Madonna Archives

Gwyneth Paltrow asked a couple of her best and most literary-minded girlfriends to share their top picks for books.

“I always like knowing the literary preferences of people,” the 36-year-old actress says. “I think it gives a better understanding of their inner life.”

One of her fave books is “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Brontë. Gwyn shares, “This was the first novel I ever read. Actually, it was read to me by my mother. We started it when I was 10 years old. The novel starts out with a young Jane, about the age I was at the time, so I was drawn in, in such a visceral way. It was the moment I really started to understand, from my little bed in a room with strawberry wallpaper, that there was a scope to the world, a past and future, that would be there for the learning and for the taking. It was a powerful and deep experience, being read those words, that story with all of its heavy imagery and emotion.”

The other two were “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoevsky and “The Sheltering Sky” by Paul Bowles.

Madonna’s favorites include “The Bad Girl” by Mario Vargas Llosa, “Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts and “The Time Traveler’s Wife” by Audrey Niffenegger.

Read the full list at GOOP.com.

Gwyn also described the Material Mom in her newsletter, saying, “Madonna Ciccone rules the world, is a loyal friend and a terrific mother.”

Check out this behind-the-scenes video of Madonna and Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs via UK’s Marie Claire.

We get a look into some of how the campaign was shot, which took place at LA’s Café Figaro.

“I just blurted out, ‘I think we should do Madonna,’” Marc has said. “I was totally just blown away by it, and moved by her performance, by what she had to say, and her energy.”

This video was for the LV Spring/Summer 2009 ads that were released last month.

• Madonna enjoys a meal at Waverly Inn
• Robert Downey Junior is totally in Vogue
• Sacha Baron Cohen gets booed after making fun of Madonna
• Alessandra Ambrosio always rocks Victoria’s Secret
• Dave Navarro likes to wear makeup when he’s out
• Blake Fielder Civil wants a divorce
• Kayla Collins was discovered by Holly Madison
• Miley Cyrus at the 2009 Golden Globes
• Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino has topped the US box office, taking in approximately $29m in its opening weekend.
• MTV will be broadcasting from President-elect Barack Obama’s “Youth Inaugural Ball” on Jan. 20, the cable network announced Sunday.

Sacha Baron Cohen made a number of jokes at Sunday’s Golden Globes. The 36-year-old British comedian started off by poking fun at Botox-faced celebrities.

He said, “It’s been a wonderful year for movies, including, of course, Benjamin Button, the story of a man whose face gets younger as he gets older. Uh, which is just like most of the people in this room.” (The camera pans to Button’s star Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.)

After the crowd burst into laughter, he continued, “It is said that in times of economic hardship, people flock to the cinemas to watch mindless puerile, escapist nonsense, which is great news because I’ve got a movie coming out (see below).”

Sacha then proceeded to take jabs at a few celebs: “But this recession is affecting everyone, even celebrities. Victoria Beckham hasn’t eaten for three weeks. Charlie Sheen has been forced to have sex without paying for it. It’s true. And even Madonna has had to get rid of one of her personal assistants. (pauses) Our thoughts go out to you Guy Ritchie.” (Sandra Bullock shakes her head.)

Ouch!!! Sacha then presented the “Best Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy” Golden Globe to Vicky Cristina Barcelona. In his upcoming movie, Sacha will play his alter ego Bruno, a flamboyantly gay fashion reporter from Austria.

• Madonna’s daughter jumps into acting [via DailyMail]
• David Beckham always gets a good workout on the field
• John Travolta and Kelly Preston thank fans for their support
• Decorate with some Old Hollywood decor
• Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson continue to argue
• Dancing stars Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff are engaged
• Hottest women of Fall TV
• Miley Cyrus rocks a purple headband to church
• Tom Cruise said Scientology teachings helped him overcome childhood dyslexia, a Spanish magazine reported.
• Marley and Me has topped the US box office chart for a second consecutive week, pushing its overall takings to $106.5 million.
• Heather Locklear was given three years of informal probation, will pay a fine and attend a driver’s education program after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor reckless driving charge.

Madonna’s team is backpedaling!

They just rescinded her U.S. rep Liz Rosenberg’s statement from earlier this week that said Madge and ex-husband Guy Ritchie reached a divorce settlement between $76 to $96 million. A joint statement – issued in London – reads:

“We have tried to maintain a dignified silence regarding the details of our divorce for the last few months whilst accepting the obvious media interest. A misleading and inaccurate statement, specifically in relation to the sums of money involved, was wrongly issued to AP this week. The financial details of the settlement will remain private, save to say that both of us are happy with our agreement. Our primary concern, like any co-parents, is the care and well being of our children.”

The couple has three kids — Lourdes, 12, Rocco, 8, David, 3. (Lourdes is from Madonna’s relationship with Carlos Leon.)

Madonna and ex-husband Guy Ritchie have reached a divorce settlement of at least $76 million, her rep tells The Associated Press.

The Material Mom’s spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg, says that as part of the divorce agreement, Madonna has given Guy between $76 million to $92 million, which includes the value of the couple’s country home Ashcombe in western England.

“I’d assume it’s one of the largest payouts ever in a divorce settlement,” Liz said.

Custody of the kids has yet to be finalized.

Check out the new Louis Vuitton ads featuring Madonna in a smoky French bistro setting, as photographed by Steven Meisel.

After attending one of the Queen of Pop’s concerts in Paris, inspiration struck LV’s creative director Marc Jacobs for the label’s next fashion advertising campaign.

“I just blurted out, ‘I think we should do Madonna,’” Jacobs told WWD. “I was totally just blown away by it, and moved by her performance, by what she had to say, and her energy.”

And the rumor about Madonna raking in $10 million for the campaign? “It’s very far away from that,” he assured.