Maria von Trapp. You know the name and the iconic songs, but do you know her real story? This dramatic novel, based on the woman glamorized in The Sound of Music, brings Maria to life as never before.
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. And when the family was forced to flee their home to escape the Nazis, it was Maria who instructed them on how to survive using nothing but the power of their voices.
It’s an inspirational story, to be sure, and as half of the famous Rodgers & Hammerstein duo, Hammerstein knows it has big Broadway potential. Yet much of Maria’s life will have to be reinvented for the stage, and with the horrors of war still fresh in people’s minds, Hammerstein can’t let audiences see just how close the von Trapps came to losing their lives.
But when Maria sees the script that is supposedly based on her life, she becomes so incensed that she sets off to confront Hammerstein in person. Told that he’s busy, she is asked to express her concerns to his secretary, Fran, instead. The pair strike up an unlikely friendship as Maria tells Fran about her life, contradicting much of what will eventually appear in The Sound of Music.
A tale of love, loss, and the difficult choices that we are often forced to make, Maria is a powerful reminder that the truth is usually more complicated—and certainly more compelling—than the stories immortalized by Hollywood.
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A few months ago, I received an email from the publisher inviting me to read and review the ARC of an upcoming novel, Maria. 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 The Sound of Music in high school but wasn't unaware of the story behind the idea. Reading Maria 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.
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