Karen (Dell Book) [Paperback]

Marie Killilea (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Dell (1967)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440143764
• ISBN-13: 978-0440143765
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #863,411 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Happened To The Family..., March 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Karen (Library Binding)

There is an online group of Killilea family fans who has done some searching on what happened to this amazing family...

Marie (author) suffered from lung cancer and had a lung removed in the eary 1970s. Miraculously, she survived for 22 more years and died in 1991 at age 78 of respiratory ailments.

She was survived by her husband, Jimmy; unfortunately, he was suffering from Alzheimer's disease and died two years later in a nursing home in Connecticut.

Gloria Lea passed away in Nov. 21 and was survived by her husband, Russ, and two sons. Russ passed away just three months later. Their daughters, Mary and Evelyn, were tragically killed in a housefire in the late 1960s at the ages of 7 and 9.

Marie's married name is now Irish, and she lives in Connecticut. Apparently, she visits Larchmont periodically.

Karen lives in Westchester County and works for a retreat center for priests.

Rory Killilea was last living in the Seattle area.

Kristin Killilea Viltz was last listed as living in Tarrytown, NY.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading for ALL ages!, September 17, 2000

By 

Carolyn McKenzie "Read-a-holic" (Wauwatosa, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Karen (Library Binding)

I first read Marie's children's book, "Wren", while in about second grade. I started reading "Karen" and "With Love From Karen" when I was about 10. Now I've read each of them at least 6 times!

The books influenced my life in many little ways, and in some big ones, too. With little or no religion in my childhood, I found the references to their strong Catholic faith somewhat mysterious--but it taught me some Latin! Now I am a Catholic, imagine that. I much enjoyed the passages about Karen and the Newfoundland dogs, our family is on our second Newfy. Additionally, I learned about courage, faith and determination, and the lessons remain with me today.

A note about the family, one of my Newfy contacts mentioned meeting Karen at a dog show a few years back, and that she was in good health. She no longer had Newfies, but another smaller breed (can't remember what). Both of fher parents are deceased, but no mention there of a divorce. Also, I hear that Karen works at a religious retreat not far from Sursum Corda, the family home on Long Island, I believe it was. She is a very private person, understandably. I hope she knows how many people read or heard her story and were inspired by it!!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down!, May 10, 2005

By 

Al Pugs (Naperville, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Karen (Library Binding)

Upon reading some of the other reviews I was surprised to see that this book is/was considered a book for younger readers. I have a 2 1/2 year old son who has cerebral palsy (the same type as Karen, but not as involved) and this book was given to me by a friend. I found it fascinating--both the way that Karen's parents learned to work with her and the things that Karen accomplished. Given the historical timeframe, I was not bothered by the fact that they smoked as some other people were. Having gone down this road myself, I cannot imagine what these people went through with virtually no resources, help or information available to them. Marie's story is so real to me and both heartbreaking and inspirational at the same time. I would recommend this book to people to help them to understand what my parenting experience has been like (on a different scale of course--I'm not starting from scratch). A great book!