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.

Books and the Stars: Miley Cyrus, Mike White and ABC

Memoiry Miley: Tween singing sensation and Disney Channel star Miley Cyrus is writing her autobiography at the tender age of 15, and by "writing" we mean "hiring someone to write." In case you don't know any preteens or my 22-year-old sister, Cyrus, the daughter of Billy Ray "Achy Breaky Heart" Cyrus, plays a girl named Miley who has a secret double life as pop star Hannah Montana. Earlier this year, her concert film "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert" broke the record for opening on a Super Bowl weekend . Of course, she's just trying to keep up with her assonant show alter ego, who appears in many books already.

Socialite saga: I just discovered the Powell's Books blog, attached to the venerable and delightful used bookstore, and they have a book into film category with tons of good news. Something that jumped out to me: Director and actor Mike White (who helmed "Year of the Dog" but is best known as Jack Black's milquetoast roommate in "School of Rock") just signed on to adapt and produce a movie version of Sean Wilsey's memoir OH THE GLORY OF IT ALL, one of my favorite nonfiction books of 2007. I'm thinking Paul Dano as the young Sean Wilsey and Amy Poehler gets an Oscar nom for her first serious role as his mom, with... hmmm... Jude Law and Jessica Walter playing them when they're older.

Real real housewives: In further development news, author Jennifer Weiner (whose reading I went to a few weeks ago) signed an "overall deal" with ABC. A what? Weiner writes on her blog, "What the deal means is that I'll come up with ideas, and help steer the ship should any of the ideas turn into a TV show." She won't give up writing books, though. Jane Smiley has yet to comment on what she thinks of Weiner's latest career move.