loved Nefertiti and The Heretic Queen. I am also a Sound of Music stan and really had never thought much about how real life differed from the Hollywood version but it definitely did. Maria was a formidable woman but her childhood could make her harsh with her children but it some ways it is what made them survive the war. I loved the authors note and where are they now features. This will definitely be a top book of 2024 for me.

The Sound of Music has been an all-time favorite movie of mine since childhood. It's one of those films I've never grown tired of, and my mom played the soundtrack on so many long road trips that I can- and will- sing along to nearly every word of beloved songs such as "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?" and "16 Going on 17." So I was immediately interested in reading this. Having read the liner notes from our soundtrack CD several years ago, I knew the film took some liberties with the Von Trapp family's real story (how sad I was to learn there was no Liesl - yet I was relieved that Rolf the Nazi telegram delivery boy was also a complete fabrication). But until now, I had never thought to research the lives of the actual Von Trapp family-- which is uncharacteristic for me, now that I think of it! Then again, as a Gen Xer, I didn't grow up with Google at my fingertips.

What I wasn't expecting was that the book would alternate storylines, time periods, and perspectives between Maria Von Trapp telling her story in first person to Fran Connelly, a fictionalized employee of Oscar Hammerstein, and the daily life and romantic entanglements of Fran herself. Fran's story, I'm sorry to say, was decidedly less interesting to me and her sudden success in publishing at the end of the story didn't seem very plausible to me.

What I liked:
+ getting to learn about Maria's life before she entered the abbey, learning of her upbringing and how she learned music, and her experience teaching school before she became a governess to the Von Trapps. Maria was an atheist in her early youth and converted to Catholicism while attending teachers' college. Moran effectively shows just how young and inexperienced the real Maria was, and how much larger the age difference was between her and Georg (25 years) than between Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer in The Sound of Music (only 6 years despite the attempts to make CP seem much older than 36 and JA's youthful appearance for 30). I liked learning what daily life for the VonTrapp children was like when Maria arrived, and which aspects she changed.
+ learning about the process of creating the Broadway musical, and learning a little bit about the personality of Oscar Hammerstein. I knew nothing about either, and I suppose this is one benefit of Fran's inclusion.
+ learning the correct timeline of when Maria and Georg married (Nov. 1927), which was actually long before the children began performing publicly (1935). Contrary to the dramatic scenes in the 1965 film, the Von Trapps fled Austria in late 1938 and didn't have to hike through the Alps to do so.

What didn't work for me:
+ (as I previously mentioned) going back and forth between Maria's real-life story and fictional Fran Connelly's life. I just wasn't very invested in Fran's story by the end, and I felt like her romantic life was irrelevant to the greater story being told. I felt skeptical of the timeline and process of her publishing deal.

What stuck with me:
+ The book shows the actual relationship dynamics between Maria and Georg. I confess to being a little disappointed that there was no swoon-worthy confession of love in a moonlit gazebo, as in the beautiful "Something Good" scene in the 1965 film. However, the actual proposal scene as it happened was rather funny-- and completely engineered by the children. Although I've always thought of the Captain's film persona as being strict, more out of grief and cluelessness about child development than because he was truly harsh or unkind, it was fascinating to hear how much gentler he was in real life. Maria and the children felt that the musical didn't do their father justice by making Maria look like the joyful, funny, practically perfect partner in their marriage. The children felt their father was the more nurturing parent.

+ I was puzzled by how Maria's personality and her relationship with the children seemed to change so dramatically after their marriage. She seems to have been a wonderful teacher in a local school before coming to live with the von Trapp children, and she often remarks how it was the children she fell in love with long before she truly grew to love their father. The same Maria who as governess insisted that they have more recreation time, outdoor play, and comfortable clothing became the mother who demanded that every one of the children practice and perform publicly very difficult pieces of music, regardless of their wishes. In particular, she was harsh with one of the youngest children (born to Maria and Georg some years after they wed) who had intense stage fright. She also interfered in one daughter's relationship with a potential suitor, with sad results.
While I imagine that the author doesn't precisely know the cause of Maria's change, I did note that after their marriage Maria was expected to not just be a mother and teacher to the children but also run the entire household without as much help. She was simultaneously also learning and trying to meet the social expectations of a wealthy captain's wife, something other women of status would have been prepared for from childhood. She struggled with kidney problems and fertility issues. Some scenes led me to think that she probably had ADHD at a time when she would have just been labeled difficult ("How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?" indeed) instead of having resources available to help. Her mother died when she was very small and she was raised by relatives, one of whom was a very cruel uncle, and she wasn't able to spend much time with her musician father before he too died. Given the tumult leading up to and during the Nazi invasion of Austria, having to flee the country and seek refuge abroad, she was certainly under a lot of stress.
+ Maria von Trapp did write a few books about her life, and I really would like to read at least one of them. Moran's novel indicates that Maria loved both performing and talking to people about her experiences, and I would be interested to compare Maria von Trapp's account to this book.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.