Karen

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Summary: A review on With Love From Karen
Review: Karen and With Love From Karen written by Marie Kililea are in my opinion both masterpieces on mans ability to overcome physical and emotional disabilities in a positive manner. I read "Karen" and "With Love from Karen" when I was young and wasn't able to appreciate at that time the true value of these books. The humor and kindness of the Kililea family was very apparent even at the first glance. I enjoyed them all the same at that time and recently picked them up again to reread. The literary style and content is superb. The quality is unsurpassed by many books written on handicaps because it gives a feeling of hope and determination rather than a feeling of "the poor child" to the readers. I would recommend this book to people of all ages, with or without disabilities because its a good lesson in appreciating the gifts of God that we receive daily.

It's a pity that we don't know what happens with Karen as she goes through her adult life since readers feel that they know her at a personal level by the time they finish the books. I was also disappointed to see that "With Love from Karen" is out of print!

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Summary: UPDATE - The Killilea Family
Review: On Oct. 25, 1999, I wrote a review of the wonderful book,"Karen." I shared that I had met the actor Pat O'Brien (Uncle Pat to the Killilea kids) and had been told that Jimmy and Marie were divorced. I now know that he was referring to young Marie, but only found out for sure within this past month. Because of these online reviews and the fact that some had left their e-mail addresses for contact, a group of us formed a bit of a "fan club," have been together on a Yahoo site since Oct. 29, 1999, and now have a membership of over 600! It is there that we have discovered a variety of information and have become friends as well. As always, the fact remains that Marie's are among the most well written, entertaining, and inspiring books of all time. If you're interested in more information, you might check out the site at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Killilea_Fans/

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Summary: Karen
Review: 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!