Some Kind of Lonely Clown

“This book brings back so many lovely and amusing memories of a sadly
missed friend. She was unique and irreplaceable in so many ways. Joel has
been thorough in his research, and his love and respect for Karen shine
through. Love and thanks for the fun and the magic of her musical soul.”
—Petula Clark

“An insightful look at the life of Karen Carpenter, a singing hero of mine.
I had the pleasure of opening for the Carpenters in 1975, but it was more
exciting that they recorded several of my songs, particularly ‘Solitaire,’
which featured a breathtaking Karen vocal accompanied by Richard’s
magnificent orchestration. Mr. Samberg’s book is a worthy tribute to her
everlasting legacy as one of the great vocalists of all time.”
—Neil Sedaka


The popularity of the Carpenters—Karen in particular—has never really
waned. In fact, when you consider the online presence, documentaries,
tributes and other projects, you might even say that an unofficial Carpenters
revival has been brewing for years. Many remember the velvety voice that
helped the Carpenters sell 100 million records, but not everyone knows that
beyond the gifted singer was also a love-starved romantic, conflicted sister,
obedient daughter, unpredictable jester, modest millionaire, optimistic
dreamer, wannabe mother, emotional wreck, generous friend, and melancholy
clown. How is it that someone whose stardom lasted just a dozen years, and
who might have given it all up in a heartbeat, is still so beloved and still fascinates
more than three decades after her untimely death?