Summary:
The oldest daughter, but not the oldest child, of Captain Von Trapp and his first wife shares her memories of life in Austria before, during, and after World War II; life after her mother’s passing; Maria becoming her second mother; touring the world singing with her family; “The Sound of Music;” and where “the children” are now.
Opinion:
In the prelude, the author states that one of the reasons she wrote this book is to answer questions she’s heard over her lifetime: did they really climb the mountain to Switzerland; was their father really that strict; did they really learn to sing via “Do-Re-Mi,” etc. It didn’t surprise me that she had negative feelings toward the infamous musical/movie. Over time, she was able to separate her feelings and acknowledge that, while the musical/movie is inaccurate, through it, joy has been brought to generations.
This was a very interesting read. I became fixated on them during this past Easter while watching “The Sound of Music.” I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot about the family. As much as I would love to share some of the truths, I think you should read the book and find out for yourselves.
© Cori Endicott June 2012
