Best Carpenters Biography?

[molee]

After seeing the various Carpenter-related locations in the Long Beach and Downey areas of Southern California this past weekend, I am interested in learning more about the Carpenters. What is the best biography (or biographies) out there? Thanks in advance for your recommendations.

-Mo Lee

[Rick Henry]

Hi Molee... there are several biographies which have been made on the Carpenters.

The following is a list:

A Current Affair: What Really Killed Karen Carpenter (Part 1 and Part 2)(1993) - This is an interesting Current Affair documentary which poses some interesting questions about Karen's death and theories as to how things may have really happened. some fans do not like this short doc, because Dr. Levenkron speaks truthfully about his fiding of what killed Karen and his medical viewpoint differs from Richard Carpenter's official media statement.

Karen Carpenter E! True Hollywood Story (1997) - This is probably the lowest in the list of biographies made on Karen/Carpenters. It's somewhat cheesy... but hey it's E!TV. Although it does touch a bit on some areas that other biographies don't and does have some guests that the other biographies don't have.

Close To You: Remembering The Carpenters (1997) - This was premiered on PBS and in my opinion is the best documentary made on the Carpenters. This one is available for purchase on DVD.
Here is a link to purchase the DVD:
CLICK HERE to see: Close To You: Remembering The Carpenters


VH1: Carpenters - Behind The Music (1998) - I really enjoyed this doc as it put a focus on the music as only VH1 would do. I thought this one was well done.

A&E Biography: The Carpenters Harmony and Heartbreak (1998) - This was also extremely well done and is one of my favorites.

Carpenters: Only Yesterday (2007) - this doc premiere on Britain's BBC and I think comes in second behind the 1997 doc "Close To You: Remembering The Carpenters"


There are others but pretty much the one's I listed cover the story quite thoroughly.

[enigma]

yes I must also second the nomination of Close To You Redmembering the Carpenters as the best and recomended Carpenters Bio its my favorite as well

[molee]

Sorry that I wasn't clearer in my message. I appreciate the documentaries, but what I am really looking for are recommendations on written biographies (books) about the Carpenters.

-Mo Lee

[Rick Henry]

There have been several books written on Karen and the Carpenters... but the best and really only Carpenters biography would be the Ray Coleman book. It's the most complete and thorough account of their story... although it is slightly biased by Richard's viewpoint of wanting to sugarcoat some of the truths... but for the most part this is the best Carpenters biography.


CLICK HERE to see The Carpenters: The Untold Story: An Authorized Biography