I have always loved "The Sound of Music," so I was very interested in learning more about the Von Trapp family, particularly as I heard that this showcases items that are not in the movie. I was actually quite shocked to learn just how different things were. Even though this book is fiction, It does still contain some truths. It was interesting, in this book, to learn the reasons as to why the production team did certain things. And it was interesting to learn that the swastika originally had different meanings than what it is commonly known for today. This book does have quite a bit of detail about Fran's personal story. While it was not uninteresting, it had little to do with the story overall. I enjoyed the addition of Oscar Hammerstein, as I have never read a lot about him. I wish this story had told a bit more about the family's life once they arrived in the United States. I have since learned that there are nonfiction books about Maria's life, and I'm interested in checking them out. I was so glad that there was an author's note included! I would definitely recommend this to those who love historical fiction, particularly fans of "The Sound of Music."

I grew up watching the sound of music with my family and it was one of my sisters favorite movies when we were a kid. I always wondered if it was based on a true story and if the movie had all the facts right so when I saw this book, I knew I had to read it and it did not disappoint. I love the stories so much and I loved the way that they told her story.

Having loved the movie, The Sound of Music, I was so excited at the opportunity to read Maria. What a wonderful historical fiction book that gives us a glimpse into the true story of Maria and the von Trapp family. I enjoyed getting to learn about Maria’s background and her early years and how she found the desire to become a nun. Her love of nature and children was so touching. Her delightful spirit is sprinkled throughout the pages as she loves to skip steps, climb roofs, and do all kinds of things that do get her in trouble with Mother Superior at the convent. Yet she was also a strong woman who went after what she wanted out of life. Through all of the struggles she faced from a young age through adulthood, you will enjoy the journey with Maria and the family she makes with the von Trapps. Just remember that things are not as they seem!

As a plus, I also enjoyed getting to see behind the scenes of the Rogers and Hammerstein relationship and the creation of the original musical for Broadway. Traveling along with Fran as she navigates the delicate task of meeting with Maria and listening to the real story of her life will have you enthralled and flipping through the pages to see what the next adventure will bring and how the Broadway production and movie are accepted by Maria.

This is definitely a book to put on your-to-be-read list. I could not put it down and found myself humming along some of the songs from the movie as I absorbed every word. Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

"Maria" is a notable and insightful novel that explores the real-life story of a cherished cultural figure. Moran's thorough research and empathetic storytelling distinguish this work as a significant piece of historical fiction. The novel serves both to entertain and to educate, providing a deeper understanding of Maria von Trapp's legacy.

This book is highly recommended for enthusiasts of historical fiction and those interested in the true story behind "The Sound of Music." Moran's depiction of Maria von Trapp is both respectful and enlightening, making it an essential read for anyone seeking to comprehend the woman behind the legend.

Great storytelling by Michelle Moran. Loved the story line and the parts about Oscar Hammerstein and his life. Discovered while reading the book that his home was in Bucks County, PA. This was a much more modern story than many of Moran's books. Well done.

You don't have to be a massive fan of The Sound of Music to appreciate this book. If you are an avid fan, I think your experience will still be good. This interesting take shows Maria in a more genuine manner. By all accounts, she was not the sunny, madly in love, sweet mother that we see in the movie. The truth is that Georg, the father, was more humorous and loving. That said, this book takes the reader into Maria's youth, pre convent, and after they came to America. I also loved blending in Oscar Hammerstein, with a side story, that was also interesting. I recommend this book. You'll find it unique and well written.
Thank you to Random House Publishing/Ballantine and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I grew up watching The Sound of Music. I had the soundtrack on cassette (yes, cassette) and knew exactly how much to fast forward to get to my favorite songs. For the longest time I had no idea it was loosely based on a real family.

Maria is a work of historical fiction. The references to Maria’s life were outlined in her book which The Sound of Music is roughly based on.

Before I started reading I was concerned that this was going to be more of an autobiography and I would get bored. This is not the case. This is the story of Maria fighting to have the musical follow more along what really happened in her life. It is written in a way that is engaging for the reader, going between Maira telling her story in the past then coming to the 50s which is present day in the book, made it very easy to stay engaged.

This one definitely took me by surprise in a good way and even if you have never seen The Sound of Music I’d still recommend.

I learned a lot more about Maria von Trapp and The Sound of Music from this reading this book. It was interesting to read about the changes in the musical by Hammerstein from some of the actual real life events and Maria’s reactions to the differences. Thank you Dell publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

I’ve loved The Sound of Music for years and I’ve read Maria von Trapp’s autobiography so I was super interested in this book. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed. A lot of the book was information that I already knew about, but didn’t match what was written in von Trapp’s autobiography or relayed by other sources. I don’t know if they were supposed to be plot devices or “correcting” prior records? I also wasn’t really interested in the side characters. Those storylines didn’t add anything in my opinion. The single Oscar Hammerstein chapter was kind of weird, that easily could have belonged to Fran to avoid another point of view. It was a quick read, but if you want to learn more about the von Trapps, just read their books and learn firsthand.

Confession, I have never seen The Sound of Music.

While still fiction, this historical fiction book is faithful to the facts about Maria von Trapp. This is a great novel for those who are fans of the film adaptation. This book provides some realistic clarity behind the infamous family, and the fallout of the broadway play and movie.

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell

Maria by Michelle Moran is the tale of Maria Von Trapp, of the Sound of Music. Based on her life, the story tells of how she wanted them to change the musical so that it more accurately reflected her life. I won't lie....I have had a hard time finding stories that keep my interest lately. I almost gave up on this one, but told myself to stick it out and I am glad that I did. I don't blame the book for my lack of interest, just my own headspace. However, this turned out to be quite a lovely story. I enjoyed learning about the family and learning more about Hammerstein, who wrote the musical. Now I want to go and watch The Sound of Music! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

In 1959, Fran Connelly, assistant to the famed Oscar Hammerstein watches as Rodger and Hammerstein's latest musical, The Sound of Music, comes to life. But when the real Maria von Trapp takes issue with the changes made to her family's story, Fran is sent to find out why.

As Fran begins to spend time with Maria, she discovers a complicated woman and a heartbreaking and beautiful story.

My Thoughts on Maria

The Sound of Music is one of my all-time favorite musicals so I was so excited to read this book.

Maria is told from both the perspectives of Fran in the 1950's and Maria herself from the 1910's through the 1930's. Moran did an excellent job of handling both of these timelines in a seamless and engaging way.

I enjoyed getting to see how Maria became the woman we all love. Moran shows us that Maria was more than a singing governess. She had flaws and her life was often difficult, but she persevered through it.

Fran, while not a real person, was actually my favorite character in this book. I loved her personality and her spirit throughout the story. She had so much depth that she felt realistic.

There were mentions of abuse and some short non-graphic scenes involving it. There were also mentions of mental illness. In one scene Maria and the Captain "undress" and kiss, but nothing further happens. (Which was completely unnecessary, and I was not a fan of that part. )

Overall, this book is one to read if you love The Sound of Music.

Final Thoughts and Rating

The central theme of Maria is hope. Life may not always have a rose-colored sheen, but we can learn from Maria to follow whatever we are called to do.

Rating: 4 out 5 stars

This brought back so many good memories of time spent with my family watching and rewatching this movie. Singing these songs and acting out parts of the movie.

I loved the exploration of the real Maria Von Trapp. There were so many aspects that caught me off guard. I didn’t know about what was going on with Hammerstein during the process of preparing for the show and I had no idea about the Von Trapp family’s life after their escape from Austria. There were some really sad revelations toward the end of the book.

Definitely recommend this one. If you are like me - you will be googling the real Maria to find out what she really looked like. I loved finding videos of her yodeling and pictures of her with Julie Andrews.

I grew up loving the Sound of Music movie and it is still my favorite. I visited the lodge in Vermont many years ago. I loved this book where we get to hear more truths of Maria and the Von Trapps lives. It was interesting to see the differences portrayed in the play vs how things really played out and to read about how they made it to America and future children. This made me want to read her autobiography. A very easy to read book with wonderful characterization.

The Sound of Music is one of my all time favorite musicals! I’ve always wanted to know more about Maria von Trapp’s story because I’d heard that the musical wasn’t exactly true to life, so when I saw Maria on NetGalley, I had to read it. It was fabulous! I loved the way the author shed a whole new light on Maria and made her a more human, complicated person who was easy to sympathize with, flaws and all.

I loved the dual time line premise. It’s set in the 1950’s when Oscar Hammerstein was writing the lyrics for the musical. Much to his chagrin, Maria von Trapp’s upset with the way her husband is portrayed and how the story deviates from her life. She demands a meeting with the illustrious lyricist, but Mr. Hammerstein sends his secretary Fran instead to talk with her, smooth ruffled feathers, and find out what her objections are as they furiously prepare for the musical’s debut.

Over the course of several meetings, Fran learns Maria’s true story from the beginning. This is where the story begins to be told from the past as Maria recounts her troubled childhood including the loss of both parents at a young age, and an abusive uncle. It brought new meaning to the lyrics “perhaps I had a wicked childhood, perhaps I had a miserable youth.” Just like in the musical Maria becomes a bit of a handful to the nuns, but just when she finally feels like she’s found a home, she’s asked to be a tutor for Captain von Trapp’s children. I was absolutely fascinated as Maria’s story unfolds and found new, and interesting aspects that were so completely different from the musical. For instance, Maria wasn’t in love with the Captain at first. She loved the children, & married him for their sakes. Her love for him came later. And, he was supposed to marry a Princess!

Perhaps one of the most chilling aspects was why they left Austria. They didn’t trek over a mountain like the musical suggests, but their escape was just as dramatic. I also loved learning how they became popular in America. One of the other things I found fascinating was that the Captain was the kind one and Maria was much more strict and demanding. Thus, the reason she was upset by how the Captain was portrayed. Her demands that the children perform night after night definitely took its toll and I was surprised at the reactions of some of her children who numbered ten by the time they came to America.

Along with Maria’s story is the fictional character Fran’s struggle to become a writer in the 1950’s amidst jealousies. I also loved Oscar Hammerstein’s cameos in the book and the poignant ending that nearly had me in tears. His final song has even more of a special place in my heart that I’ll treasure because of this book.

While this is a fictional portrayal, the author mentions in her afterword how she researched and painstakingly tried to accurately portray Maria’s life. It definitely gave me a new appreciation for the difficulties she went through and a desire to know even more. I’m looking forward to watching the musical again with a more nuanced view.

Highly recommend to historical fiction and Sound of Music fans! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

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.