  | Book Details Title: She’s a Rainbow: The Extraordinary Life of Anita Pallenberg: The Black Queen |
Book DescriptionAbout the Author Simon Wells has written on film and music for numerous magazines and newspapers including the Guardian; The Times and The Independent. He is a regular contributor to Record Collector, Hotdog, TV Zone, Watch, Total Film, and the Beatles’ Book; the group’s official magazine. In addition to his writing credits, Simon has researched numerous projects for the likes of the BBC, Channel Four and Virgin, as well as broadcasting live on LBC, ITN and BBC on film and music. Read more Customers Review: I applaud Simon Wells for writing this biography of Anita Pallenberg. She was a fascinating but disturbing woman, especially during her 1960s – 1970s heyday. Wells has gathered up many facts, anecdotes, and stories — both true and untrue — about Pallenberg and presented them in a chronological, carefully thought out book, along with his own perceptions and analyses.I appreciate Wells puncturing many of the “Anita the madwoman/witch/Satanist” tales that have floated about for decades, but I can’t share his almost reverential view of her. Yes, Pallenberg was beautiful, in a rather hard, androgynous way, and she was highly intelligent. Many people who knew her seem to have been swept away by her charm, vivaciousness, sultry sensuality, and well-defined sense of humor, so I well believe that she had an incredible, even unforgettable, charisma about her.And yet … Pallenberg was disturbing. It wasn’t her drug addictions that disturbed as much as her drive to dominate, manipulate, twist, abuse, and mind-game nearly everyone — especially those she loved most. Her sado-masochistic romantic relationships and wretched parenting were frankly appalling. I pitied the woman yet couldn’t quite excuse her never-ending dramas and cruel actions. Clearly it would have been exhausting to be around her for long. Richards must have been a very patient man.And then … I can listen to the Stones’ music and feel Pallenberg’s indelible presence and influence — the grim beauty, the sensuous exoticism, the barely contained chaos, the unleashed energy … and I’m thankful to her. She was a naughty adventuress, but the world needs a few naughty adventuresses to keep things lively.Altogether, I’m thankful to Wells for writing this excellent book about a difficult yet intriguing woman.
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8 reviews