Washington Area Bestsellers
Sunday, October 10, 2004; Page BW11
Paperback
Fiction
1 THE BIG BAD WOLF (Warner, $7.99)
By James Patterson. FBI novice Alex Cross matches wits with a Russian mobster trafficking in sexual slavery.1
2 BLOW FLY (Berkley, $7.99). By Patricia Cornwell
Scarpetta, taking a time-out in Florida to think about her future, helps the local authorities probe a killing spree.4
3 SPLIT SECOND (Warner Vision, $7.99)
By David Baldacci. Crimes against two presidential candidates, though eight years apart, may be related.5
4 THE GOOD EARTH (Washington Square, $14)
By Pearl S. Buck. The Pulitzer Prize-winning tale of a farmer and his wife in the waning days of imperial China.3
5 WINNER TAKES ALL (Silhouette, $7.99)
By Nora Roberts. Two of Roberts's novels, "Rules of the Game" and "The Name of the Game," now back in print.1
6 ANGELS & DEMONS (Pocket Star, $7.99). By Dan Brown
The Illuminati, a secret cabal, threaten the Vatican at the outset of a papal conclave.40
7 SAFE HARBOUR (Dell, $7.99). By Danielle Steel
A grief-stricken young girl and her mother find solace in their evolving friendship with a charming artist.1
8 THE KITE RUNNER (Riverhead, $14). By Khaled Hosseini
An Afghani immigrant returns to his Taliban-ruled homeland in the hopes of atoning for a childhood betrayal.2
9 A LADY OF HIS OWN (Avon, $6.99)
By Stephanie Laurens. An espionage scandal laces this period romance in which two former lovers meet again.1
10 THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME (Vintage, $12). By Mark Haddon. An autistic boy digs into a poodle's death, uncovering some family secrets. 20
Nonfiction/General
1 THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT: FINAL REPORT
OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TERRORIST
ATTACKS UPON THE UNITED STATES (Norton, $10)11
2 READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN (Random House, $13.95)
By Azar Nafisi. A professor's memoir of her clandestine Western literature discussion groups for women students.37
3 HEART FULL OF LIES: A TRUE STORY OF
DESIRE AND DEATH (Pocket, $7.99). By Ann Rule
A fall 2000 camping trip in Oregon turns deadly. 1
4 FLYBOYS: A TRUE STORY OF COURAGE
(Back Bay, $14.95). By James Bradley. The brutal captivity of eight American POWs held by Japanese forces.3
5 A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING
(Broadway, $15.95). By Bill Bryson. A quirky, popular history of science's grandest achievements.3
6 THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY (Vintage, $14.95)
By Erik Larson. Serial killer Henry Holmes preys on Chicago residents amid the bustle of the 1893 World's Fair.33
7 DREAMS FROM MY FATHER: A STORY OF
RACE AND INHERITANCE (Three Rivers, $13.95)
By Barack Obama. Memoir by the rising politician.8
8 THE 9/11 REPORT: THE COMPLETE INVESTIGATION
(St. Martin's, $6.99). Details of the National Commission's exhaustive inquiry, including media reports.9
9 ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY (Back Bay, $14.95)
By David Sedaris. Autobiographical essays told with an appreciation for life's many ironies.16
10 AGAINST ALL ENEMIES: INSIDE AMERICA'S WAR
ON TERROR (Free Press, $14). By Richard A. Clarke
Revelations of the country's lack of preparedness.2
Hardcover
Fiction
1 THE DARK TOWER: THE DARK TOWER VII
(Donald M. Grant, $35). By Stephen King. The epic series concludes as the gunslingers reach the dreaded tower.2
2 TRACE (Putnam, $26.95). By Patricia Cornwell
Kay Scarpetta returns to the medical examiner's office to help the new director sort out a young girl's death.4
3 INCUBUS DREAMS (Berkley, $23.95)
By Laurell K. Hamilton. Vampire hunter Anita Blake pursues a serial killer targeting the stripper community.1
4 THE DA VINCI CODE (Doubleday, $24.95)
By Dan Brown. Ciphers and riddles impede a symbologist's quest for the Holy Grail and a murderer's identity.40
5 SHOPAHOLIC & SISTER (Dial, $23). By Sophie Kinsella
On her return from her honeymoon (or was it a shopping spree?), Becky discovers she has a half-sister.1
6 NIGHTS OF RAIN & STARS (Dutton, $25.95)
By Maeve Binchy. A tragedy at a seaside Greek village brings four disparate travelers together.2
7 ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? (Morrow, $25.95)
By Sidney Sheldon. The alluring widows of two murdered scientists team up to thwart a plot to control the weather.3
8 JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL
(Bloomsbury USA, $27.95). By Susanna Clarke
Two English magicians attempt to revive the age of magic.5
9 THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA (Houghton Mifflin, $26)
By Philip Roth. An alternate history in which Charles Lindbergh, a Nazi sympathizer, is elected U.S. president.1
10 THE SUNDAY PHILOSOPHY CLUB (Pantheon, $19.95)
By Alexander McCall Smith. Edinburgh philosopher Isabel Dalhousie tackles a case of murder at the concert hall. 1
Nonfiction/General
1 AMERICA (THE BOOK): A CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO
DEMOCRACY INACTION (Warner, $24.95)
By Jon Stewart & the Daily Show. Humor meets history.2
2 THE FAMILY: THE REAL STORY OF THE BUSH DYNASTY
(Doubleday, $29.95). By Kitty Kelley. An unauthorized examination of three generations of the Bush clan.3
3 CHAIN OF COMMAND: THE ROAD FROM 9/11 TO
ABU GHRAIB (HarperCollins, $25.95)
By Seymour M. Hersh. An investigative reporter's verdict.3
4 HALLELUJAH! THE WELCOME TABLE: A LIFETIME
OF MEMORIES WITH RECIPES (Random House, $29.95)
By Maya Angelou. Recalling family and culinary morsels.1
5 UNFIT FOR COMMAND: SWIFT BOAT VETERANS
SPEAK OUT AGAINST JOHN KERRY (Regnery, $27.95)
By John E. O'Neill & Jerome R. Corsi. A contrary view.8
6 The WORLD'S BANKER (Penguin Press, $29.95)
By Sebastian Mallaby. A portrait of James Wolfensohn's tenure at the World Bank and the changes he wrought.1
7 MY LIFE (Knopf, $35). By Bill Clinton
The former president's reminiscences of his tumultuous childhood and political accomplishments.15
8 THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULERS: EXPOSING OILY
POLITICIANS, WAR PROFITEERS, AND THE MEDIA THAT
LOVE THEM (Hyperion, $21.95). By Amy Goodman1
9 YOU HAVE THE POWER: HOW TO TAKE BACK OUR
COUNTRY AND RESTORE DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA
(Simon & Schuster, $19.95). By Howard Dean1
10 AMERICAN SOLDIER (ReganBooks, $27.95)
By Gen. Tommy Franks with Malcolm McConnell
Memoir by the retired head of the U.S. Central Command.9
