LeadSister.com Forums

I honestly think that it would be disrespectful to Karen for Richard to release it to the public. But what are your thoughts? Of course, once Richard has died, and he passes it on to his son, and his son passes it on to his son, and so on....the diary will eventually not be looked at as a peice of history any longer, and will be given to someone who will make a few dollars by allowing the public eyes to view it. What do you think is written inside? And should he allow it to be viewed by the public?

I think there are arguments for both releasing and not releasing the diaries - the main one for doing it is that Im sure there are things written in there about her disorder that people could certainly learn from. Almost the same as the comment Richard made about the Coleman book, "if it saves one life it will have been worth it".

On the other hand Karen was such a high profile figure, and there is so much secrecy shrouded around their story STILL (gagging order on Tom, former school teachers who won't even talk about the family etc), that I don't think this will come out in, say my lifetime.

Richard is far too private a person to consider releasing them I think, although god knows what is actually written in them and what he thinks if he's read them. That must have been torture.

Stephen

I doubt that will ever surface in the near future. But I would love to see an accurate movie including her solo session, behind the scenes like backstage at concerts, after interviews, etc. It would make for a sad story... but it would be through her eyes. Her death has helped so many people. I guess curiousity has the best of me and would like to see that. Not to read the diary... but to have a good movie about her life out. The KC Story was nice... but come on... not putting the solo sessions in? That's an important part of her life. How about her life in NYC?

I guess this is something we will never know and it will be locked in that diary forever. B/c I know Richard will not let that out.

Pamela

The diary would certainly clear some things up I believe, but I wouldn`t like to read it and I hope he never releases it.
But maybe parts of it should be used in a new and more thorough biography. I doubt Richard will ever use even parts of it.
What I have always felt to be somewhat weird is that Richard has never spoken much about his role in Karens anorexia, not even saying that maybe he also was a contributing factor like so many other people and issues. I am not trying to give Richard all the blame here, but he was definately part of it. He might have commented on it but I have never read or heard anything about this.

But Karens diary, it should be locked away and never shown to the public. It is too personal I think, a persons most inner thoughts etc. does not belong in the public eye. But if some more "unpersonal" or small quotes from it are used, it might be ok as long as it doesn`t reveal to much of her most personla thoughts.

I agree Pamela. A two or three part series like the ones I've seen on the Hallmark channel would be great.
As for the diaries. There have been several diaries by celebrities published after their deaths. The Carry On film star Kenneth Williams for example so I don't know why there is such a stigma. I only think that there are things in there which would shock people enormously. This may effect people's view of karen and Richard especially. Their music sales may be effected. Also, Richard has his pride and reputation to maintain.
Alternatively, maybe Karen's diaries aren't that interesting and just contain small entries and not long passages of personal feelings so wouldn't be interesting enough to be published.

Paul

Agree about the film or mini series, would be great!

Not putting the solo session in the KC story was tragic, it was a major part of her life. But remember that Richard co-produced the film and does not think that the solo session was that big for Karen. He only thinks that the work she did with him was important, that`s also why he freaked when she did the album. He was scared to death that she would make it on her own! That`s also why he helped so much to get the album shelved, in the end he is to blame I feel. If he had said to A&M that they should release it they would!! Just think, who had the most to loose if this album was released and who would be most threatened by it.
They released A Kind Of Hush even if they thought it wasn`t all that good, so why not the solo album.
One moment he says that the album is poor and not good enough, that she was singing wrong songs. The next minute he yells at Karen saying she has stolen the Carpetners` sound... Well, isn`t he sort of saying then that the Carpenters` sound wasn`t good enough??

Well, I sort of derailed from the post here, but just had to express some of my feelings on the solo session and the album.

I didn't know anything about this diary! I'd like to know more about it

This is interesting news. I'd like to know more about the diary as well. I have mixed feelings on whether or not it should be released. Karen had planned to speak out about her illness, perhaps that is a way she still could...However, the privacy issues surround so...that leaves me torn.

I always want a complete story from the situation, that none of the biographies (I've seen most of the ones made for tv and video) have covered.

Hi All! It has been a long time since I posted, but I read the posts about a film that should contain her solo album. If you will all remember I joined this board to get more information on the subject of her solo album for my student film that is based on it. I only shot about 2 hours of footage, befor I had to axe the project that I had wanted to do for 6 years. I thought there needed to be a film that depicted Karen in a much more emotional way than the tv movie did as well as a film that documented her solo efforts. I went over every aspect of her life and watched hours upon hours of footage to try to get an idea of Karen as a human and not KAREN CARPENTER. I put so much effort into this project even have copies made of the wonderful purpil outfit that is featured on some of the promotional pictures and her comic book sweatshirt. The actress who played Karen look very much like her and I had her watch almost 30 hours of footage before ever filming a single frame. I tried, lord knows I tried to shed more light on the subject! and p.s. I do not think her diary should be published! Sure I would like to read it, but how would you feel if your innermost feelings and thoughts turned up on the paperback shelf at the wal-mart?! Richard really makes me mad sometimes. He tries so hard to cash in on Karen it's not funny! I know I am gonna get some greif over this but thats how I feel. How do you think he would feel if the tabels had been turned on the solo project? I do believe Richard still hurts over Karen's death, but I also think he has $$ in his eyes. Sorry... just my thoughts.

Hey daclint

Whilst I understand where you're coming from with regards to your last comment, I honestly dont think Richard has $$ as his main priority. Richard is a multi-millionaire, and very very proud of the Carpenters legacy, as is evident in the many documentaries that we have all seen.

Many of the albums, greatest hits, compilations, have resulted because of fans requests, or label requests for another 'greatest hits'. Richard himself has kidded that every time him and Roger Young were in the studio mastering another compilation, the running joke was 'well this must be the last time we'll see each other for a while!'. And yet they find themselves back there again time after time, at the request of one territory or another.

I think pride comes before money, certainly Richard's future is made more secure every time someone buys another hits CD or one of their albums, including all the songs he has written which will bring in songwriting profits - Im sure Richard's legacy to his children will be that that (and his current fortune) is passed to them.

Maybe some people won't agree with me, but I think it's nice that we can all share our opinions and have such a good discussion!

Stephen

Try to remember that the Carpenters were very young and had a short career, especially considering that they started so young.

I have, like the rest of you, thought a lot about this very subject. I think $ and Pride had much to do with Karen's demise. Not from her, but from richard and the record industry. There was so much pressure on Richard to Find the next #1 hit. He tortured himself over this. Meanwhile, Karen's personal life came second including to herself. She shared Richard's committment to find that #1 hit. Can you imagine how helpless she felt, since she didn't write music?

Imagine her walking on egg shells around Richard regarding the Solo album, but desperately wishing for Richard's blessing.
I am sure he beats himself up over this topic all the time. We feel the pain, and we're not even related to her.

As for the $ part, the record industry can suck the life out of artists. Karen was what people call a "given." She was disciplined, willing and enthusiastic. They had no control problems with her, like her going out on drug binges or finding a guru who would expand her mind, etc. In other words, she was easy. She may have been the first in the studio every day and the last to leave every night.

Yes, can it be? Everyone took Karen for granted. It's simple. You see it in life all of the time. The most dedicated and motivated people are glossed over. I hate to be cliche'ish, but hindsight is 20-20.

Maybe Richard didn't want Karen's diary released to the public because she might have said things about the solo album not being released, or family matters. Reading someone's thoughts is like reading their mail or overhearing something it's not always plesant. I did like the KC story, but thought it was a shame they didn't mention the solo album. I think that was because Richard didn't like it so much. I think the gag order on her ex was to prevent the nightmare of every celebrity, the tell all book. Some of those written by ex spouses, or children of celebrities are pretty bad.

Look, how would YOU feel if YOUR diary got spread out for ALL of your friends and family to 'decide' what YOUR feelings were before YOU died? Her feelings were her OWN feelings. If someone took MY personal diary out to air in the family or general public, I would come back and HAUNT that someone for sure.

LOOK: she passed away because she had a problem. I don't feel the need to find out WHY she had that problem; only to tell her I love her when I hear her sing on my stereo. I am hearing her voice right now, only to make me sad she is gone, but I HAVE NO CHOICE: SHE IS GONE. I only have recordings of her music now.

I really think all of her fans should just let her go in this respect: She is gone, we love her memory, and we will never forget her. Her voice will live on forever... lets just stop worrying about HOW she died... lets be happy she was even in our lives to begin with...

RIP Karen...

143

I believe that every person in the world has the right to keep secrets, so does a superstar, although it would be pretty hard to do while standing in the spotlight.
Karen has to right to decide whether to release her privacy to the public or not. But she's gone, and I suppose she would be unhappy if she knew Richard do that without her permit.
So even Richard does not has any rights to do that, does he? And he won't!!!!! Unless there's only $$$$ in his eyes.
All I wanna say is Princess Diana died partly because of her fans' curiosity.

Philip