Book Review: Maria by Michelle Moran

“In January, I will be fifty-five years old. If statistics are to be believed, I can anticipate living another twenty 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 (a magnificent feat, given that Salzburg has never bordered Switzerland), or how my eldest stepchild, Rupert, has never been a sixteen-year-old girl named Liesl. And this is to say nothing of all the other fanciful changes throughout the script.”

Michelle Moran, Maria

Review:

I’ve been so excited to read this book since I heard it was coming out last summer, but even though I preordered it, I decided it was more important to wait for the perfect season to read it. I know The Sound of Music is typically associated with Christmas, but personally, I’ve never understood why. My mind has always considered this to be a springtime story. 

Instead of following The Sound of Music script which most of us are familiar with, Maria is based more on Maria von Trapp’s memoir (with influences from Agathe von Trapp’s book). Arguably, the true story is even better than the fictionalized one, albeit with a few more clouds marring the sunshine. 

With Broadway’s opening of The Sound of Music quickly approaching, none other than Maria von Trapp herself shows up demanding a meeting with Oscar Hammerstein. Hammerstein sends Fran, his secretary, to meet with Maria and take notes. Initially, Fran begrudges this, not having expressed much interest in the play, but she soon becomes enthralled with Maria’s story and looks forward to their meetings. 

Maria shares with Fran stories from her lonely childhood, which was riddled with abuse and emotional neglect, her faith journey that eventually led her to Nonnberge Abbey, which ultimately led her to work for Captain Georg von Trapp and his children. There are a lot of similarities to the fictionalized portrayal up to this point, including the play clothes made out of curtains, but the true story starts to stray from the script that was handed to Fran. 

I was captivated by this book. I was so sad when I reached the end of it! I loved reading a more accurate (though, of course, still fictionalized) story of the Von Trapp family. I much prefer the softer portrayal of the Captain and the more flawed Maria. Is it different from what I’m used to? Yes. Did it shatter some illusions? Also yes, but it was also more real and relatable. 

I’ve only read one of Maria von Trapp’s books (Yesterday, Today, and Forever), but now I desperately want to read The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, which is the memoir referred to in this book. This is a new favorite of mine for sure! 

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• The more realistic portrayal of the Von Trapp family’s life as well as including Maria’s backstory.
• Seeing beyond the family’s escape from Austria.
• The balance between reality and respect for the people behind these characters. Maria had flaws, but she was not painted as a villain.
• An inclusion of Oscar Hammerstein’s point of view.

What I didn’t like:

• Though her portion of the story grew on me, especially toward the end, I could take or leave Fran.
• I would have loved a longer book and fewer major time jumps. They could be drastic and sudden.

Afterthoughts:

This book single-handedly renewed my The Sound of Music obsession. Long story short, I finally booked a room at the Von Trapp Family Lodge.

Where to buy the book: