An intimate profile of one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century; this first full-length biography of Karen Carpenter details every aspect of her life; from her modest Connecticut upbringing and her rise to stardom in southern California to the real story of her tragic; untimely death. This illuminating depiction of a 1970s icon covers her time as lead singer of the Carpentersmdash;the top-selling American musical act of the decademdash;and provides insight into their string of 16 consecutive top-20 hits; including "Close to You;" "Weve Only Just Begun;" "Top of the World;" and "Superstar;" as well as a critical review of her aborted solo career. A behind-the-scenes look into the life of a superstar; from the prolific recordings and the relentless touring to the awards; fame; and fortune; this history also chronicles her struggle with anorexia nervosa and gives important new details from her autopsy that shed new light on her death at age 32. Groups such as Sonic Youth and the Corrs and artists including k. d. lang and Madonna have cited Karen Carpenter among their major influences; and this definitive biography; based on exclusive interviews with nearly 100 of her friends and associates; is a testament to her brief yet remarkable life.
#1346626 in eBooks 2010-11-30 2010-11-30File Name: B004ASOW8E
Review
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. Worth getting to knowBy A CustomerHaving first discovered Vanessa Bell through an interest in her sister. Virginia Woolf. I consider myself entirely unqualified to judge her status as a painter. The woman who emerges from these short pieces. however. is witty. honest. and deeply intelligent. The memoirs of her childhood. which comprise the first three selections. are filled with humor and warmth. with the sharper side of her wit directed chiefly at her elder half-brother. George Duckworth. George is also the primary subject of the fourth essay. and it says much of Bells writing that he comes across as ludicrous (at best) and yet utterly believable. The remaining memoirs are more generous and less acerbic. particularly one about Bells friend and former lover Roger Fry. recalling the ways in which their love converged with the expansion and evolution of Vanessas painting. The portrait of Fry is that of a kind. open-handed man. brilliant as a teacher if not as a painter; Vanessa. despite being "not a writer." manages to convey deep emotion with dignity and a wonderful lack of sentimentality.Perhaps my favorite piece is the final one. a lecture Vanessa gave to students at her sons school. In addition to being hugely amusing. its one of the clearest and least pretentious discussions Ive yet seen on what it means to be a painter.Read this book--not for the sake of Bloomsbury hype. or for the gossip-value of Bells unconventional personal life; read it because she was an exceptional woman and artist in her own right and this is as close as we can come now to knowing her.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Worth getting to knowBy A CustomerHaving first discovered Vanessa Bell through an interest in her sister. Virginia Woolf. I consider myself entirely unqualified to judge her status as a painter. The woman who emerges from these short pieces. however. is witty. honest. and deeply intelligent. The memoirs of her childhood. which comprise the first three selections. are filled with humor and warmth. with the sharper side of her wit directed chiefly at her elder half-brother. George Duckworth. George is also the primary subject of the fourth essay. and it says much of Bells writing that he comes across as ludicrous (at best) and yet utterly believable. The remaining memoirs are more generous and less acerbic. particularly one about Bells friend and former lover Roger Fry. recalling the ways in which their love converged with the expansion and evolution of Vanessas painting. The portrait of Fry is that of a kind. open-handed man. brilliant as a teacher if not as a painter; Vanessa. despite being "not a writer." manages to convey deep emotion with dignity and a wonderful lack of sentimentality.Perhaps my favorite piece is the final one. a lecture Vanessa gave to students at her sons school. In addition to being hugely amusing. its one of the clearest and least pretentious discussions Ive yet seen on what it means to be a painter.Read this book--not for the sake of Bloomsbury hype. or for the gossip-value of Bells unconventional personal life; read it because she was an exceptional woman and artist in her own right and this is as close as we can come now to knowing her.
