The Carpenters: The Untold Story : An Authorized Biography

by Ray Coleman

Music journalist Coleman, the author of Lennon and Clapton!, with the full cooperation of Richard and the Carpenter famiy, explores the public and private lives of the Carpenters, portraying Richard and Karen's dynamic pop music career as well as Karen's descent into anorexia nervosa and untimely death. 32 pages of photos.

Genres: Biography, Music, Nonfiction, Research

359 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Thee Ace Man]

Excellent book. Well written and contains a lot of accurate information.

Nearly perfect, four and a half stars, but there were a couple misses (like everything that deals with Karen has things missing). Nothing major missing, however, it was just that at the time there was so much speculation on Karen's death and not too much concrete information (even 10 years later). I was glad that Ray (author) tried to stay with what was known instead of speculation and such.

I had heard from people that knew Ray that there were some problems and that Ray would apologize for including some things in his book that he felt weren't written accurately. The book appears to be written accurately but I feel some people took some things out of context was the real problem.

The problem is that Ray actually wrote a section with what the therapists and such were saying about anorexics and for people that knew Karen (like Richard and myself) this stuff being said wasn't like Karen at all in most cases. The problem is that people take this section the wrong way. Honestly, Richard knew Karen very well and as someone reads through they should understand that this section actually shows why Karen wasn't honestly getting help. The stuff the therapists and such were saying didn't match Karen's personality at all in most cases (from me, a guy that knows) and it was excellent with the commentary from Richard about this stuff. The problem is the reader in this section. The section was done very well and very honestly and does actually explain what Karen's problem was with the therapy not working and more importantly, why Karen's therapy wasn't working. Unfortunately, people that don't know Karen and try and stick up for some faulty analysis by therapists don't understand the faultiness of those analyses (analysises?). An excellent section as a reference for 'what went wrong' with Karen's therapy but unfortunately many readers just don't get or understand what was actually written there. Karen needed behavioral modification (triggers) and they were using a template that didn't match Karen and was more for Cherry (Boone) O'Neill's situation. It was a big mess and sadly hasn't changed since then either from what I've heard from others.

I do very highly recommend this book. Very informative and fairly accurate.

I recommend the hard cover version as this is a keeper and you'll want it to last.

Anyway, I did a larger review here http://www.theeaceman.com/untoldstory... .

[Greg]

This was a sad read. Such talent and such a waste.

[Penny]

I grabbed this not knowing much about the Carpenters besides what I saw in a documentary made with Barbies. I don't really like their music at all, but Karen's story is so sad. This book is a bit weird though because it is written by a British guy, and if you read the intro, you find out that Richard had a lot of input in it. So the accuracy of portrayal is kind of iffy in my opinion, even in the first couple of pages it makes him look like a hero when he had his own demons which are vaguely touched on.

[Jim Barber]

It's been more than 30 years since Karen Carpenter died of anorexia, so you pretty much know what to expect when you read an authorized bio of The Carpenters. Still, it seems like such a waste of life. The author pretty much sums up my take on the book in his afterword: "The pendulum of this story swung between glory and darkness, rich creativity and human despair." Their music may have been incredible but there's no escaping the sadness in this story.

[Moira Buttimer]

I've read it so many times I can pretty much pick it up anywhere and read.

[Chuck]

Ray Coleman has written a wonderful, well-researched look at one of the 1970's most successful musical groups, the brother-sister act of "The Carpenters". "The Carpenters: The Untold Story" tells the story from the beginning, from Richard and Karen's early life in New Haven, Connecticut to the Carpenter family's move to Downey, California in the early 1960's; Richard perfecting the Carpenter 'sound', in an era dominated by artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and The Doors, the Carpenters found it difficult to be taken seriously even after hits such as "Close To You," "We've Only Just Begun," "Sing," and "Top of the World." Even by some executives at their own record label, A&M, the duo was viewed by some as ultra-square. We also get a view at Richard's struggle with his addiction to quaaludes in the mid-1970's and how getting clean from his problem made his sister Karen's struggle with anorexia-nervosa even more apparent. Richard, along with his parents, as well as many close friends tried desperately to get Karen the necessary treatment but Karen's struggles with this eating disorder would leave her dangerously thin. Karen would eventually seek treatment and would put on some weight but tragically too much damage had already been done and on February 4, 1983, Karen would pass away from heart failure at the age of 32. The world lost one of the most beautiful voices in pop music with the death of Karen Carpenter but a new found understanding would emerge around eating disorders and body image.

[Jana Richards]

As a young girl, I loved The Carpenters. I belonged to their fan club and owned every record from 1969 to 1976 and their 1978 Christmas album. Rereading the story of Richard and Karen just makes me think how sad it is that someone can be so troubled in life that they can't see they are slowly killing themselves.

[Kathy]

What a tragedy. It's hard for me to comprehend that this can really happen even though I know that it does. This lady had such a rich beautiful voice. I wonder how her music would have evolved with the changing times.

[Carol Drufke-Zeller]

Very well written. This book really draws you in and you feel as if you are in the lives of this brother and sister. Brought a lot to light, very insightful.

[Lia]

Super duper good biography!

[Karen Dodkin]

Lots of sad details about Karen. Interesting read.

[Daniel Peace]

An excellent insight into the Carpenters and the behind the scenes turmoil.

[Bob Mcbride]

I really enjoyed reading this although sad that Karen Carpenter is gone. I was reading and hearing her singing in my head

[Mary L]

After Alan Osmond died I saw a video of Karen Carpenter singing Top Of The World. I remembered the song and really liked it. And hence down the Carpenter hole I went. I realized how much of their music I grew up with that I didn’t remember. I do remember Karen looking really sickly and then dying of anorexia, which no one really understood back then. Plus I was young and never really followed the Carpenters. So my foray into learning more about the Carpenters was as follows. And I learned a to. Between books and watching YouTube videos of their concerts.

Lead Sister book by Lucy O'Brien (1923)
- Main focus on Karen and her artistry and contributions. She contributed much more than just a singer. Also got more into Karen’s love life and dating history.

Little Girl Blue by Randy Schmidt
- talked to different people than Lucy. Really interesting musical industry aspect.

The CarpentersUntold Story by Ray Coleman
- focused on the sibling relationship and Richard’s story of what was going on during that time. I really enjoyed getting the sibling and family aspect that doesn’t show up in the other two books. Probably because Richard chose not to be a part of those books.

I think it was important for me to read all 3 books to understand their stories. It’s still a great mystery of how / when/ why the anorexia grip took hold. It’s very sad. I don’t think She realized herself until it was too late.

I recommend reading all 3 books.

[Ginebra Lavao Lizcano]

Another Mudge island book that I would have not read had I not met Hallvard and his fondness for the Carpenters. It was not the inspiring musicians story I expected, but rather a very sad account of the lives of very rich artists. Touched issues such as anorexia nerviosa for which I only had a superficial idea of in a way that will make you feel like you knew Karen Carpenter personally.

[Carol]

This was my second book about The Carpenters. It is so sad that she was in such denial about her illness. Her memory will live on forever through her incredible music.
I feel as though there was fault with her mother in this situation but it doesn't matter anymore because Karen is now at peace and the perfect weight again. I though the book was well written as well.

[Michele]

While it had a ton of history & info, I found it a little dry and sometimes hard to follow. Sometimes a month had gone by, sometimes only days - I found his timelines a little confusing. I’m interested to see if Little Girl Blue is more to my liking.

[Rishi Choudhary]

Really well researched and very detailed on The Carpenters lives and career. It’s a bit of a hard read because it does detail much of Karen’s eating disorder, so fair warning there.

[Laura Stepnowski]

Really really thorough and comprehensive. I like the Carpenters so obviously loved reading more about their music and their lives

[Shawne]

Miserably depressing. But then again, so was Karen's life. But a good, no-holds-barred insight into the wreckage of two lives post-fame - the damaging downward spirals of anoxeria and drug addiction, leading to the loss of one of the loveliest voices the world has ever known and probably doesn't deserve.

[Bethany]

The book opened with information on anorexia and then moved on to Karen's death. I was afraid it would only get more depressing from then on, but it was actually very good! Saddening, yes. But only in parts and not overwhelmingly so. It was informative, but not so much that I will never be able to listen to the Carpenters again. ;)

[Cathy]

A well written biography that offers insight into the lives of Richard and Karen Carpenter. A decent read for any fan that tells the good and some of the bad ( Although I definitely think that Richard had much control over what made it in and what didn't) Any fan of their music will find this insightful and interesting, nonetheless.

[Rick Henry]

I love this book. This is my go to book for Carpenters information. I have been using this as a reference for almost 20 years now. Ray Coleman is a thorough and professional author. I highly recommend this book.

[kathy]

a Good Biography about the Carpenters. This book was a good read with a lot of information.

[Rob Hermanowski]

A good biography of the tragic story of Karen (and brother Richard) Carpenter. Personal trivia: she died on my sister Kim's 13th birthday - Feb. 4, 1983.

[Amber the vintage girl]

Was intresting but not as informative as Little Girl Blue.

[Charis]

I always loved the music of the Carpenters...I read this many years ago and I find it sad that she died so young.

[Brigette]

Their singing is enchanting, and her death an utter tragedy.

[Nikko]

i reread it like a hundred times n i was not even bored..

[Jills golias soukup]

Very nice