NEWS LITE : FIVE BOOKS CAN ADD CRITICS CIRCLE BLURBS.

Canadian author Alice Munro's widely praised volume of short stories, ``The Love of a Good Woman'' (Alfred A. Knopf), and her book, ``We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories From Rwanda'' by Philip Gourevitch (Farrar, Straus & Giroux), won the National Book Critics Circle Awards in fiction and general nonfiction, respectively, Monday night at the organization's annual ceremony at New York University's Vanderbilt Hall.

Gary Giddens' collected writings on jazz for The Village Voice and other publications, ``Visions of Jazz'' (Oxford University Press), won the prize in criticism. Sylvia Nasar's ``A Beautiful Mind'' (Simon & Schuster), the New York Times reporter's life of schizophrenic math genius John Nash, took the award in biography.

In poetry, the winner was ``The Bird Catcher'' by Marie Ponsot (Alfred A. Knopf).

Tommy Lee given parole pointers

There is no evidence that Tommy Lee drank alcohol in violation of his probation, a judge said Monday as he gave the Motley Crue drummer a stern warning.

Malibu Municipal Judge Lawrence Mira warned that another mistake could send Lee to prison for three years. The judge said he could find no evidence to substantiate allegations that Lee drank alcohol at a Miami club with his band mates, as reported by the New York Post.

Mira stressed that Lee was not to even enter a place where alcohol is sold during his three-year probation.

``I understand that,'' Lee said.

``That's probably going to hamper your social life,'' the judge said, ``but it's a lot better than what would come from a prison commitment.''

Lee pleaded no contest last April to kicking estranged wife Pamela Anderson Lee several times during a fight while she held their toddler son, Dylan.

In addition to requiring Lee to stay away from alcohol and drugs, the judge ordered him to stay at least 100 yards away from his estranged wife, attend anger management classes and undergo random drug tests.

Hanks recovers, misses awards

Tom Hanks was hospitalized Monday for an infected blister he got while shooting a movie in Fiji, his publicist said.

Hanks, 42, was told to remain overnight, missing the Academy Awards luncheon Monday and the NATO Star of the Decade Awards in Las Vegas later this week, said spokeswoman Leslee Dart.

Hanks got a small blister on his right knee sometime last week while filming ``Cast Away.'' He wasn't able to keep the blister properly dressed because of the tropical climate and frequent filming in water, Dart said.

When he returned to Los Angeles, the blister apparently became infected.

DeNiro, Scorsese to dilute criticism

Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese are going to present Elia Kazan with his lifetime achievement award at the Oscars, says the New York Post. The award is controversial because Kazan named names during the McCarthy era. De Niro and Scorsese, both known as left-wingers, apparently were chosen to thwart protest.

Publicity pressure; London book-signing frenzy makes Monica cry

Monica Lewinsky's book tour across England and Scotland began with great pomp Monday as bagpipers escorted her through London's most famous department store to warm applause and a bouquet of white roses.

It soon degenerated into a free-for-all.

Hundreds of shouting photographers muscled through the crowd and autograph-hunters climbed atop chairs and book displays for a better look at the former White House intern, causing her to temporarily flee in tears.

Lewinsky arrived in London on Sunday for a 19-stop tour to promote the biography ``Monica's Story,'' written by Princess Diana collaborator Andrew Morton.

But the tour, which will end March 24 and is to take her to a number of small towns, could be much harder work than she envisioned.

Even after the media crews were herded out of Harrods on Monday, the atmosphere was no less frenzied. Tourists held cameras over their heads and giggled - asking each other ``Did you see her?'' - as the 25-year-old Lewinsky sat alone at a table in the front of the room.

While the crush of interest may have been overwhelming for Lewinsky, it was good for book sales.

Harrods said it sold 400 signed copies of the book Monday and took telephone reservations for 700 more - making it the most successful signing session ever, edging out former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

And many who were able to have Lewinsky sign their books were touched by her courage.

Anne Kersey of London, who arrived 3-1/2 hours before Harrods opened to be the first in line, said Lewinsky was plainly overwhelmed by all the attention.

``I told her it was terribly brave of her to come here today,'' Kersey said. ``I said, I will pray for you.''

News Lite is compiled by Karen Duffy from Daily News staff and wire reports

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

PHOTO (1 -- 2) Monica Lewinsky passes a signed copy of her biography Monday in London, left. At right, the crush of gawkers prompts an early exit.

(3) Lee

(4) Hanks