The Reader
From "Oh, The Places You'll Go" to "Odyssey" books are a great way to escape from the mundane. 
Filed under: Photo Galleries
All posts containing the tag: "book"
Carrie Prejean -- Softcore Hypocrite?
Carrie Prejean is shifting the blame for those topless modeling photos she took back in the day -- now she claims our "culture" is the real problem ... not just "the wind."
In her new "tell-all" book, Carrie dedicates an entire passage to bitch about "pornography," writing:
"Unfortunately, pornography has become mainstreamed -- it rushes at us through big screens, portable screens; soft-core porn is on mainstream TV cable stations, hard-core porn is just a mouse click away on the internet, and the envelope of what seems acceptable seems to get pushed farther and farther as more and more people are exposed to this material.
The result is that girls grow up in a culture where it is hard to have an innocent, healthy, normal view of themselves, how they should behave, how they should act, and how they should dress."
Carrie then addresses the topless pics directly, and states, "Our bodies are temples of the Lord. We should earn respect and admiration for our hearts, not for showing skin to look sexy ... I have since learned that your outer beauty can only get you so far in life."
Amen.
Filed under: Carrie Prejean, Exclusives
Sex Tape Unravels Former Beauty Queen
Carrie Prejean -- the dethroned Miss California USA -- is in meltdown mode because of a solo sex tape.
Prejean -- who made headlines for her stand against gay marriage and her strong ties to fundamentalist religion -- is supposed to appear on "Today" next week to push her new book.. "Today" producers have called TMZ, making it clear the interview has changed and they want details on the sex tape.
TMZ has also received calls from CNN, FOX and various other outlets asking for info.
The reason they're all calling TMZ -- we obtained the tape several months ago but decided not to run it because it was too racy.
As we first reported, Prejean and Miss California USA officials had sued each other and were in settlement talks last week. Sources tell us Prejean was demanding more than $1 million but when Pageant officials showed her they had a copy of the tape, it took less than a minute for Prejean to fold and walk away with nothing in her pocket.
Prejean had sued the Pageant for allegedly firing her because of her beliefs and disclosing confidential information about her -- including her breast implants. The Pageant countersued, claiming Prejean had repeatedly violated the terms of being Miss Cali USA.
The reason the tape became such a smoking gun -- under Pageant rules, all contestants signed forms that gave assurance they had no nude videos or pictures in their past.
Chris Jericho Slurs Speech
WWE star Chris Jericho is wrestling with a pretty serious controversy -- after he made a slew of offensive slurs against Middle Easterners and gays.
Jericho was at the Sacramento Horror Film Festival two weeks ago ... for a screening of a movie in which he appears. During a Q&A session, Jericho referred to the moderator several times as "Hadji" -- a term sometimes used as a racial slur against Middle Easterners.
After the first wave of slurs -- and a random shot at Paris Hilton -- the host jokingly takes Jericho's drink to sniff it for booze, when Chris chimes back, "it's apple juice ... fag."
Jericho tells TMZ, "After seeing the video I realize some inappropriate comments were made and I apologize if I offended anybody." Jericho continues, "Just know that everyone on stage was having a blast and we all shared a drink and a laugh after! The good news is I got my wish of being posted on TMZ."
Yes you did, Chris.
Jude Law ... THIS IS YOUR BABY
Samantha Burke says Jude Law has yet to meet his six-week-old baby girl ... but if he happens to look through Burke's photos on Facebook, at least he'll know what little Sophia Lee looks like if he ever runs into her down the road.
Celebrity Park People
Public parks are a great place for stars to have a picnic, soak up some rays ... and dodge the occasional stranger danger.
You Belong in the Circus!
Step right up ... and check out the oddities of Hollywood -- we've got bearded ladies, tight rope walkers, jugglers and a half-woman/ half-fish!
And the best part ... no animals were harmed in the making of our circus!
Who's Your Daddy?
Can you guess whose famous genes spawned these cute kids?
Stretched Out
Celebrity faces aren't the only thing getting a good stretch in Hollywood. Yoga has become the new "IN" thing!
Balloon Boy's Dad -- Not Smart, Not Funny
We've already established Richard Heene is no scientist -- turns out he isn't a comedian either.
TMZ has obtained a copy of a book Heene wrote back in 1994 called "The Official Offensive Driving Handbook." We know it's supposed to be funny because it's categorized as "humor" -- but that's the only clue. Mostly it just comes across as offensive.
In a chapter about the types of drivers to avoid, he refers to one group as "Jam'in Bro in His Cadillac," another as "Towelheads" and another as "Orientals." And the book is littered with photos with Heene dressed up as people from the various groups.
There are also photos of Heene on the toilet and one of him holding a water gun as if he were Rambo -- for reasons that aren't immediately clear.
Filed under: Balloon Boy
Chaz Bono -- The Next Bill Shakespeare
Coming soon to a New York Times Bestseller list near you -- the memoir of Chaz Bono.
TMZ has learned Bono sold the rights to a book chronicling his decision to transition from a female to a male. According to a publishing source, Bono signed "a handsome, six-figure deal."
The book, tentatively titled "Coming Clean," will be published by Dutton sometime in Spring 2011.
Filed under: Chastity Bono, Exclusives
Hasselbeck Accused of No Original Thoughts
Elisabeth Hasselbeck ripped off a woman by plagiarizing her disease material -- so claims Susan Hassett, who fired off a letter to "The View" host just before suing her.
We obtained the letter -- in which Susan claims she sent Elisabeth a book called "Living with Celiac Disease" back in April of '08. Thirteen months later, Susan says Hasselbeck published the same book with a new title: "The G Free Diet-A Gluten Free Survival Guide." Yes, the title sucks.
Susan compares chapters and lines. Here are some highlights.
Susan's Book Chapter 1: What is Celiac Disease?
Hasselbeck Chapter 2: What is Celiac Disease?
Susan's tips: "Shop in the outer isles of the supermarket."
Hasselbeck's tips: "Food in the outer isles of the supermarket."
And the comparisons go on and on.
Susan just sued Elisabeth for copyright infringement and plagiarism.
UPDATE: We've just obtained a statement from Elisabeth's people: "Neither Center Street nor Elisabeth Hasselbeck has been served with the Complain in this action. However, there is no basis for the allegations in the Complaint as published in the press. Ms. Hasselbeck worked diligently and tirelessly on her book and is disappointed in this attempt to discredit her work and her ability to bring this important message to the public."
Michael Vick -- My Doggone Life
It looks like former Atlanta Falcons QB and current dog-killing inmate Michael Vick is following in O.J. Simpson's footsteps -- he's shopping around a book about his life and crimes.
The proposed memoir of Vick's rise from poverty to stardom would likely be an attempt to show the NFL that he's sorry enough to be let back in the league. You know, sorry about the dogs, dog fighting and dog imprisonment, but also sorry for going to jail for 23 months. Remember, this is the NFL... it's almost impossible to get suspended forever. They still like O.J. and he killed his wife got imprisoned for stealing memorabilia.
The book will likely be a mixture of the "Da Vinci Code" and O.J.'s "If I Did It." Except with more dog torture. And 100% ghostwritten.
Filed under: Train Wrecks, TMZ Sports, O.J.
She's Responsible for the "Twilight" Zone
Inspired by a dream she had, Stephenie Meyer only wrote the "Twilight" books, not the nightmare that was the cheesy film adaptation.
The 35-year-old new J.K. Rowling arrived in Vancouver to do some more press for her teen vampire series.
Wonder if awkward closeups, long pauses and bad acting were in her original draft?
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Twilight
Larry to Network -- MSNBC You In Court
Larry Birkhead has told TMZ he is thinking of suing MSNBC over the Rita Cosby book, because she obtained information on the network's dime.
Birkhead says Cosby, who has since left MSNBC, befriended him in the Bahamas through his then lawyer, Debra Opri. Larry also says Opri would invite Cosby to dinners, where Cosby told him everything discussed was "off the record."
Birkhead claims the salacious allegations are lies.
A rep for MSNBC had no comment.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Anna Nicole Smith
Harvey Helps You Tell It to the Judge
The year was 1984, a young lawyer named Harvey Levin decided to share his knowledge of the legal world with an American public in love with "The People's Court." Now it's your turn to become a legal scholar by bidding on this eBay literary treasure.
"How to Tell It to the Judge" contains pearls of jurisprudential wisdom from everyone's favorite lawyer and managing editor, his Harveness. Many a day, Harvey has pulled an employee aside and given them legal advice, wise counsel, or the ax.
Now you too can partake of the font of knowledge that is Mr. Levin ... without having to work at TMZ.
Filed under: Celebrity Auctions
Renee Likes It on the Floor
Renee Zellweger can't seem to find a chair. 
The actress and bookworm was caught on New Year's Eve, popping a squat to read a photography book in the middle of a Barnes & Noble. Then yesterday, she was spotted in the same position -- only this time in the middle of Los Angeles Airport, with her nose buried in Jimmy Carter's 'Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis.'
The only crisis here is the Oscar-winner's lack of a seat.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Wacky & Weird
J.Lo Tell-All Book Halted
Ex-husband of Latin superstar Jennifer Lopez, Ojani Noa has agreed to a preliminary injunction to stop him from publishing (what Lopez describes as) a "negative, denigrating and disparaging" tell-all book about the multi-talented actress until the matter goes to court.
Ojani's announcement prompted the cancellation of today's scheduled court hearing about the matter.
Lopez had filed a suit against Ojani in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claiming among other things, Noa demanded $5 million from Lopez to keep him from selling the tell-all book.
The injunction states that Noa may not disclose for financial gain "any private or intimate details about Lopez or Noa's relationship with her." He is also directed not to sell or disseminate a manuscript of the book and to retrieve any book materials and copies from anyone who may have possession of them.
This is just one thing in a long list of Noa related problems.
Last October, Noa and Lopez settled a lawsuit he brought against her, alleging Lopez fired him as manager of her restaurant Madre's illegally.
According to her lawsuit, Noa also tried selling video to the National Enquirer of Lopez getting ready on their wedding day and honeymoon and of her in a bikini "showing her posterior".
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Jennifer Lopez
