Every time I view a documentary on the Carpenters I can't help but think that Karen was pushed into a corner by all the people she loved: her brother [[who by accounts could be demanding and controlling), her mother [[yes she was often picking Richard as the breadwinner of the family while she never looked at Karen similarly) and people in her label. Plus, much like many of the Motown acts [[Supremes included), she was very young when the Carpenters became superstars. I don't even think she was 20 yet when "Close to You" gave the group their first huge success. And then to gain not only domestic fame but international acclaim and touring almost all 365 days of the year [[their schedule and Motown's scheduling of their acts are almost similar to one another) added to her problems with her weight. I'm thinking not only did she take negative comments seriously, it made Karen develop a troubling soul that wasn't reconciled at all when she died in 1983.