More scrutiny for author

More scrutiny for author
BOSTON -- A Harvard sophomore's novel, pulled from the market last week after the author acknowledged mimicking portions of another writer's work, appears to contain passages copied from a second book.
A reader alerted The New York Times to at least three portions of "How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life" that are similar to passages in the novel "Can You Keep a Secret?" by Sophie Kinsella.
While the plots of the two books are distinct, the phrasing and structure of some passages is nearly identical, the Times reported Tuesday.
In one scene in "Can You Keep a Secret," which was published by Dial Press, the main character, Emma, comes upon two friends "in a full-scale argument about animal rights," and one says, "The mink like being made into coats."
In Kaavya Viswanathan's book, Opal encounters two girls having "a full-fledged debate over animal rights."
"The foxes want to be made into scarves," one of them says.
There are also similarities in details and descriptions. Jack, the love interest in Kinsella's novel, has a scar on his hand; so does Sean, the romantic hero in "Opal." Jack has "eyes so dark they're almost black." So does Sean.
Richards released
WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Keith Richards has been released from a New Zealand hospital where the Rolling Stones guitarist was admitted with a head injury after he reportedly fell out of a palm tree.
Richards, 62, suffered a mild concussion while on vacation in Fiji Thursday. Several Australian and New Zealand media outlets reported the fall from the tree.
Magician's latest stunt
NEW YORK -- Take a deep breath. David Blaine's latest stunt is spending a week living in an 8-foot acrylic sphere filled with water.
The 33-year-old magician, shirtless and with an oxygen tube in his mouth, slid into his snow globe-like "human aquarium" Monday at Lincoln Center.
In a week, he will remove the device and attempt to hold his breath underwater longer than the record of 8 minutes, 58 seconds.
He also will try to escape from 150 pounds of chains and handcuffs during the breath-holding finale, which will air live in a two-hour ABC special, "David Blaine: Drowned Alive," on May 8 at 8 p.m.
It's over for Paris
NEW YORK -- It's apparently over for Paris Hilton and Greek shipping heir Stavros Niarchos.
"So it would appear. Yes," Hilton publicist Elliot Mintz told The Associated Press on Tuesday of the reported breakup.
"I'm not going to deny that there was a split," he said.
Mintz would not provide further details.
Hilton, 25, and Niarchos, 21, began dating last year. The hotel heiress and "The Simple Life" actress announced in October that she was ending her engagement to Paris Latsis, another Greek shipping heir.
"The Simple Life," which features Hilton and ex-friend Nicole Richie thrown into normal jobs and responsibilities, has been dropped by Fox. But the show was picked up this season by E! and renamed "Simple Life 4: Till Death Do Us Part."
Today's birthdays
Broadway librettist Betty Comden is 87. Folk singer Pete Seeger is 87. Singer James Brown is 73. Singer Frankie Valli is 72. Singer Engelbert Humperdinck is 70. Sports announcer Greg Gumbel is 60. Pop singer Mary Hopkin is 56. Singer Christopher Cross is 55. Country musician Cactus Moser (Highway 101) is 49. Rock musician David Ball (Soft Cell) is 47. Country singer Shane Minor is 38. Actor Bobby Cannavale is 36. Music and film producer-actor Damon Dash is 35. Country singer Brad Martin is 33. Actor Dule Hill is 31. Actress Jill Berard is 16.