Customer Reviews

Karen

5 star:		(65)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!!

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!

I read this the first time as an adult. I had asked a librarian if she could recommend a good heartwarming book, and she insisted this was what I needed to read. It instantly became one of my all time favorites. The main reason I wanted to review it here, is I notice so many fellow readers complaining about the mother's approach to her daughter's disability, etc, and I want to point out,when Karen was born, the world was a different place entirely. 'Political correctness' had not been coined yet.

Smoking was not recognized as the evil we now think of; in fact, it was common for doctor's to smoke in their offices with their patients. Mother's were not told to quit smoking because they were pregnant. I could go on, but my point is, for the time in our history when Karen was a child, there was no Disability Rights Act. The idea to treat a disabled child with dignity and equal rights were sadly un-common, and this is not the fault of Karen's family. Like all of us, they did the best they could with what they knew how to do.

I think all this P.C. talk is taking away from the underlying feeling of the book. It is a triumph of the human spirit and I see that so clearly and am left feeling good about the strength and courage inside of us that we don't know is there, unless we are forced to summon it, or learn about someone like Karen, who had no choice but to live life the best she could.

I am not condoning smoking or other bad choices mentioned in the book. I am simply attempting to suggest that if that is all you are looking at, you are missing the boat.

This is the kind of book that I love most; it makes me laugh and cry and most of all, it is the kind of story that makes me realize how small most of my problems are.

It brings to mind other humbling people such as Helen Keller. It may not be an equal comparison, but the feeling I derive from it is the same.

I have read "Karen" a number of times since my teen years, though prior to purchasing the book, it had been at least 10 years since my last reading. This story of a girl born in 1940 with cerebral palsy -- and all the trials, tribulations, and stigma that went along with its diagnosis, treatment, and daily living at that time -- remains intriguing and engaging.

More than simply an eye-opening account of life with a severely disabled child, "Karen" is a window into another era, even another culture (the story takes place in the well-to-do suburbs north of New York City). The Killilea's were a devoutly Catholic Irish-American family. This is before Vatican II and the changes it brought to the Mass and to the church itself. Smoking was socially acceptable, its health risks not well-consdidered. These things all play into the story.

I feel compelled to address Marie's (author/narrator) comment, during her husband Jiimmy's serious illness, that she would sacrifice her children. I believe other reveiwers have mis-interpreted her remark. She wasn't minimizing her love for her children; she was expressing her extraordinary love and devotion to her husband. Again, remember that the book was written in 1952 and should not be judged as if it had been written in 2006. Language, customs, beliefs, and even our culture were significantly different.

In summary, "Karen" is a fascinating story. Should you take everything in it at face value? No, of course not. Is it worth reading? Absolutely, if not for the day-to-day details of life with cerebral palsy, then for the window into life in suburbia in the early 1950's.

It is also worth noting that Marie Killilea was instrumental in founding United Cerebral Palsy, the organization that still advocates for and supports the cerebral palsied today.

"Karen" and "With Love From Karen" changed my life...sounds corny, I know, but true nonetheless. I first became acquainted with "Karen" as a bewildered ten year-old whose parents were divorcing. Even though "Karen" had been published some thirty years prior to the day that I first picked it up as a little girl, the book struck a profound chord within me that still resonates today.

In searching for a common reason as to why these books continue to matter to so many people so many years later, the prevailing theme seems to be the against-all-odds humour that infuses the pages with such joy, and also a sense of "connectedness" to a family none of us will ever know -- perhaps a familial connection that some of us have found lacking in our own lives. The message of these books is timeless -- love your family -- work hard -- be good to animals -- help your neighbours -- be true to yourself -- and let God in your life.

Like everyone else, I would love to know what Karen and the rest of the surviving family are doing now, but one suspects the reason for their silence may have something to do with a wish for privacy that should be respected. I know Marie has passed on, but I would like to thank her and the rest of the Killilea family for encouraging me and thousands of others. (and readers, if you can get your hands on "Newf", it's a beautiful children's book that adults can love too!!)

I too, like the other reviewers read this book and With Love from Karen as a child thirty years ago. I have since reread it countless times and it never fails to inspire and move me. I cannot wait for my children to be old enough to read it as well. Isn't it such a moving tribute to the Killilea family that so many people so many years from its first publication are still so touched by this story. Wouldn't it be great for the family to be able to continue this chapter for us. I truly hope that they are happy and healthy. I just wish I knew what happened to them. I contacted United Cerebal Palsy and no one has heard of Marie or Karen which I think is a disgrace since they blazed the trail for education and support for so many families.

I loved the Karen books as child; Karen was my favorite real-life heroine, next to Anne Frank. Now I am the mother of a disabled daughter and I haven't thought of Karen and her family for years. She was mentioned in conjunction with a group home and this brought back memories so I did a search on Karen, Well, the Cerebral Palsy Society has a news story on its website covered the news up-to-date of the Killilea family. Some are gone now but the news of the very nice and inspiring family is good to know. So search and ye will find.

There are hardly words to express how much the book -Karen- and -With Love From Karen- has touched and affected my life. I too, was surprised to see how many other people were affected by these books, since I never came across anyone who had read the books. I never could understand why more people didn't know about them. Marie wrote with such talent and brought the reader into the family and made you feel a part of it. You couldn't help but be touched by the family, faith and relationships within these books. What an amazing family. I just read a review that Jimmy and Marie were divorced...It really took me a back and saddened me very much. They held together through so much heartache, joy, family and triumphs, what could have been the situation that came between them. I too, would love to know more of what has happened to the rest of the family. Little Marie, Karen, Rory, Gloria and Kristen and their families. Also in one of the reviews it was mentioned that they thought in the book -With Love from Karen- that the younger Marie's experiences were glossed over, and yet Gloria's was described in such detail...that has always puzzled me too. If anyone has more info on this family please, please email me. It would be much appreciated!

I, too, have loved this book ever since I read it. I think it's wonderful, and really captivating, as well as informative. It may seem a little outdated at first, but it's a good way of realizing how disabilities were dealt with in the early part of the 20th century. It's very well written, and if you haven't read it, I think you'd find it interesting and a good read.I have discovered a little of what happened to the Killileas(...)in fact, Jimmy and Marie were not divorced as many think.