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By Michael Lopez

Long before there were iPads and Kindles, readers used to shove their faces into bound stacks of paper called books. And as much as we love touch screen technology, there's something about a good old fashioned libro that still lightens the inner soul. Apparently thousands of South Floridians seem to agree, as the 28th annual Miami Book Fair International kicks off for another glorious year.

Designed as a massive street fair in the heart of Miami, the event will span from November 13th through the 20th and feature over 350 well-known authors. It will also be a great opportunity to buy your favorite books at dirt cheap prices.

Founded in 1984, MBFI initially began as a small two-day affair. As each year passed, buzz about the event grew and now it holds the record as the largest literary festival in the country. And obviously being centered in Miami, the Fair puts an extra special emphasis on writers from the Latin community.

One of MBFI’s biggest attractions is its Ibero-American Authors Program, which features lectures and readings that are entirely in Spanish. This year, top Latin writers like Pablo Medina, Gioconda Belli, and Javier Sierra will participate in the Ibero event.

And that's not all. Another huge MBFI draw is "Children’s Alley," which is a special section of street dedicated solely to games and kids' books. There is also the newly launched "Comix Galaxy," which celebrates the artwork and stories behind the industry's hottest graphic novels.

Plus, for all of you star watchers, there will be plenty of celebs on hand too. Legendary musician Harry Belafonte has been confirmed to make an appearance, as has Jenna Elfman and Michael Moore.

And the Book Fair is embracing the digital age too. Outside of welcoming everyone with an eReader, MBFI has its own Twitter and Facebook pages. You can find out all of the details on how to book a trip (and which authors to look out for) by visiting the event's official site.

What all your all-time favorite books? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Books, Cultura, Giocondo Belli, Javier Sierra, MBFI, Miami, Miami Book Fair International, Pablo Medina

By Michael Lopez

There is no denying that Oscar de la Hoya has led an incredible life. From his humble beginnings in East L.A., to his stellar boxing career, to his recent stint in rehab, we're sure the "Golden Boy" has many stories to tell. And now he's planning to do just that, with a self-penned tell-all book.

Oscar recently told El Gordo y La Flaca that he was in the midst of writing his memoirs. And according to the former Welterweight champ, he's planning to hold nothing back.

Yup, that means even the notorious fishnet photos could get a chapter or two. But we imagine that won't be the central focus. De la Hoya has also built up an incredible career as a businessman, with holdings that are said to be worth hundreds of millions.

We, for one, are quite curious to read Oscar's recollections. But it's interesting to note that the tell-all won't be his first foray into writing. Back in 2006, De la Hoya published the children's book Super Oscar, which proved to be very popular with Jr. boxing fans.

Would you be curious to read Oscar's tell-all book? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Books, boxing, El Gordo y La Flaca, Oscar de la Hoya, Sports, Super Oscar

By Michael Lopez

Thalía has had an incredibly full life in her 40 years. From her career as a child singer, to her novela superstardom, to her life as a music mogul wife, we can only imagine the amazing stories she has to tell. And in her new book, Growing Stronger, she's opening up about everything.

One of the chapters getting the most attention concerns the 2002 kidnapping of her sisters Laura and Ernestina. Thalía spoke very candidly about the incident and hoped her recollections could help inspire others.

"That experience was very tough for my family," she told the Huffington Post. "That's why I include this story [in Growing Stronger] because I want readers to be inspired. Everybody has their own story, everybody has their own journey. In this book, I'm portraying a journey of perseverance and empowerment and everybody can grow stronger from a bad moment in their life."

Thalía also happily opens up about "the love of her life" Tommy Mottola. She even recounts their first date, which was set up by Gloria Estefan's husband Emilio. Other revelations include her battle with Lyme disease and the fertility issues she dealt with before getting pregnant.

It all makes for a very interesting read and a great holiday gift for the die-hard Thalía fan in the family.

Are you planning on picking up Thalía's book? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Books, Celebrities, Growing Stronger, Hot Stuff, popnews, Thalía, tommy Mottola

By Larry Yepez Jr.

The Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese gave the New York Film Festival audience a sneak peek at his latest film, Hugo, which is a "work in progress"...meaning, his 3-D family adventure film has no final special effects, no finalized color, and no final music. Regardless of the unfinished film, the audience at Avery Fisher Hall apparently loved it and gave Marty a standing ovation.

Hugo is based on the 2007 best-seller Hugo Cabaret by Brian Selznick, about an orphan (played by Asa Butterfield), who lives in a train station in the 1930's Paris. He befriends another orphan, played by Chloe Moretz, and the two are pursued by a goofy police man, played by Sasha Baron Cohen.

In the film, the orphan fixes clocks at the train station and tinkers with a broken robot left behind by his late father  (Jude Law).  Ben Kingsley co-stars as George Melies, the real-life silent cinema pioneer who did spend his last years selling toys in Paris' train stations.

The screenplay was written by John Logan (The Aviator). Although Hugo is Scorsese's first family adventure, there's still a dark edge to it, as to be expected. After all, this is the man who made Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas and The Departed, for which he won the 2006 Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture.

The surprise screening at the New York Film Festival was announced just a few hours before it took place. A good strategy to add hype to the film's pre-release buzz.

"This is a work in progress," Scorcese told the packed audience. "I hope that those of you who really do like it come and see the final film."

"We're just as proud this evening to have this film," Pena said.

Rumors that co-producer Johnny Depp has a cameo are still uncertain. Apparently a painter who makes a brief appearance in the film looks a lot like him. Although Paramount said that it's not the acclaimed actor, the studio apparently wouldn't confirm whether or not Depp will be appearing at all, I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

The film is due to hit theaters on November 23rd.

Are you excited to see Hugo, Scorsese's first family film?

Tags Asa Butterfield, Avery Fisher Hall, Beauty and the Beast, ben kingsley, Blogger: Larry Yepez Jr, Brian Selznick, Chloe Moretz, George Melies, Goodfellas, Hugo, Hugo Cabaret, John Logan, johnny depp, Jude Law, Martin Scorsese, New York Film Festival, Paramount Pictures, Raging Bull, Richard Pena, Sasha Baron Cohen, Taxi Driver, The Aviator, The Departed

By Larry Yepez Jr.

Wow… that was quick! Just five days after Steve Jobs, co-founder and former CEO of Apple Inc. and creator of the coolest inventions in our lives passed away due to pancreatic cancer, Sony Pictures is already on the move, buying the rights to Jobs' life story and to make a film about it.

Looks like the film is set to be based upon the book, ingeniously titled Steve Jobs, written by Walter Isaacson, the former CNN chairman and Time Magazine managing editor. The book is set for release on October 24  as Sony is offering up $1 million to gain the feature film rights.

The book, a hot upcoming commodity, became even hotter with the news of Jobs' death, moving its publication date up almost a month from the initial November release date.

So it comes as no surprise that the soon-to-be-published biography, Steve Jobs, has already sold its feature rights. It's likely to expect such a thing with such a high profile personality such as Steve Jobs. The film will be the second movie about Job's life, the first was The Pirates of Silicon Valley,  aired on TNT.

Although Sony has not commented on the book deal, it appears the Mark Gordon (Saving Private Ryan) will produce along with Management 360. Remember that this is the same studio that produced the Oscar-nominated The Social Network, so we know that they will do a good job in taking the audience inside the world of a computer genius and make it exciting and thrilling, specially in telling the incredible life story of the genius that was Jobs.

The book was originally titled iSteve: The Book of Jobs but Isaacson changed it to have a better chance of earning Jobs' permission and cooperation. The writer, also a biographer of Ben Franklin and Henry Kissinger, was hand-chosen by Jobs out of a long list of authors to capture his legacy during his battle with cancer.

The 448-page biography took two years to complete and features over 40 interviews with the Apple co-founder himself. There are over 100 stories shared by friends and family, colleagues and competitors.

The story of Jobs’ life is very compelling. The man made a career following his curiosity and combining practicality with aesthetics, function with beauty. He undoubtedly revolutionized the computer, music and mobile industries.

One paragraph from the book's summary that could sum up the feature film reads:

"At a time when America is seeking ways to sustain its innovative edge, and when societies around the world are trying to build digital-age economies, Jobs stands as the ultimate icon of inventiveness and applied imagination. He knew that the best way to create value in the twenty-first century was to connect creativity with technology. He built a company where leaps of the imagination were combined with remarkable feats of engineering."

In the right hands, Jobs' story could make an excellent film. David Fincher made the Facebook story one of the most engrossing films of the past few years. On the other hand, it is sad that the whole industry is thriving on exploiting Jobs’ death rather than celebrating his life.

What do you think about a Jobs biopic so soon after his death?

Tags apple inc., Blogger: Larry Yepez Jr, CNN, David Fincher, Facebook, Management 360, popnews, sony pictures, Steve Jobs, The Social Network, Time Magazine, TNT, Walter Isaacson

By Michael Lopez

Is it possible that Diddy can't get the image of his ex Jennifer Lopez out of his head? The hip-hop icon is now capitalizing on the "art of the backside" by releasing a 248-page coffee table book entitled Culo.

Just as the name suggests, Culo will feature high end photography of women and their derrieres. Famed photographer Raphael Mazzucco snapped every picture in the book and music honcho Jimmy Iovine will be distributing it through his Interscope line.

The Culo web site even has an R-Rated video to go along with it, which features music from Timbaland and Pitbull. In it, you'll see plenty of stylish imagery and yes, plenty of naked Latinas.

The book will be available by late November and, judging by what we've seen so far, it could be a worthy addition to our Fall reading list! Plus, it may just turn Diddy into a best-selling author!

Would you pick up Diddy's new Culo book? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Books, Chisme, Culo, Diddy, Jimmy Iovine, popnews, Raphael Mazzucco

By Michael Lopez

Believe it or not, Marco Rubio has packed quite a lot of activity into his 40 years. The Cuban-American Florida Senator is a former football star, a seasoned attorney, and the newest BFF of Nancy Reagan. So now he's decided to write it all down with a new memoir, which should be released within the next year.

Interestingly, Rubio isn't the first young Senator to crank out a book about his background. President Barack Obama first gained national attention for his memoir, Dreams of My Father. Obviously writing a book worked out very well for the Prez, so could Marco be purposely trying to follow the same path?

Rubio is still staying very quiet on his political ambitions. Many in the Republican party have hinted that he may be a VP contender on the 2012 ticket, a notion which he has continually denied. As far as the book goes, Marco claims its main purpose is to get a message out to the people.

"[The book] isn't about creating a profile," he said. "It's more about communicating.”

And when asked about Obama's memoir, Rubio responded,

"I don't agree with him on a lot of public policy, but I thought [Obama's books] were very well written and interesting."

Would you be interested in reading Marco Rubio's memoirs? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Barack Obama, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Books, Dreams of my Father, Marco Rubio, Marco Rubio Memoirs, Politics, President Obama

By Larry Yepez Jr

A new trailer of the  long-awaited English-language film version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has just been released...finally! This is is the first film based on Stieg Larsson’s literary blockbuster, the Millennium Trilogy.

This film is based on the first novel in the trilogy, which  have sold 50 million copies in 46 countries and has become a worldwide phenomenon.  The same is expected of the movie!

The synopsis:

Harriet Vanger, a scion of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families disappeared over forty years ago. All these years later, her aged uncle (Christopher Plummer) continues to seek the truth. He hires Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), a crusading journalist recently trapped by a libel conviction, to investigate.

Blomkvist is aided by the pierced and tattooed computer prodigy Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara). Together they tap into a vein of unfathomable iniquity and astonishing corruption.

TGWTDT is directed by the two-time Academy Award nominee David Fincher, and the screenplay adaptation was done by Steven Zaillian, writer of American Gangster, Schindler's List and Hannibal. The cast is also very solid with leads like Mara and Craig.

Even though it's a dark  and edgy film, I smell Oscars all over it!  The movie is scheduled to hit theaters December 2011.

Are you excited about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? Comment your expectations!

Tags Blogger: Larry Yepez Jr, Christopher Plummer, columbia pictures, Daniel Craig, David Fincher, Rooney Mara, sony pictures, Steven Zaillian, stieg Larsson, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

By Michael Lopez

Sure Borders may be gone, but that doesn't mean that America isn't still picking up plenty of libros. The country's biggest online book distributor, Amazon.com, is hyping a slew of hot page-turners for fall, including several by prominent Latino authors.

By far, one of the biggest books of the season will be Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs. The first "authorized" biography of the now-former Apple CEO, Jobs promises plenty of juicy details on the world-renowned computer giant.

In the younger fiction department, Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever will be hard to beat. The seventh installment of a series that may give Harry Potter a run for his money, Wimpy Kid is expected to ship six million units when it arrives in November.

But enough with the power players. Let's focus on some Latino up-and-comers, shall we? Justin Torres has had his work published in magazines like Vanity Fair and Esquire, but now he's hitting the big time with his first fiction novel, We The Animals. Focused on three brothers being raised by a Puerto Rican father and a white mother, it's already been heavily praised by the literature community.

Amazon’s also giving quite a bit of love to Hector Tobar's mystery novel, The Barbarian Nurses. Tobar, a respected writer for the L.A. Times, has been known to weave a good tale and this one about a Mexican housekeeper's journey to find a missing family sounds fascinating.

In the classics department, you won't want to miss Roberto Bolaño: The Last Interview & Other Conversations. Sadly this legendary Chilean author passed away in 2003, but these never-published essays will give readers the chance to learn more about a writer who many described as "Latin America's T.S. Eliot."

And just in time for Halloween, Amazon’s releasing Guillermo del Toro's novel, The Night Eternal. A truly epic vampire saga (that would make a great movie, by the way) reaches its final conclusion with this creepy libro. Expect winged monsters, fangs in the neck, and plenty more of Guillermo's trademark horror elements when this book hits shelves on October 25.

What’s the last great book that you read? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Amazon, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Books, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Guillermo del Toro, Hector Tobar, Hot Stuff, Justin Torres, Roberto Bolaño, Steve Jobs

By Larry Yepez Jr.

Thirteen years after the first Harry Potter book was published, J.K. Rowling brings us Pottermore, an interactive reading website. It's the same story from the books with a few crucial additions. Pottermore -just as the experience of reading- will require that the imagination of the author and reader work together to create the story, so Pottermore will be built in part by You, the reader.

According to J.K. Rowling, the digital generation will be able to enjoy a safe, unique online reading experience built around the Harry Potter books. Pottermore will be the place where fans of any age can share, participate and re-discover the stories. It will also be the exclusive place to purchase digital audio books and, for the first time, e-books of the Harry Potter series.

Rowling herself will also be an intricate part of the experience as she shares with us additional information she's been holding for years about the world of Harry Potter.

Pottermore is open to everyone starting October 2011, but a lucky few will be able to join early to help shape the experience in the Beta stages of the site..

Are you intrigued about Pottermore? What do you think of this new online reading experience for Harry Potter?

Tags Blogger: Larry Yepez Jr, Harry Potter, JK. Rowling, Pottermore