Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Having previously read Ray Coleman's authorized biography on The Carpenters, The Carpenters: The Untold Story : An Authorized Biography, I came away with the sense there was much much more to the story of Karen Carpenter that was not being told. Previous to Coleman's book, there was the made for tv movie "The Karen Carpenter Story", which obviously was heavily edited by the Carpenter family. Neither gave conclusive, definitive reasons why America's musical sweetheart, Karen Carpenter, died of complications due to anorexia at the young age of 32 in 1983. This thoroughly detailed book by Randy Schmidt unveils the long-hidden reasons behind Karen Carpenter's untimely death. Schmidt wrote this book without interference from Richard Carpenter, so he has complete journalistic freedom to tell the entire story. Richard Carpenter does not contribute to this book (no comments, no interviews), and made no attempt to thwart Mr. Schmidt or censor him in any way. The painful truth of Karen Carpenter is told here. In the foreward, Mr. Schmidt explains how previous attempts to tell the Karen Carpenter story were stymied by the Carpenter family, specifically Richard Carpenter, in an attempt to subdue an unfavorable light on Karen's mother, Agnes. Understandibly, Mr. Carpenter was protecting his mother, and he disagrees with the view that Agnes Carpenter was a dominant factor in Karen's anorexia. Richard suggests that Karen's anorexia was perhaps genetic in origin, and it would have surfaced whether Karen was a music superstar or "housewife". Perhaps this is true. Karen's anorexia seems to begin when she was asked to leave her drums and front the group by becoming the lead singer. Karen admits that leaving the "safety" of her drums was an extremely hard transition for her. Being in the spotlight in front of thousands of fans (and critics) obviously brings any inherent personality and body-image insecurities to the forefront. Perhaps this factor above all others triggered Karen's descent into anorexia. Researchers know that anorexia has complex origins, including parental control issues, perfectionism, stress, body-image dysfunction, among other factors. It tends to be a condition exhibited by (mostly) caucasian women who have one or more controlling parents, lack self-esteem, are people-pleasers, and are perfectionists. The theory is that these women "discover" anorexia, as it is the only area in their lives in which they have complete control; therefore and ultimately, anorexia becomes a "silent" form of rebellion against the forces that control the individual. Anorexia becomes a desperate attempt to break away from a highly controlled, "boxed-in", emotionally stiffled life. Karen Carpenter's life shows her intense struggle to break away from the unsatisfactory life she was living. In 1980, she (bravely) made a solo album with Phil Ramone, against the wishes of Richard and Agnes Carpenter. Perhaps this was an attempt by Karen, whether realized or not, to break away from the Carpenter mould and assert her independence (and self-worth)? Was her ill-conceived marriage to Tom Burris in 1980 an attempt to break away from the Carpenter family too? Perhaps. Ultimately, both avenues proved agonizingly fruitless, with her solo album rejected by Richard and A&M record bosses (the album was shelved), and her marriage essentially over within several months of saying "I do". Mr. Schmidt reveals that Mr. Burris received a monetary settlement to not reveal any details about his marriage to Karen. Most likely, Richard Carpenter bought his silence in an attempt to protect Karen's image. More about Mr. Burris later. In reading this book, I came to realize Karen's life was essentially controlled by other key people in her life. Her professionaly life was tied to Richard, and the family did not support her attempt at a solo album, as it did not include Richard. Therefore, her voice "belonged" to the Carpenters. Since she absolutely adored Richard, she would do nothing to displease him professionally. Her solo album with Phil Ramone (1980) was shelved when Richard and the brass at A&M records discouraged her from publishing it. Mother Agnes Carpenter is depicted as an overbearingly-opinionated, controlling parent, who demonstrably favored Richard at the expense of Karen. According to Karen's anorexia therapist, Steven Levenkron, Karen needed the affirmation of her mother's love, but none was given. Instead Agnes' message was clear: Richard was the "star", not Karen, and without Richard there would be no Karen. Karen's father, Harold, loved Karen dearly, yet, was apparently too passive to stand up to the tirades and demands of wife Agnes, and lacked the emotional will to help Karen during her therapy for anorexia in New York. Husband Tom Burris apparently was a dead-beat liar who conned Karen into believing he was independently wealthy (a requirement of hers in a husband), and then once married, repeatedly "borrowed" thousands of dollars in hand-outs from Karen, and then rejected her completely when she descended into anorexia - calling her a "bag of bones". He also falsely represented his fertility status to Karen, and did not reveal he had a vasectomy until a few days before their wedding! Since Karen wanted children, this was a tremendous blow, and she considered calling off the marriage. However, Agnes told Karen she would get married, as the relatives were flying over for the wedding from overseas! Agnes told Karen - You made your bed - now sleep in it! In other words: I don't care about your feelings Karen, we are going to keep up appearances, stuff the emotions, and put on a brave smile and go on with the wedding. And that is exactly what Karen did. Finally, is it fair to suggest that perhaps Karen bears some degree of responsibility for her failed anorexia treatment? I state this as a rhetorical question, as I really do not know the answer, but wonder how much responsibility the anorexic has for their disorder. The anorexic acts out her rebellion (not eating) in a highly secretive and disfunctional manner. Anorexia is not a healthy response to the deep-seated emotional control issues that drive this illness. Getting medical help is necessary, therapy to understand the reasons for anorexia, cooperating and having insight in therapy, confrontation of the controlling people and forces - all of these contribute to the healthy recovery of the anorexic. While Karen attempted therapy, it was on her terms, and as this book clearly shows, she was not a cooperative patient. While in therapy, she abused laxatives, was taking (very dangerous) thyroid medication to increase her metabolism, continued to exercise fanatically (briskly walking two miles every day), and just before the end of her life, used ipecac to induce vomiting (purging). Daily use of ipecac is a poison that damages the heart. Perhaps this is what ultimately resulted in the death of Karen Carpenter - self-induced poisoning. Karen (and Richard) were perfectionists as well, (amazing how many times the word "perfection" is used in this book) and anything which fell short of Karen's perfectionist standards added more stress to her life. Perfectionists are controllers at heart, and wish to control every aspect of their lives, thereby creating the "perfect" life they desire. Perfectionists often feel they need to be perfect to gain love, affirmation, and the positive acknowledgement of others. People-pleasers often sacrifice their own dreams to please those around them. As this book shows quite clearly, Karen Carpenter had all the unfortunate ingredients for an anorexia eating disorder in her life, and it all came together when she was about 23 years of age. Her life is one continual battle with anorexia from that point on until she died just short of her 33rd birthday. While she wanted nothing more than to live a life free of the controlling factors that hampered her own emotional expression, ulitmately she was unable to do this. This is the sad, but real story behind the "sterilized" public image of America's sweetheart, Karen Carpenter. I am most grateful to Author Randy Schmidt for bringing the truth to light. Several other reviewers have suggested that Mr. Schmidt's book is just a recitation of Ray Coleman's book. I do not see it that way at all. Randy Schmidt's book adds the pertinent details that Ray Coleman was not allowed to write. Both books have their necessary place, but as mentioned, Mr. Schmidt had the literary freedom to express what what has not allowed expression before (i.e. critical comments about the Carpenter family, for example, the comments made by Carpenter secretary Evelyn Wallace) Fans of Karen Carpenter now know more details into the painful factors that led the sweetest singer of the 1970's, the girl next door, to a premature death. The truth is not pleasent, but I am grateful the truth has been told. konedog