Rating: 
Summary: Bring a hanky--and some skepticism
Review: Christopher Reeve died three days ago, which caused me to wonder whether quadriplegic former skier Jill Kilmont was still among the living, which brought me to someone's post in which she said that Jill's story reminded her of Marie Kililea's "Karen." My recognition of the book was instant. I then read these reviews with interest. So this is the book in which a loving mother said she'd not hesitate to choose her husband over her children--after all, she could always have more! To the saintly Marie Lyons Kililea, children were as fungible as furniture. I've remembered for thirty-five years that some mother felt that way; thanks to another reviewer of this book, I now remember just where I read it. Other memories of "Karen" flooded back as I read over these reviews; a desire to re-read the book and its sequel did not. I remembered the train trips to doctors, Karen's two enema bags, her mother's smoking (and her being told at some point, even in those distant days, that she thus might have caused Karen's paralysis), Karen's final choice of the wheelchair over the appliances she needed to walk. A story that lingers so long in the memory cannot be without value, and Mrs. Kililea was not without gifts as a writer. So why only two stars? When I was nine, Karen, plucked off the library shelf because she shared my name, irritated me because she charmed and was loved by everyone, as I, bookish and introverted, did not. Thirty-five years later, deeper reasons not to recommend the books occur to me. The Kilileas inhabit a world without moral subtlety. Everything is either black or white; every dilemma is resolved by submission to dogma and orthodoxy. Age nine is too young to read of mothers who'd gladly sacrifice the children for hubby, who lecture their suffering children that God wants them to hurt, whose beloved niece saves herself, waiting patiently, until "Rome says yes!" and her swain is released from his marriage, over legally for years with a divorce, by a Church annulment. Nor would I present either "Karen" or its sequel to a child with a disability. Not only would I not want to suggest to her that she must suffer gladly as Jesus did, but I would not want her to feel that she must shoulder the burden of setting everyone around her at ease with her handicap. Not everyone, whole or crippled, is born with Karen's gifts. So to whom, if anyone, would I recommend this story? Certainly only to someone who's seen enough of life to take "Karen"'s message of sweet submission to the divine will with a grain, or more, of salt.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful book
Review: I can't remember how I got a hold of this book, but I read it when I was very young. One summer, my family took me to New York City and somehow we ended up in the suburbs and found the Killilea house. No one was home, but I can still remember how excited I was to be so close to the Killilea family. I also was puzzled by the fact that Gloria's life was much more detailed than little Marie's. Karen and With love from Karen really should be mandatory reading for children.
Rating:
Summary: A story that will leave an imprint on your soul.
Review: I first read Karen in junior high school and the story of her struggles and victories, the deep love and spirituality of her family, and the fun they had together as they lived life to its fullest have remained with me to this day. Their story helped influence many of my values as I developed into a young adult and still now as I struggle to parent my children in this world. Perseverance, hope, community helping those in need, sacrifice, unconditional love; these are just a few of the lessons I learned from the wonderfully written telling of their story. I wanted to order the book and its sequel for my daughter who is now in junior high and am saddened to learn they are out of print. The experience of the Killilea family is universal and very important to tell in order to share these values that will serve our society well.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reading for ALL ages!
Review: 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!!
Rating:
Summary: This is the best Family Story Ever Written
Review: I first read the sequel "With Love from Karen" when I was in high school (100 years ago, approximately); my grandma had given me a box of old paperbacks, and that was among them. I enjoyed it and re-read it....quite frankly, this family was more wholesome than the Brady Bunch! But I found that comforting somehow, and subsequently read "Karen". Since then, I've re-read both books countless times. A separate online group has made Karen and her family something of a detective mission, and the following facts have been unearthed: Karen is alive and well, and working for a priest at a Catholic retreat not far from Sursum Corda. Big Marie and Jimmy have, unfortunately, passed away (both in the 1990s). Gloria just recently died (December 2001), and was still married to Russ. Oddly enough, her obituary mentioned two sons, but not the two daughters described in "With Love from Karen." Little Marie has been divorced and apparently remarried. Kristin has also grown up and gotten married. She was forced to sell Sursum Corda due to tax considerations.
Rating: 
Summary: More info about the Killileas
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Karen since the book
Review: 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.
Rating:
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!
Rating:
Summary: A Childhood Favorite, But the Whole Family Smoked!
Review: Like many of you, I loved this book as a child, but re-reading it in 2004, what jumped off the page to me was how much everyone smoked.
While Marie is recovering in the hospital from the birth, she lights a cigarette. When they take baby Karen to the doctor, the doctor lights a cigarette, and then offers the cigarette box to the Killileas.
I know this was in 1940, but still, it was disturbing, given that we now know smoking causes premature birth, and may well have led to Karen's CP.
I would still recommend this inspiring book, but if I gave it to a child, I would have a talk with them about smoking first, since this family is supposed to be role models.
Rating:
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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