Books and the Stars: Julie Andrews, Minnie Driver and David Mamet

High on the hills was a lonely author: The New York Times hardcover nonfiction list is reigned over this week by none other than Julie Andrews with her memoir HOME. From what I've read, the book is a gritty and often sad exploration of Andrews' unhappy childhood, ending with her filming "Mary Poppins." This isn't Andrews' first book; she wrote a children's chapter book called MANDY I really liked when I was younger, and several others (she is usually credited as Julie Andrews Edwards). Other celebs with best-selling books right now: Valerie Bertinelli (memoir), Rosie O'Donnell (craft book for kids) and Trisha Yearwood (cookbook).

Expletive deleted: Author and playwright David Mamet's favorite authors according to Vanity Fair: Theodore Dreiser, Willa Cather, Dawn Powell, George V. Higgins, Patrick O'Brian, and John le Carré. Hey, I like Dawn Powell too! Unfortunately, I saw the influence of none of these in his latest Broadway play "November," which I found pretty disappointing (although I can't blame him for the rabid Nathan Lane fans who also interfered with my enjoyment of the show).

Circle of Experts: Minnie Driver doesn't read -- pregnancy books, that is. According to Celebrity Baby Blog, the star of "The Riches" and "Good Will Hunting" is relying more on the advice of her mom and sister on the birth of her first child, who is due in August. Things she probably has read, based on the movies she's made? Oscar Wilde's play "An Ideal Husband", Lorenzo Carcaterra's SLEEPERS and Gail Carson Levine's ELLA ENCHANTED.