Customer Reviews

Forever Liesl: A Memoir of The Sound of Music

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Charmian Carr has written a lovely tribute to this movie, which is one of the great hits in the history of American film. It certainly has a special place in my life, as it has for almost 27 years.

Ms. Carr recognizes the adoration people have for this film, and she writes about it accordingly. What I think is special about her and her authorship of this book, is that she APPRECIATES her fans, fans of the movie, and is quick to acknowledge this in the narrative. I admire this tremendously. So many actors that appear in such a celebrated film shun fans and devotees and regard them as no doubt obsessive and looney. Charmian does none of this. She continously credits viewers of "Music" with its success.

This book is a leisurely read, easy to like, not too long and yet not too short. As a "Music" fan, I personally would have liked it longer, but nevertheless, it is a comprehensive account of one of the masterworks of film musicals.

Thank you, Charmian Carr, for being one of "My Favorite Things" for 35 years!

A must read for lovers of the movie "Sound of Music". A must read for movie buffs with an interest in the "behind the scenes" of movie making. The book is very positive and uplifting - a much different tone than some other "behind the scenes" books; the tone is consistent with the tone of the movie itself. The book is very well written and has a good flow to it. It is important to note that the book is also a good book for younger fans of the movie.

The book is full of interesting material and anecdotes. It will enhance your viewing of the movie (can't wait for the DVD). It gives you things to look for in various scenes; for example, the ace bandage on Liesl's right ankle in her dance number with Rolf - read the book to find out why it's there.

Another reviewer remarked unfavorably on fan stories found in the book. I saw them as a positive addition in that they show what an impact a movie can make on a viewer's life. In the case of this movie, it was for good. We have all read news stories of other movies where the impact was not good.

BTW, I met Miss Carr at a book reading and signing in Sterling, VA. She is every bit as personable and attractive in person as she was as Liesl.

Worth the long wait (it has been advertised for months on this site), Charmian Carr's "Forever Liesl" seemlessly integrates several stories: a detailed narrative of the making of "SOM"; Ms. Carr's personal experience "being" Liesl and its impact on her life and family; the impact of the movie on her co-stars; the impact of the film on long-time fans. In fact, the variety of storylines makes for a book the interest level of which rarely flags. It is a tribute to Ms. Carr and co-author Jean Strauss that the variety makes for an organic whole, rather than just a jumble of parts. The well-organized structure of the book is, indeed, one of its strong points. This is not a mere collection of anecdotes.

The narrative of the making of "SOM" renders Julia Antopol Hirsch's ill-informed book on the same subject really irrelevant (though it has color pictures). Ms. Carr pointedly corrects several real untruths paraded by Ms. Hirsch as fact, though with characteristic class, she does not mention Ms. Hirsch or the book by name. Though she was an "SOM" insider, Ms. Carr was clearly scrupulous in her quest to get the story right, consulting archives and many of the surviving participants in the film's creation. It is a tribute to her generosity -- and seeming lack of ego -- that the book isn't just a self-centered recital of 35 year-old memories. Christopher Plummer's major contribution to the resulting book is clear, and certainly no other telling of the "SOM" story has captured his candor, wit and irreverance as this one has. No, Julie Andrews did not participate, but she is treated with the respect that her contribution to the film demands. Ms. Carr indulges in no show of pique at Ms. Andrew's current aloofness.

As interesting as is the "making of" narrative, Ms. Carr's own story packs more punch. The heart of this story is a series of "family matters," particularly those involving her parents. Not indulging in "Mommie Dearest" revenge, she narrates her parents's struggles with admirable restraint and good taste. The chapter on her mother's alcoholism is particularly moving and actually relevant, as she had a role in getting Ms.Carr an audition for the film. This later became a painful issue between mother and daughter. This chapter could have been maudlin, or melodramatic, or grossly self-serving. It is none of those. It is more touching because the narrative style in this section is so spare. In this case, less meant more (and more moving).

Where the book runs into trouble, however, is with Ms. Carr's shrewd, but less successful, tribute to the movie's many (obsessive?) fans. She is much too generous with space as she allows these fans to tell their stories. Its a strategically sound policy to play up to the fans, but the tone of some of these stories is just this side of bearable. These maudlin moments (and there are one or two in other parts of the text that made me cringe! ) are what some snotty, ill-informed critics have chosen to harp on, though in doing so they miss the point of the book as a whole. Released to celebrate the film's 35th anniversary, the book is intended as a tribute to "SOM" and not a trashing of it. Ms. Carr is too smart not to know that as a tribute -- a bit too gooey in places, thus consistent with the movie's tone -- the book will sell. The book was written to sell, just as the movie itself was. And sell, this book should, in this reviewer's opinion. Despite the lapses in taste mentioned above (a sticky gooiness in parts that actually does not infect the whole book), this is a classy book written by a very classy lady. And dumb, she ain't (she's been a successful businesswoman for years). Ms. Carr knows what most "SOM" fans want in a book about "their" movie, and she gives it to them in spades.

Forever Liesl: A Memoir of The Sound of Music is an enchantingly beautiful read for anyone who adores the film. Ms. Charmian Carr's delightful story of playing the role of Liesl in the classic movie is wonderfully told by the "sixteen-going-on-seventeen" actress herself. I enjoyed the between-chapter anecdotes from viewers who love the film and have connected with it as much as I have. Questions about the making of the movie, actors, behind-camera crew, and much more are answered. And, rather than spoil the overall picture, the added knowledge supplied by the book only enhances the film's magic. For example, I was happy to learn that the seven Sound of Music "siblings" have remained close friends over the years. Ms. Carr's book is lovely, and I recommend it to everyone who fell in love with the movie. Forever Liesl is Something Good. Very good!

Charmian Carr received the opportunity of a lifetime when she was cast as Liesl in The Sound of Music. Her candid transparency in telling what it was like to be a part of making America's favorite movie (topping even Titanic!) is wonderfully refreshing. She brought one of the greatest stories on film down to earth with her enlightening account of what it was like to work with Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, and the budding young stars who played her siblings, and yet thrills the reader with her entertaining "behind the scenes" anecdotes. She shares many letters and stories from fans, highlighting the resoundingly significant effect that the Sound of Music has had on people of all ages all over the world, and she brings the real von Trapp family to life as she tells about meeting them and summarizes the actual account of what REALLY happened to them in Austria. This is a wonderful companion to The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp.

The Sound Of Music is a musical filled with well-thought out, and catchy songs as well as memorable characters who are easy to relate to. This book takes you behind the scenes with Charmian Carr, who played almost all little girls' favorite character in the movie, the sixteen year old Liesl Von Trapp. In this book, you will be presented with personal information about Charmian, as well as photos from the movie set, fun stories that happened while making the movie, information about the makers of the movie, how Liesl got the part, and why she almost didn't, and so much more! Though rather boring in parts, I finished this book with a smile on my face, and recommend it to everyone who loved The Sound of Music. You will never look at the movie the same way again after reading this book!

If you are a fan of The Sound of Music, then this is the book for you! However, if you are looking for some trashy Hollywood tell all, then keep looking. Ms. Carr tells her story with such warmth and grace. What is most touching about this book is the relationships that developed among the 'siblings' of the film, and how they are still there for each other. I have always been a fan of Ms. Carr's and I thank her for a great book!

What makes this book good? Charmian Carr was able to convince many of the cast and crew of "The Sound of Music" to contribute stories about the making of the movie. What makes this book weak? There is too much information about Charmian Carr and her family life.

Still, it's worth the read just to learn the interesting behind-the-scenes tidbits. Did Christopher Plummer really call it "The Sound of Mucus?" Did Julie Andrews get on well with the kids? Where is the real Maria Von Trapp in the movie?

If you are a die-hard fan of the movie - this is the book for you.

This book is for anyone who loves the movie, and it is especially meaningful to those of us who can narrate every single word by heart (and I know there are a lot of us out there! ) The author gives insight into all of the hard work that went into making the film, and how her life has changed because of it. I also liked all of the short anecdotes between each chapter from everyday people, sharing how The Sound of Music has touched their lives. It is a MUST READ for any fan of this beautiful movie!

OK, I confess! I'm probably one of the few people in the US who hasn't seen The Sound of Music (at least never beyond the first commercial when it's shown on TV). Being a perennial grouch, I've convinced myself that it's probably going to be tedious and corny. Nevertheless, I found this book delightful reading. My partner bought it for me when we were in Stowe, VT, on a hiking trip (they've got an entire Gift Shoppe there devoted to von Trapp stuff!), and I finished it pretty much in one sitting. Ms. Carr gives us a lot of insight into how movies are made; she sounds like an intelligent and perceptive person, and one who didn't get corrupted by her contact with Hollywood. Her account explains many of the reasons why people enjoy this movie.... maybe I'll give it another try next time it's on!