Washington Area Bestsellers
Sunday, September 4, 2005; Page BW11
THE KITE RUNNER(Riverhead, $14). By Khaled Hosseini An Afghan immigrant returns to his Taliban-ruled country in the hope of atoning for a childhood betrayal. THE RULE OF FOUR(Dell, $7.99). By Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason.Four roommates at Princeton attempt to unlock the secrets of a 15th-century manuscript. THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME (Vintage, $12.95). By Mark Haddon.An autistic boy digs into a poodle's death, unearthing some dark family secrets. ANGELS & DEMONS(Pocket Star, $7.99) By Dan Brown.The Illuminati, a mysterious cabal, threatens the Vatican at the outset of a papal conclave. WHITE HOT(Pocket, $9.95). By Sandra Brown Sayre Lynch is aghast when she learns of her brother's death--more so when all signs point to murder. WICKED: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST(Regan, $15). By Gregory Maguire This riff on the "Oz" tales features a misunderstood witch. TRACE(Berkley, $7.99). By Patricia Cornwell Kay Scarpetta returns to the medical examiner's office to help the new director sort out a young girl's death. THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES(Penguin, $14) By Sue Monk Kidd.Three women beekeepers offer an abused girl comfort and a safe haven. LOST CITY(Berkley, $9.99). By Clive Cussler with Paul Kemprecos.A protein found in the ocean's depths, able to sustain life, is key to a plot of world domination. NIGHT TALES(Silhouette, $7.99). By Nora Roberts Two tales of romantic suspense, "Night Shift" and "Night Shadow," republished in one volume. WHY DO MEN HAVE NIPPLES?(Three Rivers, $12.95) By Mark Leyner and Billy Goldberg.Audaciousquestions to ask your doctor after that third cocktail. THE TIPPING POINT: HOW LITTLE THINGS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE(Back Bay, $14.95) By Malcolm Gladwell.A look at fads and their origins. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BIKE: MY JOURNEY BACK TO LIFE (Berkley, $14). By Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins Memoir by the seven-time Tour de France champion. GUNS, GERMS, AND STEEL(Norton, $16.95) By Jared Diamond.The impact of geography and the environment on the course of civilization. THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY(Vintage, $14.95) By Erik Larson.Serial killer H.H. Holmes preys on Chicago residents amid the bustle of the 1893 World's Fair. THE WISDOM OF CROWDS(Doubleday, $14) By James Surowiecki.The New Yorker magazine writer's dogged faith in the power of collective wisdom. DRESS YOUR FAMILY IN CORDUROY AND DENIM (Back Bay, $14.95). By David Sedaris.A collection of witty essays starring the humorist's family. READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN(Random House, $13.95) By Azar Nafisi.A professor recalls her clandestine Western literature discussion groups for women students. BAD CAT: 244 NOT-SO-PRETTY KITTIES AND CATS GONE BAD(Workman, $9.95). By Jim Edgar Candid photos of felines acting up and acting out. ME TALK PRETTY ONE DAY(Back Bay, $14.95) By David Sedaris.Autobiographical essays told with an appreciation for life's ironies. POINT BLANK(Putnam, $25.95). By Catherine Coulter Married FBI agents Sherlock and Savich track a psychopath who's has kidnapped a popular comedian. THE HISTORIAN(Little, Brown, $25.95) By Elizabeth Kostova.Three generations of one family pursue the undead Dracula by means of a medieval book. INTERRUPTION OF EVERYTHING(Viking, $25.95) By Terry McMillan.Marilyn Grimes's midlife angst throws into question her marriage, love life and identity. LIFEGUARD(Little, Brown, $26.95). By James Patterson and Maxine Paetro.A Boston boy's promising life in Palm Beach goes to pot after a failed $60 million art heist. THE DA VINCI CODE(Doubleday, $24.95) By Dan Brown.Ciphers and riddles impede a symbologist's quest for the Holy Grail and a killer's identity. CHILL FACTOR(Simon & Schuster, $25.95) By Sandra Brown.A blizzard strands Lily Burton in a rural cabin with a man who may be a serial killer. VANISH(Ballantine, $24.95). By Tess Gerritsen A desperate woman, motives unknown, takes hostages at a hospital, including pregnant detective Jane Rizzoli. WITHOUT MERCY(Putnam, $25.95). By Jack Higgins Gen. Charles Ferguson's covert ops team seeks revenge for the murder of one of their agents by Russian hit men. THE UNDOMESTIC GODDESS(Dial, $23) By Sophie Kinsella.After a costly error, a star London attorney accepts a housekeeping position in the country. TYRANNOSAUR CANYON(Forge, $24.95) By Douglas Preston.A murdered prospector's notebook contains clues that could yield an archeological treasure. 1776(Simon & Schuster, $32). By David McCullough Military campaigns and personal narratives tell the story of the first full year of the American Revolution. THE WORLD IS FLAT: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY(FSG, $27.50) By Thomas L. Friedman.Globalism's colossal impact. FREAKONOMICS: A ROGUE ECONOMIST EXPLORES THE HIDDEN SIDE OF EVERYTHING(Morrow, $25.95) By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner BLINK: THE POWER OF THINKING WITHOUT THINKING (Little, Brown, $25.95). By Malcolm Gladwell The complex psychology behind our snap decisions. CONFESSIONS OF A VIDEO VIXEN(Amistad, $24.95) By Karrine Steffans.The hip-hop video actress exposes her painful past and the gritty side of a glittering industry. NEW RULES: POLITE MUSINGS FROM A TIMID OBSERVER (Rodale, $24.95). By Bill Maher.The comedian's political-themed barbs, a staple of his cable show. 100 PEOPLE WHO ARE SCREWING UP AMERICA (AND AL FRANKEN IS #37)(HarperCollins, $25.95) By Bernard Goldberg.Targeting the "cultural elite." HERDING CATS: A LIFE IN POLITICS(Regan, $27.50) By Trent Lott.The Mississippi politician's rise from the House of Representatives to Senate majority leader. REFLECTIONS OF A PEACEMAKER: A PORTRAIT THROUGH HEARTSONGS(Andrews McMeel, $16.95) By Mattie J.T. Stepanek.A posthumous collection of verse. THE FAIRTAX BOOK: SAYING GOODBYE TO THE INCOME TAX AND THE IRS(Regan, $24.95) By Neal Boortz and Congressman John LinderPaperback Fiction 1 47 2 12 3 65 4 84 5 6 6 2 7 9 8 37 9 5 10 4 Nonfiction/General 1 3 2 35 3 9 4 38 5 78 6 1 7 13 8 82 9 22 10 29 Hardcover Fiction 1 1 2 11 3 6 4 7 5 85 6 2 7 1 8 1 9 6 10 1 Nonfiction/General 1 13 2 21 3 20 4 33 5 9 6 4 7 7 8 1 9 1 10 4