A pioneering biography re-evaluating the life and legacy of transcendent musician Karen Carpenter.
Dr Lucy O'Brien is a writer/academic and author of She Bop: The
Definitive History of Women in Popular, Dusty: The Classic
Biography and Madonna: Like an Icon, as well as co-authoring Skin's
memoir, It Takes Blood and Guts.
Lucy was a judge for the Penderyn Music Book Prize in 2018 and has
contributed to numerous publications including Q, Mojo, NME the
Sunday Times, The Guardian, Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire. She is
also a TV/radio broadcaster, having co-produced Righteous Babes,
the Channel 4 film about women in rock, and scripted the BBC Radio
2 series She Bop.
Her PhD is on women's agency and power in popular music and, back
in 1979/80, she played in all-female punk band, the Catholic
Girls.
'A compelling, compassionate read.'
*Record Collector*
'A fascinating but tragic story.' 4/5
*Mojo*
'An important book for readers interested in the history of women
in rock and a necessary one for Carpenters fans.'
*Booklist*
'A book that dares to challenge orthodoxy and rewrites the story of
the Carpenters. Lucy O'Brien brings a sparkling feminism to a
remarkable pop act.'
*Stuart Cosgrove*
'(A) detailed, definitive and deeply empathetic portrait.'
*Jim Irvin (Mojo Magazine)*
'O'Brien has succeeded in repositioning Karen Carpenter as
something considerably more than just a haunted figure.'
*Bob Stanley*
'Bravo to one of the all-time best authors of our time: O'Brien
delivers again. Just when you think we could not learn anything
else about a pop icon, Lead Sister (re)introduces Carpenter as a
multi-dimensional, inspiring, complicated human. For too long, she
has been canonised as a sugary yet tragic icon; O'Brien removes the
shackles of simplified myth to expose the innovator and trailblazer
while bravely examining the layered complications of family, fame,
mental health and desire. I could not put it down.'
*Jennifer Otter Bickerdike*
'In Lead Sister, O'Brien gives us Karen Carpenter the consummate
musician, master of at least two instruments and a range of
production techniques, the fun, funny companion - to both friends
and bandmates - and the fully complex woman.'
*Dr Lisa Gee*
'An insightful and sensitive biography that reframes Karen
Carpenter as a supremely talented musician, who created great songs
while struggling with a devastating illness. O'Brien colours in the
era beautifully, explaining the trends in popular music, fashion
and feminism, as well as describing the unique dynamic within the
Carpenter family and how it contributed to Karen's illness. I found
it incredibly moving and a worthy tribute to an extraordinary
woman.'
*Gill Paul*
8/10
*Uncut*
'Empathetic in tone and unsparing in detail...O'Brien's Karen
emerges as a smart but naive woman enslaved by both her disease and
the expectations of those around her. She should have been treated
better: Lead Sister treats her well indeed.'
*iNews*
'This may well become the definitive biography of Carpenter.'
*Library Journal*
'Heartbreaking.'
*Daily Mail*
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
