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For over 40 years, I’ve been happily ignorant of almost any knowledge of The Sound of Music beyond what I know from simply being a member of our culture.
But Bookworm took an interest in the show when he learned about the 50th anniversary. The kids and I all watched the movie, and it wasn’t quite as bad as I had expected. Then, Bookworm wanted to read Forever Liesl: A Memoir of The Sound of Music by Charmian Carr.
I didn’t want to just let him read the book since it was an adult’s book and I wasn’t sure of the content. I thought it would probably be tame, but I still felt that I needed to read it.
This book was tame, and Bookworm devoured it when I was done.
All About Making The Sound of Music
If you love The Sound of Music, you’ll enjoy this book. Charmian Carr spends a great deal of time discussing what it was like to be on set and making the movie. She talks about how she got the part, about the other child actors, the director, the other lead characters. After I finished the book, I wanted to watch the movie over again now that I had “inside” knowledge.
Carr’s Own Life
The book also focuses on Carr’s own life. Her father was largely absent, and her mother had a serious drinking problem. Considering Carr’s background and early success in The Sound of Music, it’s amazing she has been so well-adjusted throughout her life.
The von Trapps
What I found most interesting about the books was when Carr mentions the family the movie was based on, the von Trapps. She shares how their story differed from the movie, which was actually quite a bit, especially in the way they escaped Hitler. In fact, this book piqued my curiosity to read more about the von Trapps.
If you’re a fan of The Sound of Music, you’ll likely enjoy this book and the behind-the-scenes glimpse that you’ll get.
4 out of 5 stars on the Mom’s Plans’ scale.
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