“Pop singer Karen Carpenter died this morning from complications of anorexia nervosa.” The sun was shining that morning in Anaheim while I listened to the perfectly made up KTLA anchor woman. It always seems to confuse a little when the weather is smiling on a sad day. I didn’t know it until years later, but Karen lived only 17 miles away in Downey.
Quoting song lyrics is one of those things I've read that writers are "never" supposed to do when they have a serious point to make, but you really pull it off quite well. This is powerful and thought-provoking. Thank you.
I loved Karen Carpenter and have one of her albums. I did not know the backstory about her struggles. Now I understand. My heart breaks for her and for the loss of her gifts to us.
I adored Karen Carpenter and was deeply saddened by her loss when I was in my teens. I knew about the anorexia but not about what led to it. Back then, I couldn’t get my head around why anyone so beautiful and talented and successful could starve herself to death. It seemed like such a pointless loss. This is such a thoughtful and insightful piece, Joshua. Love Me for What I Am really does sound as if Karen knew what it was to love a narcissist.
Such evocative prose, Josh. It quickly links to the reader’s mind, then lingers. Especially for a Karen Carpenter fan, such as myself. Her lower register greatly appealed to me (an open mic singer/guitar player off and on since high school). Watching her contemporaneously, she seemed extremely genuine but lost. Now I know why.
I did not know of this particular song until now. It’s beautifully sung (of course) but somehow lacks the Carpenters’ magic touch. In hindsight, the “I must be free” line is almost too hard to take.
BTW, there’s a newish book out by Russia scholar Paul Gregory called *The Oswald’s,* which you might want to check out. Gregory says that in order to understand Lee Oswald one must first understand his mother, Marguerite, whom Gregory describes as “a monster” in terms that resemble your discussions of Cluster B (especially histrionic personality disorder) and Lee himself as highly manipulative, suggesting to me possible narcissistic behavior. BTW, cherry on top: Lee apparently hated his mother.
I’m 55. I was one of those carpenter haters in the 70’s. As an adult I now get why. Karen’s voice was too raw and personal. It resonated too much for 8 year old me. I had to shut it out or I would have leaked out all over the place. I hear her voice with so much more respect now. I can hear it and tolerate the emotions I feel that she brings forth.
This is so beautifully written, with so many important insights about relationships, life, art, etc! Thanks for sharing, and for introducing me to that song!
Quoting song lyrics is one of those things I've read that writers are "never" supposed to do when they have a serious point to make, but you really pull it off quite well. This is powerful and thought-provoking. Thank you.
You really read my mind sometimes. I think about that exact rule a lot and worry about whether I can do it in a readable way. Thank you:)
This is absolutely one of your best. And the bar is high.
I loved Karen Carpenter and have one of her albums. I did not know the backstory about her struggles. Now I understand. My heart breaks for her and for the loss of her gifts to us.
I miss her so much now. Can't think about it without crying.
Beautifully written
I adored Karen Carpenter and was deeply saddened by her loss when I was in my teens. I knew about the anorexia but not about what led to it. Back then, I couldn’t get my head around why anyone so beautiful and talented and successful could starve herself to death. It seemed like such a pointless loss. This is such a thoughtful and insightful piece, Joshua. Love Me for What I Am really does sound as if Karen knew what it was to love a narcissist.
Such evocative prose, Josh. It quickly links to the reader’s mind, then lingers. Especially for a Karen Carpenter fan, such as myself. Her lower register greatly appealed to me (an open mic singer/guitar player off and on since high school). Watching her contemporaneously, she seemed extremely genuine but lost. Now I know why.
I did not know of this particular song until now. It’s beautifully sung (of course) but somehow lacks the Carpenters’ magic touch. In hindsight, the “I must be free” line is almost too hard to take.
BTW, there’s a newish book out by Russia scholar Paul Gregory called *The Oswald’s,* which you might want to check out. Gregory says that in order to understand Lee Oswald one must first understand his mother, Marguerite, whom Gregory describes as “a monster” in terms that resemble your discussions of Cluster B (especially histrionic personality disorder) and Lee himself as highly manipulative, suggesting to me possible narcissistic behavior. BTW, cherry on top: Lee apparently hated his mother.
Josh, sorry for lowering the tone on such a beautiful piece, but your @DisaffectedPod Twitter account has been restored overnight UK time.
It popped up in my feed, because I'm assiduous about hitting "following" - I want to see the people I follow because I chose them carefully.
Thank you Helen for the alert.
Don't worry about tone. Property values plummet when I turn onto a street.
Titter.
I’m 55. I was one of those carpenter haters in the 70’s. As an adult I now get why. Karen’s voice was too raw and personal. It resonated too much for 8 year old me. I had to shut it out or I would have leaked out all over the place. I hear her voice with so much more respect now. I can hear it and tolerate the emotions I feel that she brings forth.
This is so beautifully written, with so many important insights about relationships, life, art, etc! Thanks for sharing, and for introducing me to that song!