Maria

Though not her best book, this book is a true gem. It is very easy to read and keeps you turning the pages even though it isn't very exciting, suspensful, or fun. If you did not like any of her other books, don't read this one.

I recently read all the the reviews of the Trapp Family Singers, which I have also read. One of the recurring criticisms of the book is that it paints a dishonest picture or too rosy a picture of Maria and the Trapp family (This book was written in the late 40's or early 50's.) Several reviewers mentioned the recent story on the TV series, Biography, which told what they felt was the "real story." Well, it's a shame that the book, Maria, is now out of print. This book was published in 1972, and Maria is much more honest about her sad childhood, and she does not leave out many unflattering pictures of herself. She also tells about her time of atheism and how she came back to her faith. One part of the book details how "blazing mad" she was with God after she married the Baron, and felt that God had "rejected" her as His bride. In another part she details her deep guilt after her husband's death, since she felt that in many ways she had made his life miserable by her "terrible temper"--she makes it clear that the Captain was the quiet and gentle parent in the family, and also discusses how much she disliked the fact that the "Sound of Music" portrayed him as a stern disciplinarian. Maria also tells how much trouble she had letting go of "control" of the family business and how she feels she made mistakes as both a wife, mother, and grandmother. So, you see, Biography's "expose" really had to come, at least somewhat, from Maria's own words. The only reason I didn't give the book five stars is that, at times, the writing is a little hard follow in that it jumps around. However, I did get the feeling that Maria was talking and reminiscing, which is part of the reason for the "jumpiness." Maria's earlier book was written in a different time when people didn't reveal as much about themselves as they do now. The later book is not a "tell all" but strikes a good balance in that I think Maria genuinely wanted to let people see her strengths and weaknesses and what God could do with such a flawed and imperfect individual.