{"product_id":"lead-sister-the-story-of-karen-carpenter-9781538184462","title":"Lead Sister: The Story of Karen Carpenter","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"This may well become the definitive biography of Carpenter....Pop music fans will appreciate this strong biography.\" --\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal, \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e Starred Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eNamed a \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFinancial Times \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e2023 Best Book of the Year - Pop Music \u003cbr\u003eNamed one of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e and \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Sunday Times, UK\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e 17 best rock and pop music books of 2023\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA groundbreaking biography reevaluating the life and legacy of transcendent musician Karen Carpenter\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs one of the biggest-selling acts of the 1970s, the Carpenters are celebrated for their melodic pop and unforgettable hits like \"Close to You,\" \"Yesterday,\" and \"Top of the World.\" Though Karen is rightly recognized as one of the greatest singers in popular music, the tragedy of her early death in 1983 at the young age of just thirty-two sometimes overshadows her incredible achievements. She has often been portrayed as a victim, controlled by her family and exploited by the music industry. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eForty years after her death, this biography reframes her life and legacy as a pioneering woman with her own vision and agency. With exclusive interviews with friends, musicians, and collaborators, bestselling author Lucy O'Brien explores Karen's contributions as a singer, drummer, arranger, and producer, and traces the roots of the Carpenters' iconic sound. \u003ci\u003eLead Sister\u003c\/i\u003e also honors Karen's triumphs in the face of her struggle with anorexia, providing contemporary perspectives on eating disorders and mental health. Despite the chronic nature of her illness, Karen Carpenter was, above all, a creative, dedicated, and assured artist whose music delivers an emotional resonance that has transcended generations--and that is how she should be remembered.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLucy O'Brien\u003c\/b\u003e is the bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eShe Bop: The Definitive History of Women in Popular Music, It Takes Blood And Gut\u003c\/i\u003es, \u003ci\u003eDusty: The Classic Biography\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eMadonna: Like An Icon\u003c\/i\u003e. She has contributed to \u003ci\u003eQ, Mojo, NME, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Cosmopolitan\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eMarie Claire\u003c\/i\u003e and is also a TV \u0026amp; radio broadcaster. She co-produced \u003ci\u003eRighteous Babes\u003c\/i\u003e, the Channel 4 film about women in rock and scripted the BBC Radio 2 series \u003ci\u003eShe Bop\u003c\/i\u003e. She lives in London, and her website is www.lucyobrien.co.uk. @LucyOBrienTweet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Rowman \u0026 Littlefield Publishers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50697110159634,"sku":"9781538184462","price":31.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_43255666-d810-4a28-bd7a-44b25e19a2ea.jpg?v=1737301426","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/lead-sister-the-story-of-karen-carpenter-9781538184462","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}