Jeannette Walls 4/16/02
dustbunny
Plus: Irish stew about new book; Prince William’s new major
With Ashley Pearson
April 16 — Now that Justin Timberlake has confirmed what Britney
Spears’ publicist has long denied — that the two pop idols are no longer an
item — friends are wondering who will get custody of the house. The betting,
sources say, is on Britney.
THE TWOSOME bought the Hollywood mansion a year and a half ago, reportedly
for more than $3 million.
Britney’s mother, Lynne, is said to have decorated the place in a
Moroccan style, though the house was also said to be a source of friction
with Lynne, who disapproved of her daughter living in sin.
There were reports that visitors spotted sex manuals at the mansion.
“Some people are saying that there’ll be a nasty fight over the
house,” says one source. “We’re all bracing.”
But another insider says: “It was always more Britney’s [house] than
Justin’s. . . . That was one of the problems in their relationship. Britney
was much more eager to settle down and make things permanent.”
Spears’ publicist didn’t respond to requests for comment.
Irish stew about new book
Famed author Edna O’Brien is under attack in her native Ireland for
her new book, “In the Forest,” a fictionalized account of a grisly triple
murder that shocked Ireland eight years ago.
The Irish Times has been leading the charge against the esteemed
author, accusing O’Brien of trying to profit from the tragedies of others.
Other critics have weighed in, calling the book “intrusive” and
“sensationalist.” The author, who some consider to be among the greatest
living writers in the English language, “is fighting to save her reputation
amid [the] uproar,” noted the London Guardian.
“People have been talking about my agenda,” O’Brien told The Scoop.
“The only agenda, the only principle is the artistic level of the book.”
Regarding the criticism that she mixed fact and fiction, O’Brien responded,
“Of course I did! Fiction is always inspired by life. What else is there?
Fiction is human nature, human passion, set down in a more intense way than
journalism.”
When asked if she was surprised that her native country would lash
out against her so intensely, O’Brien sighed, “The Irish are always tough on
their own. . . Look at what they did to James Joyce.”
Notes from all over
Prince William is changing his major. The hunky royal is no longer
an art history student, according to various reports, but is now studying
geography. Sources say the change is a sign he’s taking his world-wide royal
duties more seriously.
Don’t buy into those rumors that Ben Affleck and Nicole Kidman are an
item. A source at the opening of J. Lo’s new restaurant says a photographer
who wanted to take a group shot of the celebs in attendance had a tough time
getting Kidman and Affleck to stand near each other. . . . . Guy Ritchie was
overheard in a West London pub complaining about “negative vibes” around his
new flick, according to the London Mirror. We assume he’s talking about
“Love, Sex, Drugs & Money,” starring his wife, Madonna. If Guy wants to see
negative, wait until he reads reviews of Madonna’s acting.