We may have been given complimentary copies and/or access for review purposes to any books, products, and/or any other visual or audio media mentioned below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.
Books: Maria: A Novel of Maria Von Trapp & The Wedding People
Today we are talking about Maria by Michelle Moran. This story is a fictionalized account of the real Maria Von Trapp's negative reaction to Rodgers and Hammerstein's musicalization of her life story and her effort to get them to change the show to more accurately reflect her true story. Most of the book revolves around Maria telling a young woman named Fran, who works in Oscar Hammerstein's office, her true life story and trying to convince her to get Hammerstein to change the show.
Most, if not all, of what is revealed in the book about the real Maria, and her life could easily be gleaned from her own autobiography (she actually wrote several of them, and there was at least one written by one of her stepchildren too). She, in fact, devoted a whole chapter in one of her books to The Sound of Music, and she was not that unhappy with the stage show. They allegedly did incorporate some of her suggestions into the show. She had more of a problem with the film because the filmmakers seemed hellbent on making the film they wanted regardless of her feelings and/or opinion.
Her main problem with both versions was how the Captain was portrayed. She would have appreciated that he is portrayed much kinder and more likably in this book. Maria, herself, comes across less likably although her love for the children is clear, and later for the Captain as well.
It is interesting to see the real family come to life in this book. You only see them from Maria's point of view in her books, and you don't see them interacting much if at all. Unfortunately, in this book, they aren't differentiated enough so it's hard to keep them all straight plus some of them are much more a part of the story than others.
The actual creators of the show barely appear in this book. Oscar Hammerstein is more a part than any of the others. He is portrayed most lovingly. However, he is mentioned much more than he actually appears, and barely interacts with Maria. Richard Rodgers is not in the book at all. Anybody else involved with the show receives scant mention, if any. Most of the book revolves around Maria and the made-up character of Fran.
Fran has her own subplot as well. It involves her love life, and her desire to be a writer. She is a highly motivated extremely independent character who is clearly ahead of her time. It might have been nice to read more about her and see her as the primary focus of her own book. Here, her story is shoehorned in around Maria's, and thus only gets limited time and development.
All in all, the book is disappointing. It is neither a true backstage drama nor a fully developed portrait of the real Von Trapp family. It is a little of both and a lot of neither.
Today we are recommending The Wedding People by Alison Espach except we would not recommend it for anyone who has had suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, or has otherwise experienced suicide in their lives who may find it triggering. The story revolves around a young woman named Phoebe. When she can't get pregnant, her life falls apart. She books herself a stay in a fancy hotel intending to kill herself. The only others in the hotel are there for a wedding, and Phoebe quickly finds herself immersed in their lives.
This is a surprisingly moving book about how people can unexpectedly affect each other's lives. Phoebe starts off as a hopeless and desperate character. The more she becomes involved with the wedding people the more she thrives and finds herself.
The characters in the story are all so fully rounded. They have shades to their character and are neither all good nor all bad. Thus, they feel very realistic and relatable.
This is also a story about change. As the characters in the story learn, change can be good and necessary, and it can take us places we never imagined we would ever go but that is exactly where we need to be in our lives.
Movie: Final Heat
Book images used in this post are our own. All other photos have been sent to us by publicists, artists, and/or PR firms and are used with permission. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, contact us here, and we will look into the matter
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