Washington Area Bestsellers

	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.	2
2	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.	2
3	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.	5
4	SPLIT SECOND (Warner Vision, $7.99) By David Baldacci. Crimes against two presidential candidates, though eight years apart, may be related.	6
5	SACRED STONE (Berkley, $15.00). By Clive Cussler & Craig Dirgo. The mercenary crew of the warship "Oregon" attempts to secure a radioactive artifact.	1
6	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.	4
7	ANGELS & DEMONS (Pocket Star, $7.99). By Dan Brown The Illuminati, a secret cabal, threatens the Vatican at the outset of a papal conclave.	41
8	THE KITE RUNNER (Riverhead, $14). By Khaled Hosseini An Afghan immigrant returns to his Taliban-ruled homeland in the hope of atoning for a childhood betrayal.	3
9	THE TRISTAN BETRAYAL (St. Martin's, $7.99) By Robert Ludlum. An American playboy and spy living in occupied Paris is sent to Russia on a sensitive mission.	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, unearthing some family secrets.	21
	Nonfiction/General
1	THE 9/11 COMMISSION REPORT: FINAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TERRORIST ATTACKS UPON THE UNITED STATES (Norton, $10)	12
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.	38
3	A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING (Broadway, $15.95). By Bill Bryson. A quirky, popular history of science's grandest achievements.	4
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.	4
5	THE OFFICIAL FAHRENHEIT 9/11 READER (Simon & Schuster, $14). By Michael Moore. Screenplay and sources for the prize-winning documentary.	1
6	DREAMS FROM MY FATHER: A STORY OF RACE AND INHERITANCE (Three Rivers, $13.95) By Barack Obama. Memoir by the rising politician.	9
7	FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: A TOWN, A TEAM, AND A DREAM (Da Capo, $15.95). By H.G. Bissinger The football obsession in small town Odessa, Tex.	1
8	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.	34
9	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.	2
10	PLAN OF ATTACK (Simon & Schuster, $14) By Bob Woodward. Assessing the motivations behind the administration's green-lighting of the war in Iraq.	1
	Hardcover
	Fiction
1	THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA (Houghton Mifflin, $26) By Philip Roth. An alternate history in which Charles Lindbergh, as Nazi sympathizer, is elected U.S. president.	2
2	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.	41
3	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.	5
4	THE DARK TOWER: THE DARK TOWER VII (Donald M. Grant, $35). By Stephen King. An epic series concludes as the gunslingers reach the dreaded tower.	3
5	SHOPAHOLIC & SISTER (Dial, $23.00) By Sophie Kinsella. On her return from her honeymoon (or was it a shopping spree?), Becky learns she has a half-sister.	2
6	THE GIFT (Silhouette, $16.95). By Nora Roberts Two holiday tales from the romance writer: "All I Want for Christmas" and "Home for the Holidays."	1
7	NIGHTS OF RAIN AND STARS (Dutton, $25.95) By Maeve Binchy. A tragedy at a Greek seaside village brings four disparate travelers together.	3
8	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.	4
9	THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN (Hyperion, $19.95). By Mitch Albom. A parable illustrating the importance of life's smallest acts.	40
10	JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL (Bloomsbury USA, $27.95). By Susanna Clarke Two English magicians hope to revive the age of magic.	6
	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.	3
2	HOW TO TALK TO A LIBERAL (IF YOU MUST) (Crown Forum, $26.95). By Ann Coulter. The conservative pundit maps out the American political scene.	1
3	CHRONICLES: VOLUME ONE (Simon & Schuster, $24). By Bob Dylan. The singer and songwriter contemplates pivotal moments in his life.	1
4	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.	4
5	CHAIN OF COMMAND: THE ROAD FROM 9/11 TO ABU GHRAIB (HarperCollins, $25.95) By Seymour M. Hersh. An investigative reporter's verdict.	4
6	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.	9
7	MAGICAL THINKING: TRUE STORIES (St. Martin's, $23.95). By Augusten Burroughs A collection of droll, often personal essays.	1
8	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.	2
9	WILL IN THE WORLD: HOW SHAKESPEARE BECAME SHAKESPEARE (Norton, $26.95) By Stephen Greenblatt. National Book Award nominee.	1
10	MY LIFE (Knopf, $35). By Bill Clinton The former president reflects on his tumultuous childhood and political accomplishments.	16

Rankings reflect sales for the week ended October 10, 2004. The charts may not be reproduced without permission from Nielsen BookScan. Copyright © 2004 by Nielsen BookScan. (Right-hand column of italicized numbers reflects weeks on this list, which premiered in Book World on Jan. 11, 2004. Advice and self-help books appear on a separate, monthly list.)