Two Books and A Film

Tamora Pierce explains in an epilogue written over thirty years later how the young adult medieval fantasy, Alanna: The First Adventure came about. Like many young adult books, adults can also enjoy it. 

She originally wrote it for adults as an over seven-hundred page book. It eventually was broken up into a four-book series. The story concerns a girl twin who takes the place of her brother to train as a knight. 

She eventually reveals herself to a few people (only one fellow trainee and that involuntarily), the first two a friend and his mother when she gets her period. She avoids swimming. but it's hard to imagine someone could avoid revealing themselves in such an environment. Oh well. Suspension of belief.

I re-watched Operation Petticoat, the Cary Grant / Tony Curtis WWII comedy with some other familiar faces in early roles. One person hard to recognize is "Mrs. Cunningham" from Happy Days, there one of the nurses (not one of the main three). Enjoyable.

Michele Moran writes historical fiction. She handles Maria Von Trapp this time, who here is upset about the changes found in the upcoming musical, The Sound of Music. 

Her discussion with a female assistant provides a framing device for the real story of her life, which is significantly the same as the musical. The main differences are that she marries the Captain in the 1920s and they leave Austria simply by pretending to go on vacation to Italy. They do -- as they later find out -- take the last train out.  

The book in an easy reading way provides an engaging account of Maria's life. The "modern girl" (1950s style) assistant has somewhat more minor relationship problems as she starts her career as a writer. I liked the book.

Maria also is annoyed that the musical -- based on a German film -- portrays her husband as a disciplinarian type. They wanted a transformation. The book also shows the dark side of her life and drive for success, which later turns her children against her. This part is not emphasized though. 

A case where truth is more interesting than fiction. Oh, the film also creates the oldest daughter, and by the time they leave Austria, she has two children of her own. One would come after they came to America. He is the one still alive.